"Warehouse 13": "Have Yourself A Very Jinks-Less Christmas"

Last night Syfy began their much-anticipated Countdown to Christmas, with holiday-themed episodes of Eureka, Haven and Warehouse 13, a tradition they started last year, and hopefully will continue with other shows and other holidays.

For instance, Valentine's Day with Being Human (abnormal blood moon causes Josh to become deathly infected, and only having sex with Aidan can cure it), and Sanctuary (abnormal abnormal attacks Will, causing him to become deathly infected, and only having sex with Henry can cure it).

That's just an example. They can work out the details later.

Last night's episodes were sweet stocking stuffers for fans of each show, and played on each series' strengths.

Warehouse 13

All of these episodes take place outside of their regular space/time continuims, and that was definitely the case with the Christmas Warehouse 13. When we last saw the show, Steve Jinks was killed to a melancholy version of "Running Up That Hill," H.G. Wells sacrificed herself in the name of fanfic, and Mrs. Frederic lost her battle with dry, flaky skin.

Oh yeah, and the Warehouse was completely destroyed.

So this episode was obviously before all of that happened, as Mrs. Frederic is still her usual formidable self, and Steve is still alive, but not in this episode (more on that later.)

That sound you just heard was one giant collective, "Awwww!"

It's Christmas time in South Dakota, and Myka and Pete have just finished up their latest artifact hunt, bringing back Rudolph's Nose, which brings inanimate objects to life (as a plus, we get Pete in a very hot workman's uniform). As the gang makes their various plans to get away for the holiday, Pete returns the nose to its rightful place in the Aisle Of Noel, which houses such seasonal artifacts as a perpetually spinning dreidel, that Christmas Story leg lamp, and the skeletal remains of Hermie The Misfit Elf.

The Christmas Story artifact instills a desire to do embarrassing porn (whoever gets that reference wins today's "obscure pop culture" medal)

While he's putting the nose away for safekeeping, Pete slips in the "snow" and falls to the ground, sending various artifacts flying. You know, after watching for three seasons, and seeing how often and easily artifacts are bumped or shaken off their shelves, causing massive amounts of trouble, I think Artie could definitely do with investing in some duct tape. Just tape everything down, and Pete wouldn't have to worry about touching Philip Van Doren Stern's Upholstery Brush! Oh crap, now what?

Yes, Pete accidentally dislodges the brush of the man who wrote The Greatest Gift, which was later turned into the allegedly classic film It's a Wonderful Life. Anyone who touches the brush is swept from existence. It's as if they were never bo ... well, you've seen the movie.

It's the perfect stocking stuffer for your favorite member of NOM

Pete realizes something has gone awry when he returns from his Warehouse trip to find all of his colleagues gone, and two strangers in their place. They're fellow Warehouse Agents, but they think Pete is an intruder, and to make matters worse, Artie has been replaced by the nefarious James MacPherson, who went rogue in Season One, then was killed in Season Two.

The Thompson Twins reunion tour failed to attract fans.