I’ve been very pleasantly surprised by this season of “Haven”. The first season took a while to find its footing, but towards the end, the show had found its voice and confidence. I was a bit worried that this season would falter, but it has continued where the first season left off. I find myself looking forward to the show a lot more than I thought I would.
I know some people were worried about the casting of Jason Priestly, but I thought his character was tone-perfect. We see another example of a “curse” that is passed on genetically, something that has been seen or hinted in the past. But I love how this “curse” jumps from someone who adored it to someone who couldn’t want it less. Chris can’t stand people, and now he’s an object of supercharged adoration.
Even better, Audrey’s “curse”, which seems to nullify the effect of other “curses”, makes her the one person that Chris can trust. Since they short-circuited her growing relationship with Duke by bringing in his wife, I suppose this isn’t a bad direction to take. Chris and Audrey have a nice chemistry.
Any mistress who “wins” must inevitably deal with the prospect of being with someone who is a proven liar and cheater. Sooner or later, there is going to be a challenge, another mistress (or at least the temptation). The mayor’s “curse” had to make it all the more likely, with women fawning over him left and right.
The additional layer of the Reverend’s interference is an ongoing subplot that has been brewing for a long time, and continues to escalate in the background. I’m very curious what the Reverend thinks he’s doing, besides preparing the community for a holy crusade against the “troubled”. There are hints in this episode, but not quite enough for me to draw firm conclusions. I suspect it is something that will reveal itself towards the end of the season.
The other well-publicized guest star in this episode was Edge, apparently a current superstar wrestler. I had forgotten about that, so I was surprised when I read that he played Dwight, the “cleaner”, in this episode. That sort of character makes perfect sense, and Edge was good enough in the role that I thought he was just another actor.
Duke’s subplot furthers his search for survival, whenever the inevitable meeting with that guy with the tattoo arrives, and offers a potential explanation. I have no idea what that little box might be able to do, but the inner inscription of “love conquers all” certainly suggests a solution of sorts. And Duke’s name hidden on the top links back to the cyclic, generational nature of the story.
One last pleasant surprise is the news that the ratings have been quite good this season. Despite being separated from the rest of the Syfy sci-fi summer lineup and buried after wrestling on Friday nights, the show has managed to not only retain its first season audience, but build on it. That’s a great sign for the show’s future.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10