WAREHOUSE 13 Season Finale: McPherson
September 23, 2009 by Sarah Curtis
Warehouse 13
Before I turn things over to Seeleybaby, I wanted to take a moment to thank her for her excellent coverage of Syfy’s WAREHOUSE 13 this summer. This show had a quiet entrance but quickly got the attention of many. I was glad that so many GiveMeMyRemote.com readers took kindly to the show and joined in on the weekly discussion. So thanks, Seels for taking us on the journey this summer. You’re the best! — Kath
Yowza! Even a twisted mind can be an artifact…fantastic line, FANTASTIC finale!
First off, did anyone else want to see Mrs. F get back to the Warehouse just in time to deliver a roundhouse kick to the face on McPherson? Let’s see those hands.
But alas, that is not the ending we were treated to. **Spoiler alerts** (can they be spoilers if the episode has already aired? Either way, I’m not holding back, so if you haven’t seen it yet, you’ve been warned).
You know, when Eddie McClintock told us that they might lose a character in the finale, I thought maybe it would be McPherson (and I am sure you all can guess who I HOPED it would be), but I love how the finale played out.
Very well played on the part of the writers to set up the epi with a flashback to the disillusionment of the partnership/friendship between Artie and James McPherson. I bought their friendship in that moment, and I think THAT was one of the best threads to the whole finale. And for the most part, while McPherson DID have some evil lurking in there (like, not even blinking when saving the life of his bodyguard from the flames caused the death of three innocent bystanders), I believe that he HONESTLY feels that the warehouse and the Regents are not beneficial. He didn’t start out intending to be evil; he just wanted out.
It’s interesting that McPherson called Pete out on that very thing. Of course, Pete called him McNutty Pants. I love Pete.
Leena betraying the team made me sad. Pete in glasses made me happy. And the ‘bronzer’ part of the warehouse was a very, very dark place. I’m not sure I like that, and yet, how deliciously fascinating! Our girl Myka wants no part of it.
One note on the thimble. While I liked the idea of it, I didn’t care for the way the writers described it as helping Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Maybe I missed an important detail in there, but I am not going to buy into anything that would lessen the sheer willpower of the people who risked their lives on the Underground Railroad.
Okay, back to the episode. I liked Pete and Myka’s teamwork in this episode. Their partnership is very special. And I thought the acting was spot on from all of the actors involved.
So what do we have to look forward to next year, do you think? Pete can roll with the punches, but Myka can handle the truth, so it will be interesting to see how season two starts out, if in fact they are left to their own devices sans Artie. Mini prediction: I think Artie is alive and will become a rogue agent. It will be up to Pete and Myka to keep the warehouse intact while trying to find him (and maybe Claudia). Post your predictions in the comments!
Questions to consider until next time:
1. Did Artie have the phoenix? If so, and he ‘rises from the ashes’, who will have to die in his place, anyone?
2. Leena…she’s still in the warehouse, right? Hmmm…it will be interesting to see how that works out in the season two premiere.
3. Seriously, would it have been that hard to have Irene plant a Manolo right to McPherson’s jaw?
Thanks to GMMR for letting us chill in the Warehouse this summer, and THANKS to everyone who tuned in week after week and left comments and thoughts on these reviews. What has been YOUR favorite episode this season? Tell us which one and why below!
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Filed under #1 featured, Posts by Sarah (Seels), Warehouse 13
Thanks for all the great coverage for Warehouse 13, even though I haven’t commented every time, I have read every review. Your site’s reviews of shows like Warehouse 13, Chuck, and Castle demonstrate that you are more interested in getting the word out about good shows rather simply reviewing the popular shows just to get hits.
Onto MacPherson… I really loved this episode. I agree with your thought about “Even a twisted mind can be an artifact” being a great quote. I honestly got chills when Artie said this. It was almost retrospective, like he was thinking about everything that he has done in the past to better the world, no matter how much he regrets some of it. Artie has been my favorite character since the beginning and this was definitely his episode. Saul Rubinek’s performance was spot on and totally believable.
Furthermore I would like to go on the record as saying that Artie is not dead. If you watch his last scene during the explosion, you can clearly see him putting his right hand in his pocket and leaving his left hand free to dangle. I would imagine that he was sly enough to take the Phoenix with him, although it will be interesting to see who dies in his place.
Overall though, this was my favorite episode of the season. MacPherson is the absolute perfect villain for this show and the perfect match for Artie. Even though Artie knows MacPherson must be stopped you can still feel his regret at having to encase his former partner and friend in bronze. By the way, did anyone else feel the Han getting frozen in carbonite in Empire Strikes Back vibe going on in that scene?
