All Rise...

Judge Dawn Hunt once got lost in her local Costco's Warehouse 13.

Editor's Note

Our reviews of Warehouse 13: Season One (published June 24th, 2010) and Warehouse 13: Season Two (published June 28th, 2011) are also available.

The Charge

Mystery Loves Company.

Opening Statement

As with previous seasons, Warehouse 13 lends itself well to binge viewing. And this one utilizes a season-long arc as its own mythology to help propel the show into a higher level of quality.

Facts of the Case

Season Three shows a marked level of maturity. While there's still plenty of humor to be found, we're now dealing with life and death right from the start. We also get the introduction of a "big bad" for the team to do battle with, and a new balanced tone that works extremely well.

The Evidence

Warehouse 13 has finally found its groove. At the end of Season Two, Myka (Joanne Kelly, No Ordinary Family) left the warehouse and the rest of the team behind. As we begin Season Three, she's been replaced by Jinks (Aaron Ashmore, Smallville), an ATF agent who's gifted with the ability to tell when someone's lying. No one's particularly thrilled by this, least of all Pete (Eddie McClintock, Romantically Challenged) who insists that Claudia (Allison Scagliotti, Losers Take All) and Artie (Saul Rubinek, Frasier) are more than capable of picking up the slack. Aided by Myka's return, Jinks settles in nicely, adding a new dimension to the show and allowing the other actors to further embrace their own characters; a television tactic which sometimes backfires, but works well here.

Over the course of the season, the show breaks away from the stand alone episode format and employs its own backstory. This allows Warehouse 13 to flesh out its core characters and develop new recurring guest stars, like Agent Sally Stukowski (Ashley Williams, How I Met Your Mother). The added depth enables the stakes to be raised higher than ever and ends the season with its most satisfying finale yet.

But as well developed as the writing is this season, it would all fall flat without solid performances. Aaron Ashmore should be singled out for stepping into this well-gelled cast and not just playing the new guy schtick. He does exactly what's needed and ends up fitting in better than expected. The rest of the cast ups their game as well, refusing to rest on their laurels.

Season Three fulfills the promise Warehouse 13 has teased since its inception. By taking a somewhat darker turn, the show is now steeped gravitas while still maintaining the levity that distinguishes it from other procedurals. All said, it's a successful endeavor; one I highly recommend.

Presented in standard definition 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen, the video quality is improved, thanks to the added production time the various departments—specifically visual effects—were given before the show went to air. The Dolby 5.1 Surround mix offers a far better balance than previous seasons, and I didn't find myself fiddling with the levels at all.

As far as extras goes, Warehouse 13: Season Three is pretty well packed. The gag reel is typical and the episodes commentaries are pretty standard. If you enjoy partaking of them, I caution the timing. It's best to wait until you've viewed the entire season, as they often give away spoilers for upcoming episodes. The deleted scenes are in truth extended scenes and the featurette on the season's guest stars was a nice bit of fluff. Die-hard fans will most likely find the bonus webisode the most squee-worthy inclusion. If you're a fan, you're committed enough that you'll enjoy all the bells and whistles.

Closing Statement

Warehouse 13: Season Three rewards long-time viewers by building upon and referencing back to its own mythology, making this set a worthwhile addition to your collection.

The Verdict

Not Guilty.

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