TV Verdict

“The more things change …”

“… the more they stay the same.”

That’s what Henry and Carter have to say about a giant mechanical bug stomping down the street in Eureka. It’s Tess’ bug, actually a planet probe, and she says it’s sabotage. An electrical shock makes Carter suspicious as well in Eureka #4.02, “A New World.” The machine that sent them back in time is busted, keeping our heroes from creating a new wormhole to return to their own timeline.

Meanwhile, the time travelers from the season premiere are returning home to find things are different. No Nathan Stark, as I was expecting last week. However, Alison has discovered that son Kevin no longer is autistic. Fargo’s happy because the tasteless decor in the GD boss’s office tells him he’s the head of Global Dynamics. Otherwise, Carter’s nervous about the possibility that he seems to have proposed to Tess. Jo’s upset about Zane, but glad to be head of security at GD. Andy, the robot cop, is now Carter’s deputy, and he’s figured out that Carter’s been traveling through time, thanks to some old pollen and Carter’s questions about history and the like.

Henry’s discovered that Dr. Trevor Grant’s arrival in the twenty-first century was no accident: he grabbed Carter’s communication device and reset it, intending that Carter would be left in 1947.

Kevin may think his mom’s on drugs, but watching Alison (Salli Richardson-Whitfield, above) meet her son anew was the highlight of this week’s episode. It looks like the changes will let viewers get to know Alison anew as well.

It’s also intersting that Carter and Jo want to tell everyone about the time shift, but the rest of the time travelers advise against it. It shows that the two law enforcement officers still think about things a little differently than their scientific-minded colleagues, even after years in Eureka.

So far, the alternate reality storyline looks like it’ll have lots of payoffs for regular viewers, if the writers can keep up the surprises for a whole season.