Eureka: Season 4.5

As the whimsical Syfy original series about the titular Pacific Northwest town—home to a secret government think-tank—gears up for a fifth and final season, this set collects the 10-episode second half of the 2010 fourth season, bringing the characters back from their time travel exploits to the present and launching the show on a countdown to an unexpected reboot of the American space program, thanks to Eureka-developed technology. Much of the plotline centers on a Eureka-style space camp, with training, tests, and a healthy competitive spirit prevailing as the researchers at Global Dynamics vie for the 20 spots on a mission targeted at Saturn's moon Titan. As one might expect, the grueling preparatory regimen provides plenty of humor and gives rise to mysterious scientific disasters in need of solving, which is how the intrepid town sheriff, U.S. Marshall Jack Carter (Colin Ferguson), earns his pay. On hand for this set are geek-cult actors Felicia Day and Wil Wheaton, along with Syfy veteran Ming-Na (of Stargate Universe), as well as former regulars Matt Frewer and Debrah Farentino. DVD extras include the 2010 Christmas special episode (with guest star Chris Parnell as a physicist who may be Santa Claus), a Warehouse 13 crossover episode, audio commentaries with cast and crew, an extended episode, a behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes, and a gag reel. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)