 |       |  | | | | | | | | EPISODE TITLE: Bad to the Drone
EPISODE NUMBER: 03x01
PRODUCTION NUMBER: 03001
WRITTEN BY: Jaime Paglia
DIRECTED BY: Bryan Spicer
OUR RATING: 
VISITOR RATING: 5.56 (1493 votes)
SCI FI RATING: 2.14
US AIR DATE: July 30, 2008
UK AIR DATE: February 3, 2009 | | | | | | | | | Brief Summary Of This Episode
Eva Thorne, "The Fixer," comes to town on behalf of the D.o.D. to do an evaluation of Global Dynamics just as a weaponized drone, Martha, escapes an experiment and begins terrorizing Carter and the residents of Eureka. Zoe, who has just started a new job waiting tables at Café Diem, may be the only person capable of stopping Martha before she blasts her way out of the Eureka EM forcefield. Meanwhile, Allison must decide whether or not to say yes to Nathan's proposal.
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| | |   | | Written by Robin Nason | You know, I understand why they have to show scenes from previous episodes. What with the way each episode builds on another, it only makes sense. But I have to confess that being a vigilant Eureka fan, I wish they could can those. Now to the premiere episode!
Jack is openly having angst about his little girl growing up. Waitressing at Café Diem is a big step in his opinion, and he doesn't hesitate to hash this out with Zoe. He contends that the Café isn't safe. The only bone I have to pick on that scene is his use of "isoscopes" rather than "isotopes;" it seemed to stretch the intelligence level joke a little far. "Isoscopes" isn't even easy to say. Zoe is pleased to be there even through the scolding by Vincent for being late. I like the way Zoe and Vincent's friendship has continued through from the Pilot episode.
The episode wastes no time in addressing Nathan's proposal. After setting the situation for the episode (Zane's reference to the Viper testing to Jo), we get to eavesdrop with Vincent on Nathan and Allison's conversation. She is still stringing Nathan along, but this doesn't stop Vincent from announcing the proposal. Allison expresses her concern that the impending DOD visit might be to fire her if they blame her for Henry's behavior. She asks what will happen if they put Nathan back in command and he replies that she can be his "hot little assistant." This breaks the tension nicely and they leave for the testing, laughing.
Viper testing. Here is the part all of us special effects addicts have been waiting for. Not to mention the dialog between Fargo and Larry. Yep, Larry is stuffing his face again with a doughnut. How does he eat as much as he does without ballooning out? Hm. We meet the scientist of the day, Dr. Ethan Edison. He is responsible for the drones that the Viper is going to take out, but he tells Fargo and Larry that the Viper will have a run for its money today. We see Martha-the Cylon-shaped drone that he is working on. Moving on apace, we find out that "The Fixer" has arrived. Larry gloats, telling Fargo that he is SO dead. We get the explanation of who Eva Thorne is through Fargo's rendition to Allison. She is going to be quite an experience. Fargo is up to par with his awe that she knows his name. She knows everyone's name. And her flirtatious approach to Nathan doesn't faze him; he cuts right to the chase and asks why she is here. It takes a lot to intimidate Nathan Stark. But it also takes a lot to faze Eva Thorne and she wants to see the program. They start with the Viper testing. Eva is not impressed when Martha takes out the Viper turret.
Henry. In jail, facing his hearing; he has fired his lawyer. "Doing the wrong thing for the right reason is still a mistake." He feels that he has no defense; he was in the wrong. Jack is beaten in the chess game and Henry leaves to face the court alone.
Jack drives up to Henry's garage; while it appears that there are no additional vehicles in the parking lot, there are a lot of people in the garage. Jack asks what is going on and Jo tells him that there is a court order to confiscate all of Henry's things. When he asks if Allison knows this, she lets the cat out of the bag about Nathan's proposal. Interesting response from Jack. While upon first view I thought he was just trying to control his emotions, a comment on the forum made me look again. The frown on his face and heightened level of intensity as he processes the information-could he be having problems with flashbacks to the other time line? He is even in the garage where the initial memory wiping took place; wonder if there is more to that scene than just a case of Jack feeling jilted and jealous.
Loved the line, "Let me guess. Someone lose a UFO?" And no one shmoozes like Larry. He has initiative, anyway. This scene is the first noted reference to an earlier season. "Your fiancé is in a mood," straight from Primal when Jack comments to Allison that her hubby is in a mood. She protests that she hasn't said yes and he tells her it isn't any of his business and he has a UFO to catch. He isn't ready to get into it.
