Morphing Troubles and Creepy Crabs. Retrospective: Haven — “Crush”

Season 4, Episode 08

Air Date: Friday, November 1, 2013, 10/9c on Syfy.

Rating: ★★★★★

“Could be she knows something she doesn’t even know she knows, you know…” – Jennifer

“Crush” isn’t just about someone liking someone, it’s more a literal term meaning someone’s trouble is crushing people to death. While this trouble is a unique one in that the person afflicted has never had a family history of a trouble, what is most intriguing is the reason why the troubles are morphing. And as Lexie/Audrey (Emily Rose) said in “Lay Me Down,” things in Haven are about to get weird..er.

The Reluctant Hero

Duke (Eric Balfour) would not describe himself as a hero – he’s “a businessman,” and is pretty tired of saving people when all he wants to do is be selfish. We all know Duke has been involved in some pretty shady dealings. He even sells marijuana to Gloria (Jayne Eastwood), the town medical examiner. “I’m supposed to be the selfish one. Now all I do is put my ass on the line for the two of you” — meaning Nathan and Lexie/Audrey. But no matter how hard he tries to escape it, Duke really isn’t selfish at all. He is the guy you want…no, he’s the guy you need to have in town. He’s the guy who can be rational when necessary, and irrational when you think there’s no hope. If I haven’t mentioned it before, I love Duke. Not because Balfour plays him, although that does have a lot to do with how Duke comes across. Balfour infuses such a vibrant nuance into this character that you’re not sure where Balfour begins and Duke ends. Balfour absolutely becomes Duke. And I hope I’m not the only one who is thrilled to pieces that Duke and Jennifer (Emma Lahana) have finally consummated their burgeoning romance.

Sebastian Cabot’s Journal

Dave (John Dunsworth) has found an old journal written by explorer Sebastian Cabot, whose travels brought him to Haven hundreds of years ago. Interestingly, the journal speaks of clues, one being the appearance of a “horseshoe crab,” as a sign of the troubles changing. Why is Vince (Richard Donat) so reluctant to hear this news? Why is Jennifer the only one who can see the creepy crab? When Dave tries to tell Vince about Carrie’s (Kandyse McClure) sleeping trouble spreading being very wrong, Vince snidely retorts, “It’s a trouble, Chicken Little!” After all the years these two brothers (who we still have a lot to learn about) have spent covering up the aftermath of countless troubles in Haven, is Vince so daft to the obvious misgivings about the way the troubles actually work going all wonky? I wonder if William (Colin Ferguson), the guy who helped Lexie in the barn, is a descendant of Mr. Cabot? What about the two thugs, Sinister Guy (Kyle Mitchell) and his henchman (Robert Maillet)? It seems every person they encounter has a hand-print only Lexie/Audrey can see. Speaking of that, what about Lexie/Audrey? She’s supposed to be immune to the troubles but this new pressure trouble, causing things to implode as if underwater, is making her feel its effects; quite odd.

The Trouble of the Week

Jack Driscoll (Darri Ingolffson) doesn’t have a trouble or at least he didn’t think so. If you think the name is familiar, you’re right. Jack is the nephew of the former Reverend Driscoll (Stephen McHattie) from the first two seasons of Haven. Havenites know the Driscoll family prided themselves on being trouble-free but all that has changed now. Jack and his brother Aiden (Craig Olejnik) manifest a trouble causing people to die from immense pressure. As the town slowly and painfully succumbs to what feels like 2,000+ pounds of water crushing them, Nathan, Lexie/Audrey, and Duke try to figure out a way to stop it.

What is curious about this trouble is it has manifested in a family that has never had a trouble, so why now? What is happening in Haven that troubles are spreading or sprouting in families formerly never afflicted by any troubles? Jack says Duke can end his trouble by killing him but, oops, too late, Duke isn’t troubled anymore. When Duke killed his brother Wade (Christian Camargo) in “Lay Me Down,” it ended the Crocker family curse. So now what are they going to do?

Enter the old stand-by: Lexie/Audrey killing Nathan to end the troubles. As Nathan tries to convince Lexie/Audrey this is the only solution, the only way to end everyone’s trouble, I wanted to shout at my TV, “NO! DON’T DO IT!” because it’s not proven this will work. It’s a hypothetical. Cabot’s journal mentions, “ What was once your salvation is now your doom.” Hello, killing Nathan isn’t going to make things better…they’ll get worse.

Pan to Duke, Jennifer, Vince, and Dave standing at the bottom of the stairs as a gunshot reverberates from Lexie/Audrey’s apartment above.

***

To finish with such a cliffhanger…I was on my knees, looking at my television, mouth agape in astonished confusion. WTF! I know Nathan isn’t dead. She didn’t shoot him, right? But, I don’t know for sure…the damn previews for next week don’t show much of anything to make me believe otherwise.

One thing I’m curious about is the connection Duke has with Lexie/Audrey. He told Nathan at the end of season three he loved Audrey. Is it a romantic love or familial love? I know Duke has feelings for Jennifer but what if his connection with Audrey runs deeper? What if killing Nathan isn’t the answer? What if killing Duke ends the troubles? I can’t believe I said that …but I did. I don’t want anyone to die…I just hope no one has to.

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.

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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.