Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Warehouse 13: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 3, 2016

SyFy's Warehouse 13 debuted in Summer 2009 and broke records for the cable channel. The show's intriguing blend of The Librarians and The X-Files -- centered around a warehouse full of invaluable, and potentially dangerous, historical artifacts and the people who stand watch over it all -- drew comparisons to the similarly themed Friday the 13th television spinoff (which was itself far removed from the movie franchise of the same name) but quickly set itself apart as a classically constructed procedural, yes, but one notable for its clever blend of history-to-life with adventure, humor, and superior cast camaraderie. Along the series' five-season run, it maintained narrative excellence and character growth, resulting in a breezy, catchy, and creative program that will no doubt hold up to the test of time, never to be tucked away as a curiosity of a bygone era but rather enjoyed for decades to come.

They always hide the fun stuff out in the middle of nowhere. In South Dakota, a secret facility known as "Warehouse 13" houses countless historical artifacts. These aren't garden-variety curiosities but rather potentially powerful -- and dangerous -- objects that are best kept hidden away from the public and particularly those who might wield them in the wrong way. The warehouse isn't a U.S. government concoction. In fact, it's the 13th such iteration of the warehouse (hence the name). Over the centuries, it's only changed location, never purpose. It's always clandestinely transferred to the world's most powerful nation, the nation deemed most capable of protecting the contents inside. Politics play no role in the decision-making process; it's based purely and objectively on the collection's needs. Before, it's fallen under the protective auspices of ancient Egypt, the Roman Empire, and Great Britain. The people who add to, and oversee, the collection are known as "gatherers" and "protectors" of secrets. The warehouse is currently operated by Artie Nielsen (Saul Rubinek), a former NSA operative who has curated the artifacts for several decades. He's joined by two reluctant companions, a pair of younger ex-Secret Service agents named Pete Lattimer (Eddie McClintock) and Myka Bering (Joanne Kelly) who join the quest to collect and safeguard the artifacts. The team is also joined by a hacker named Claudia Donovan (Allison Scagliotti).

Warehouse 13 certainly doesn't bend or break too many rules. It's a rather conventional television show but finds its success by way of its uncanny ability to blend it all together very well, to craft something that's at once familiar but unique. That ranges from its core story details to its broader character elements and identities, from individual artifacts to intimate character interactions and developments. The show follows a simple "artifact of the week" sort of structure that doesn't really see a single, focused, linear story develop but that does, through all of the one-off adventures, allow for a steady growth of the broader Warehouse 13 world: the lore and the characters in particular. The show centers on a curiously successful blend of antiquity meets cutting edge, of soft Sci-Fi exploration meets agreeable character camaraderie, heart, and integral humor. For as bizarre as the show can be -- in a good way -- in its various plot machinations and whacky ideas that almost always, somehow, end up lovingly explored and thoroughly satisfying in the show's contextual universe, it's just as personable and charming. Characters quickly feel like friends on the screen and that same connection flows from the screen to the living room, making the viewer feel a personal connection to every adventure, dialogue exchange, and emotion. The characters' effortlessly fine-tuned charisma saturates every moment, and no matter how fantastically absurd the surrounding show details may become, that core sense of togetherness keeps it all working in harmony, the audience rooting on the characters, and the show grounded in comfortable familiarity even as it explores some rather zany historical curiosities. The show's growth while maintaining its procedural core style and approach is obvious and commendable and the hallmark of every great show of this variety. Warehouse 13 does it as well as most any other.

The show never allows itself to grow fat and lazy in pleasant contentment. It maintains a cheerful, albeit mild, unpredictability, whether in a character angle or a zany new artifact that drives the concept and pushes the characters along. New layers of intrigue always help to both offset the status quo while remaining firmly entrenched in procedural formula. Nearly every episode allows for a growth, largely by way of its character roster and on the individual and collective level. But the driving force remains those artifacts and the adventures to retrieve them and protect them. Imagination runs wild throughout the show, and Warehouse 13's ability to so gleefully and humorously, yet with so much action and honest character drama, take things seriously while having fun with some pretty zany ideas is a core strength. Even with the most fantastical artifact, the show maintains a sense of legitimacy by keeping things honest and on the level, within the established parameters and keeping up with the established flow. Even so, freshness is never a problem, thanks largely to the impressive character roster and the actors who portray them.

Indeed, the show's center revolves around the characters. Artifacts are cool and the warehouse emits a tangible pulse -- almost like it's a construct of everything stored inside of it, like it's taken on the collective lifeblood of all that history and power and mythology, from the front door to the dark vault -- but the character roster exudes that necessary tight-knit sense of family and easy-come camaraderie that is the hallmark of the very best shows. Even as they evolve by way of their experiences individually and collectively, influenced by their adventures with the artifacts and the aura that exudes from the warehouse, even as opinions clash and adventures bring them closer, that tight-knit sense of Warehouse community never falters but only grows and matures through the run. Add in a new character here or there? Seamless. They're family, and there's no mistaking that strength in every episode, from the first to the last.

