When the 10^th episode of the story-arc regarding “the Magellan's astrolabe” was over, I have to say, I was happy it was done. Don’t get me wrong, it is good TV, but the first 10 episodes were just one big story, becoming darker and darker in tone. Of course there still was the very necessary humor, but I guess my viewpoint regarding these heavy story-arcs is changing. Again, like with Star Trek: DS9 or Babylon 5, yes, there is a big story-arc but there are more than enough standalone episodes in between or the story-arc is only touched upon for a little bit. That is how I prefer it.

The Paracelsus Arc – In a nutshell:

After the astrolabe threat is resolved, the team must deal with the emotional fallout and trauma caused by Artie's desperate actions. The second half of the season introduces the series' ultimate villain, Paracelsus (the legendary alchemist). He seeks to regain immortality and take control of the Warehouse, putting the agents in a desperate race against time and his immense alchemical power.

So, the “The Astrolabe Arc” finishes after episode 10, although there is some residual after-effects into episode 11 and so on, the 2^nd story-arc “The Paracelsus Arc” slowly starts. Having said that, in the first batch of episodes, the Arc is only touched upon or even absent from the episode. It is not before episode 17, the Story-arc gets into full swing again up until the season 4 finale. I was relieved that after the Astrolabe arc, there were a number of standalone episodes. Warehouse 13 is at it’s best with standalone episodes where the story-arc is not overshadowing the whole season. In the last 4 episodes we see the new antagonist named Paracelsus (Anthony Head, who by the way, recently passed away. R.I.P.).

New characters / recurring characters:

We meet Abigail Chow (Kelly Hu), she is the new owner of the Bed and Breakfast to replace Leena. Abigail also has a degree in psychotherapy, which can come in handy with four agents with all sorts of issues. Brother Adrian (Brent Spiner), he is a Vatican-aligned agent and secret leader of the Brotherhood of the Black Diamond, a sect tasked with guarding powerful artifacts like Magellan's Astrolabe. James Marsters is Professor Sutton, a professor at Columbia University with a specialization in 18th Century History. He was in fact the Count of St. Germain himself. Charlotte Dupres is a rare antique collector and the professional rival of Bennett Sutton whom she has caught robbing her several times. Her goal is for her and her son Nick (Josh Blaylock), to undo what Paracelsus had done by making them immortal, so that Nick does not stay another 500 years a 15 year old boy. Paracelsus is a powerful 16th-century alchemist and a former Caretaker of Warehouse 9. He was bronzed but tricked Nick and his mother into helping him escape. At the end he is more powerful than ever, after he also tricked Pete into helping him helping with Myka with her cancer.

Besides Brent Spiner, other Star Trek Alumni’s are Kate Mulgrew, Jeri Ryan and Rene Auberjonois who also dropped by in season 4.

Pete and Myka, rest of the cast:

The “Mulder and Scully” of Warehouse 13, to me they are the heart of the show, I love both characters, I love Pete’s humor, his clumsiness, his often child-like actions. Pete is my absolute favorite character, there isn’t an episode where I don’t laugh out loud because of something he does or says. Like Claudia says: He's a smart boy when he's not thinking about cookies or boobies. Myka is my 2^nd favorite character, she’s smart, nerdy, has these big eyes that suck you in. She doesn’t even have to say anything with her mouth, her eyes can do that way better. I love these two together, they complete each other. Best scenes this season between the two are at end of the season when Myka tells Pete she has cancer, cuts right to the bone, heartbreaking moments.

Having said that all lead characters are just phenomenal, Claudia is another favorite of mine, the humor, constantly making fun of Artie, her wit, her relationship with Mrs. Frederic, Steve and Artie, all in all, just an amazing cast, I really would love to see it return with the original cast, I know that a few years back there was talk of a continuation but it never happened unfortunately.

Episodes:

Checking my grades for season 4, it becomes clear that although I whine about heavy story-arcs and stuff, it didn’t affect my grades for this season. Fourteen times I graded an episode an 8/10 or higher, among them, episode 9 “The Ones You Love” a 9 out of 10. Guest starring: Jeri Ryan and Amy Acker. Four episodes I graded a 7.5/10 and two a 7/10. So, yes, there is no way around it, season 4 definitely is a strong season, but it’s not my favorite season. I think season two is my favorite season.

As always, you’ll find a word document below as attachment to check out my comments and grades.

Final Word:

Warehouse 13 gets better with every rewatch! When I first watched it back in 2009, I liked it, but I certainly did not love it, like I do today. It has become a favorite of mine, a show which I will pick up again in an X number of years. And yes, like almost always with a successful show, it is the cast that makes a show great. Characters that develop over the course of a season, characters that actually are allowed to grow, in part because the actor behind the character grows older (and possibly wiser) also, and most actors take a lot from themselves into a character they play on TV or in the movies. But on TV that character has the chance to grow over multiple seasons, if they get lucky enough, and with really good actors, this shines through on TV, like with Warehouse 13. One more (short) season to go before it gets shelved again for a number of years. Warehouse 13 is perhaps a bit underrated, it deserves way more, it deserves to be recognized and to be appreciated.