Prehistoric Warehouse? Review: Warehouse 13 – “Instinct”

Season 4.5, Episode 15

Air date: Monday, June 3, 2013 10/9c on Syfy

Rating ★★★★★

“I can’t very well tell him ‘I’m H.G. Wells, the 147 year old Father of Science Fiction;’ they’d put me away.” — H.G. Wells

Imagine a cave carved into the side of a mountain and surrounded by dinosaurs. Could there have been a prehistoric warehouse with artifacts dated B.C. instead of A.D? When a “Hyaenadon Jawbone” artifact surfaces in Boone, WI, making criminals confess to their crimes, you have to wonder, were there cavemen/women warehouse agents draped in loin cloth?

A prehistoric jawbone artifact capable of inducing heart stopping fear into its victims

I noticed the strange physical appearance of Ritchie Purcell (Eric Murdoch) who comes barreling into the police station confessing to a crime he was just acquitted of due to a technicality. His brow bone seems to be prominent and he’s sporting a serious uni-brow. He looks almost like a Neanderthal but since we are in the 21^st century and Neanderthals are extinct, I dismiss it. But, as time passes, his protruding bones, enlarged nose, and hairy knuckles begin to recede. If that isn’t a clear indication that an artifact is in play, I don’t know what is. I will say, right from the start, I knew something was amiss with Det. Briggs (guest star Ricardo Chavira). He seems to be too ready for Ritchie’s ‘surprise’ confession. And D.A. Hofgren (guest star Todd Stashwick) is a royal prick. Why is he so hesitant to accept help from outside? Is it me, or does Stashwick have a knack for playing corrupt law enforcement type characters well? If you recall, he played a sleazy prison guard in season three of J ustified.

What thrills me about “Instinct” is having guest star Jaime Murray reprising her brilliant role as H.G. Wells. Myka (Joanne Kelly) gets an unexpected phone call from H.G. regarding the strange behavior and unusual physical manifestations of the criminal confessors so, you guessed it, Myka and Pete (Eddie McClintock) travel to Boone, WI to investigate.

Pete and Myka are called to Boone, WI to help their old pal H.G. Wells

Myka throws out some pretty tough criticisms about H.G. being “normal” and playing house with her new beau Nate (guest star Tuc Watkins). I don’t think being a forensic scientist is normal – it’s a unique career that requires a hefty amount of intelligence and skill. I think Myka is just envious because she and H.G. are/were best friends, and after not hearing from H.G. for so long—to have her shy away from returning to the warehouse and being an agent again—throws Myka for a loop. Although, I must agree with Myak on one similarity—Nate has a young daughter, Adelaide (Kiara Glasco), which draws in H.G. like a bee to honey. She’s lost her daughter and perhaps being with Nate and Adelaide fills the void of that loss. A side note: Did you recognize Glasco? She played a feisty little girl on another Syfy fave – Haven.

The sheer size of the Yukon sector disturbance should have been seen from any vantage point in the warehouse it’s so huge!

Meanwhile, back at the warehouse, which seems to be experiencing earthquakes within itself, Artie (Saul Rubinek) along with Claudia (Allison Scagliotti), Steve (Aaron Ashmore), and newbie B&B owner Abigail (guest star Kelly Hu) must figure out what is causing the tremors. As much as I am intrigued with the warehouse self-expanding to fit artifacts as needed, I’m a bit baffled as to why they couldn’t figure out the epicenter of the disturbance from literally anywhere in the warehouse. Nevertheless, this bit of mayhem is a test for Claudia, who desperately wants to be the new warehouse caretaker. It seems those jolts of lightning aren’t meant to hurt her but to draw her attention. Armed with her new “ba-goo-zooka,” Claudia takes matters into her own hands to resolve the issue in a spectacularly cheesy fashion worthy of Warehouse 13.

I’m also quite fascinated with the prehistoric artifact being used. How does something like a hyena’s jawbone become an artifact? Having an episode like this, present something so unique makes me giddy and angry. The powers that be are only giving Warehouse 13 a limited six-episode fifth and final season when clearly there is so much more that can be explored!

Interesting/memorable lines:

Pete to H.G. about Ritchie’s transformation: “Transforming? Transforming how – like dangerous: Jekyll and Hyde or werewolf; Roseanne Barr?”

H.G.: “I don’t know. In all my years of hunting artifacts, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

***

Myka to Pete about H.G.’s new life: “She wants to give up a life of endless wonder to be a normal person? She’s not a normal person; she’s H.G. Wells.”

Pete: “Maybe she just doesn’t want to end up evil, crazy, or dead.” (Excellent points Pete!)

***

We have five episodes remaining in season 4.5 and I’m anxious for the Charlotte Dupres (guest star Polly Walker) and Prof. Sutton/Saint Germain (guest start James Marsters) story arc to come back. Aren’t you curious about how they are still alive after hundreds of years? Why did Charlotte text someone in “The Sky’s the Limit,” that Claudia is the target? If Claudia is to become the new warehouse caretaker, is Abigail going to become more like an agent and go on missions with Pete, Myka, and Steve? And the fact that Abigail asks about who’s in charge of making breakfast clearly indicates she shouldn’t run the B&B. There is so much left to be revealed in these five remaining episodes, I just hope the writers give us more juicy episodes like “Instinct” rather than blah-fillers like “The Sky’s the Limit.”

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For more on the show, go to http://www.syfy.com/warehouse13/.

Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/warehouse13.

Follow these cast members on Twitter: Eddie McClintock, Allison Scagliotti, and Saul Rubinek. And follow the lovely Jaime Murray on her new show @DefianceWorld.

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.