Warehouse 13: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Warehouse 13: The Complete Series began its life on film and transitioned to digital as the series move on. Early film footage is impressive, with grain obvious but minimal and evenly dispersed. The benefits are clear and the transfer reaps the rewards. Details excel. Artifacts are particularly well textured, with weathering, worn edges, and all of the impressively tactile surface details making an impression and bringing a much-appreciated organic feel to a show that's very much concerned with such things. The warehouse likewise shines, at least in physical set pieces; digital distance and exterior shots are murky, soft, and unforgivingly undefined, but practical sets always impress, all of the little production design odds and ends but also cruder wall, ceiling, and flooring textures. Basic facial features -- pores, lip textures -- reveal plenty in close-up shots. Colors are impressively balanced, whether out in the real world where a pleasant neutrality carries the day, or in the somewhat less diverse, earthy-dominant scheme inside the warehouse and surrounding desert landscapes.

The transition to digital will be clear to audiences attuned to spotting the difference, but the good news is that the digital elements don't betray the series' complexly tactile nature. The show flows well in digital, thanks to a high yield source and a sharp, impressive transfer. Details don't lose their edge. Artifacts -- inside the warehouse and outside -- continue to shine, refusing to let the somewhat less organic, mildly flat digital surface do them any harm. Raw textures remain tactile, and more intimate facial and clothing textures never miss a beat. Colors maintain a healthy neutrality and vibrance outside the warehouse and hold firm to the show's more dreary, earthy tones inside. Flesh tones and black levels hold up well enough, the latter occasionally pushing in both directions -- paleness and crush -- but usually settling into a happy middle ground. Minor banding, noise, and aliasing appear but are never serious concerns. Overall, job well done by Universal.

Warehouse 13: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Warehouse 13: The Complete Series features a solid, and consistently so, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The presentation is largely constructed around two basic elements: music and dialogue. The former enjoys a natural sense of space about the stage. Notes present from the front half with attention to detail and a satisfying level of vigor, while the wrap around the back is obvious but never overpowering or unbalanced, even under more demanding conditions. The low end offers a palpable and effective helping hand in the pursuit of a fuller, more densely detailed and lifelike presentation. Dialogue is always clear and focused. Prioritization is rarely a problem, even when there's more chaos than normal around the characters. Basic dialogue exchanges always enjoy effortless center placement, and reverberation impresses when words are spoken in larger closed-in areas where the soundstage mimics the cavernous location. Mild atmospherics are frequent and well implemented when called upon. Light natural elements are particularly impressive. Insects and rolling thunder, for example, set the mood and expand the stage's confines, while more aggressive bits are likewise well implemented and the beneficiaries of excellent placement and clarity. Much the same holds true for heavier, stronger front-and-center action sounds. Clarity occasionally falters and the biggest moments can sometimes take on a slightly jumbled sensation, but the track rarely stumbles so hard as to lose efficiency and struggle to define the moment. Overall, this is a very good track from Universal that supports the show very well, and consistently so across the five seasons.

Warehouse 13: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Warehouse 13: The Complete Series contains plenty of supplements throughout the set. Every disc offers something, some more than others. Earlier seasons contain more featurettes and later season more commentaries in the shape of "podcasts." None of the extras are all that groundbreaking, but there's a ton of content here spread across all five seasons. The extras do a great job of supporting, rather than overpowering, the seasons. There's plenty of good, insightful, but always rather basic-in-nature stuff here. Most of the extras are presented in standard definition. Each season comes housed in basic a Blu-ray case, all of which are tucked into a sturdy cardboard shell. Also note that there are some music license issues in the set. Check out the official thread in the forum for more information.

Season One, Disc One:

• Deleted Scene (480i): Scene from "Magnetism" (0:21).
• Gag Reel (480i, 3:12).
• Saul Searching (480i, 2:11): Actor Saul Rubinek receives a humorously mild ribbing from the cast and crew and quickly responds to a few silly questions about his eyebrows and the script.
• Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe (480i, 11:23): A basic series overview that covers the broad plot points, origins, casting and rehearsals, character details, the series' productions design, cast camaraderie, and excitement for season two.
• Audio Commentary: Pilot episode commentary with Series Star Saul Rubinek.

