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)!

Haven 4.08 Review: Doing the Right Thing

For all those that have yet to watch Friday’s newest episode of Haven, titled ‘Crush’, I suggest that you go and do that now before reading ahead. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

So, it seems like the two creeps from inside the door are going around giving Troubled families changing Troubles, as well as this week giving two untroubled brothers their very own Troubles. This is the mayhem and chaos that the opening of the door threatened would bring about, and I have to say that while the acting wasn’t quite great from our guest stars, this is what I’ve been waiting for a little more than last week. It’s just stupid that those crab things are an omen of the chaos coming forth.

This whole thing with the handprint makes me wonder if this door opening in the first place wasn’t the beginning of the Troubles in Haven. Maybe whomever Audrey was first was given the first handprint to help the Troubles go away for a period, or any number of other explanations. This definitely opens this series up to an excessive amount of mythology that, if done right, could prove to give this series several more brilliant seasons. For now, the first three seasons seem to be the best, but this is a clinching moment that could bring forth new, mysteriously great material.

Elsewhere in the episode, there were some great things to it. Eric Balfour really brought his dramatic A game this week, with his struggle to get passed having to kill his brother to save Jennifer’s life – who, by the way, seemed a little too okay after the ordeal. His dislike of how basically Audrey coming into his life set him into motion of becoming a hero kind of character, rather than the selfish one he started off as, was quite a conundrum and compelling writing. Although, while I am glad he decided to stay and help out, and be the person he is now, I do think his relationship with Jennifer came a little too quickly. I know Audrey said she loved Nathan, but that Duke could get over his feelings for her that soon is still a little too much for me.

This week I really loved Vince and Dave again. They’re beginning to go back to the more mysterious, bickering characters that covered up Troubled happenings with their newspaper that they used to be. I also loved getting to see Nathan sneak off before Vince found him at Audrey’s place. Such a funny moment, despite the heightened duress it would cause the town if he was caught and Audrey was found out. That is, until the end, where we learn Audrey killing the one she loves would now bring about destruction. But then there’s a shot, and we won’t know until next week (insert disappointed face here), when William appears to come back into things.

Overall, the writing had its moments this week for some things, while others not so much. The guest actors weren’t great, but I was really happy with Duke, Audrey, and Nathan this week, as well as Vince and Dave. I continue to be intrigued by who Jennifer’s parents were, and why Agent Howard worked her adoption. Who is she, and what is her connection to the barn? I really hope this mystery isn’t dragged on for seasons like who the Colorado Kid was. Otherwise this episode was pretty good.

My rating: 7 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Now the question is, are you ready to meet them on purpose?” – Vince asks Jennifer, regarding her birth parents.

“It’s a Trouble, Chicken Little.” – Vince bickers with his brother.

“Awe, come on, can’t I just leave?” – Duke says to the universe.

“I never know what they’re talking about.” – Duke mutters, in regards to Vince and Dave.

All caught up now at least, I just have to review today’s episodes of Once Upon A Time and Revenge. I’m off to go write those, so stick around.

Haven 4.05 Review: Learning Things All Over Again

This is a warning. If you haven’t watched Friday night’s episode of Haven, entitled ‘The New Girl’, then now would be a good time to exit the premises. As with all my blogs, this is not a spoiler free environment. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

So, the episode began right from where it left off last week, Audrey jumping out of the door and telling everyone she was not Audrey anymore, but Lexie. Last week I definitely think that was well put together, but from where they started it this week, I wasn’t completely convinced they knew what they were doing with things.

First of all, Emily Rose didn’t seem quite as convincing as Lexie this week as she had the last four, at least not for the first ten minutes of the episode, but then I figured she was just trying to find new ground surrounded by all these actors she’d worked with as the character of Audrey. But then, surprisingly enough, she turns out to have actually been Audrey the entire time. Let me just say thank God for that. I’m incredibly glad she was just acting the entire time because this character, while fun and new, was not as good as Audrey. And also the fact that it makes more sense that she’d want to be Audrey over Lexie, since William told her she’d come out as whomever she wanted to be most. But one question though, did she remember everything from the barn? She seems to have picked up too many new skills not to remember.

Secondly, the reason this episode wasn’t as strong is the fact that for three seasons they’ve been creating this love triangle between Duke, Audrey, and Nathan, and then after Audrey clearly makes her choice, Duke just seems to have easily gotten over her. There hasn’t been enough time for him to have been able to get over her, which is why I hated the idea of the writers trying to give him some semblance of happiness with Jennifer. Plus the fact that she came in all sisterly like when they first were around each other. And while I do think Eric Balfour is a great actor on this series, and plays his character quite well, the chemistry between his character and Jennifer just isn’t there. He can give her all the obvious looks that he wants, I don’t see it in her.

So, yeah I’m glad Audrey’s back with the group, although only Duke knows it’s her, it wasn’t as strong an episode as I’d have liked. The last two minutes with Duke were good, and some lines here or there, but otherwise it could’ve used some tweaking. I am curious to know what bad stuff came out of the door; it’d be nice to see that rear its ugly head. Oh, and when did Wade find out about the Troubles? I don’t remember him having the knowledge of them before?

My rating: 6.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“On the upside, I might be normal again.” – Jennifer referring to the desecration of the Barn.

“And I get a free drink.” Lexie/Audrey says in reference to what will happen if she saves Duke.

Yay! All caught up. Now just two more shows for me to watch. Up next will be Once Upon A Time, then stick around after that for Revenge.