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Review: Haven, Season 2, Ep 4 “Sparks and Recreation”

Air Date: Friday, August 5, 2011 10/9c

Rating ★★★★★

While “Sparks and Recreation” had its ‘electrifying’ moments (pun intended), it left me wanting. I can’t pinpoint exactly what it was that turned me off, but this week’s troubled case just didn’t have the oomph necessary to keep me engaged. 

Mayor Richard Brody (Peter MacNeill) is one popular guy. Sure he’s the mayor, but the townsfolk, including Nathan (Lucas Bryant), are swooning over this lackluster man as if he were a King. Everyone, save Audrey (Emily Rose), seems to be entranced whenever Mayor Brody enters a room. They applaud his crappy first pitch on the baseball field and he even gets the opposing team to agree they were out instead of safe at the plate. How, you may wonder? The Mayor’s “trouble” seems to be similar to that of King Midas except whatever Mayor Brody touches turns into adoration and admiration by all. His affliction also lends a hand in his infidelity.

Emily Rose as Audrey Parker

Why does Audrey always seem to blame the troubled person before she knows all the facts? I mean, what happened to “innocent until proven guilty?” I know cops are naturally suspicious people, but come on! Don’t get me wrong, I really like Audrey and I know she’s just trying to make sense of it all, though I wish she’d tone it down just a pinch.

Investigating the Mayor’s unexpected death leads to more high voltage incidents but the way they are presented, you’re not sure who the “troubled” person might be. For a brief moment, I suspect it might be Audrey but I think the writers intend for us to look at all the characters suspiciously. Even the Mayor’s son, Chris (guest star Jason Priestly), is noted as a suspect. Unfortunately, he’s just inherited his father’s affliction. But just as it didn’t affect Audrey with the Mayor, she doesn’t swoon over Chris…well, at least not like the townsfolk. I’m intrigued when Audrey accepts a date for drinks with Chris. I always thought she may have had some inclination towards Nathan, possibly even Duke (Eric Balfour) but guess maybe I was mistaken. I wonder what will Nathan say when he finds out? I am curious whether Nathan will be jealous or not.

Guest star Jason Priestly as Chris Brody

While Nathan and Audrey continue to search for the troubled person, Duke and Evi (Vinessa Antoine) go on a little treasure hunt. It turns out the drawings in last week’s episode, “Fear and Loathing,” were more than just art, they’re a map that may lead to a solution to Duke’s problem – the prophecy that a tattooed man will kill him. Currently, I’m indifferent with Evi. I don’t think she’s in town to either do good or get back with Duke, despite the heated make-out session at the end of the episode. I’ll hold my opinions until later. In the meantime, how curious is it that the jewelry box they find hidden within the walls of the old Rasmussen House has Duke’s family name, Crocker, secretly embedded on the lid? It can only be seen with florescent light or bug lamp…whichever you happen to have lying around; yeah, very convenient because everyone has one of those handy.

Nathan (Lucas Bryant, L) and Audrey (Emily Rose, C) talk with Dwight, the cleaner (guest star WWE Superstar Edge, R)

I get why Priestly is guest starring – he’ll possibly be Audrey’s romantic interest. What I want to know is why they chose guest star WWE Superstar Edge? Not that I don’t like him (even though I don’t watch WWE), he actually does fairly well in the episode. Dwight (Edge) worked with Nathan’s late father as a cleaner, of sorts. But, my question is why did Nathan’s father need a cleaner? What else has Dwight cleaned for Haven? His comment to Nathan strikes an interesting cord regarding the troubled folks of Haven needing someone on their side as to oppose the quite eerily creepy Reverend Driscoll (Stephen McHattie). He just gives me the willies. He’s a pot-stirrer, if you will. He’s hungry to have more power in Haven but I think he wants it for an infinitely more sinister reason—not helping his fellow man. I think he’s hiding his own affliction.

Mayor Brody’s wife Felicia (Janet-Laine Green), who just so happens to have been the other woman during his first marriage, decides to exploit his new mistress, Lori’s (Kate Greenhouse) electrifying talents using it to kill her husband. All’s fair in love and war, right?

Again, while there are moments of peculiar scenes which make Haven so intriguing, overall I was not too impressed with the episode. I’m hoping the writers will dig a little deeper into the Rasmussen House mystery. I think the Teague brothers, Dave (John Dunsworth) and Vince (Richard Donat), know much more than they care to admit. They tread carefully, but I’m sure what they know will help Audrey figure out who she really is. The question is will they reveal it?

Tune in to Haven Fridays at 10/9c only on Syfy.

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Photos © NBC Universal/Syfy.

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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.

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.