Haven

The show in some places is a bit silly, I won't deny that. It is a Fantasy series after all, so there has to be some suspension of disbelief. I'm just now re-watching the series for a second time and the first season isn't as "on the-edge of your seat" as some of the later seasons. The good thing is there are stories every episode that are resolved with an underlying arc that the story follows(you get your payoff for time invested, unlike many series that drag stuff along). So many Sci-fi/Fantasy shows these days are basically long movies chopped into series. This really hinders the rewatchability factor of such shows and why older Sci-fi series like Star Trek are watched over and over again(not the new abominations, except for Strange New Worlds).

If you are in to Fantasy or Sci-fi who likes suspense/mystery/thrillers, this is a really good show to consider. Also, at least currently, you can watch this on Tubi(which is totally free).

This show caught my eye when I saw the ad for it on Hulu. I don't have cable, so I'm not really familiar with a lot of the new shows, but after seeing this is based on the Colorado Kid story by Stephen King, and by being a fan of his work, I decided to check out the show.

I came into the show late; the first episode I saw was the third episode 'Consumed' but that was enough to get me interested. The show takes on some very interesting supernatural elements (with a lot of Stephen King references within them) and it makes for a very entertaining show.

The acting is great, the writing is fun and the two leads, Emily Rose (Audrey Parker) and Lucas Bryant (Nathan Wournos) have great chemistry, while Eric Balfour (Duke) always brings a fun element to the show. I've watched every episode from that first one and I've been hooked. A very enjoyable show with enough supernatural/suspense to keep the viewers intrigued while enjoying the Stephen King-ism and the always burning question "where do I belong?".

FBI agent Audrey Parker (Emily Rose) is sent to Haven, Maine on a case of a prison escapee. She finds help from local cop Nathan Wuornos (Lucas Bryant) and petty criminal smuggler Duke Crocker (Eric Balfour). The town is plagued by strange occurrences. People are cursed by these 'troubles' and she is connected to them in some way.

I really like the show, the mystery and the three leads. I like the actors and their love triangle. I actually like the trouble-of-the-week aspect to those early show. The mystery seems intriguing and it's also the show's Achilles' heel. At some point, the show has to start explaining the origins of the 'troubles'. It's too convoluted. I respect the difficulties of trying to keep viewer interest while constructing a viable story. In the end, it doesn't quite make it but it was fun while it lasted.

Haven is an excellent series for so many reasons but the most important are as follows: a) Genres; Haven crosses so many different genres, such as Thriller, some Comedy, some Romance, Mystery, Drama, Sci-Fi and Horror. There are more, but I'll stick to these as they are the ones that stand out most. b) Appeals to a mass audience; to follow up on that last point, given all that the show delivers, it's nearly (or even theoretically) impossible for any individual to enjoy SOME aspect of this show. It will draw you in for more. c) Location and Setting; The strong location backdrop and scene locations are hard to be beat with a series which relies almost entirely on a small Harbor Town...and a beautifully stunning one at that. Beaches, ocean, a marina, boardwalks, rocky Maine coastline (although filmed very close by in Canada) surrounded by thick forests makes it pleasurable to watch for the views alone. And the small harbour town, again, makes for a "small town feel" amongst the great cast of characters but also allows room for the outside to come in which can be good at the right time. And when this occurs, the show never fails to maintain its strong beliefs and appeal of the mysterious town of Haven. d) Great acting...a must in any TV or Film! e) Having a link to Stephen King and his novel "The Colorado Kid" definitely draws in even more viewers.

All in all, we need more shows like Haven!

Haven has always been the type of show that was pretty good but it never really reached its full potential. The first three seasons defined the show well but once the fourth started everything turned a little sour and it lost the spark it once had.

As a general concept Haven is new and fresh with a nice mystery thriller tone and a supernatural edge. It centres around a town that experiences "troubles" which may seem a little lame or strange but at least initially it worked. Each episode was different and focused on a new trouble. The overarching storyline was also intriguing but unfortunately since they changed the central characters I have lost interest.

Overall the show started good but has gone downhill. The new direction the show is taking just isn't working for me but I guess it's still alright. Haven will probably always be a good but mediocre show. Watchable but nothing special.