Zane's interjections into the conversation between Edison and Jack are funny. "I'm blaming you." "I'm mad at you." Jack has another good line with, "Your teenager just stole a car, a gun and ran away from home." Interesting concept that a learning computer would develop a personality and human traits.
Vincent introduces Zoe to the walk-in freezer, which elicits a comment about Narnia from her. It seems endless, which explains how Vincent can make anything anyone wants without a menu. Nope-he doesn't need Wal*Mart (and I have it on good authority that Eureka doesn't have a Wal*Mart) or a major grocery store.
Interesting view that Jack maintains about Zoe's newfound job. He is still worried about her exerting her independence and tells Jo (when Jo tells him he has to let Zoe have some independence), "See? That's where it starts. Next it's going to be 'I want my own place' and then 'Did I mention my boyfriend is moving in?' then 'Why should we get married? We live with each other now' and 'Congratulations! You're a grandpa!" Jo's reply, "And I hope all in that order!" is priceless. I like the way the relationship between Jack and Jo has developed. Jo's character has broadened from just the military GI Jo image to a sensitive, caring woman who still has a buoyant streak that comes out at times. The distrust of Season One has been replaced with a good working relationship.
Jack's interaction with Martha is good. Trying to keep Jo under control with her Ghostbusters style EM Pulse Rifle is good, too. Funny to see him trying to deal with a temperamental machine and Jo's lack of diplomacy. Excellent use of cgi (good going, ZOIC!) to develop Martha's personality in this scene. And the whole trying to capture Martha in the sheriff's office (resulting in the 'let's beat up Jack' part of the episode) was hilarious. "Nice killer drone" reminds me of his, "Nice tundra wolf" in Maneater. His ride on Martha, the entrapment in the cell and her subsequent escape with the "We rule!" followed by the "We so don't rule!" made a great scene. Of course, Nathan enjoys the resulting hole in the wall.
Eva is out for Jack. Hmmm. She blames him for escalating incidents (Nathan doesn't help with his "Numbers don't lie" comment) and puts it in a financial light. In looking back at it, though-is Eva concerned about the cost Jack poses to the community or is she afraid he will find her out? Interesting possibilities there. Another time when Jack and Nathan chime in together in response to Allison, "Not likely," follows suit with Purple Haze. And here we go with Eva playing up to Nathan again, agreeing with him in his concepts of following orders. He invites her to come along with him.
Jack's comment that Allison and Nathan have something in common after she says she might still love Nathan, "He loves him, too," is another good line. Mina answers the door (Edison's wife) with champagne in hand; the plot thickens. She apparently expected Martha to win today. As Allison and Jack talk to Ethan, Martha is cloaked in the back, listening. Cloaking, Ethan states, will require her to come home to recharge. About this time, cars drive up and here comes Nathan, a la Blink, stating, "I want everything boxed up and taken back to Global Dynamics." Jack shows his increased maturity in that he asks, "Does it matter that all this is evidence in an active police investigation?" rather than his outburst in Blink. *Sigh* I really liked that scene in Blink.
They shut down Edison's operation and Martha watches as Larry takes Eva off to Café Diem. Her power level has reached critical; she needs to recharge.
Jack and Jo corner Zane at Global. Zane assures Jack that Martha could not upgrade her hardware with a photon charge but he agreed that cloaking would require her to recharge. When Jack asks if the fusion powered generator at the Café would work, Zane agrees and then asks how Jack knew about it. Jack replies that Father knows best and runs out.
Zoe has found Martha trying to recharge in the back of "Narnia" and is grateful for the shuttle. She helps Martha recharge. Martha has developed this cute little metallic voice (which you can't understand) that increases her cute meter by at least 10. Zoe is unaware that Martha is a killer drone and uses her to carry the food and help her find her way out of the fridge. Jack and Jo are warning everyone in the Café meanwhile that there is a cloaked drone in the Café. When Zoe comes out and tells Vincent that she was grateful for the shuttle, to which both Vincent and Jack respond, she tells them that it was just there. Jack puts down the gun and picks up the mustard. Great-find a cloaked drone by squirting it with condiments. He gets Vincent in the process, who is not pleased. Vincent gets over it when Martha zooms overhead. Jack reminds Martha of who he is-piggybacks, good times... Jack's lines in this episode are really good. Eva and Larry walk in; Larry is still carrying Eva's book. Martha zooms in on them and Jack saves Eva by tackling her. Larry isn't as lucky; Martha shoots him right through the book. The two EM pulse rifles are used (a la Ghostbusters) to bring Martha down onto the counter, where she sits lifeless. Larry is unconscious on the floor.
