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“Magnetism” is listed as the second episode on the Warehouse 13 roster, with last week’s episode “Resonance” listed as number three. I would have preferred to see them switched as this week’s episode was by far the better, 
more exciting episode and we need to get that audience early on if we want them to stick around.
The story begins with an unrelated gag about Myka and Pete trying to replace the cursed blade on Marie Antoinette’s guillotine. Watching Pete hanging from the ceiling, I had flashbacks to Max and Alec both trying to steal that baseball on Dark Angel. The best thing about this scene is the scene setting. The production designers and propmakers on this show do an excellent job creating that old world museum look with the warm colors and shadowy lighting. It fits well with the whole steampunk theme they use throughout the show.
Which brings me to Artie who spent his time in the episode tracking down the source of electrical abnormalities at the warehouse. Even though he’s alone in most of these scenes, Saul Rubinek is delightfully entertaining with his endless streams of solo banter and I don’t know too many actors who can sustain a joke all by themselves.
The main plot of the episode revolved around three people in a cold Colorado town who suddenly start acting completely out of character. After Myka and Pete arrive to investigate the acts escallate – an old woman pushes a man’s face into a glass counter, a nun jumps off a building, twice, and a young violinist falls into a coma after smashing his instruments to bits.
It isn’t long before Myka catches the “bug” and begins acting on her urge to punch Pete and every man who gets in her way. What appears to be opposite behavior, is actually subconscious behavior — people acting on their hidden emotions. Some of this makes sense, but I don’t see how the nun’s need to “escape” turns into her desire to fly. . . but I’ll let them have that one. Things go from bad to worse when the Sheriff also catches the bug and ends up interupting Sunday church services with a bomb strapped to his chest. Can Pete nuetralize the offending artifact in time to save Myka and the hostages? Well, of course he can because this is Warehouse 13 and not Torchwood.
On the upside, I like the detective work in this episode and the red herring of the therapist — I thought for sure he was the one causing the problems. On the downside, I’m tiring of Myka and Pete’s constant bickering. Not that they should agree at every turn, Scully rarely agreed with Mulder, but they need to present themselves in a professional manner and when they fight during a hostage crisis, that’s a bit too much. We need to believe that these two are good at their jobs so a toning down on that aspect would be good.
On the third hand, Warehouse 13 is a comedy-action show like Chuck or Eureka. As such, it can step over the boundaries of reality and common sense more so than shows such as Fringe. I think many people forget that when they watch. The show is supposed to be fun and funny, so I say forget the facts and just enjoy the fiction.
Knock. Knock.
I know who the hacker is and I’ll have it all plus a one-on-one interview with the clever offender next week. So stay tuned.
Pictured: (l-r) Eddie McClintock as Pete Lattimer, Joanne Kelley as Myka Bering — SCI FI Channel Photo: Philippe Bosse
