WAREHOUSE 13 Recap: Vendetta

Can you believe we’re already three quarters of our way through season two? It’s time for Syfy to step up and order a season three!

While we are waiting for the pickup announcement,  let’s discuss last night’s episode, “Vendetta”!

Daniel Dickenson, Pete and Myka’s former Secret Service boss, receives a surprise visit from someone wielding what appears to be a chain-link artifact. When the chain is pulled taut, Dickenson suffers great pain before he falls to the ground and dies. The unidentifiable intruder and murdered accessed top secret government files. What is the intruder searching for? The files of Team Warehouse, of course!

Back at the Warehouse, the team is enjoying a rare light moment, teasing each other about everything from bowling scores, to crushes and even Sesame Street themed ringtones. But things take a turn toward the somber when Pete receives a call from Kate Logan (Tia Carrere) who informs him of Dickenson’s death. It’s the same call Artie is getting on his machine.

Upon arrival in D.C., Kate briefs the team and all are shocked when Artie admits that Dickenson’s death is his fault.

Artie figures out that the chain used was from Torquemada’s rack. When used, it can pull and crush the bones of its victim, as if the person were on a Spanish Inquisition torture machine. This was an artifact that Artie had in fact dealt to the Russians back in the day. As it turns out, he was trading more than secrets. At the time, he wasn’t aware of special artifacts or their powers. When he learned of the evil he was possibly perpetrating, he turned himself in, and was approached by Mrs. F, and became an agent of the warehouse.

While Myka is at Dickson’s funeral, she’s approached by Helena Wells who is still trying to lobby a position back onto the warehouse staff. Helena pleads for Myka’s trust by citing how she saved the lives of both Myka and Claudia. When Myka demands to know her true motives, Helena explains she asked to be bronzed to help cope with the murder of her daughter.

Meanwhile, back at the warehouse, the only treachery to be found is from Leena. She hasn’t stolen anyone’s identity this time. No, she’s only lured Claudia to the front room…where Todd is waiting. He and Claudia bicker and flirt a little bit. But nothing kills a spark like a little background investigation. Both Todd and Claudia play PI and in turn grow suspicious of each other.  Later, when they meet in the park, they have a bit of a showdown – Todd with a gun and Claudia with a Tesla. Claudia figures out that Todd is in the witness protection program. He admits it, and they make up, talking some nerdy tech talk. Mmmm…binaries.

After one of his former colleagues is killed, this time with a piece of wood, an artifact from the Titanic, Artie’s becomes worried that this all to do with him. His suspicious are confirmed when he realizes what files Dickenson’s murderer were after.

Helena informs Artie that the man causing all the havoc is Alexander, his former Russian contact. When Artie turned himself in, Alexander was imprisoned, and now apparently wants revenge.

Artie, Pete and Myka head to Russia to try to find Alexander. When Artie goes missing, it’s up to Pete and Myka to find him. They run into Helena and she brings news that Alexander died thirteen years ago; the man who now has Artie prisoner is Ivan, Alexander’s son.

Helena finally finds Artie, but Ivan uses Titanic hypothermia artifact on her. In a small burst of energy, she shoots at Artie’s chains. He escapes and fights Ivan, knocking him to the ground. He forces Helena to hold the Titanic artifact, and he is correct when he tells her that it will reverse the freeze. As they are talking, Ivan recovers and is about to use the Torquemada chain on them when Pete uses the Tesla on him. Yikes!

Another case solved, and this one was quite intense. Back at the warehouse, Artie and Myka argue about Helena’s fate. The matter is taken out of their hands when a new man appears. His role is completely on a need to know, and he announces that Helena has been reinstated. She is understandably happy and thanks Myka. Pete is less warm, but does welcome her to the team. Artie, however, refuses Helena’s handshake, and the episode ends with Artie leaving the warehouse, furious.

How did you like this episode? It was certainly darker than last week’s, but in a lot of ways, it felt like better writing and character work. And I’m not quite convinced that Helena is all good. What do you think? Do you believe her, or are you more inclined to side with Artie and his suspicions? What else did you like about this episode? Discuss!

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