Warehouse 13: Season Three

Eddie McClintock and Joanne Kelly star in this Syfy network series as Pete and Myka, agents in what you might call the covert bureau of supernatural objects, metaphysical inventions, and ancient technology. This season adds a new member of the crew, Steve (Aaron Ashmore), joining veteran team leader Artie (Saul Rubinek) and junior associate Claudia (Allison Scagliotti) in the search for dangerous items. The show follows the new cable paradigm of standalone episodes built on an overarching story—here, revolving around villain Walter Sykes (Anthony Michael Hall) and a conspiracy designed to destroy Warehouse 13—but its operating philosophy is nicely summed up in “Artie's law,” which states that “the worst thing that could happen with an artifact will happen.” While it's fun to see what kind of historical odds and ends (Jimi Hendrix's guitar, Marilyn Monroe's hairbrush, Richard Nixon's shoes, Cecil B. DeMille's riding crop) they will transform into some damage-dealing supernatural device, Warehouse 13 is still grounded in the camaraderie between Pete and Myka, oddball opposites who are also devoted friends. The steampunk aesthetic and the mix of science and the supernatural makes Warehouse 13 a solid companion piece to Syfy's other lighthearted series, Eureka (and characters even cross over for some stories). Compiling 13 episodes from the 2011 third season, plus the 2010 Christmas special “Secret Santa” (with guest stars Judd Hirsch and Paul Blackthorne), extras include episode commentaries, cast interviews, deleted scenes, and the animated web series “Of Monsters and Men.” Recommended. (S. Axmaker)