| Arthur "Artie" Nielsen | |
|---|---|
| First appearance | "Pilot" |
| Created by | Jane Espenson |
| Portrayed by | Saul Rubinek |
| Information | |
| Occupation | Cryptographer Warehouse 13 agent |
| Family | Izzy Weisfelt (father) |
Agent Arthur "Artie" Nielsen (née Arthur Weisfelt) is a fictional character on the US television series, Warehouse 13 (2009–present), portrayed by Saul Rubinek. He is the Special Agent in Charge of Warehouse 13 and is the immediate supervisor of Agents Peter Lattimer, Myka Bering and Claudia Donovan.
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Artie Nielsen is born Arthur Weisfelt on July 2, 1948[1] and grows up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[2] He has Russian Jewish heritage. His father, Izzy Weisfelt (Judd Hirsch), taught musical composition at Temple University. The young Artie is a gifted pianist and earns admission to the Juilliard School. Rather than continuing his musical training, he goes to work for the National Security Agency (NSA).[3] He stands 5 feet 8 inches tall, and in addition to English, he is fluent in Russian, German and French.[1] He can also read Latin.[4]
As revealed in season 1 episode 7, "Implosion", the NSA recruits Artie right out of school. While in his 20s he works as a cryptographer and code breaker, decoding Soviet communications, intercepted letters and phone transcripts. He is suspected of selling secrets to the Soviets when he makes contact with one of the persons they are spying on. He is put under surveillance, and on November 18, 1978, an arrest warrant is issued for him on charges of espionage and treason.[5]
In season 2 episode 9, "Vendetta", it is revealed that Artie was actually trading artifacts in exchange for the release of family members who are political prisoners in the Gulag. He believes the artifacts are nothing more than trinkets, antiques and old relics. When his Soviet contact lets slip the artifacts have power, Artie soon discovers they have frightening and dangerous powers. Unable to live with the guilt of what he has done, he turns himself in. This is the day Mrs. Frederic comes into his life, offering him a chance to make amends for past mistakes. She gets the charges expunged and he is given a new identity, Arthur Nielsen. The change of name is not to hide from the U.S. government, but from the Soviets, who consider him a spy who betrayed them. As Artie Nielsen, he joins the U.S. Secret Service and becomes a Warehouse agent.
In season 1 episode 4, "Claudia", we learn that 12 years earlier Artie poses as a professor in order to get close to graduate student Joshua Donovan, to help him while he attempts teleportation research using Rheticus' Compass – an artifact that it had been Artie's mission to retrieve. Unfortunately, he watches helplessly with Joshua's younger sister, Claudia Donovan, as Joshua disappears, apparently killed in an experiment with the compass. This incident causes Artie much grief because he had pushed Joshua to continue the experiment and promised Claudia that he would do whatever he could to help keep him safe. Only later is it discovered that Joshua has trapped himself in a inter-dimensional space. Persuaded by Claudia, and armed with new information about the compass, Artie helps to reproduce the experiment and rescue Joshua.
Artie was once partnered with fellow Warehouse agent James MacPherson, but they have a falling out and MacPherson disappears for about 15 years. Starting with season 1 episode 7, MacPherson returns as Artie’s arch nemesis – collecting and auctioning off artifacts to release them back into the world. In the season one finale, MacPherson blows up the Umbilicus with Artie still inside, presumably killing him. In the season two premier, we learn that Artie is saved by the "Phoenix." Soon thereafter MacPherson is captured and killed.
In Season 2 episode 9, Artie is the only one opposed to the reinstatement of H. G. Wells. He is vindicated in the season two finale when H.G. is revealed to be a villain.
As chief custodian of Warehouse 13, Artie understands many of its secrets. He often uses artifacts to help get out a various predicaments, which he caries around with him in a black bag. He also keeps an emergency travel kit in the trunk of his car that contains a variety of artifacts.[6]
Artie is a secretive person. Because of all the people he has lost in his life, including agents, he shuts everyone out as a defense mechanism.[7] He withholds information about himself and tends to give just enough information to agents for the mission at hand, without answering many of their questions. He obsesses about minutia to the point of neurosis, and has been known in the past to leap to conclusions based on precious little evidence beyond "gut" instinct. Artie frequently tries to protect the people with whom he's forged relationships, either by making them promises to do so (whether or not he can keep them) or by swearing to potential attackers that he won't allow harm to come to those about whom he cares. While not noticeably a religious man, he has studied the Talmud enough to at least be able to quote it.
