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<i>Haven</i> — “The Old Switcheroo, Part 2” Recap. Brother Troubles and Seeing Double.

Season 5, Episode 6

Air Date: Friday, October 17, 2014 at 7/6c on Syfy

Rating: ★★★★★

 

“See Nathan, I can totally sound like you – stick up my ass serious, sprinkle in a few ‘Parkers’.” – Duke in Nathan’s body

 

[warning] SPOILERS AHEAD [/warning]

I am digging this body switching trouble. As we saw in last week’s “The Old Switcheroo, Part 1,” several people were switched. Duke (Eric Balfour) is now in Nathan’s (Lucas Bryant) body. These two switching roles makes this some very entertaining TV. Gloria (Jayne Eastwood) is in Dwight’s (Adam Copeland) body, and Dave (John Dunsworth) and Vince (Richard Donat) have switched as well. Out of these pairings, I have to say Balfour and Bryant nail their performances perfectly. I think Bryant is having way too much fun playing the role of Duke. I also think Copeland and Eastwood are having a blast — in every sense of the word — playing opposites.

Confusion runs rampant in “The Old Switcheroo, Part 2,” as the gang must find one of the Doohan brothers who originated this trouble, Jeffrey (Damon Runyun), who’s actually Skip (Andrew Kraulis). Jeffrey escapes from Haven’s psychiatric facility, The Frederick, causing mayhem all over Haven. Meanwhile, Dave and Vince are in North Carolina talking to Allison (Megan Fahlenbock), Skip’s wife in an effort to learn more about her family and Dave’s adoption.

Duke is finally Duke again and he’s ready to unleash a trouble.

I digress. Duke’s trouble is getting worse and with Nathan controlling his body, he doesn’t know how to release a trouble properly. After all their scheming to trap Mara (Emily Rose) in that room inside The Frederick, only for Nathan’s inability to release a non-killing trouble, it seems anticlimactic. Although, did you see how frightened Mara is when Nathan slices Duke’s hand? She is so afraid. Maybe Mara isn’t as immune to the troubles as she thinks. Duke (in Nathan’s body) reveals Mara couldn’t understand him when he had the gibberish trouble. This is where it gets confusing, as if the body switching isn’t. Audrey (Emily Rose) was always immune to the troubles, and Audrey is sharing a body with Mara, so why isn’t Mara immune?

Are you as thoroughly perplexed and bewildered as I am? I hope so. Being this confused needs company.

Vince is getting an eye opening experience being trapped in Dave’s body.

Back in North Carolina, after nearly getting sucked into a “thinnie,” Vince (in Dave’s body) is saved by Dave (in Vince’s body) and Jeffrey (in Skip’s body). Skip decides he needs to go back to Haven with Dave and Vince to make things right. But the experience with the portal gives Vince a vision. It’s the same vision Dave had during his session with Maddie (Linda Kash) in “Much Ado About Mara.” The difference is, Vince is able to clarify some details. He is the one who is chasing someone in his vision. When he catches the person, things get very dark and sinister. The person he captures has just carved “Croatoan” into a tree. I’ve mentioned it before but I wonder if Haven will become the next lost colony like Roanoke.

As an aside, there is a scene when Allison says she drove up to Haven, Maine when she found out about the car accident involving Dave, Vince, and Skip. That’s at least a 15-hour drive. I think it’s a bit incredulous but I guess it’s television, right?

In the hospital, after the switching is reversed, the real Dave, in his own body, tells Vince about the previous time he lost an hour. It was 30 years ago when the Colorado Kid (Steve Lund) was found dead on the beach. But the Colorado Kid wasn’t alone; Dave woke up right next to him. We know that in one of Audrey’s previous lives, she was Sarah and had an encounter with Nathan who had traveled back in time. Their union produced a son – the Colorado Kid. Did Dave kill the Colorado Kid? The mystery deepens.

Wait…how is Audrey there when Mara is over there…I thought they shared a body?

With the Doohan brothers reunited, everyone reverts to their own selves. We learn about the secret between Dwight and Gloria, but it’s the final scene of “The Old Switcheroo, Part 2” that blows you away. Nathan is fed up with Mara and puts a knife to her neck. He tells her if Duke dies, there is no way to get Audrey back; therefore, Mara’s existence is irrelevant. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Nathan so exasperated.

Duke finally releases a trouble, causing Mara to cower in fear. An explosion of sorts with a blinding light knocks Duke, Mara, and Nathan to the ground. But with Mara’s maniacal laughter, it’s obvious she isn’t hurt by Duke’s action. It does, however, cause something quite peculiar to happen. Someone else is in the room; lying on the floor, naked as a newborn, is Audrey. Queue dramatic music.

Funny lines:

Duke and Nathan switching bodies is one of the most entertaining scenes in “The Old Switcheroo, Part 2.” This conversation alone will sustain me for a while.

Duke (in Nathan’s body): “Your whole body is numb.”

Nathan (in Duke’s body): “Yeah and I didn’t realize…you went commando.”

Duke: “Lets things breathe.”

***

After Mara escapes leaving Duke and Nathan trapped inside The Frederick, Duke reveals a secret that makes Deputy Rebecca (Kristy Hinchcliffe) believe they’ve switched bodies.

Duke (in Nathan’s body): “Ok, you leave me no choice. Normally I am a gentleman but in this particular situation, I am forced to kiss and tell — dirty District Attorney Becca.”

Rebecca: “Judge Crocker?”

Duke: “You’re out of order.”

Rebecca: “We haven’t played that game in years.”

***
Overall, the mystery continues to deepen and we are slowly getting some answers about Dave’s strange past and his connection to Agent Howard (Maurice Dean Wint). I find it curious that the writers are still utilizing Agent Howard’s character. It leads me to believe he isn’t actually dead even though Nathan shot him multiple times at the end of season three. I wonder when we’ll see the barn again. Perhaps the lost colony of Roanoke isn’t lost, just trapped inside the barn – or in the “green mist” – or in the void of the thinnie.

 

What did you think of “The Old Switcheroo, Part 2?” Do you love/hate Mara yet? Let me know. Leave me a comment or tweet me @judybopp. I’d love to hear from you!

Tune into Haven, Fridays at 7/6c on Syfy.

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.

 

Photos ©2014 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.