TV Verdict

“I’m Sheriff Carter! I’m going to save the day with my Everyman logic!”

Millions of Eureka viewers might have had the same sarcastic thought at some point or another, but that’s from the mouth of Fargo, the new head of Global Dynamics, in episode #4.03, “All the Rage.” Fargo, it seems, has a lot of rage, even if he doesn’t have all of it.

In his defense, he’s been hit by an “angry ray” just as he was discovering that the “Other Fargo” in the parallel universe that the main characters have stumbled into is a tyrant. Actually more of a dictator, even putting up posters with his Stalinesque likeness.

Still, Carter, who hasn’t even been hit by the angry ray, sends an angry mob after Fargo. Is Carter just pissed, as he says, or does he have a plan? Yeah, you know the answer to that one. Maybe Fargo’s outburst isn’t so off-base.

Even before the angry ray hit, Fargo was getting mad very fast after clashing with angry Dr. Parrish (Wil Wheaton, someone a few science-fiction fans might recognize, even with a beard).

Meanwhile, Jo found herself struggling with the effects of the angry ray, keeping in a lot of hostility. True, she pulled a gun on Carter, but even in an enraged state, she respected him enough to let him take it from her.

The angry, paranoid mood of the episode was excellent, with the flickering lights from a power outage serving as the crowning touch. Carter didn’t have to tell us it was like a Romero movie to get us in the mood this time.

Also, Carter finally broke up with Tess. This finally sets the stage for his romantic relationship with Alison, the one he experienced in another alternate reality that he and Henry have been keeping mum about. His disastrous job of the breakup left me wondering if this was the same Tess, the one who wanted to take a job in Australia.

So far, strong writing and attention to detail have given the early episodes of Season Four dramatic and exciting touches to go with the show’s usual oddball humor.