This article may contain spoilers.

Obviously the writers of "Eureka" have a strong funny-bone which allowed their imaginations to run wild to come up with the brain-teaser "p-brane" which sounds awfully like the phrase "pea brain." (I am not sure if the pun was intended or not, but this being Eureka and knowing how devious the writers can be, I suspect that they fully intended the pun).

Which begs the question: is the audience supposed to be "pea brained?"

This weeks episode shimmered with ethereal levity, featuring wise-cracks about poltergeists, séances, crystal balls and a ghost whisperer device intertwined with complex scientific terminology, such as the String Theory, Casimir Effect, and the 5th Dimension. Only in Eureka could a discussion of the supernatural be so seamlessly integrated with sophisticated scientific theories. It made our brains spin while searching for ghosts to struggling simultaneously grasp quantum physics.

It also provided a platform to introduce Carters potential new love interest, Tess Fontana, as the newly appointed head of Section 5. Tess is an astro-physicist who worked with S.E.T.I. (search for extraterrestrial intelligence) and was hired by Global Dynamics to research the signal. Tessopening gambit of the universe does things for strange reasons, but my gut tells me that explaining that to you could be kind of a time suck, was an off the cuff put-down that felt like she was throwing down the gauntlet to challenge Carter.

Thus, seeing Tess and Carter forced to work together when they inadvertently stepped into another dimension and bond in the process was clever. Their tentative efforts to determine if they were ghosts (aka: dead) versus inter-dimensional travelers was funny and fascinating at the same time as they debated invisibility, transparency, and empty space filled with particles and how that translated into alternate propulsion systems and the need for a portable re-entry pad.

Despite this relationship building and trust exercise, it was nice to see Carter still know in his heart that Allison would feel him even across another dimension. The expression on his face as he said, she felt me, was filled with wonder. It foreshadowed that perhaps Allison is still finely attuned to Carter and gave him hope.

However, on a separate note, as Carter astutely observed, the timing of the supernatural occurrences coincided with the re-launch of Section 5 and re-opening Pandoras Box is a dangerous thing. It should not be done
lightly out of curiosity.

What Worked

It was cool to see Allison and Lexie shopping for maternity wear and bonding over their shared pregnancies. It was also funny to see Allison rapidly back-pedal when she thoughtlessly said she could not believe she was going to be going through her second pregnancy alone, again, and then realizing that Lexie had elected to go through her pregnancy alone - by choice. That scene reverberated with under-currents, both positive and negative, yet somehow still managed to feel heart-warming in the process. Plus, the invisi-parel shirt was genius! Every pregnant woman in the world will want one. It is going to start a huge marketing trend, just you watch.

It was also delight watching Lexie snag Fargo into pretending to be her boyfriend and Fargo actually going along with it. It spoke volumes about Fargo and created yet another layer of endearment to a character that is frequently overlooked as a mere comedic punch line. Clearly, there is a lot more to Fargo and it is nice to see a bit more of the loving, thoughtful man underneath the geek exterior. Lexie and Fargos quick repartee about their relationship was priceless. Lexie: Sometimes it feels like forever, and Fargo quipped right back, and sometimes it feels like we just met!

What Didnt Work

Why on earth is the sheriff driving his official government regulated vehicle while talking on a cell phone?! You would think in a town as innovative as Eureka, they would have equipped his car with a hands-free talking device or a Bluetooth. Surely the writers hail from California where it is illegal to talk on a cell phone which is not hands-free while driving. So it is insulting to our intelligence that Carter would not have a cooler and safer way to communicate while in his car. Plus, it feels like a big flip-off to the law makers who enacted such regulation to protect drivers and pedestrians by requiring that cell phone usage be hands-free while driving. The writers need to seriously re-evaluate what message they are sending by such sloppy story-telling.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

"Insane in the P-Brane" was written by Thania St. John and directed by Steve Miner. "Eureka" stars Colin Ferguson, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Joe Morton, Jordan Hinson, Erica Cerra, Neil Grayston, Chris Gauthier, Ever Carradine and Niall Matter. "Eureka" airs Fridays at 9pm ET on Syfy.