Before I Forget begins in the present and dials back a day into the past to fill in the details. It is story of ego, love, and creativity with Henry and Zoe taking front and center in separate (but lightly intersecting) story lines - we get more backstory for Henry and see the future developing for Zoe. The impossibility of the sci-fi developments and how the supposedly dumbest man in town (the Sheriff, of course) and geniuses solve the puzzle in their midst makes for a funny, heart-wrenching, and satisfying ride.
5 Reviews
Stolen time
Tweekums4 November 2018
As this episode opens Sheriff Jack Carter, Deputy Jo Lupo and Henry Deacon head into the restaurant where there confront a man. Jack puts a hand on the man's shoulder and suddenly the man has gone and Henry has been shot... nobody present has a clue what happened. We then jump back twenty four hours. Two old friends are visiting Henry, Jason and Kim Anderson, Jason comes across as somewhat arrogant but from what people say he is a genius; always able to make the final leap to solve any problem. After a number of events Jack starts to suspect that Jason is using some sort of device to his advantage... if only he can remember things. In a secondary, lighter, side story Jack's daughter Zoe is preparing for the school play; a futuristic retelling of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.
This episode got off to a fine start; we are shown enough of what happened to get us interested without being shown enough to make it clear how it happened... and that is what it is all about. It isn't long before it becomes obvious that Jason is doing something to wipe people's memories of short time periods but still the story remains intriguing as each time Jack gets close to figuring it out he is sent back to square one... in fact worse than that as his actions bring his competence under suspicion. All of these events lead up to a pleasing conclusion. Zoe's plot strand provides some fun moments and proves to be thematically linked to the main story. Overall I'd say this was another impressive episode; I look forward to watching more.
This episode got off to a fine start; we are shown enough of what happened to get us interested without being shown enough to make it clear how it happened... and that is what it is all about. It isn't long before it becomes obvious that Jason is doing something to wipe people's memories of short time periods but still the story remains intriguing as each time Jack gets close to figuring it out he is sent back to square one... in fact worse than that as his actions bring his competence under suspicion. All of these events lead up to a pleasing conclusion. Zoe's plot strand provides some fun moments and proves to be thematically linked to the main story. Overall I'd say this was another impressive episode; I look forward to watching more.
Forget Me Nots
hellraiser74 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Warning don't read unless seen episode.
This episode is an honorable mention, and it was one of the episodes and you can say a ball roller episode as it was one of the ones that helped do it, in my book anyway. In a way the story by its nature is your amnesiac thriller which I'm not always a fan of as I feel that subgenre has been a little overplayed. But can be a good storyline if the execution is good, and intrigue is up and fortunately this episode is one of them. Despite already knowing who the culprit is which is probably no surprise to anyone being Jason, the real question is how he is doing this and knowing this town, anything is possible.
Carter is really at his best in this episode, despite his intelligence not on the same level as everyone else in town, he's good enough from his investigative skills but also a good amount of common sense which makes his thinking more flexible. I really like his reaction on the lost time, which is the same as us, we're all thinking the same thing, "what the hell just happened". Like how that lost time is executed really gives that feel accurately, because the phenomenon of lost time is a disorienting experience it's sort of like watching a movie when you skip over a scene, despite getting far ahead you still want to see that single scene to figure out how the story got there in the first place.
Henry and the rest in town also want to know as well, I really like how for once we see there are people on the protagonist's side, where in most suspense thrillers people always stupidly make automatic assumptions without asking questions first. Also, despite Alison not totally with Carter and the rest, she can't deny not all the figures add up.
However, the other main protagonist is Henry whom in this episode you really get a good feel for. Despite being highly intelligent he's not egotistical because like Carter he has a good amount of common sense which makes him have foot on the ground, so it's easy to see how both Carter and him get along better. We even see Kim whom I thought was a decent character and get a good back and forth between both Henry and her which helps bring depth to both.
The villain in this no doubt is Jason whom personally I never liked, and this episode justifies why. I remember asking myself about the Mary Sue type genius he possesses where simply came up with the answer instantly without any effort whatsoever. And of course, the answer is he didn't because that kind of genius doesn't exist. We see that all the greatness that surrounds him is nothing but a giant façade, he's by his nature is a scumbag.
This guy never done anything to earn his keep nor place in the community as throughout his life just freeloaded on the minds of the highly intelligent and real geniuses by stealing everything they thought up and worked hard for. What makes him even scummer is his arrogance has reached dangerous levels, where he has developed an unhealthy mentality where not just can he get everything he wants but can get away with anything to everything; also, that everyone including the law is beneath him.
