Boy, was I wrong.
Okay so quick recap/summary of the show I'm going to make up and try to include all the characters:
The story centers around Abby Mills (Elaine Cassidy), a young 20-something from Los Angeles, CA coming home to Harper's Island. She hasn't seen or spoken to anyone from the island in seven years since her father, Sheriff Charlie Mills (Jim Beaver) sent her away after her mother and several others were murdered by John Wakefield (Callum Keith Rennie). The only reason she's visting the island is because her best friend Henry Dunn (Christopher Gorham), is marrying Trish Wellington (Katie Cassidy). Henry came to the island during the summers and worked for Thomas Wellington (Richard Burgi), Trish's father (tribute to the princess and the pauper for sure). After Trish's mother died, Mr. Wellington remarried; and Katherine Wellington (Claudette Mink) became part of the family. Trish invites her closest girlfriends and her family, including Shea Allen (Gina Holdon); the maid or matron of honor and Trish's sister, Beth Barrington (Amber Borycki) and Lucy Daramour (Sarah Smyth); her best friends from college, and Chloe Carter (Cameron Richardson); another friend. Chloe brings along her british doctor boyfriend, Cal Vendeuson (Adam Campbell). Richard Allen (David Lewis), Shea's husband who works for Thomas Wellington and Madison Allen (Cassandra Sawttell), her daughter come to the island as well. On Henry's side, his family isn't as wealthy or abundant as the Wellington's. Henry's brother JD Dunn (Dean Chekvala) is much the opposite of Henry and is extremely quiet; and VERY much to the opposite of their Uncle; Marty Dunn (Harry Hamlin). His grand entrance at the dock is made with a mariachi band, so needless to say; he's a bit of a party animal. But he does care, considering he raised Henry and JD after their parents died. For what Henry lacks in family, he makes up for in friends. He invites Christopher 'Sully' Sullivan (Matt Barr), his best friend/best man; Joel Booth (Sean Rogerson), Malcolm Ross (Christopher Gauthier), and Danny Brooks (Brandon Jay McLaren) his college friends with very interesting personalities. Also, Hunter Jennings (Victor Webster), Trish's ex, makes his way to the island to sweep Trish off her feet. As soon as the ferry arrives at the island, Abby's memories come flooding back to her as she sees some very familiar faces at the dock. We see Jimmy Mance (CJ Thomason), Abby's very cute former flame from high school who is ecstatic that Abby has returned. When she left, he just missed her as the boat left the dock, leaving Jimmy with no explanation and heart-broken. Now that she's back, he hopes to rekindle what was lost for those seven years. The other townies include Shane Pierce (Ben Cotton) Jimmy's creep of a best friend who's not nice to, well anybody; Nikki Bolton (Ali Liebert) the tough chick who owns the Cannery, the local bar and Abby's best friend in high school; Kelly Seaver (Anna Mae Routledge) a girl who's mom was also murdered by Wakefield; and Maggie Krell (Beverly Elliot), the owner and wedding planner. The week is filled with fun activities before the wedding, but someone has other plans. Days pass, and people go missing, and are later found brutally murdered. In 13 episodes, residents of Harper's Island and members of the wedding party are picked off one by one until few remain. Is it John Wakefield, believed to be dead after the Sheriff killed him seven years earlier? Or is it someone echoing his work, believing it was never finished?
Okay so that wasn't all that short, but I tried.
First of all, the acting is way above par. For the folks I had seen; Cameron Richardson, Matt Barr, Jim Beaver (SUPERNATURAL!! WOO!) Harry Hamlin, Elaine Cassidy, and Katie Cassidy are all fabulous in Harper's Island. I wasn't familiar with Christopher Gorham, CJ Thomason, Gina Holden, or most of the others. But everyone was great! Although I can say that with the exception of Amber Borycki. I haven't seen her in anything else, so I can't say much about her acting; but her character really provides nothing for the show. It's hard to see why she had been kept around for so long because SHE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! She mentioned occasionally "I can't get a hold of Lucy..." but had no point. Sorry for being redundant, but it's the truth.
So I started watching at the third episode or so, trying to see if it was worth watching. After that, I watched the episodes before ep 3. And I've heard speculation about how the episode title can have something to do with the deaths in that particular episode.
**MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW! DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHO DIES!*
Episode 1.01 - Whap
--Doesn't seem to relate to Uncle Marty falling through a bridge and getting his bottom half hacked off, or Cousin Ben's head getting chopped off by the boat propeller. (OW!)
Episode 1.02 - Crackle
--Reverend Fain (minor character-Terence Kelly) dies by his head getting lobbed off by presumably the soon-to-be infamous head spade. No crackle here. Next comes Kelly, who appeared to have hung herself (much to the disbelief of Abby) And lastly, Lucy; who falls into a pit and is doused in lighter fluid/gasoline/something VERY flammable; and tosses a match onto her now very flammable body. Gigi (Lucy's tiny yappy dog) escapes, but is no where to be seen. I'm thinking maybe 'Crackle' from the fire?
