Haven — “Much Ado About Mara” Recap. Isn’t Gibberish Fun?

Season 5, Episode 4

Air Date: Thursday, October 2, 2014 at 8/7c on Syfy

Rating: ★★★★★

“Froggy leg cream; shoe?” – Duke

[warning] SPOILERS AHEAD [/warning]

How much fun is “Much Ado About Mara?” The “gibberish trouble” also known as the “Scoville trouble” has Duke (Eric Balfour) talking all kinds of crazy nonsense, and while he thinks he’s making sense, his words don’t convey what he’s feeling or thinking. Aside from the insanely entertaining gibber-jabber, there is a much darker side to this episode. Mara (Emily Rose) adds another notch to her dastardly belt but I have to admit, I kind of like this ballsy persona. I love Audrey (Emily Rose), I do, but something about Mara makes me want to get to know her more. What’s her story? I’m sure I’ll absolutely loathe her by the end; I actually wanted to smack her after what she says to Dwight (Adam Copeland), but her honesty is refreshing in a town so full of secrets.

We’ll start with some drama from our two most secretive Haven citizens – the Teague Brothers, Dave (John Dunsworth) and Vince (Richard Donat). Their bickering cracks me up. “Dangling particles” and “funk my wagnalls” are just some of the insane things they say to each other. They have their own secrets they keep from one another but why waste good kettle corn, Dave?

Vince enlists the help of the “iron maiden” Maddie to get answers.

We know Dave’s adoption into the Teague family was orchestrated by the infamous Agent Howard (Maurice Dean Wint) but the question is why? Will we ever find out who Agent Howard is? Is he from “the other side” like Dave? He was around when Sarah (Rose) was in Haven back in the 1950s. Howard was also around when Lucy (Rose) was searching for the Colorado Kid (Steve Lund). We saw the barn destroyed at the end of season three and Agent Howard was shot by Nathan, but is Agent Howard truly gone? Will the barn come back or was it just another portal?

Vince wants answers, so he enlists the help of the town’s psychiatrist Maddie (Linda Kash), also known as the “iron maiden.” I adore how Maddie sizes up both men in two sentences. “For Vincent, I sense enough anal retention to turn coal to diamonds. And David’s oral regression suggests a fixation for large breasts. Am I right?”

During Maddie’s one on one session with Dave, something bizarre happens while he is under hypnosis. The frightening aftermath leaves me wondering if Maddie is ok. Somehow both Maddie and Dave have “lost time.” The two cannot remember their session but thankfully Maddie keeps notes even though her notes prove puzzling. The word “Croatoan” is scribbled in large letters on a page. Who wrote it? I am very anxious to find out. Dave’s vision during hypnosis is also quite alarming. Dave tells Vince, “We’re talking about some great evil beyond imagining; you don’t think I’d tell ya if I knew?” This, combined with the “Croatoan” message, reminds me of the 1999 television mini-series The Storm of the Century written by Stephen King. It’s a spin on the story about the lost colony of Roanoke back in the late 1500s. Could the citizens of Haven become the next lost colony?

Can you please say everything one more time? And what exactly is froggy leg cream?

At the end of “Spotlight,” Dwight barges in the cabin to find Duke and Mara. Nathan had left to find Duke’s grandfather’s journal about all the troubles the Crocker family ended. Duke needs Mara’s help to release a non-killing trouble to relieve the building pressure. Duke is holding a lot of troubles inside him and if he doesn’t release one, he’s going to explode. Enter the hilarious Scoville trouble. Here are just a few entertaining lines that Balfour has to say with a straight face. I would love to see this blooper reel. I know this episode has one…I just know it.

“Bother blather polka dot…mousy nuts my smelly belly…hump a clump you witchy didgeridoo…rusty liver’s busting sour…symphony turn tunnel…slip the drink in the pink…tickle my pickle… and my favorite… delicious taco.” The last one is my favorite because of the context surrounding its birth. Duke not only speaks gibberish, he is writing it too. Mara blabs a little secret, so when asked to elaborate on his “steamy” night in Colorado with Audrey back in season three, he tries to explain to Nathan, “Bunny. Bunny, bunny, bunny, rabbit.” When that doesn’t work, he writes down “delicious taco.” The sexual innuendos abound!

How is Mara going to kill Audrey when Audrey is a part of her…on the inside…

As I said, “Much Ado About Mara” has a dark side. We learn a lot about Mara and her so-called abilities. When she tells Dwight she’ll heal Jody’s (Lucia Walters) laser beam trouble, I thought maybe Mara isn’t so bad after all. Of course, I immediately ate my words. As birds fall dead out of the sky, barrels of water boil over, rakes curl under, and cell service becomes nonexistent, I get the sense something is definitely wrong. After a little deductive reasoning, Dwight realizes Mara didn’t cure Jody; she changed her trouble from laser beams to deadly microwaves.

Mara is “sick” and twisted, to be sure. I really hope the writers give us more insight into her back story. And again, I must compliment Rose on her performance. She gives new meaning to the idea of split personalities when playing Mara/Audrey. The line Mara says to Dwight about his deceased daughter is beyond a low blow and Rose delivers it perfectly. But Mara’s subsequent reaction to Dwight’s anger throws me off. She wants him to “hurt” her, physically. It’s almost sadistic.

After helping Jody overcome her guilt about her husband, Nathan, Dwight, and Duke talk to Mara but they treat her like Audrey. They’re hoping Audrey will emerge and have Mara’s memories just as Mara has Audrey’s. Unfortunately, it doesn’t pan out the way they want. They learn the truth about Mara’s abilities in curing, or not curing, the troubles but Mara discovers something too during this pow-wow. “So, Audrey was rattling around inside of me. Thank you for letting me know. I’m going to kill that bitch RIGHT NOW!”

Ending “Much Ado About Mara” on this note makes me fidgety and desperate to know what will happen in next week’s episode.

What did you think of “Much Ado About Mara?” Do you love/hate Mara yet? Let me know. Leave me a comment or tweet me @judybopp. I’d love to hear from you!
[important] Haven is moving…to a new night and time! Fridays at 7/6c beginning Friday, October 10, 2014. [/important]

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

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

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

Biography of the Author(Read Below)..
Latest Posts (view them )..

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.