The discovery really makes both Henry and Kim tragic characters, you realize he stole not just most to all of Kim's life but also Henry and Kim's love and time together. I'll admit that just grated my nerves because that's not right, no one has the right to destroy love at one's own expense.
The ending is satisfying because as we see Jason's arrogance turns out to be his undoing in the end, as it's made him underestimate Carter, Henry, Kim, and everyone in town. It shows why people like Carter, Henry, Kim and anyone else that struggles, pursues, and respects knowledge belongs in town, and how scum like Jason don't belong.
We also see Henry and Kim go on a date for the first time in a long time. Despite their time lost their love was never destroyed for they never forgotten each other.
Rating: 3 and a half stars.
This episode is an honorable mention, and it was one of the episodes and you can say a ball roller episode as it was one of the ones that helped do it, in my book anyway. In a way the story by its nature is your amnesiac thriller which I'm not always a fan of as I feel that subgenre has been a little overplayed. But can be a good storyline if the execution is good, and intrigue is up and fortunately this episode is one of them. Despite already knowing who the culprit is which is probably no surprise to anyone being Jason, the real question is how he is doing this and knowing this town, anything is possible.
Carter is really at his best in this episode, despite his intelligence not on the same level as everyone else in town, he's good enough from his investigative skills but also a good amount of common sense which makes his thinking more flexible. I really like his reaction on the lost time, which is the same as us, we're all thinking the same thing, "what the hell just happened". Like how that lost time is executed really gives that feel accurately, because the phenomenon of lost time is a disorienting experience it's sort of like watching a movie when you skip over a scene, despite getting far ahead you still want to see that single scene to figure out how the story got there in the first place.
Henry and the rest in town also want to know as well, I really like how for once we see there are people on the protagonist's side, where in most suspense thrillers people always stupidly make automatic assumptions without asking questions first. Also, despite Alison not totally with Carter and the rest, she can't deny not all the figures add up.
However, the other main protagonist is Henry whom in this episode you really get a good feel for. Despite being highly intelligent he's not egotistical because like Carter he has a good amount of common sense which makes him have foot on the ground, so it's easy to see how both Carter and him get along better. We even see Kim whom I thought was a decent character and get a good back and forth between both Henry and her which helps bring depth to both.
The villain in this no doubt is Jason whom personally I never liked, and this episode justifies why. I remember asking myself about the Mary Sue type genius he possesses where simply came up with the answer instantly without any effort whatsoever. And of course, the answer is he didn't because that kind of genius doesn't exist. We see that all the greatness that surrounds him is nothing but a giant façade, he's by his nature is a scumbag.
This guy never done anything to earn his keep nor place in the community as throughout his life just freeloaded on the minds of the highly intelligent and real geniuses by stealing everything they thought up and worked hard for. What makes him even scummer is his arrogance has reached dangerous levels, where he has developed an unhealthy mentality where not just can he get everything he wants but can get away with anything to everything; also, that everyone including the law is beneath him.
The discovery really makes both Henry and Kim tragic characters, you realize he stole not just most to all of Kim's life but also Henry and Kim's love and time together. I'll admit that just grated my nerves because that's not right, no one has the right to destroy love at one's own expense.
The ending is satisfying because as we see Jason's arrogance turns out to be his undoing in the end, as it's made him underestimate Carter, Henry, Kim, and everyone in town. It shows why people like Carter, Henry, Kim and anyone else that struggles, pursues, and respects knowledge belongs in town, and how scum like Jason don't belong.
We also see Henry and Kim go on a date for the first time in a long time. Despite their time lost their love was never destroyed for they never forgotten each other.
Rating: 3 and a half stars.
Magnificent, Beyond Magnificent
richard.fuller110 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I would be hard-pressed to truly say what a bad episode of Eureka might be.
For example, let's suppose the recent season, where five characters are placed back in time, then return to an altered future as well as a character from the past joining them there, was a bad season.
Or, simply say the Frances Fisher season was not the best one so far.
Wouldn't matter. Like any show, the situation has to evolve, the characters have to grow.
What makes Eureka unique is the scientific underlying, even when there is more fiction involved.
A bad moment would truly be a decision I just couldn't abide, and without a doubt, that was the death of Kim.
And undeniably, the reason for hating to see Kim killed off was Before I Forget.
Truthfully, I suppose there was no way to deliver compensation to what we learned had taken place with Kim in this episode, so she essentially had to be done away with.
