In the pilot episode of ABC’s latest offering, we find ourselves in Haplin, MN, a town so picture perfect its residents have nicknamed it “Happy Town.” Picture perfect on the outside, that is. Early on viewers are given a glimpse in to the town’s tragic history of mysterious and unsolved disappearances, all blamed on the “Magic Man.” For the past 5 years the town has remained crime-free thanks to the sheriff and his rag-tag team of deputies. Until now. Now Haplin finds itself embroiled in mystery once again, as one of the town’s creepier residents is found murdered in an ice-fishing shack.
In typical pilot fashion, this episode was a lot of backstory and introductions mixed with just enough intrigue to keep the viewer’s interest. As Hadley Boone arrives in Haplin, the birthplace of her recently deceased mother, to open a candle shop, the opportunity is seized to introduce cast regulars. In addition to Hadley and the town’s police force, there’s the merry band of widows who all live together at a local boarding house, a mysterious yet handsome Englishman who just moved to town to open a movie memoribilia store, the average small-town Conroe family, and the namesake Haplin family, who own most of the town.
What I liked most is that, thus far, Happy Town seems to take the best parts of failed/failing shows of similar ilk and combine them into something that has potential. The scenery echoes perfectly the feel of the show. A small picturesque town that always has a hint of darkness to it, even when the sun is shining. The townsfolk who are cheerier than a group of tweenage girls on speed still have a secretiveness to each that suggests a secret everyone is in on but the viewer. The mystery of the Magic Man seems to be connected to a symbol seen painted around town (see poster) of a question mark with a halo. Just enough was told to make me want to know more, and to get my conspiracy theory wheels turning.
What I did not like was that it sort of felt like an episode of the X-Files without the benefit of the FBI to figure out what the hell is going on. For seven years the Magic Man abducted residents so thoroughly that it became as if they never existed, except that they have families and friends who are left behind to wonder what happened. If that doesn’t pique Mulder’s interest, I don’t know what would. The concern this brings up for me is, what sort of future can we expect for a show like this? Is the conclusion of the Magic Man mystery the end? Or is there much more hidden beneath the surface that hasn’t yet been tapped? If so, why do people insist on calling it Happy Town, as that seems to be no more than a cover? I suppose Haplin could end up being the next Sunnydale, and if so, that’s OK with me.
Check out promo images to the next episode (May 5th)!
Tried to watch it a few weeks ago, but it was way too scary for me