Season One, Disc Two:

• Deleted Scenes (480i): Scenes from "Claudia" (4:07), "Elements" (0:40), and "Burnout" (2:05).
• Sneak Peak: Warehouse 13: Season 2 (480i, 3:53).
• Artie-Facts (480i, 4:49): An all-too-brief look at the role the artifacts play in the show and, more interestingly, a cast and crew examination of their favorite artifacts from the show.
• What's in the Shadows? (480i, 5:52): A closer look at one of the most interesting areas inside the warehouse, the "Dark Vault." It also looks at The Regents and the emotional dangers of working at the warehouse.
• Audio Commentaries: For "Claudia:" Executive Producer Jack Kenny; Series Stars Joanne Kelly, CCH Pounder, and Allison Scagliotti; and Supervising Producer Drew Z. Greenberg. For "Implosion:" Executie Producer Jack Kenny, Series Stars Joanne Kelly and CCH Pounder, and Writer Bob Goodman.

Season One, Disc Three:

• Deleted Scenes (480i): Scenes from "Regrets" (1:02), "Breakdown" (0:56), and "Macpherson" (1:14).
• Audio Commentary: For "Macpherson:" Executive Producer Jack Kenny and Series Stars CCH Pounder and Allison Scagliotti.

Season Two, Disc One:

• Deleted Scenes (480i): Scenes from "Time Will Tell" (2:19), "Mild Mannered" (1:51), and "Age Before Beauty" (1:02).
• Gag Reel (480i, 3:17).
• A Thrilleromedy (480i, 7:34): A look at the show's "Mixed bag" trio of styles -- thrills, drama, and comedy -- and how they work in the procedural details. The piece also looks at Jack Kenny's role in the show.
• Audio Commentary: For "Time Will Tell:" Executive Producer Jack Kenny and Series Stars Eddie McClintock, Joanne Kelly, Saul Rubinek, and Allison Scaglotti.

Season Two, Disc Two:

• Deleted Scenes (480i): Scenes from "13.1" (2:09), "Around the Bend" (2:07), "For the Team" (0:31), and "Merge with Caution" (1:12).
• A Stitch in Time (480i, 3:21): A look at H.G. Wells character in the show.
• Photo Gallery (1080p): A selection of character stills. Advancement is by button press and automatically about every 10 seconds.
• Video Blogs (480i): A collection of enlightening shorts.
  
  
  • What's New for Season 2 (3:51): Cast and crew look at the "bigger" second season, basic plot details, crossing over with Eureka, and following up on the biggest first season in SyFy history.
  • Warehouse 13 Origins (3:48): Allison Scagliotti and cast discuss the nuts-and-bolts of what the warehouse is and what it houses, including "bronzed" individuals.
  • Pete and Myka (3:48): A look at the relationship between the two lead characters and how their differences both on the screen and in real life makes the dynamic all the more interesting.
  • The Supernatural (4:15): Cast and crew discuss their thoughts on whether supernatural elements exist in the real world and why the supernatural elements work so well in the show.
  • Artifacts (4:01): A discussion of how the artifacts are woven into the show. Cast also shares favorite artifacts.
• Audio Commentary: For "Merge with Caution:" Executive Producer Jack Kenny and Series Stars Eddie McClintock, Joanne Kelly, Saul Rubinek, and Allison Scaglotti.

Season Two, Disc Three:

• Deleted Scenes (480i): Scenes from "Vendetta" (2:58), "Where and When" (0:58), and "Reset" (1:23).
• Designing the Warehouse (480i, 6:31): A look at the warehouse's history as well as warehouse design ideas and production execution, including a tour of key areas inside. A few artifacts are explored, too.
• Crossing Over: Eureka Crossover Episode (480i, 43:50): An episode from Eureka starring Warehouse 13's Allison Scagliotti.
• Audio Commentary: For "Reset:" Executive Producer Jack Kenny and Series Stars Eddie McClintock, Joanne Kelly, Saul Rubinek, and Allison Scaglotti.

Season Three, Disc One:

• Deleted Scenes (480i): Scenes from "The New Guy" (1:07) and "Love Sick" (2:41).
• Guest Starring... (480i, 10:57): As the title suggests, this piece looks at some of the key and well-known guest stars who have appeared in the show through the first three seasons.
• Gag Reel (480i, 3:35).
• Audio Commentary: For "The New Guy:" Executive Producer/Showrunner Jack Kenny, Series Star Eddie McClintock, Supervising Producer Bob Goodman, and Co-Producers Benjamin Raab and Deric A. Hughes.
• Podcast (1080p, 43:06): The "Lovesick Podcast" with Star Saul Rubinkek. This is essentially another commentary in which the actor speaks about episode 3.3.

