Feminist Feature: Warehouse of Women

Warehouse 13 was surely considered female-centric in its first season, but the second season was considerably more so, and I'd say even feminist.  The addition of Helena "H.G." Wells, played by Jaime Murray, as a recurring cast member was a wonderful idea.  Her character is complex and mysterious.  Her motives for her actions were understandable and clear in the end, and I felt so bad for her.  I hope one day she'll return to the Warehouse under more trustworthy terms. H.G.'s like X-Men's Mystique: unpredictable, mysterious, sly, and dangerous but with misunderstood good intentions carried out in unfathomable and militant ways.  She must have been a hit, and the SyFy network must have loved her because she will be starring in a Warehouse 13 spin-off, revolving around her life prior to being bronzed by the Warehouse agents.  Steampunk goodness awaits!

Joanne Kelly plays Agent Myka Bering.  Bering feels the need to prove herself in a male-dominated field.  At the beginning of the first season, Bering was cold and distant, needing to turn off the emotions to prove herself capable of the job.  Since then, she's lightened up and learned to love and trust without regrets.  She's still a strong woman, even though she will sometimes cry.  She can be sexy, though she may not feel sexy, which is what makes her so endearing.

Allison Scagliotti's Claudia Donovan was once a runaway and a lost individual, dedicated to finding her brother lost in time and space.  But she fell in love with the Warehouse and its agents, displaying great loyalty and technological expertise.  Though she wants to train to be a field agent, she displays a far greater command and comfort in the background.  She's smart and witty and a whole heck of a lot of fun!  She's easily the scene stealer and star of the show.

Leena, played by Genelle Williams, is also a highly mysterious character.  She was used as a pawn to infiltrate the Warehouse, leading to distrust and contempt from Claudia.  Her empathic abilities may seem a little too maternal or stereotypical, but she uses those powers in exciting ways.  She is also the caretaker of the Warehouse agents' inn.

Leena and Claudia

Mrs. Frederic is highly intimidating, and you can see why everyone is afraid of her.  The way CCH Pounder, as Mrs. Frederic, carries herself can make anyone weep at her feet.  She's clever, resourceful, and mysterious.

The males Artie and Pete do not express excessive testosterone levels.  There is no gender role in Warehouse 13.  There's no stereotypical male role displayed here.  There are only quality characters.

Aaron Ashmore adds some male flavor this season, which premieres July 11, and guest stars include Jeri Ryan, Kate Mulgrew, Sasha Roiz, and Alessandra Torresani.  You can watch full episodes if you need to catch up before the third season starts.