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.

“… 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.

The start of the day is promising enough, with Zane proposing to Jo. That isn’t so promising, since she’s unsure of her feelings.

Things start to go wrong when Jack gets a cell call while jogging and finds himself on a rougher road. The going gets rougher still when he flags down a lift and hears a Brooklyn Dodgers game on the car radio. It could be worse, though–and it is when the military authorities at Camp Eureka decide Carter’s a spy.

Camp Eureka? Yeah, it was in 1947. That’s where Carter, Alison, Jo, Fargo, and Henry have ended up. Seems Alison’s son Kevin’s been tinkering with a gadget. The same gadget was being developed in 1947, and solar flares link the two eras. Eureka!

The mishaps in 1947 are obvious, but the look of the episode, like a sepia-toned postcard come to life, is excellent. The music, including a jazzy reworking of the show’s theme and a singer doing “We’ll Meet Again,” is fantastic. I wouldn’t be surprised if the sound on this one gets an Emmy nomination next year at this time.

“Founders’ Day” also gives Alison and Carter a slow dance and a kiss, but there’s a complication when they get back. It appears that Nathan, Alison’s husband, is alive (still? again?) in this Eureka, and Tess is waiting for Carter when he gets back home. Henry finds himself married to Grace, the lady Carter met in the opening scenes. Jo, on the other hand, finds that Zane doesn’t remember their relationship. I think the word everyone’s thinking about now is “reboot.”

As a bonus, Dr. Trevor Grant, who would have gone on to be one of the greatest scientists of his generation, came back to the twenty-first century with them.

Whew! That’s a lot of changes. It’ll take a while to see how all this shakes out. About all we know so far is that Jack Carter’s going to get awfully tired of being called “sport” by Trevor Grant. However, it is good to see that the writers are trying to shake things up.

James Callis (Battlestar Galactica’s Dr. Gaius Baltar) joins the show this season as physicist “Dr. Grant,” a former resident of the town whose very unexpected return is cause for great concern and the reasons as to when and why he originally left Eureka are shrouded in mystery and secrecy. His presence is also the source of considerable friction for Jack Carter (Colin Ferguson) considering Grant’s romantic interest in Allison Blake (Salli Richardson-Whitfield).

Eureka seems like any other cozy, Pacific Northwest town, but is actually a secret community of geniuses assembled by the government to conduct top-secret research. What they’ve unwittingly created is a place where anything imaginable can happen… and does. The series stars Colin Ferguson, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Joe Morton, Erica Cerra, Neil Grayston, Niall Matter, new cast member James Callis, and features Jordan Hinson.

Eureka – “Founder’s Day” Sneak Peek Clip