Carissa and I bonded over our shared love of Haven on the CliqueClack listserv and figured we could spread our love of SyFy’s summer sleeper by reviewing the finale together. Below find the mini introduction for new viewers followed by our mind-imploding dialogue.
Haven: The .05 Introduction
If you aren’t already familiar, Haven‘s vaguely based on Stephen King’s out-of-print, 184-page novel, The Colorado Kid. The story surrounds a cub reporter interning at a Maine newspaper with two print veterans who, despite repelling the questions of an outsider, slowly reveal to her the town’s mysteries in a sprawling yarn. Although I haven’t read the tale, the Nova Scotia-filmed series follows a similar bent. FBI Agent Audrey Parker (Emily Rose) arrives in fictional Haven, Maine to catch a criminal, but remains when she discovers a maternal link to the land. Although she cultivates a friendship with a pair of old school reporters, Vince and Dave, they seem distrustful of outsiders. But, as time passes, they slowly reveal the island’s secrets as well as secrets about her own story.
Haven’s main plot surrounds the “troubles.” Residents of the island gradually discover they have powers detrimental to themselves and others. Audrey joins the local police force and partners with the chief’s son to investigate weekly, “trouble”-related crimes. Along the way she meets Eleanor (Mary Colin Chisolm), the local doctor (who dies), but whose daughter, Jess (Anne Caillon), takes her place. She meets Duke (Eric Balfour), a potential love interest and devil-may-care cassanova/smuggler/restaurant owner. While investigating the dangerous cracks appearing in the island, she discovers her partner Nathan (Lucas Bryant) can’t feel physical pain and realizes she might share a bond with a woman named Lucy, alias the “Colorado Kid.” The finale brought all these issues to a head in a mind-orgasming cliff-hanger. As you might imagine, Carissa and I had a lot to discuss.
Haven: The Kickass, Mind-imploding, Teeth-clenching Review
Carissa: Hello!
An: Hey. How’s it going? What’d you think of Haven?
Carissa: I am SO glad they announced the renewal before the finale. I would have been severely disappointed if not. I thought it was one of the best finales of the year. Seriously.
An: I totally agree. Normally, I find myself ashamed to admit I watch Haven because each episode is a cuddly hug with paranormal influences (which, admittedly, is why I watch it). But, this week they stepped up the writing and the acting — It was definitely a blow your mind episode.
Carissa: Everything changed. Not one character (well, maybe Dave) comes away the same as the show started. I admit I spent a lot of time trying to figure Haven out. “The Troubles” are so ambiguous. There has never been a historical reference to try to explain what is going on. But next season promises to deliver a lot more.
An: I know. Haven already had ongoing mysteries this season which they deepened post episode one, i.e. “Who’s the Colorado kid?”, “What’s causing the cracks?”, “Who is Audrey’s real mother?” and now they added new ones: “Who’s Audrey?”, “Who’s behind the troubles, really”, while answering old ones: “The chief’s the cause? Really?”
Carissa: “Why can Nathan feel Audrey?” “Who the hell were the FBI impersonators Audrey/Lucy were working with?” “Does everyone have the tattoo?” Did you see the tattoo briefly appear on Jess’s back? Why do all the troubled people dislike Duke (other than the average criminal smart-ass demeanor)?
Clacked by An Nicholson Photo Credit: SyFy
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on Oct 10, 2010 @ 08:57 EST5EDT
My understanding about Nathan’s ability/inability to feel is that the town was plagued by troubles years ago, apparently when Nathan was a child. During that time, he couldn’t feel. Then, the troubles went away and he could feel again. This would be the time period when he could have been with women. Then, around 6 months ago, the troubles started to appear again and, once again, Nathan lost his ability to feel.
*POST AUTHOR*
Thanks for clarifying, Ks1! I appreciate it!
As one of the writers behind Haven (and the publisher of the original book on which the series is based), I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your review/dialogue. Re: Nathan, it’s not a dropped ball nor early-onset puberty — Nathan was unable to feel 27 years ago, the last time the Troubles came to Haven, and he is again unable to feel now, since the Troubles have returned…but he was able to feel normally in between.
Regards,
Charles Ardai
*POST AUTHOR*
Hey Charles,
Thanks for the clarification. Carissa and I enjoyed this season (as you could tell). No doubt Carissa will also express her gratitude. Thanks for starting ‘Hard Case Crime’ and penning eps 11-12. We look forward to next season!
Thanks Charles, for the clarification and the shout out on the post. An and I are happy to have let our secret out. ;-) It’s great to know you are listening to the fans. I can’t wait until next season. You outdid yourselves with the finale and I’m thankful SyFy took notice and renewed!!
I am thoroughly enjoying Haven. I am also enjoying the little nods to Kings other works, but its been driving me crazy that there seems to have been a small nod to the Dark Tower series and Hearts in Atlantis when the ex-con spoke to one of the reporters and asked how he had been and he replied that he been writing lost dog notices. In reference to the lost dog posters used to track people wanted by the “low men”? Who knows maybe I just have Tower on the brain. ;)
You know, Avin, I also noticed minor King allusions through certain scenes or textual references, but I convinced myself that I hallucinated all of it. I’m glad to know I didn’t (unless it’s one massive illusion).
External to King, another nod I liked included episode 12 recognizing the show’s filming location.
Haven, like Glades is another of those shows that sneaked up on me, and apparently several other viewers. Again, with very little publicity, it is really excellent, and has become a “Must Watch”. I am glad that SyFy had the smarts to renew the show.
i literally just finished the episode and I’m blown away. in the beginning this show was okay but recently the episodes have been getting better. This was probably one of the best finales I’ve seen all year. I’m happy i stuck with this show. Can’t wait until next season!!!!!!!!!
I was very skeptical about Haven from the beginning. I liked actress Emily Rose as the lead. I did get frustrated with the storyline in the beginning as they didn’t go into the Colorado kid or why Lucy looks like Audrey. I ALMOST gave up. I’m really glad I did not give up, because as you guys listed, that season finale episode made me say, “WTF?!” I’m definitely intrigued about the Chief, Audrey/Audrey, and Duke’s story lines. I’m looking forward to season 2.