DEBRIEF: Episode 403, "All the Rage"

SPOILERS BELOW!

I love zombies. In videogames, books, movies, comics, what have you. So I felt very lucky indeed to get to write "All the Rage," Eureka's love letter to the likes of Dawn of the Dead and 28 Days Later.

It was a really fun challenge for us to do a "scary" episode of Eureka that's still Eureka, with our mix of humor, emotion, and sci fi action. Director Mike Rohl and the production and post teams did an amazing job turning cheery, bright Global Dynamics into a creeptastic, claustrophobic zombie haven. How eerie was that trashed infirmary? As our fantastic DP Rick Maguire and his ace crew will tell you, lighting for darkness is much harder than lighting for…well, light.

You can hardly make a zombie show without zombies, can you? This episode had a huge number of extras. Here they are in the Rotunda, taking a break between shots. Even zombies need coffee.

This episode was largely about Fargo learning first hand the stresses and challenges of leadership, but I don't think Fargo imagined that getting attacked by NOLWEPs and enraged employees would be part of the job description. Here's Neil behind the scenes, getting the I-mine webbing applied. ("I almost suffocated! And these were my favorite pants.")

This episode also was about Jo finding her feet with her new position at GD, and succeeding despite being affected by the anger ray-- and snarky Zane. Doesn't Erica look great in her suit?

We were so fortunate to have Wil Wheaton as our guest star, who fit seamlessly into the cast and was a blast to work with. As you may've heard, he's joining us for multiple episodes in the back half of the season, so Dr. Parrish will be back! Buckle up...

The NOLWEPs, or non-lethal weapons (also called less-lethal weapons), are a real branch of weapons development, as you may know, although the Eureka version of a NOLWEP lab involves more things like sticky foam and slippery anti-traction gel than pepper spray or the Active Denial System. It was fascinating to research the technology. Stink bombs? Really?

The episode was also about relationships beginning and ending. Henry's starting to fall for charming, smart Grace, who still doesn't know he's not "her" Henry. And we bid a bittersweet farewell to Tess, a moment that was heartbreaking but that had to be. Carter did the right thing by her, even though it hurt both of them. Breakups aren't easy, even (or especially) in Eureka.

Giving voice to what's under the surface -- GD's resentment of "Other" Fargo, Grant's loss of the life he might have had, Carter ending things with Tess because he knows they won't work out as a couple -- can be painful, but sometimes is necessary to effect change. Better to let it all out before you end up with, say, a zombie mob of mad scientists...

Thanks for watching!

From Kira Snyder, writer of "All the Rage"

Comments

[Chris]

I've tried to avoid personal attacks against the writers. If I've made a personal attack, I apologize.

However, my opinion of the story arc and how it dealt with Tess hasn't changed. If keeping JRN wasn't viable due to money or whatever, then so be it. I just think the exit could have been done in a much better way.

I will continue to watch the show. I like everything else about it too much to let one (admittedly big) snafu make me stop watching entirely, but I'm not exactly eagerly anticipating the next episode now.

Also, yes, whoever posts about Tess in the Maury Chaykin thread is probably tasteless. I would hope no one does so, Tess fan or no. Also, to whoever said that, I think you're blowing what Tess fans (like myself) are trying to say way out of proportion.

To me, comments are for writers to get feedback from, and, hopefully, to learn from. It's constructive criticism, and if it's a little tough, it's still tough love. Obviously, personal attacks and such are overdoing it, but I think, whether we hate Tess or love her, that the writers have a right to know what their viewers think.

In closing, it seems from the writers' comments that Tess is likely well and truly gone. It's a shame, but hopefully the writers get something from the negative reviews they got from what they did. Personally, I'm moving on.

[chlee]

One of the best episodes yet! It was hilarious, scary, and emotional. What made it one of the best episodes? It was the exiting/dumping of Tess. Thank you writers.

[S W]

Chris,

I made that remark about posting in the memorial thread. I also made it knowing that 99.95% of Eureka fans would not even consider venting in that thread.

:-) Just to be clear, it's not a matter of blowing the Tess situation out of proportion. It was a matter of vocalizing my hope that someone would not stray over the line of decency in their feelings about the Tess situation and make a mistake brought about by a temporary lapse of judgment based on frustration, anger, and/or disappointment. Nothing more than that. If you interpreted it as being blown out of proportion, then I was not clear enough in my statement earlier. :-)

I agree with most of the rest of your post, btw, about the Tess situation, the story-arc, the writing, and constructive feedback from viewers. I've also fallen off of the "must see" list of viewers because I am disappointed in the stories, including the handling of Tess and the writing. I may remain long enough to see Claudia Donovan drop by on holiday from Warehouse 13, but I doubt I'll remain longer than that.

[Chris]

Ha, it's ok. No harm, no foul. I get you now. It's all good :D

[Michael J]

No other comment except that I hope some of the back story is covered in the commentaries for the Season 4.0 DVD set...yes, I'm going to purchase them when they come out (I'm presuming the first 10 episodes will be put on DVD and available before the back-ten.)

[Stacey]

@Linda
RE: Allison is a woman, Tess is a girl
I gotta say OUCH!