Episode 1.03 - Ka-Blam
--Original title, right? Although it makes sense for the one death in this episode. Hunter Jennings, the bad boy who I wanted to die because of his douche-baggeryness, opens the compartment to the engine in a boat and with the cover opening, a rigged shotgun blows his face off. 'Ka-Blam' for sure.
Episode 1.04 - Bang
--Makes sense I guess. Joel Booth, Henry's seasick friend shoots himself in the leg and hits the femoral artery; bleeding out in seconds. Or did he shoot himself?
Episode 1.05 - Thwack
--Thomas Wellington gets it from a headspade heading right through his brain. Gruesome for sure! I don't think 'Thwack' works for the death, but earlier in the episode Thomas and Trish are knocked off their bikes by a flying log. It sort of made a 'Thwack' sound. Just speculating, though.
Episode 1.06 - Sploosh
--Richard Allen is impaled by a harpoon-gun-thing. Don't understand the 'Sploosh' thing at all.
Episode 1.07 - Thrack, Splack, Sizzle
--Malcolm Ross is killed, at least that's what we are told and what it looks like. He's chopped up and thrown in an incinerator. 'Sizzle' makes sense, I guess 'Thrack' and 'Splack' are getting chopped up? I believe this is also the episode where Jimmeh and Abbeh have their first kiss in seven years! Not death-related, but it was exciting.
*side note: Madison Allen appears to have been kidnapped in this episode.
Episode 1.08 - Gurgle
--Two deaths in this episode, a major character and minor. Cole Harkin, a former deputy who has a past with Wakefield, is shot with arrows several times. And at the end, we see JD Dunn lying at the marina looking as if he was gutted. He sort of 'gurgles' as he speaks his last few words but nothing really conclusive if that's the 'Gurgle' related to the episode.
*Side note: Sheriff is badly wounded from getting a sharp puncture in the leg.
Episode 1.09 - Seep
--So I thought this one would have to do with poison seeping into someone's bloodstream, but no. The two deaths in this episode were Beth Barrington, and Katherine Wellington; both stabbed with something...possibly the same or different weapons. I was glad to see Beth get it. Madison is found though. Katherine is stabbed with hedge clippers. At least the killer is creative.
Killer Predictions
I never really made a definitive prediction of the killer, considering some were too cliche, or too obvious, or just plain dumb. And this show has no definite timeline. At times I wish it was like 24 with the clocks showing what time it is; but that would take away from the mystery. So it has been hard to rule out certain people with alibis because it's hard to tell whether 5 minutes or 2 hours lapsed between events. In the last few episodes, time is getting shorter; as in the episode takes place over 3 hours as opposed to 2 days.
People who shouldn't be the killer because it would be cliche/stupid:
-Jimmy Mance
--the Ex boyfriend angle is unoriginal and a lot of evidence points to him making him too easy to predict and there is really no clear motive.
-Joel Booth
--I've seen way too much speculation on "OMG BOOTH IS SO THE KILLER!" after he died. The producers said after episode 7 had aired, that everyone who's been killed are dead for sure.
-Anyone who is already dead
--For the same reasons above, because that would be stupid. None of the 'he came back to life' or 'they faked their death' nonsensical garbage.
-Abby Mills
--Having the main protagonist be the antagonist? NO. Can you say My Bloody Valentine 3D? After the whole story is about her and the torment she went through, to have her be the killer would ruin the series for me.
-Shane Pierce
--I hope he meets his end soon only because he's a moron. But having the creepy, mean guy be the killer is too predictable and cliche.
-Henry Dunn
--Been there for Abby through everything, and finding out it was all a sham would be sour and not a great way to end the series.
Best Characters:
-Abby Mills
--She sort of reminds me of myself. She's awesome and knows how to use a shotgun.
-Jimmy Mance
--He's cute, but also really protective and loving towards Abby even though she left without a word for seven years. Definitely forgiving.
-Thomas Wellington RIP
--He was the typical rich guy with the trophy wife the same age as his daughters, but we saw another side of him towards his demise. He was great.
-Henry Dunn
--Nice guy who made me night when he completely decked Shane in episode 9.
-Cal and Chloe
--Definitely the comic relief on the island; their ring scam was hilarious and was one of the best parts of that episode.
I like the rest of the characters too, but I don't feel like explaining why. :-)
The Ending:
I'm really hoping that Abby, Jimmy, Henry, Shea, Cal, Sheriff and Chloe make it through.
Although there is no way that Jimmy and the Sheriff will both make it through. I think one of them will die, and will probably be the sheriff. But the promo for ep 10 makes it look like Jimmy will meet his end, but I have a feeling that's misleading.
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So that's pretty much it.
Harper's Island is really good...so you should check it out.
I'm done blogging for tonight.
I hope.
Have a nice night,
DMBtennis
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