Air Date: Friday, September 16, 2011 10/9c
Rating
When a trucker, Cal (Paulino Nunes), sits in his cab flossing his teeth while ogling a young waitress on her cigarette break, I know this is going to be a different kind of Haven.
Audrey (Emily Rose) and Nathan (Lucas Bryant) investigate strange noises from the forest
There’s a serial killer on the loose and a teenage boy, Rory (Scott Beaudin), has gone missing. Is Rory the next victim or is he part of something more menacing? As Nathan (Lucas Bryant) and Audrey (Emily Rose) investigate the diner where Rory was last seen, Nathan notices Audrey is drinking a lot of coffee.
Nathan: “Third cup of coffee.”
Audrey (energetically): “Yeah, I know.”
Nathan: “Sleeping at all?”
Audrey: “Mm, couple hours a night. I’m good though; getting a lot of stuff done. You?”
Nathan: “I didn’t just go through a break-up.”
Audrey: “You did just get demoted; there was anarchy at the police station; and the new Chief died right in front of you.”
Nathan: “Yeah, but I didn’t go through a break-up.”
(Chuckle) Apparently a break-up causes more anxiety than watching a man gurgle blood and fall dead at your feet. The extreme opposite of what logically should make you feel more emotionally distressed; yet sardonically, it is a broken heart that gives us insomnia. Go figure.
“Who, What, Where, Wendigo” gives us insight into various types of heartache – Mr. Campbell (Alex Carter) looking for his missing son Rory; Dwight (guest star WWE Superstar Edge) still mourns the loss of his daughter nine years later; Duke (Eric Balfour) struggles to deal with the emotions of losing his deceiving wife, Evi (Vinessa Antoine), while also trying to find answers to his past; and Rory tries to help Amelia (Alexandra Benoit), the girl he loves, deal with her unique affliction – cannibalism.
Yes, cannibalism. Amelia’s not the National Geographic pigmy tribe type of gal, oh no. She’s more like the modernly clothed, teenage Wendigo. They’ve evolved too, ya know. After discovering the serial killer’s remains in the woods, Dave (John Dunsworth) tells everyone about Wendigos — much to his brother Vince’s (Richard Donat) chagrin. “Wendigo…it’s a human spirit, but stronger, faster; tracks prey like a lion; survives on human flesh.”
WWE Superstar Edge as Dwight the Cleaner
Right. Now that I’ve put my unfinished plate of Chinese Beef Lo-Mein on the table, (gulp) I’m able to focus on this intriguingly docile looking cannibal. Ameila, along with her two sisters — Frankie (Leah Ostry), the eldest, and Sophie (Julia Hines), the youngest — are certainly “troubled” but I think I’d rather have Dwight’s “bullet magnet” affliction rather than crave live human flesh. I guess that explains Dwight’s weapon of choice – a crossbow – because nothing sucks more than every bullet having your name on them. Edge’s performance is improving with every episode he’s in. I hope this guest star role leads to something more permanent. He’s very convincing when he offers up his bicep like a juicy filet mignon to little Sophie who’s suffering from hunger pangs. Thankfully she declines.
Eric Balfour as Duke Crocker
Rev. Driscoll (Stephen McHattie) joining the search party is a little odd but Duke being part of his motley crew is downright suspicious. After Evi’s death, Driscoll tells Duke he has to prove himself worthy so I guess helping find a missing person is the ticket? If you actually believe Duke is joining forces with the ever creepy Driscoll, you don’t know jack…well, in this case, Duke. He’s just cozying up so he can find out why they killed Evi and what Driscoll knows about his late father. The curious footnote to all this – Driscoll’s comment regarding Duke’s father’s failed attempts to save Haven from the “troubled;” it’s no secret Driscoll despises the “troubled,” a fact he makes abundantly clear to Audrey. He’s out there to make sure “the right people” are saved. As for the “troubled,” he wants to “wipe them out.” With this ominous statement sitting heavy in Audrey’s mind, it gives her no pause when she shoots Driscoll before he kills Amelia. But, instead of shooting Driscoll in the shoulder or leg, she shoots him square in the chest leaving no chance for survival.
Duke (Eric Balfour, R) tries to explain to Audrey (Emily Rose, L) that he's only siding with Driscoll to find answers
Of course, with Driscoll dead, it puts a bit of a damper on Duke’s master plan so Audrey explains they are “fighting a war” and Duke needs to figure out where he stands. I think her earlier words to Nathan ring truer than I imagined – “From now on Nathan, it’s just you and me.” There aren’t many people left in Haven for them to trust. And as much as I disliked Driscoll, like Evi, I didn’t want him to die just yet. There is too much left unknown. I may be reaching, but I wonder if both Evi and Driscoll may return from the dead – maybe not physically, but as ghosts – to finish what they’ve started.
Next week’s preview has me pining for Friday to hurry up and get here! Perhaps we’ll learn a little more about Dwight’s mysterious past. How did he meet Nathan’s late father? What happened to his daughter? Did she suffer the same affliction as her father?
Tune in to Haven Fridays at 10/9c only on Syfy.
Follow the show on Twitter @Syfy #Haven and follow @EmilyroseLA @ERICBALFOUR @davehaven and @vincehaven and for Eric Balfour fans – follow @EricBalfourfans
LIKE Haven on Facebook.
Photos © NBC Universal/Syfy.
Judy Manning
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