Happy Town – “This Is Why We Stay” – review

It’s week five, and Haplin is on edge.  The sudden disappearance and equally sudden reappearance of Rachel Conroy has everyone in town believing the Magic Man is back.  Rachel, however, has no memory of her absence much to the chagrin of those in town whose loved ones have gone missng at the hands of the Magic Man.  Henley gives a small clue about the mysterious hammer when she uses it to blackmail Mayor Haplin into giving her $250,000.  The Haplin family matriarch turns the tables on Henley when she hands over twice the amount requested, but then prevents Henley from leaving town or wiring the money out to whomever she is on the phone with every episode.  This forces Henley to turn to Merritt Grieves for assistance.  He obliges, but that turns to be quite the mistake. 

Earlier in the episode we learned from Merritt that he has a son who was kinapped in the same manner the Magic Man kidnaps, and that is why he has come to Haplin.  He uses hypno-therapy on Rachel to help her remember what happened to her. Meanwhile, suspicions about the identity of the Magic Man start turning towards John Haplin, as it is discovered that he might have been having an affair with one of the victims.   Also, it appears that we’ve learned the identity of the Magic Man in Handsome Dan Farmer, the representative from the State Police.

Well, I’m glad we’re getting some answers.  I’m too impatient to wait this long.  I will say that I do not think Handsome Dan is the Magic Man.  It’s too obvious!  Though, in all fairness, that could have been the point all along.  It could be that the writers intended for the audience to find out early on who the bad guy is yet have the focus be on the characters finding out.  I hope that isn’t the case, becase I’m really looking forward to a twist in that story.  I think it’s coming, because of Merritt’s confession about his son.  He, presumably, lived in another part of the world, so to have such a similar situation happen is more than coincidence.  I do think Handsome Dan is working  for the elder Mrs. Haplin, and that’s the reason she is able to have such omnipotent powers over Haplin. 

By the way, that was pretty badass, what she pulled on Henley.  I’m sure she’s some level of evil, but that’s what you get when you mess with someone that powerful! I think Henley is kind of an idiot for thinking she could pull this off, no matter what Mrs. Haplin is trying to cover up. 

So on to next week, when we find out what Merritt helped Rachel remember and the result of Merritt’s fateful bus trip.  I can’t wait!