Geez, I don’t even want to talk about the plot – other aspects of this episode are way more discussion-worthy!

To recap: Eureka’s new traffic control system is coming online (“smart asphalt” – drivers don’t have to drive!), and around town people are reporting thefts of odds and ends. Turns out that someone is building a huge plasma generator in the middle of a field, out of stray kitchen sinks and desk chairs. Sheriff Carter and crew have to figure out what’s going on in that field, and also why the town’s youths are suddenly zombified and apparently responsible for building the big fancy generator. What’s happening, of course, is that the crazy outer-space signal we’ve been following for several episodes has somehow tapped into the “smart asphalt” wavelength and brainwashed the kids into building a giant (electronic? ionic?) “cushion” as a landing pad for the arriving spacecraft.

In some key ways, I found the episode missed the mark. I think on paper the A story (zombie kids) must have seemed pretty somber and compelling – the dialogue includes not one but two references to “Village of the Damned,” which I understand is pretty creepy stuff. As acted/costumed/directed/framed (I don’t know whom to blame), however, it’s kind of tepid. The zombie kids are in no way creepy, upsetting, or otherwise worth serious second thought. Therefore the adults’ reactions seem over the top – Carter moons around and perches on the edge of Zoe’s hospital bed (really?). This ruins any true tension build to the spacecraft landing, although we’ve all be anticipating it for weeks so our interest holds for that reason. On the plus side, the story moves quickly to the arrival of the spacecraft; another compliment to the script, I think.

A second misfire was the use of product placement. Let’s all just agree that product placement is stinky. Let’s also concede that it’s probably more and more unavoidable, as we all hit “fast-forward” on our DVRs to skip commercial breaks. In the first mini-season, Eureka did some novel things with Degree deodorant … and I wasn’t fully on board, but I appreciated the attempt to integrate the product. This show might have a unique opportunity to experiment with product placement, compared to shows with less whimsy.

But I must say, the Subaru product placement – which was basically the B story – in this episode fell completely flat. I’m OK with Deputy Jo Lupo showing off her new tricked-out squad car (which happens to be a Subaru), and it could have been funny to see Douglas Fargo promptly show up with a new Subaru of his own, as he did. But setting all annoying Subaru references aside (who actually says “Check out my new Subaru Impreza WRX” while pointing to their car?), this B story mostly failed because the storyline was meant to be humorous (Fargo’s old car wages a vendetta against him) – and although I value Eureka’s humor, it interfered with the (supposedly) serious tone of the A story. I couldn’t navigate between the two tones; was I supposed to be on the edge of the couch biting my nails, or doubled over with laughter? In past episodes, Eureka has given us serious, and Eureka has given us funny; but here the mix isn’t working. The attempt to do both yields a middling result.

My honest opinion on the Subaru product placement is that if they’re going to do it, they should go all in: when Henry stepped forward in the episode’s last moments to rub grime off the hull the spacecraft, I fully wish he had uncovered a Subaru logo.

Reviewer rating: 3 out of 5 S.A.R.A.H.s