Artie prefers old-fashioned items and ways of doing things because they are familiar and comfortable, not necessarily because he likes them better. In one instance he finds an important document in his office card catalogue, exclaiming "Google, shmoogle, I’ll stick with paper."[8] In season 2 episode 5, he reluctantly allows a "Global Dynamics geek" to come to Warehouse 13 and upgrade the antiquated computer systems. Claudia describes to Douglas Fargo that Artie would have "vetoed fire if he'd been born a few years earlier." Nonetheless, Artie is generally adept at using modern technology when he must.
Artie is a former code breaker for the NSA and is adept at noticing patterns and calculating probability. He has a high level of knowledge on various subjects which make him effective at his job, although he seems to have trouble remembering dates (MacPherson and Mrs. Frederic correct him on a couple occasions). His thirty-plus years as a Warehouse Agent have taught him the unpredictable nature of artifacts, causing him to proceed with caution in any situation.
With access to the Warehouse computer system, Artie has access to information from around the globe, and shows expert computer hacking skills, though he prefers not to use computers. He is also able to improvise gadgets out of household items; he made an electromagnet out of an iron in "Merge With Caution" and used a broken windshield and his Tesla to overload Pete's ocular input in "Around the Bend". Artie is not opposed to using artifacts in his duties as a Warehouse Agent, and usually carries around a black kit bag, similar to what is commonly called a doctor's bag, with a random assortment of artifacts to be used in various situations.
While not confirmed, Artie is also a great deal stronger than he appears; several times in the series he is shown knocking out an attacker in one punch.
As revealed in season 2 episode 13, when Artie walks away from music to join the NSA, his father feels betrayed because of the sacrifices he made to get Artie into Juilliard. Izzy disowns his son and, after Artie changes his identity, they have no contact for 30 years. When Claudia unexpectedly meets Izzy, she talks him into coming to South Dakota by telling him Artie is dying. When Artie and he meet, they make amends and renew their relationship.
As revealed in season 1 episode 7, at some time during Artie’s partnership with James MacPherson, he forms a relationship with Carol Augustine, with whom James also has a relationship. She eventually chooses James, but when he disappears, Carol blames Artie, saying he’s responsible. Artie insists she simply chose poorly by choosing James instead of him.
In the season 2 episode 7, Artie is discovered to be re-growing his appendix so he will have to call the official Warehouse physician, Dr. Vanessa Calder (Lindsay Wagner). Artie sees Vanessa again when they collaborate on a case in season 3 episode 3. At the end of the episode, they admit to have feelings for each other and agree to a future date, though Vanessa must first return home to Atlanta. Artie confides to Claudia that he resigned himself to that fact he would never find love, but meeting Vanessa gave him new hope.
Artie and Mrs. Frederic have had at least a 30-year long association. Mrs. Frederic cares a great deal about what happens to Artie[9] and she believes he is the best agent the Warehouse has ever had.[10]
Despite Leena’s youthful appearance, it is implied that she and Artie have had an association for quite some time. It is said by Leena that she arrived just after the whole Artie and MacPherson problem with the Phoenix.
Artie’s relationship with Myka starts out strained. Although she likes him, she feels compromised by his secrecy. They begin to work out their difference in the season 1 episode 8, "Duped." They also clash over H.G. Well's reinstatement in season two. Nonetheless, they develop a deep respect and affection for each other.
Artie is often annoyed by Pete’s playful nature, such as when he catches him playing with Timothy Leary’s eyeglasses,[11] but they have a mutual professional respect and fondness for each other. If threatened, they would likely do almost anything to protect the other.
Soon after her arrival at the Warehouse, Claudia Donovan develops a close relationship with Artie. Although the relationship is not without minor conflicts, they develop a father-daughter-like affection for each other – a relationship that means a great deal to Claudia, since she lost her parents when she was young. Artie has even found himself in the uncomfortable position of advising the teenage Claudia on matters of romance.[12]
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