Haven – Episode 4 “Consumed” – review

Sam and Jim are quick to point out that this episode was re-written, re-shot, and moved to a different position (it was episode 2 originally) in the line up.  To their point about “Butterfly” being a better second episode to illustrate the show’s strong points its true. I can’t say what “Consumed” was like originally, but as it aired it relied too heavily on a built-in audience.

I should warn everyone you shouldn’t watch this episode while eating or having just eaten.  If the rapidly decomposing food doesn’t turn your stomach, the cow scene may just do you in.  I don’t even know what to think about that scene, and I like to prefer to ignore that it exists.

This episode definitely follows the trend of the first three; Troubles happen, suspects are had, red herring runs amok, and then we get the truth–and the truth is much different from what Audrey or Nathan originally believes.  It’s real world complications that eventually “out” the perpetrator, and the death count for that town rises (again).

Characterwise, Audrey and Duke establish a firmer standing on their (platonic) relationship.  Audrey asks him for help, he scoffs at her because she’s a cop and reminds her that he won’t talk to cops.   Even if he likes them.  This rings hollow later on, however, when he does help them with the mystery surrounding the restaurant having the most problems.  The restaurant is owned by old friends of Duke’s, one of whom is a celebrated chef who routinely asks Duke for…supplies he can’t get locally.

Honestly I was a little irritated with the red herrings in this episode; did Bill’s wife Meg do it because she resents Jeff’s help, did Bill’s brother Jeff (the celebrated chef) do it because he resents being tied to such a “low class” place, did some third party do it to sabotage the restaurant…it was endless how many different scenarios they came up with.  The truth of what was causing the food to sour was much more mundane, but it was interesting to watch how Audrey puzzles it out.

This is also the episode where Nathan, and his dad the Chief, try to help Audrey to settle in and make a decision.  Will she stay or will she go?  Does she want to stay in the town and find out more about the Troubles and the newspaper image of her mom, or does she want to abandon all the crazy and get back to reality?  I’ll give you a hint–the show doesn’t end with this episode.

There isn’t a whole lot of forward momentum on the seasonal plot, though.  The show is trying to remain episodic, but it’s really hard to do that when Audrey keeps bringing up the lack of information about the larger plot.  After last episode’s (“Harmony”) revelation of a name to match the picture of her mom, I expected there to be more information.  But we got nothing.  That was extremely frustrating!

Audrey does make a point to Nathan about there being two sides to Haven–and Nathan is straddling both–the normal “ordinary” side (filled with murderous plots aplenty) and than the “Troubled” side (also filled with murderous plots aplenty).  The rate they go through people–either through relocation or death–makes me wonder how long before this town is little more than a Ghost Town.