Customer Reviews

Warehouse 13 Season 1

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Combine "The X-Files" with Indiana Jones and add a dash of "Sanctuary," and voila -- you have "Warehouse 13."

Yeah, Sci-fi/SyFy's latest series isn't exactly the most original or unique show out there, but it is strangely endearing. After a round of rather generic standalone episodes, this series bounces off once it introduces a main villain and a plot arc -- and while there's little romantic chemistry, the lead characters are a likable bunch with some nicely handled character development.

After a weird incident involving an assassin and an Aztec bloodstone, Secret Service agents Myka Bering (Joanne Kelly) and Pete Lattimer (Eddie McClintock) are summoned to a run-down warehouse in the South Dakota badlands. An eccentric agent called Artie (Saul Rubinek) informs them that this is Warehouse 13, which holds dangerous and bizarre "artifacts" -- and their new assignment is to collect and neutralize new artifacts.

Among the problems they encounter: a young man possessed by a strange Italian power, bank robberies using music, a teleportation experiment gone wrong, a device that channels enough energy to fry people to a crisp, a katana that can slice through light, a mirror that switches Myka with a malevolent creature, and a prison whose occupants are driven to madness by the ghosts of their pasts. But the most dangerous problem is a former agent of the Warehouse, who is now determined to grab the artifacts for his own purposes -- and destroy Artie and the others as well.

Despite being pretty derivative of "The X-Files" at times (skeptical strict female agent paired with quirky wild card), "Warehouse 13" has a pretty brilliant concept -- basically it's about a place that seals away any dangerous historical artifacts. Among the artifacts: Poe's pen, Lewis Carroll's mirror, a Studio 54 disco ball (which plays "I Will Survive" when disturbed) the Tesla gun, a giant steampunky computer and a wishing kettle that produces ferrets.

The stories are a solid blend of action, grimy sci-fi (the warehouse is a pretty bleak-looking place), and a bit of comedy on the side (one of the Important Artifact-Seeking Questions is, "Do you smell fudge?"). While the first few episodes are rather generic one-offs, the plots become tighter and more intense about halfway through -- and the addition of the sociopathic MacPherson and the Regents adds a new level of potential to the arc storyline.

Downsides? The dialogue can be painfully cool-kiddish at times, especially when Claudia is being annoyingly self-referential ("Couldn't any genius whiz-kid?"). And the romantic chemistry between Kelly and McClintock is almost nil.

But Kelly and McClintock make a solid supernatural-detective duo -- he's a quirky pop-culture-loving weirdo (although I just can't see him as a Secret Service agent) with a weakness for cookies, while her almost-fanatical devotion to rules/plans is explained by a tragic personal loss. Allison Scagliotti does a good job as the erratic "whiz-kid," although her character can be annoying. But Saul Rubinek is the ruling force in this series -- a quirky, gruff, antisocial man who is haunted by the many agents lost in pursuit of artifacts. He's absolutely brilliant.

"Warehouse 13 Season 1" is pretty derivative at times, but it's also strangely endearing and quite fun. The best part is, it seems to be getting better with time.

Series about the caretakers of a secret warehouse that contains special items put away by the government for safe keeping (think of the warehouse in Indiana Jones movies).
There is a caretaker and a male and female agent who go out to retrieve new items.
The characters have excellent chemistry right from the start and a lot of fun and some seriousness ensues.
The items themselves and their properties ,when mixed with the characters,makes the show really special and sometimes hilarious.
A conspiracy arc develops involving another character or 2 later in the season.
Rewatch value is high in this show.
I can hardly wait for season 2.

This show is part X Files, part National Treasure, from action, to intrigue, to twists to the way this team of Secret Service agents interacts and plays off of one another. It is engaging and unique. I look forward to it weekly on the SyFy Channel and can't wait for it to come out on DVD.

Like many, I was truly looking forward to the start of this series.
I saw the 3 TNT Librarian movies not long before Syfy began pushing the WH13 promos: The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice, The Librarian - Quest for the Spear & The Librarian - Return to King Solomon's Mines.
I loved the movie trilogy and felt the heavens were really smiling on me by giving me a tv show to continue their tradition.
I'm just pointing all this out to show how I was so perfectly positioned to fall in love with Warehouse 13.

Sadly, all that promise came to nothing!
For the reviewer who said the leads did not inspire rooting...I rooted for them anyway. I actually began to grudgingly give a fig about the main characters. This did not extend to the later-introduced psycho-stalker-techie nerd-cool-young/hip-ANNOYING-Claudia.

I gave the show every opportunity to rise above its swirling cloud of mediocrity. I reminded myself that even Eureka (especially Eureka: Season 3.5) had downright dreary, who-cares days. I waited patiently for someone to write an actual cohesive series of events to replace what appeared to be random wandering through half-developed ideas and story lines. I valiantly watched the entire season, stifling the urge to reach into the screen and tidy up the rather confused warehouse (which was also physically untidy).
It actually felt like the show was meant to be a one-off mini-series, or something, and everyone - actors and writers - went through each episode as though it would be canceled at any moment.

Sadly, at the end of season 1, I felt as drained of goodwill as I had been with the ill-fated relaunched Bionic Woman - Volume One. (I actually heaved a sigh of relief when that one was canceled as it freed me from what I felt was my duty to support anything to do with the classic show in particular, and science fiction in general.)

