Air Date: Thursday, January 17, 2013, 9/8c on Syfy
Rating:
“Am I even human?” – Audrey
As far as season finales go, “Thanks for the Memories” is one of the best I’ve seen in a while. As The Hunter Meteor shower pummels Haven, everyone is frantically searching for an alternate method of stopping the “troubles” to save Audrey from fate repeating itself.
Observations:
After seeing Agent Howard (Maurice Dean Wint) walk out of the barn with James (Steve Lund) in tow, I am mystified and completely intrigued to discover Howard’s involvement with Audrey (Emily Rose) and the elusive barn. And after a flashback, we realize James’ father is someone we suspected all along.
***
Throughout “Thanks for the Memories,” two men race to find Audrey, who has been taken by Arla (Laura Vandervoort) to find the barn. Both Nathan (Lucas Bryant) and Duke (Eric Balfour) are in love with Audrey and desperately want to keep her from entering the barn. But after Arla points out what benefits everyone in Haven stands to gain from Audrey going into the barn, Duke seems to have second thoughts.
***
Sarah (along with a young Dave and Vince) tried to destroy the barn once before but failed
When it was Sarah’s (Emily Rose) turn to go into the barn, Dave (Richard Donat) and Vince (John Dunsworth) tried to blow it up, to no avail. And now that Audrey and Nathan are inside the barn looking for James, they realize destroying the barn would be futile.
***
The barn apparently has restorative properties but the longer James stays out of the barn, the worse he gets. Arla tells him when he arrived in Haven 27 years ago looking for his mother Sarah, he found Lucy (Emily Rose) instead. Did Lucy kill James to save herself? The myth is if Audrey (Sarah or Lucy) kills someone she loves, it would end the troubles forever, not just for 27 years. But is Audrey capable of killing someone she loves? The troubles don’t work in the barn and all the lies about Lucy killing James come to light, letting James see Arla (or Patchwork Barbie, as I call her) for who and what she really is.
***
Howard tells Audrey the barn is an “amplifier” for her powers. While in there, her powers keep the “troubles” at bay, but she must return every 27 years to “recharge” with “love.” So, of course, Audrey asks Howard the question about her humanity, to which he cryptically replies, “Audrey, that’s your problem, you’re very, very human.”
***
A surprise turn of events happens, something I should have suspected but didn’t. Vince is “the boss” the leader of The Guard. Mouth agape and eyes bugging out pretty much describes my reaction. In a normal voice, Vince instructs The Guard, who are surrounding the barn to ensure Audrey doesn’t come out, to leave. And they go without a fuss, much to Jordan’s (Kate Kelton) chagrin. She’s flabbergasted to learn Vince is the leader. After all this time… something I didn’t anticipate.
***
Nathan tries to comfort James after an incident inside the barn
Without giving too much away about what transpires inside the barn with Audrey, Nathan, and James, I will tell you it’s an eye-opening experience. I’ve already mentioned a flashback that reveals who James’ father really is, and it’s a pretty intense moment when Audrey realizes it too. What really sends “Thanks for the Memories” into a new realm of wonderful season finales is the epic ending, which includes a shootout between Nathan, Duke, and Jordan. Jordan’s trouble—her touch paralyzes people with excruciating pain—has made her desperate. To be unable to feel another person’s touch has put her over the edge and at the peril of someone we love.
***
Nothing is more bittersweet than a goodbye kiss
Audrey says her last goodbyes to Dwight (Adam Copeland), Dave, and Vince. But it’s her final goodbyes to Duke and Nathan that really hits a tender spot. I know Audrey loves Duke but she’s not in love with him…much. When she says she’ll be sad that she can’t remember Colorado where they had their hot and heavy kiss, it’s very touching. The piece de resistance is her goodbye kiss to Nathan. They finally embrace and fully show their passion. Now, while I was expecting those three little important words to be uttered, I’m glad they weren’t; it’s so cliché. Actions speak louder and the way Nathan vehemently asks to go into the barn with Audrey breaks my heart.
I didn’t expect Audrey to ask Duke to keep Nathan at bay either. The tussle escalates and Nathan makes a startling realization. What if hurting Agent Howard destroys the barn? What happens next sends this season finale cliff hanger into overdrive.
***
As a physically wounded Nathan is left alone in the middle of field watching Duke jump into the disintegrating barn to save Audrey, we are all left to wonder what will happen. Will Duke and Audrey come back quickly or will we see season four return 27 years later—with Nathan older, and both Dave and Vince possibly dead? I can’t wait to find out!
Haven will return for season four this fall, only on Syfy.
For more on Haven, go to http://www.syfy.com/haven.
Follow the show on Twitter @Syfy using hashtag #Haven, as well as cast members @EmilyroseLA, @EricBalfour, @davehaven, and @vincehaven. For Eric Balfour fans – follow @EricBalfourfans.
LIKE Haven on Facebook.
Photo ©Syfy, a division of NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Judy Manning
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