Warehouse 13 isn’t officially due to come back until next year, for its third season, but Syfy decided to throw in an extra 13th episode for the holidays. While holiday episodes don’t work for every show — and especially those on Syfy — if a show is between seasons, this is a great gift for fans. Not sure I’d be wanting to see a holiday episode of Stargate Universe, though, that’s for sure.
“Secret Santa” wasn’t a holiday episode for the books, but for an in-between episode, the writers were able to put together many of the elements of the show that make Warehouse 13 what it is — its characters and its charm — while providing a Christmas theme that celebrated holiday spirit and wasn’t predictable. The story took elements from A Christmas Carol without doing something corny, like having Artie tell the team that the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future were real. Actually, I should say “quirky” rather than corny, because that’s what this show is, for the most part. Those ghosts could totally appear in a future episode, though the artifact here actually told a true Christmas story of its own without having to borrow from fiction — the Christmas cease-fire of WWI — and I liked that.
Heading out of that topic, I have to say that Claudia’s outfits are getting more outrageous with every scene. Not only does her hair turn color during episodes here and there, but the “clothes” she wore in this episode was just … wow. The quarter-long sweater? The necktie necklace? They sound like artifacts on their own! I must be getting old or not out enough, because who wears that stuff?
When I received the screener for this episode a few days ago, Syfy sent some kick-ass USB-powered Christmas lights with it. Not that I’m complaining, but after seeing the awesome shirts Claudia had made for the team, with the almost-killed-me artifacts upon them, I totally wish I’d gotten one of those! Or, actually, the pop-up of Leena’s Bed & Breakfast in the book! I want that!
Oh and for those wondering who the naughty dad was, he was played by Paul Blackthorne, who you may remember from Lipstick Jungle and The Dresden Files.
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on Dec 07, 2010 @ 23:00 EST5EDT
I actually want a sweater like Claudia was wearing in the opening sequence of the episode. Can you tell me where I can at least find images of it? BTW, it’s a cropped hoodie. Very popular among the younger crowd good for fall and spring. Look up a pattern for one at ravelry.com.