Season Three, Disc Two:

• Audio Commentary: For "3...2...1...:" Executive Producer/Showrunner Jack Kenny, Writer Bob Goodman, and Series Stars Eddie McClintock and Allison Scagliotti. For "The 40th Floor:" Executive Producer/Showrunner Jack Kenny, Series Stars Eddie McClintock and Allison Scagliotti, and Co-Writers Benjamin Raab and Deric A. Hughes.

Season Three, Disc Three:

• Deleted Scenes (480i): Scenes from "Emily Lake" (2:59) and "Stand" (0:45).
• Webisodes: Of Monsters and Men (480i, 28:57 total runtime): A ten-chapter extra story from the Warehouse 13 universe.

Season Four, Disc One:

• Extended Scene (480i): Scene from "There's Always a Downside" (0:32).
• Deleted Scene (480i): Scene from "No Pain, No Gain" (0:23).
• Podcasts: Again, more commentaries by a different name. For "A New Hope:" Jack Kenny and Allison Scagliotti. For "An Evil Within:" Jack Kenny and Allison Scagliotti. For "Personal Effects:" Jack Kenny, Allison Scagliotti, and Ian Stokes. For "There's Always a Downside:" Jack Kenny, Allison Scagliotti, and Ian Stokes. For "No Pain, No Gain:" Jack Kenny, Joanne Kelly, Tim Omundson, and Kirsten Nelson.

Season Four, Disc Two:

• Deleted & Alternate Scenes (480i): Scenes from "Endless Wonder" (0:33) and "We All Fall Down" (0:57).
• Podcasts: Again, more commentaries by a different name. For "Fractures:" Jack Kenny, Joanne Kelly, Benjamin Raab, and Deric A. Hughes. For "Endless Wonder:" Jack Kenny, Allison Scagliotti, Danielle Nicolet, Chris Fisher, and Bob Goodman. For "Second Chance:" Jack Kenny, Allison Scagliotti, Chris Fisher, Diego Gutierrez, and Bob Goodman. For "The Ones You Love:" Jack Kenny, Allison Scagliotti, Joanne Kelly, and Holly Harold. For "We All Fall Down:" Jack Kenny, Joanne Kelly, and Holly Harold.

Season Four, Disc Three:

• Deleted & Extended Scenes (480i): Scenes from "The Living and the Dead" (5:33) and "The Sky's the Limit" (0:23).
• Podcasts: Commentary for "The Sky's the Limit" with Jack Kenny, Michael Jones-Morales, Eddie McClintock, and Allison Scagliotti.

Season Four, Disc Four:

• Deleted & Extended Scenes (480i): Scenes from "Runaway" (5:12), "What Matters Most" (1:14), "All the Time in the World" (0:20), and "The Truth Hurts" (4:59).
• Gag Reel (480i, 3:43).
• Podcast: Commentary for "The Truth Hurts" with Jack Kenny, Eddie McClintock, and Allison Scagliotti.
• Grand Designs: Web Series (480i, 38:01): A ten-chapter extra story from the Warehouse 13 universe.

Season Five, Disc One:

• Deleted & Extended Scenes (480i): Scenes from "Endless Terror" (0:56) and "Secret Services" (2:32).
• Podcasts: For "Endless Terror:" Jack Kenny, Eddie McClintock, and Tom Lieber. For "Secret Services:" Jack Kenny, Eddie McClintock, Robert Duncan McNeil, and Tom Lieber. For "A Faire to Remember:" Jack Kenny, Eddie McClintock, Ryan Cartwright, and Tom Lieber.

Season Five, Disc Two:

• Warehouse 13: Behind the Shelves (480i, 50:23): A lengthy and often humorous retrospective that looks at cast camaraderie, stunt work and special effects, the scriptwriting process, location shooting, costumes, art department work, ideas that never made it to the show, killing off a character, wrapping the series, and more.
• Deleted & Extended Scenes (480i): Scenes from "Savage Seduction" (1:01) and "Endless" (1:22).
• Gag Reel (480i, 3:40).
• Podcasts: For "Savage Seduction:" Jack Kenny, Eddie McClintock, and Allison Scagliotti. For "Cangku Shisi:" Jack Kenny, Eddie McClintock, Allison Scagliotti, Benjamin Raab, and Deric A. Hughes. For "Endless:" Jack Kenny, Eddie McClintock, Allison Scagliotti, and John-Paul Nickel.

Warehouse 13: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Warehouse 13 is a fine show that enjoys broad appeal and accessibility. It's procedurally fun and populated by an impressively constructed character roster that comes to life with several terrific performances. There's a lot to love about the way the show embraces simplicity but exudes a deeper connection between its world and the audience. It's a fun run through five seasons that should find lasting appeal as it makes the transition to legacy television. Universal's 15-disc set of Warehouse 13: The Complete Series delivers solid video and audio to go along with plenty of extra content. Very highly recommended.