Your Entertainment Corner

Electrifying Developments. Review Haven — “William”

Season 4, Episode 09

Air Date: Friday, November 8, 2013, 10/9c on Syfy.

Rating: ★★★★★

 

“Because the contents of the box—once released—will devour you and the ones you love.” – Sinister Guy

Just when I think I have an idea of what’s happening on Haven, “William” blows my theories to smithereens. “William” is a fantastic, mind-blowing episode that will have your jaws aching from being dropped to the floor, and your eyes and ears straining to make sure you don’t miss a single electrifying moment! Beware, things are not as they seem.

Two Guys Walk Into A Bar-n

So, those two ominous thugs we’ve been seeing finally make a grand appearance. For lack of actual names, we’ll call the shorter one Sinister Guy (Kyle Mitchell) and the other one Big Guy (Robert Maillet). Well, looks like Sinister Guy and Big Guy have secrets of their own. Their walking into the barn isn’t by happenstance. Mitchell gives a brilliant performance as the thug who doesn’t raise his voice too much to get his threats across. His words are laced with enough malice to instill a sense of unease in even the biggest of men…except for Dwight (Adam Copeland). I’m thrilled to see Dwight back in action. I’ve been enjoying Copeland’s continued growth as an actor and watching his character evolve. I’m anxious to find out the history behind The Guard and their presence in Haven.

Convenient Amnesia

As the title suggests, William (Colin Ferguson) returns to Haven but not in the way you’d think. He’s a prisoner of Sinister Guy and Big Guy…or is he? The astonishing—no, the absolute outlandish—revelation in “William” will blow your mind. I can’t think of any other way to describe the shock of it. And all my talk about shocks and electrifying things – there is a reason. You have to watch to know what I mean…but I’ll say this: Audrey knows William from another life (wink, wink). The way William desperately tries to make Audrey remember their history is jarring. How many times has she returned to Haven? And going back to my original thoughts about William being some version of the former Agent Howard (Maurice Dean Wint), I wonder if Agent Howard was, in some way, a version of William. By all appearances, William knows Audrey from a past life…intimately.

Hallucinations and a Mysterious Box

There is something strange going on with the citizens of Haven. First Dwight begins to exhibit peculiar behavior while interrogating Sinister Guy, and then Jennifer (Emma Lahana) experiences similar distorted hallucinations after visiting Big Guy in the holding cells. Lastly, Nathan (Lucas Bryant) goes off half-cocked thinking Audrey is hooking up with William. I am impressed with Copeland, Lahana, and Bryant’s performances as their characters take on delusional personas. The scenes have a dark comedic edge to them, and each performance shows some of the more grim thoughts each character has about the things they care about. Dwight thinks Duke killed Jordan and other members of The Guard; Jennifer thinks Duke harbors romantic feelings for Audrey; Nathan thinks Audrey is cheating on him and isn’t concerned with fighting for their love. Everything is linked to the box Sinister Guy and Big Guy are looking for.

The Trouble of the Week

This week’s trouble is puzzling. It’s not just one person with a trouble wreaking havoc on the town. It’s more complex and unbelievably odd. We learn about the strange hand-prints on troubled people and who made them. We learn what’s in the box and it’s even more disturbing when the desired effect fails to illicit a memory from Audrey. “There’s someone else in there; the real you. And she…is mine.” Did you hear the deeper tone in William’s voice when he reaches out to touch Audrey’s face? I’m still slack jawed from this final scene.

I’ve mentioned before that I think Dave (John Dunsworth) may be the one leaking Haven’s supernatural issues to that paranormal group, the Darkside Seekers. I mean, there is a snitch in Haven but it has to be someone close to the troubles. I’ve often wondered if Dave and Vince (Richard Donat) have a trouble. I don’t think being nosy, conniving newspaper owners is it, although their behavior is troubling nonetheless. There is a dark history lying behind these two brothers and I hope the writers will explore it…perhaps in season five. (hint hint)

 

Overall

“William” is beyond complicated but it makes so many things clearer (even if they remain somewhat clouded). You feel like you have a grasp on what’s happening but you also feel lost, and as if you’ve run around in circles. When Audrey and William stand in the field alone, he confesses something that will make your head spin. Here are some questions and a few of my Wild Hair Theories I want to throw at you Havenites.

 

 

  1. Will we find out about Audrey’s previous life with William before the end of the season?
  2. I still want/need to know about the deeper connection between Audrey and Duke.
  3. If the solution to ending the troubles was Audrey killing Nathan and now it’s not, could the solution lie within Audrey herself? Could Audrey’s death end the troubles or end Haven entirely? Have you ever thought Haven is a figment of Audrey’s imagination?
  4. I’m also puzzled by Duke saying he still doesn’t “feel free” even though his trouble is gone. What if the Crocker curse, as Dwight said, existed as a balance to the troubles and Duke is supposed to kill Audrey?

Food for thought.

Final note, I love Gloria (Jayne Eastwood). She’s the comic relief. Her snarky comments and wry sarcasm remind me of a real life version of the comic strip character Maxine.

 

For more on Haven, go to http://www.syfy.com/haven.

Follow the show on Twitter @Syfy using hashtag #DiscoverHaven , as well as cast members @EmilyroseLA, @EricBalfour, @davehaven, and @vincehaven. For Eric Balfour fans – follow @EricBalfourfans.

LIKE Haven on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/haven.

Photo ©2013 Syfy, a division of NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.

Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.