Again, sadly, I would probably feel the same relief if Warehouse 13 were canceled, because I DID watch it to the bitter end, lest I miss out on THE MOMENT...you know, the one on which Simon Cowell continually harps.
WH13 should at least get a MAJOR overhaul before returning.
It's such a GREAT concept....how did it manage to not achieve its potential?

Before voting on my review, please note that I WANTED it to succeed... I still do. Watch the TNT-Made Librarian Movies, and you'll have an idea what I was expecting it to live up to, or even surpass. And there's nothing wrong in calling for growth, especially in a new series. (My attempt to not get completed voted down, but oh well....)

I firmly believe that there are more than even 13 great episodes wandering around somewhere in that disheveled warehouse, trying to find a map. Or a broom. Or a writer to think at least 5 episodes ahead.
I just hate that I am dreading its return...'cause you know I'll be watching every episode regardless of my review.

Waiting for that MOMENT.

Okay, Warehouse 13! Well, what can I say? It's officially my favorite show ever! And I have watched a lot of Sci-fi series, believe me. The only thing that I can think of to complain about with this series is that the visual effects aren't always that great, but the story, characters, and witty dialouge more than compensate for that. Also, in case nobody else has mentioned this, Warehouse 13 is also a great family show. There are a few moments that could be scary for little kids, but nothing horribly violent, innapropriate, or gory. It's just a great show, and even if you end up disagreeing I hope you'll at least give it a try. Please? :)

I originally was interested in this series because I had heard that Rockne O'Bannon (Farscape and various other scifi shows) was connected with it and that Joanne Kelly "Myka Bering" was in it. I was not disappointed. Sure it's not as deep and dark as Farscape got, but you know what, after watching Farscape (and I LOVE Farscape) I was ready for a fun, lighthearted, let's watch this little family grow up together show. WH13 does this. I love the banter between Pete & Myka and Artie & Claudia. They all work so well together that it is a joy to watch.

I've re-watched most of the eps several times over since the show started and even after it finished it's first season run on SyFy. That's how much I love this show.

If you're looking for Friday the 13th, X Files, or any other show WH13 has been compared to you'll be disappointed because while it may have similarities to those shows, WH13 IS NOT those shows. Yes the Warehouse is very similar to the one at the end of Indiana Jones and I think this might be one of the many things I LOVE about it.

It's fun, quirky and very enjoyable to watch. I can not WAIT for the DVDs. HOWEVER, if they do not include the music from eps 8 "Duped" on the DVDs I may not buy them because that music makes an awesome eps even more awesome!

If this is the two hour pilot from SciFi then this is my review. It looks like it will be a good program, it's like a cross between 'X-Files' and 'Fringe' and 'The Mentalist'. All three programs have a smart woman who works for a government agency partnered with a quirky male. In fact the woman on 13, Fringe and Mentalist all seem to buy their pants and shirts from the same store (Tight body fitting)!

From what I can tell, the Warehouse is the place where they took the "Ark" at the end of the first Indiana Jones. There it sits with a lot of other metaphysical and super-natural stuff and inventions that were way before their time or our time or whatever. The three leads are all very comfortable with their characters and the secondary characters (Mrs.Fredericks played by CCH Pounder especially) add just the right little extra to make the show enjoyable. Each week the agents will be sent out to find/rescue/destroy/kidnap/etc. some one or something related to one or more of these strange objects. How they go about it will be the premise of each episode.

Here's hoping that they don't try to make the two agents a couple but keep them as slightly off-center friends. The woman who runs the bed-and-breakfast would be a good match for the crazy guy agent. It will depend on how they choose to fill out the story and backgrounds of the agents that will determine whether this becomes a success or a flop.

Zeb Kantrowitz

This show moves along at a fast clip and features some inventive and fun storylines. The actors are all excellent and the premise is engaging. The series starts out with the usual two leads attracted to each other but arguing and that has wisely been less a feature of season 2. They don't need that tension and the characters are better off as friends. But here this series begins it journey and it has a few uneven moments but overall it's just alot of fun. The dvd set looks great and is worth adding to your collection. Sure this series has influences from past sci fi shows however this one also is a bit on the mystical side because many artifacts they hunt have 'powers'. Saul rubinek really adds alot of presence to the whole affair too. This show just keeps getting better and they do need to make more than just 13 eps a season. They have four lead characters to provide stories for and 20 eps could easily provide them with more adventures. I think the overall emphasis here is on entertainment and who cares what it's comparible too? I don't , I just enjoy this show. Just like I enjoy the great 'being human' on bbc america.
(that's a plug) but wharehouse 13 leaves me with a smile every episode and it's not a dark show like battlestar gallactica ( loved both versions!) but I don't watch this for darkness, it's got humour and fun galore and likeable leads so it's well worth your time. This dvd set should have been out in blu ray. So should eureka which has had crossovers with this show.

I bought this series hoping it would be as good as "Sanctuary". I am very pleased with the series and hope they continue to make it. Just keep up the good story lines. Thanks.

Welcome to Warehouse 13 which stores artifacts beyond the imagination in a space too large to measure. Imagine a branch of the federal government that the federal government doesn't seem to know about. Guarded by Secret Service agents with special abilities and a curator stumbling over his own genius. Warehouse 13 is a show of mysteries, discoveries, humor and romance which redefines history as we know it. The only certainty is the improbable.