Haven 4.10 Review: No More Troubles

Anyone that has yet to watch Friday night’s episode of Haven, titled ‘The Trouble with the Troubles’, now is your last chance to do so before proceeding ahead into possible spoiler territory. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! Fair warning.

For all my readers that don’t personally know me, which is most, if not all, of you, I haven’t mentioned it before, but I love alternate reality episodes. ‘The Wish’ was a great Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode, ‘If/Then’ was an awesome Grey’s Anatomy episode, ‘Apocalypse’ was a fantastic Smallville episode, and so much of Fringe was great because of the alternate characters. So, by the promos of this week’s episode, going in I was very excited. And while the episode wasn’t my favourite alternate reality episode of television, it was a great Haven episode.

Seeing the characters we’ve grown to love on this series playing slightly different roles than the ones they’ve played the last four years was fantastic. Lucas Bryant played a strangely – by our standards – happy Nathan that just so happened to be a doctor with a wife and kid. It was weird seeing a happy, goofy Nathan, and in my opinion it didn’t quite come across as natural as it could have been. Eric Balfour, however, was the actor that did the best at switching up his role on this series. He played cop Duke phenomenally, and the fact that he was the one that still seemed to have a thing for Audrey was interesting in itself. I’m starting to feel that he is better suited for Audrey, mostly because he liked her in both realities, and the fact that Nathan seems to have fallen for Audrey based on convenience. Would he still have loved her if her’s wasn’t the only touch that he could feel?

The real star of this episode, though, would have to be Colin Ferguson and his portrayal of William. I am really intrigued by his character, and how he relates to Audrey. This man is just phenomenal in this series, and I’m quite hopeful that he sticks around for a little while. He seems so devoted to his love of whomever Audrey began as, and that’s such an attractive quality to me. The questions he has introduced as well as answered make him such a fascinating character to develop further.

The happy-go-lucky town that Haven, Maine was this week was great to watch. The fact that vandalism was this town’s worst crime – up until the murders that is – was hilarious. It was a nice, little touch to clean this place up and get to see what it might be like if the Troubles had never come to Haven. That being said, it makes for a more interesting show having the Troubles exist, and the fact that we got a few answers – and even more questions – in this week’s episode was perfect for the way this series has developed.

All in all, I really enjoyed this week’s episode. It’s kind of sad, though, that I’m getting super pumped about this season when there are only a few episodes left. Still, I’ll try and soak all the greatness of this season in before it comes to a close and I have to wait another nine or so months until the next season. Because there better be a next season. That being said, I’m really interested to learn more about who Audrey was originally, and to see more of what her connection is to William. Also, I have to say I enjoyed this episode a lot more because it didn’t include Jennifer in it. Don’t get me wrong, the girl could be interesting, if only they hadn’t thrown her and Duke together so rapidly. In the beginning they came off as more brother-sister than a couple, so I can’t be all that into this pairing. If it had been done more naturally, things may have been different, who knows?

My rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“There’s a Trouble in your bed and I think we should check it out.” – Nathan murmurs jokingly to Audrey.

“This is why I don’t get pedicures.” – Audrey mutters as she stares down at her bare feet.

“What kind of Trouble takes my shoes?” – Audrey questions annoyedly.

“Nother. What do you think it means?” – alterNathan asks innocently. “I think it means ‘Not her’.” – faux Duke replies, annoyed.

“Yeah, I’m gonna get a bigger gun.” – Duke mutters.

“That hurts me.” – Duke states, regarding how he was a cop in the other reality.

Okay, that’s it, I’m caught up. I’m going to go watch a movie or something now, so check back in tomorrow night (or technically in about 18 hours) for my reviews of Once Upon A Time, Revenge, and the series premiere of Almost Human.

Haven 4.09 Review: Who Are You?

Anyone that has yet to watch Friday night’s episode of Haven, titled ‘William’, then now would be your last chance to do without the threat of spoilers. For this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

This week’s episode, for the most part, I was really happy with. This is more of the Haven that I’ve grown to love. There was more mythology thrown into this week and more mystery that is part of what this series spouted out from. And by the way it’s been set up, I’m beyond excited for next week, when a wish causes Haven to have never had the Troubles to begin with.

But back to this week’s episode, I was really surprised by Adam Copeland’s performance as Dwight this week, he was actually good. Not much overacting, his big eyes fit perfect in the frenzied scenes, and him being held captive was actually enjoyable to watch. Maybe this guy has a chance at being a good actor after all.

The performance I most loved this week was Colin Ferguson’s go as William. He was beyond convincing as the amnesiac character, and then to turn into this seemingly evil character at the end was just a completely well done one-eighty.  While I love Eric Balfour as Duke week in and week out, as well as Emily Rose’s performance as Audrey, Ferguson took the cake this week, and I expect to see more of this from him as the season – possibly series – progresses. It makes me want to go and actually restart and finish the series Eureka, which maybe I’ll do after I’m done rewatching Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel in order.

Other things to note about this week’s episode, the one lackey may have been the big brute, but it was his more intellectual, glasses wearing co-lackey that was the creepier of the two. Also, they’re really making Jennifer seem far too important for my liking. Maybe it’s my jealousy rearing its ugly head that she’s taking too much time away from Audrey, but while I am interesting in learning her heritage and what her connection is to the Barn, the fact that she did have a connection to it and is just being introduced to us this season is a problem to me. Look, I wouldn’t have minded her so much if Duke and her had started off more as friends, and then slowly progressed to being in a relationship as he slowly got over Audrey, but the fact that he was still in love with Audrey at the beginning of this season is my problem, because I haven’t been able to see that as easily anymore. It’s like it was just written out.

A few questions about this series going forward, one being who is William really? Has he been in the Barn all this time? Is he in love with who Audrey originally was? What was it that caused her to need to go in the Barn in the first place? Can the Troubles be destroyed? How long have they been around for? Will we ever see the original personality Audrey was? What does the spark between William and Audrey do? What did it cause her to see? How long was she out for her? I am a really curious person, as a creative myself, so I expect most, if not all, of these questions to be answered before this series ends. I can wait for them to be answered eventually, but I do need answers or I’ll go crazy with wonder.

All in all, while this series does have its shortcomings the whole mythology and planning behind it was brilliant. With this episode, I’m actually excited again to watch this series week in and week out. I’m just saddened by the fact there’s only about four episodes left for this season, but I’ll savour them as much as possible.

My rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“I’m the guy here, okay? I’m supposed to be the one who gets close, then pushes you away and freaks out. You’re kind of throwing me off here.” – Duke relates to an infected Jennifer.

“That guy has some serious jealousy issues.” – A seemingly amnesiac William mutters to Audrey, regarding Nathan.

“I can’t believe you actually tased me.” – Duke bewilderingly says to Dwight.

“Somebody really needs to take that thing away from him.” Duke states, concerning Dwight’s handling of the Taser.

All right, that’s me all caught up. Check back in tomorrow for my reviews of Once Upon A Time and Revenge. I’m off to go try and work on my pilot episode, and possibly watch Home Alone afterwards – only forty-five days until Christmas (P.S. I love Christmas)!