Syfy's 'Eureka' review: Satisfying series finale

SERIES FINALE "Eureka"

WHEN | WHERE Monday night at 9 on Syfy (after 8:30-4:30 p.m. and 8-9 p.m. catch-up episodes)

REASON TO WATCH High-tech home-sweet-home coda

WHAT IT'S ABOUT The secret Oregon town populated by geniuses, and its average-guy sheriff, face their biggest threat yet. After five seasons of dueling timelines, space launches, body doubles and theoretical disasters wrought real, the people of Eureka are now about to find themselves dispersed. The Department of Defense has decided to shut the town/project down.

Even sweet rocket scientist Holly (geek dream Felicia Day), the once-killed then techno-resurrected "photonic plasma processor married to a bioprinted body," is distraught. But mostly about her incomplete memory: "Everyone's so sad, I wanna catch up so I can feel sad, too."

That's "Eureka" -- all for one, one for all. The move-out keeps them busy battling wormholes, suddenly opening up to endanger everyone, as evidenced by the mincemeat pile of pieces into which they render android deputy Andy. "Wormholes, cyborgs, endless possibility," marvels reawakening Holly. "No wonder you guys love this place."

MY SAY I love this place, too, though I have to admit to jumping in and out of the viewing pool whenever tube-watching time dries up. When I finally return to "Eureka," I'm always impressed by its special blend of amazement, jeopardy, invention and playfulness. That blue-skies opening aptly reflects the series' warmth of spirit.

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As of Tuesday, it'll all be on DVD, and I'm looking forward to looking back with Colin Ferguson's common-sense sheriff, Salli Richardson-Whitfield's savvy doctor, Joe Morton's disillusioned brainiac turned mechanic and all their quirky cohorts.

Monday night's hour wrap-up neatly captures their distinctive appeal(s), bouncing through scientific challenges and romantic quandaries. Former friends/foes reappear in great guest cameos, and the "Eureka" writers romp through their range, from "quantum teleportation" to juvenile body-part jokes. They perhaps explicate too overtly the show's central charms -- geez, guys, give us some credit -- but this still feels like one satisfying final salute.

BOTTOM LINE Y'all come back now, y'hear?

GRADE A-