| The Real Thing | |
|---|---|
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| Air date | April 30, 2012 |
| Written by | Bruce Miller |
| Directed by | Michael Robison |
| Episode guide | |
| Preceded by "Lost" |
Followed by "Force Quit" |
| Cast | Transcript | |
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| Season 5 | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | |
| Season 4 | ||||||
"The Real Thing" is the second episode of the fifth season of Eureka.
Synopsis[]
A month has passed, and the town continues hunting for the missing Astraeus crew after the DOD calls off the search. Meanwhile, in the simulation, the crew comes face to face with a dragon. When one of the crew realizes the truth of their circumstances it ends in tragedy.
Plot[]
As in the previous episode, we have found out that the Astraeus Crew is in a Virtual Reality Simulator (VRS) being controlled by The Consortium. Back in the real Eureka people continue searching for The Astraeus as it has been a month since it and its crew have disappeared. Kevin is developing a way to find where The Astraeus has vanished to. But, as Kevin and Jack Carter discuss the possibilities, Deputy Andy brings news that Senator Wen is halting the search for The Astraeus. After this, Jack Carter goes to Senator Wen to talk to her about reconsidering calling off the search, while Kevin takes matters into his own hands and steals some equipment from a scientist for his detector.
Meanwhile, Beverly Barlowe and The Consortium are able to use the Virtual Eureka to make the Astraeus crew "work for them" and decide to get them to work on genetics for their next assignment. Global Dynamics gives an order to obtain the biological samples from The Astraeus. Allison Blake and Jo Lupo go to the Astraeus, but not before Allison witnesses a "rendering error" in Cafe Diem, where NPC Vincent walks through the counter. At the Astraeus, Jo and Allison talk about Jenna and mentions dragons. At this point, the VRS, was only meant for 20 subjects and with Allison being the 21st, the system is overloaded. The algorithm that sorts reality from fantasy within the VRS fails and renders a dragon in the Astraeus' hold. After narrowly escaping, Allison, Fargo, Holly & NPCs Jack and Jo figure out a new invention to try to capture it. Beverly and the Consortium begin to worry about The Astraeus crew continuing to believe in the VRS but find hope in a new invention although the system is flawed.
Back in Eureka, Jack confronts Kevin about the stolen equipment. Kevin and Jack take the Equipment back to his house and meet there with Henry Deacon. After Henry examines the work Kevin has done, he is astounded and says that it might work. Jack then asks what Kevin needs and eventually gets the entire town involved. They gather most of the materials needed when they find out they need a part from a large satellite dish. Jack and Andy sneak pass the military guards and Jack gets the part after a close call, but Deputy Andy gets caught. After giving the part to Henry, both Jack and Andy get thrown in their own jail by Senator Wen. While in lock up, Jack and Andy discuss the possibilities of giving up the search and with an epiphany realizes that the Astraeus never left earth.
In the Virtual Eureka, Allison and NPC Jack search the woods for the dragon. As they reminisce, they run into Holly Martin who is also searching for the dragon. Shortly after they locate the dragon resting and for a moment another "rendering error" occurs. The dragon flashes to a wireframe character for a second and this coaxes Holly to believe that it is not real. As Holly approaches, the dragon awakens, slashes at her, cutting her arm and then flying away. She concludes that it has to be real.
In the Real Eureka, Jo gets back into town just in time to release Jack and Andy. After rushing to the site of the detector and finding they found nothing in the sky. Jack reveals that the Astraeus might still be on earth. They proceed with a new scan downwards. Senator Wen arrives threatening to throw everyone in jail. But Jack reveals that they can find the Astraeus. They find the trail and track it.
After Senator Wen gives them their full support and makes a call, a Global Dynamic team lead by Jack breaks into the warehouse where the Astraeus is, but find everyone gone. As they are relieved to figure out that the Astraeus has not left earth, Jack figures out there is a mole in town. Jack and Henry go through the simulation of the day the launch took place. Jack pauses it as Senator Wen is at the main console and sees she is smirking. He concludes that she is the mole. Especially due to the fact that The Consortium was tipped off and fled after he had told her what his plans were to find the crew.
In Virtual Eureka, Zane, and NPCs Jo and Jack come out to the woods with the new invention to capture the dragon. After a successful demonstration, in reality Beverly and the Consortium are pleased with the results. Holly begins to catch on to the VRS after pulling off her bandage and her wounds were gone for a split second before "rendering." She confides in NPC Jack who says "I wish you didn't say that."
In Reality, Senator Wen confirms she is part of the Consortium and pulls out her neuro-connections effectively killing her. She simply fades away after NPC Jack walks away.
Memorable Quotes[]
Notes[]
When hunting the dragon, armed with Zane's weapon, the dragon is seen clinging to the side of a tree. For a moment, you can see a profile view, and the dragon's face has a striking resemblance to Toothless from How To Train Your Dragon.
In episode 4.18, This one Time at Space Camp, Jack mentions that he keeps a key to the jail cell behind a false brick in case he ever gets locked in. But in this episode he has to wait for Jo to release him from the cell.