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Review: #Haven , Season 2, Ep. 8 “Friend or Faux” (A whole new meaning to “evil twin.”)

Air Date: Friday, September 2, 2011 10/9c

Rating ★★★★★

Haven continues to impress me with its unnerving approach to introducing a new “troubled” person each week. Of course, basing the series on “The Colorado Kid,” written by the master of horror himself, Stephen King, it’s no wonder some of these cases give me the chills. I really love this show! It’s absolutely fascinating to watch the “troubled” cases and try to figure out how the afflictions cause such mayhem. If you’re unfamiliar with the series or book, I will say if you haven’t seen many episodes, you are able to watch and still be captivated; however, there will be bits that will need some further explanations – like the mystery of Audrey’s (Emily Rose) background and who she really is.

“Friend or Faux” offers up a very strange affliction which gives a whole new meaning to the saying, “evil twin.” Cornell (guest star Christian de la Fuente) can’t seem to get rid of, well, himself, actually. Every time he tries to kill his ‘twin’ – he comes back. Understandably, it’s a little confusing. Watching Cornell shoot his twin in the back of head, then leave for work like nothing happened is outrageous but as he adjusts the radio stations in his car, the air suddenly crackles and voilà, Cornell #2 is sitting in the back seat. I have to say de la Fuente gives a brilliant performance playing two sides of a coin. Heads – he’s a handsome, seemingly mild mannered banker, well put together, straight-laced, and more subdued. Tails – he’s a brash, no-holds-barred go-getter. Slightly disheveled yet still very sexy, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. It takes a skilled actor to play two sides of himself and de la Fuente certainly rises to the challenge.

Emily Rose as Audrey Parker

Audrey and Cornell #2 have a little something in common. Not that Audrey has an evil twin-clone, but she shares memories with another woman named Audrey Parker. Of course, Audrey now believes she may be the reincarnation of Lucy Ripley. It’s a complicated story line but very intriguing to watch as the mystery unfolds. Under duress, Audrey appeals to Cornell #2 by sharing her commonality with him. Of course it’s a diversion in order to escape but I think some, if not all, of it resonates very truthfully. Audrey is trying to figure out if her likes and dislikes are her own. Her memories, like Cornell #2, are someone else’s. But I, along with Nathan, think trying Vegemite® might be pushing it. “…I’m trying it to make sure that I don’t like it. Listen, if my memories are not my own, just because I remember not liking Vegemite® doesn’t mean that I don’t.”

Duke’s (Eric Balfour) young bar helper Henry (Connor Price) is a witness to a violent crime involving the original Cornell, which makes him a target.  After a shoot-out at Duke’s bar, Audrey and Nathan (Lucas Bryant) investigate but Duke is keeping mum about it.

Audrey: “Duke, you’re not telling me everything.”

Duke (exhales sharply): “I am secretly afraid of bananas. I’ve never been wind surfing naked and deep down in my heart, I know that Big Foot is real.”

Nathan (Lucas Bryant) and Audrey (Emily Rose) draw their weapons on Cornell (not seen)

I know Duke’s had his fair share of squabbles with the law, but Henry needs help and Duke being vigilante rather than asking for help is just ridiculous. Needless to say, things really heat up when the original Cornell becomes somewhat more assertive after Nathan discovers a dead body (not a clone) cemented into the walls of an abandoned development site. Henry doesn’t witness Cornell killing a clone – he witnesses Cornell killing a man who figured out Cornell was embezzling money from the bank. After Cornell knocks Nathan out with a cement brick and plans to kill him, Audrey does some serious double-talk to persuade Cornell #2 to kill the original Cornell. While the tension is taut, it’s also sad because Cornell #2 has feelings and knows the original Cornell doesn’t really care about them.

What really thrusts “Friend or Faux” into higher gear is when Duke uses Evi’s (Vinessa Antoine) phone to take a picture of a drunken Nathan attempting to dance. Evi’s phone buzzes with a text message from Rev. Driscoll (Stephen McHattie) thanking her for the information about the double files Nathan keeps on all the cases which excludes the “troubled” from the final police reports. This little nugget of info is just what Selectman Gerst (Mark Graham) needs to replace Nathan as Chief of Police. I don’t know why Evi is doing this and to her husband no less, but I know if Driscoll gets his way, Haven is going to get a cleansing of the unnatural kind. The advice Gerst gives Nathan to leave Haven is a clear indication that things are going to get really nasty.

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.

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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.