Thanks for all the great reviews. Can’t wait to pick up the DVDs and get on with season 2!
P.S. – This could just be a lapse in memory, but does anyone else remember their being a musical background (something from the sixties/seventies) to the scene where Artie, Pete, and Myka put on Timothy Leary’s glasses in the field when the episode aired last night on SyFy? When I was skimming through the Hulu version today to pick up on some extra details there was no music in the background. It’s entirely possible that I am not remembering this correctly, but it’s bugging me, so I’ve got to know.
Loved the finale- I hated hearing the announcer say “Warehouse 13 will be back in 2010” That makes it seem sooo far away! 🙁 I really ended up loving the show a lot more than I originally thought- and that is a very good thing. Can’t wait for more episodes next summer! Thanks for all the great reviews of the show Seeleybaby! 🙂
All I could think of when I saw the bronzer was Han Solo frozen in carbonite….but that’s just the SW nut in me.
This ep was all that you could ask for in a season finale. It tied some season themes together, it wrapped some loose ends up, and it left you on the floor on your knees begging for it to be 2010!
GAH!!!!!!
I’m all for the Artie has the Pheonix, because this is a science-fiction show and in si-fi, you don’t believe they’re dead til there’s a body and even then there’s always a way(thinks Spock…). Who dies though? They made that illustration very vivid for a reason…mayhap Irene? Claudia(so Seels can do her happy dance 😉 )?
Best guess…Artie’s rogue to catch McPherson, and Claudia’s the new “Artie” in the ‘house for a bit (she shouldn’t have to clear herself with Pete and Myka), and Leena pops around pretending to be everyone else and continuing to smuggle out ‘house items. And P&M are…P&M…plenty for them to do trapped in a Warehouse full of kooky things. Just hope that the world survives while they’re tracking down their own.
Should be a blast!
Thanks Seels for covering this so faithfully and bringing us the scoop.
Gum 🙂
Oooh, what a great setup for the next season! I’m still not completely sold on McPherson (the character, not the ep) as this great big baddie, but I really don’t care because there’s lots I am completely sold on.
I didn’t call that Leena twist at all, although looking back, I can see a little of her shadiness. I wonder if she’s truly psychic or if artifact(s) give her power. Also, has she been bad since before she arrived at the warehouse or was she later lured to the dark side by McPherson? I’m interested in more of the back story.
I agree that no way is Artie dead, but I do wonder who will be killed in his place (if indeed he used the phoenix artifact). Surprisingly (as I have rather vociferously voiced my hatred of Claudia), I didn’t want her to be the one to die. I didn’t think it was possible, but she’s grown on me. I think it started in the ep where the warehouse was almost destroyed. She was so thankful that Pete and Myka trusted her, and the change in her maturity and confidence was palpable. All she needed was someone to believe in her! Now she’s convinced she’s been mind controled by McPherson and is somehow responsible for all the artifacts getting out, and she just can’t handle having let down Pete, Myka, and Artie. I actually feel for the girl!
I agree that the bronze section was deliciously creepy. What a great commentary on the state of humanity, if all those people who were encased would have gone on to be a Hitler or a Stalin if they hadn’t been caught.
All in all, it was a great season finale, and it definitely left me excited for next season. Thanks for all the wonderful WH13 recaps, seels!
I thought I heard ‘Purple Haze’ going on while the gang was playing with Timothy Leary’s reading glasses (how funny was that?). This is the most intriguing show on tv. Looking forward to season 2. I’d be surprised if that’s the last we see of Artie. Remember, no one knows the warehouse as well as he does and if there was a way to escape the tunnel, he would know it. Disappointed to see that Leena was the betrayer. Hope that it was due to being controlled by MacPherson and not free will. Claudia will have more to do next year, I’m betting. I wonder what goodies the writers will have us snagging, bagging and tagging next year?
Not much more to add to the previous comments except, I really jonseing for this show to get back on the air!!! Does anyone know when the new season starts?
I love this show I’ve watched the whole first season numerous times. I noticed however that when Artie gets locked in the entrance tunnel to the warehouse, before the explosion when he closes his eyes. If you look close enough before hes surrounded by the flames his right hand is in his right pocket while his left hand is still at his side. Possibly reaching for the Phoenix or some other artifact to save himself? I wasn’t completely sure this was significant or not I just found it awesome that I noticed that and wanted to see if anyone else did and thought the same thing or inform whoever hasn’t caught that yet.