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 4.06 Review: A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

Anyone that has yet to watch Friday night’s episode of Haven, titled ‘Lay Me Down’, I suggest you do so now. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

So this was an okay episode, although to be fair I’ve been pretty disappointed with a lot of this season so it wasn’t that great an episode. Whatever happens to people in their dreams happens to them in real life because of a mysterious handprint that happened to a Troubled person when she was mugged. The whole mysterious handprint is an intriguing concept, and for the most part this Trouble was too, but it got to be a little much when she was able to stop the Trouble by going into the dark place in a lucid dream. Troubles aren’t supposed to be that simple to get rid of.

Elsewhere in this episode, Duke quickly catches up on what Wade has been doing lately, and boy has he been busy. Duke is none too happy when he becomes privy to his brother’s extracurricular murdering activities. Wade is deluded enough to think that he’s helping these peoples families, and enjoys the rush of the family curse. When he goes after Jennifer, Duke has no option but to kill him. I understand this happening, but I think it came a little too early. What was the point of Wade if he’s killed halfway through the season? Also, because Duke killed him, his Trouble is now gone. I was under the impression it was a curse not a Trouble from the time we first learned of his ability. Now he’s got no ability to protect himself against the Troubled people, so I think this was moronically written out before there was enough fruition. But then, perhaps a mystical handprint will bring it back?

About those two men, they were in the barn with Audrey, so I’m rather curious to learn who exactly they are. Are they the consequence of opening the door? Is that why the handprint morphs or magnifies a Trouble? Also, aren’t they just ridiculously creepy? And if they’re out, does that mean William is out and will pop up soon? I could have sworn he was a series regular this season, but maybe I’m mistaken and he was just a recurring character. But still, it took long enough for the consequences of opening the door to show up, that would’ve been a little nicer to have last week, though I suppose last week was all about Nathan learning Lexie is in fact Audrey.

A few last things to note, one being the shaky camera work used throughout this episode, which is a valid technique, but it just is used improperly so often, and this was one of those circumstances. For the most part, I’m not a fan of it, it’s used way too much, and I just don’t think most cinematographers have the skill to use it properly. Like the cameras attached to the actors body, I absolutely hate that. Also, as I’ve said before, Jennifer and Duke are getting way too close way too quickly, he hadn’t even had any time to get over Audrey when she came in, and now it’s all googly eyes at each other, and protective manners. I don’t like it; it’s not natural enough. And while this whole business with Agent Howard having transacted her adoption in Haven, she’s just being made way too much of for such a new character. Her character seems to be getting way too central to the story, like a second Audrey, but Audrey already exists so she’s not necessary in that way. I liked her as a secondary character, but that’s looking like that’s not the way she’s going.

Overall, I’m not satisfied with the way this season is being written. Storylines are being thrown in, then pulled out before they’ve been able to fully develop. Other storylines are being dragged on and developed at a ridiculously slow pace. This is becoming an ever increasingly uneven season, and it’s leading me to believe this series is losing its mysterious touch. There was this build up to the end of season three about who the Colorado Kid was, that was solved and now there hasn’t been much to build up towards since then. I really hope the writing begins to get better.

My rating: 6 out of 10.

Best Line:

“I’m a Gemini, Aquarius rising.” – Duke states, inferring to his interest in horoscopes to Nathan and Audrey.

Alright, I apologize if this is a bit scatterbrained, I’m very tired and I watched this episode last night. I’m going to go watch an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer now. Be sure to check back in tomorrow for reviews of Once Upon A Time and Revenge.

Haven 4.06 Review: The Monster Inside Us

This is your only warning. For all those that have yet to watch Friday night’s episode of Haven, entitled ‘Countdown’, I suggest you go and do so immediately, or vacate the premises. As always, this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Well, this week’s episode marked the halfway point for the season, kind of, only seven episodes left to go. Definitely a better episode than last week, possibly better than all of the episodes of the season so far. There were a lot of little threads brought in concerning past seasons that made me quite happy.

Finally, the subject of Duke loving Audrey was raised in this episode. Audrey is back, seemingly in the form of Lexie, and so Nathan plans on making her fall in love with him so that she can kill him and end the Troubles for good. Thus, this week Nathan brings up the little tidbit of information Duke shared with him before Nathan shot Agent Howard, and feels like he’s the right person to take care of Audrey when Nathan’s gone. It was good to see the bits and pieces of Duke’s feelings towards Audrey, whom he knows is in fact Audrey, including the subject of Colorado from last season. Still, I don’t think it was quite as strong as past seasons, though I do think it helped that Jennifer wasn’t in this episode to distract from that subject. Even though Duke did appear a little too nonchalant about her packing up her stuff.

A large part of this episode consisted of the subject of being, and creating, a monster. In the end, Jordan decided she no longer wanted to be one, but it was too late for she had already pointed Wade onto the path of becoming one. I still really can’t stand his character, despite understanding the reason he was added to the series. While he plays villain much better than scorned brother, I don’t feel like the switch was completely natural. This week his acting seemed more natural, but not the character. I completely saw that point where he went in to stab the Troubled man Paul to activate his family’s curse, but whereas Duke sees it for the curse it is, Wade views it as more of a gift. Power does corrupt absolutely when that is what a person craves. Still, I can’t stand the character.

Part of the reason why I think this week’s episode worked much better is because of the fact Bigfoot didn’t appear in it (yes, I mean Dwight), and the fact Jordan was cracking and finally decided it was time to move on, although she really didn’t end up moving on – on to the afterlife. Also, the fact that the love triangle wasn’t corrupted by the Jennifer character this week, and that we knew Lexie was still Audrey. And how Nathan eventually figured out who Audrey really was. Some nice, simple things that really boosted the episode’s appeal.

While I know this show can’t be like this every week, with big reveals popping up throughout an episode, I am happy to have been able to watch a much better chapter to the story of Haven. If the writing starts to shape up a little more, and add in the repercussions of opening the door, this series will begin to work it’s way back to the greatness it had in the beginning.

My rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“I’ll say things like 10-4 and copy that, and like eat donuts and stuff.” – Audrey says to Nathan, trying to convince him that she is Lexie.

“Don’t touch him.” – Nathan says. “I wasn’t planning on it.” – Duke retorts, after a body gets rigor mortis before death.

Sorry for not posting this last night, but I did watch, I just got too tired to write the review. I’m off to watch Once Upon A Time now, then Revenge. Stick around for those reviews.

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.