Jack makes Zoe leave since it is dangerous working at the Café. She tells him that he can't control her forever and he says that he can today. Eva thanks him for saving her but the review isn't looking good. She wants Martha permanently dismantled at Global. Jack finds a remote transmitter in her back and now they have to find out who has been controlling her. Jack has a good idea and heads back to the Edison home. Jack accuses Mina of rigging Martha, and while Mina admits to souping Martha up, she didn't plant the remote control. Ethan states that the control wouldn't work for long periods anyway. Mina protests that Ethan is never allowed to succeed; Martha has to be destroyed every time. She just wanted people to see how brilliant he really is. Ethan insisted that if Martha wanted to hurt Eva, there is no way she would have missed.
Jack and Jo go back to the Café to see if they can find any indication of what caused Martha to shoot at Larry. Jo uncovers the book and the hardware inside it; Larry was trying to control Martha.
Eva recruits Zane to dismantle Martha while Jack and Jo go after Larry with Allison, Fargo and Nathan. Larry confesses that he was trying to show that his remote could potentially be used against enemy drones but then Martha snuck up on him and ambushed him. Martha was out to destroy the remote that continued to pester her. Things proceed apace as Martha reboots the other drones and they escape through a vent from Global. She is on a roll now. Jack signals a lockdown of the town since now there is a drone army on the loose.
Jo is downtown telling people to go inside while drones fly overhead, occasionally taking out a power beacon for the EM barrier. People are not paying her much attention, but she continues to try. Zoe is complaining to S.A.R.A.H. who gives her the platitude that Jack is doing the best he can. S.A.R.A.H. tells Zoe that her father has ordered the lockdown and Zoe is left in the dark when S.A.R.A.H.'s power is cut. Zoe sees the door open and nothing coming through and she calls Jack on the phone-Martha is in there with her. Jack goes screaming through town to get home where he finds Zoe alone; Martha is gone. Zoe tells him that Martha was trying to get her away from him.
The beacons are being taken out when Eva decides to call in the cavalry. She is insistent that fighters have to be deployed to take out the drones even though Jack says that Martha needs to know they trust her; he recommends dropping the barrier. Allison and Nathan buy into his plan and circumvent Eva's orders by "bungling" things. The barrier is dropped and Zoe convinces Martha to let off steam and go home; not to attack anyone. Martha does so, thus Jack and Zoe have saved the day. Eva chastises Jack, Nathan and Allison, but gives Nathan and Allison CEO and COO positions at Global. Eva will remain in control for the time being. Jack leaves Allison and Nathan with Eva and many, many cases of Degree antiperspirant. Eva is excited; their first sponsor. Jack tells Allison that he will always be there for her whatever her decision about Nathan.
Allison says yes to Nathan at Café Diem and Jack sees her sitting in Nathan's lap. They are kissing. Jack retrieves Zoe, who he has allowed to go back to work. They leave.
Eva, meanwhile, is sitting in the office, checking out a vial of purple liquid...hmmm. Just what is it and what will it do? Will Degree Absolute Protection for Men protect the town from her evil plans? |
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  | 301 - Bad to the Drone
Written by Robin Nason
You know, I understand why they have to show scenes from previous episodes. What with the way each episode builds on another, it only makes sense. But I have to confess that being a vigilant Eureka fan, I wish they could can those. Now to the premiere episode!
Jack is openly having angst about his little girl growing up. Waitressing at Café Diem is a big step in his opinion, and he doesn't hesitate to hash this out with Zoe. He contends that the Café isn't safe. The ... READ MORE |
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 | 109 - Primal
Written by Robin Nason
Jack and Jo are walking through Global Dynamics with an injured LoJack. Jo is carrying the dog and they assure the dog that he is going to be fixed up. Apparently his tendency to run in front of cars has finally caused him to get hurt.
Dr. Stark is in his office with Fargo. Fargo has created the "Mental Mouse," a device that transmits thoughts directly to the computer. Its only evidence is a small glowing button behind Stark's ear. Stark comments that it looks like a melanoma. S... READ MORE |
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 | 309 - Welcome Back Carter
Written by Ian Mullen
TEASER
FADE IN
EXT-LOS ANGELES, CAL., USA
[We see an aerial shot of the Los Angeles office of the Department of Homeland Security]
DHS MAN: This is a very impressive resume, Mr Carter.
INT-DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
[Carter is in a job interview]
DHS MAN C'TND: You've had a long career in law enforcement.
CA... READ MORE |
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