At first glance, it appeared Kim was an Asian stereotype with her braininess, but then the entire town is made up of scientists, so she was hardly alone.
Unquestionably, it was her solving of the events that truly drove her home and made her a compelling figure (again, hated she was killed off several episodes later).
Kim held her own, no doubt about it, but the episode had another brain at work; Sheriff Carter himself.
Carter makes stupid work. He doesn't know what is going on, but still he outsmarts his own not knowing.
Even when he doesn't know if what he is saying is true, he is still brilliant.
The dialogue Carter delivers to the silent Jason is striking, as Carter doesn't know what has gone on, so he is just going to let Jason reveal himself.
And then there is Jason, the sensational emptiness we all long to be. Jason believed his own fradulent establishment and saw it all crash around him in mere seconds.
Would have been fun to know what happened to this guy.
But even then, he was outsmarted by Kim. Sharp as a laser removing a tattoo, she knew there was greater revenge in letting him live with humiliation than out and out killing him.
For example, let's suppose the recent season, where five characters are placed back in time, then return to an altered future as well as a character from the past joining them there, was a bad season.
Or, simply say the Frances Fisher season was not the best one so far.
Wouldn't matter. Like any show, the situation has to evolve, the characters have to grow.
What makes Eureka unique is the scientific underlying, even when there is more fiction involved.
A bad moment would truly be a decision I just couldn't abide, and without a doubt, that was the death of Kim.
And undeniably, the reason for hating to see Kim killed off was Before I Forget.
Truthfully, I suppose there was no way to deliver compensation to what we learned had taken place with Kim in this episode, so she essentially had to be done away with.
At first glance, it appeared Kim was an Asian stereotype with her braininess, but then the entire town is made up of scientists, so she was hardly alone.
Unquestionably, it was her solving of the events that truly drove her home and made her a compelling figure (again, hated she was killed off several episodes later).
Kim held her own, no doubt about it, but the episode had another brain at work; Sheriff Carter himself.
Carter makes stupid work. He doesn't know what is going on, but still he outsmarts his own not knowing.
Even when he doesn't know if what he is saying is true, he is still brilliant.
The dialogue Carter delivers to the silent Jason is striking, as Carter doesn't know what has gone on, so he is just going to let Jason reveal himself.
And then there is Jason, the sensational emptiness we all long to be. Jason believed his own fradulent establishment and saw it all crash around him in mere seconds.
Would have been fun to know what happened to this guy.
But even then, he was outsmarted by Kim. Sharp as a laser removing a tattoo, she knew there was greater revenge in letting him live with humiliation than out and out killing him.
Great premise and build-up, horrible B plot and 3rd act
skribs7 January 2023
There's a theme I've noticed with the show Eureka. There are some good high-concept sci-fi ideas, like what if someone could manipulate memory? And those ideas are done well, except for a B-plot that is horribly written, and eventually a 3rd act that ruins the setup.
In the case of this episode, we have the situation I described above - a man who is capable of messing with people's memory. This man has the girl of his dreams, a fancy car, and is seen as a hero in Global Dynamics, and it's very clear to the viewer he did not legitimately earn all of these accolades.
The problem starts with the B plot. The B plot centers on a character we've never met before, but who holds extreme importance to a main character. However, because the audience has no connection to this newcomer, we don't feel the same way the characters do.
These two had a history, and it's quickly made clear that the reason their history didn't live up to its potential is because it was stolen from them. But it doesn't really make sense, unless the bad guy was the clingiest 3rd wheel in history.
If the writers did not try too hard to be "good writers" and tie everything in the episode into a nice little bow, they might have had a great episode. Unfortunately, they did try too hard, and this is what we got.
In the case of this episode, we have the situation I described above - a man who is capable of messing with people's memory. This man has the girl of his dreams, a fancy car, and is seen as a hero in Global Dynamics, and it's very clear to the viewer he did not legitimately earn all of these accolades.
The problem starts with the B plot. The B plot centers on a character we've never met before, but who holds extreme importance to a main character. However, because the audience has no connection to this newcomer, we don't feel the same way the characters do.
These two had a history, and it's quickly made clear that the reason their history didn't live up to its potential is because it was stolen from them. But it doesn't really make sense, unless the bad guy was the clingiest 3rd wheel in history.
If the writers did not try too hard to be "good writers" and tie everything in the episode into a nice little bow, they might have had a great episode. Unfortunately, they did try too hard, and this is what we got.
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