The first season of Haven was pretty extraordinary. At the outset it appeared to be a traditional monster-of-the-week style series with enough mythological intrigue to keep viewers coming back each week. However, it slowly evolved into something far more interesting and by the end of the thirteen episode run it was apparent there was an intricate plan in place. Interestingly, there were answers to some of the major mysteries to be had, however the answers themselves demanded questions and the closing moments provided a rather provocative shocker. Thankfully, the series returns for a second year on Syfy on July 15th, but those wanting to get caught up or re-watch favorite episodes or even check out what all the hoopla is about have a way to do so. Yes, Haven season one is out on DVD and Blu-ray.
Emily Rose stars as FBI Agent Audrey Parker who travels to Haven, Maine while working on a case. There she teams up with local police officer Nathan Wuornos (Lucas Bryant) and runs across the town’s resident rogue, Duke Crocker (Eric Balfour). Soon, Audrey discovers that the quaint fishing village is home to more than it seems as she discovers a secret about some of the residents and a secret the entire town has been hiding. Even more importantly, she sees an old newspaper clipping about an unsolved murder and a picture of a woman to whom she bares a striking similarity. That’s how the series begins, but by episode thirteen it is in a decidedly different place.
The thirteen episodes are presented on four discs in 1080p high definition 1.78:1 video with DTS-HD Master audio. As that indicates, the picture and audio are superb. There are some grainy elements here and there, but that is more how it was shot than anything else. This is the best possible presentation for the episodes and they really shine. I suggest low lighting and full surround sound to get the full effect. Bonus Features include audio commentaries on episodes 1-6, 8 and 11-13, with episodes 1 and 5 containing two commentaries each. If you listen closely, you might glean some new clues from these audio tracks. There are also three Making-Of Featurettes which provide some great information on how the show was created, what lead to the casting choices that were eventually made and, perhaps more importantly, and insight into the longterm plan that the creators have for this show. Again, pay attention and watch closely for clues. Six additional Behind-The-Scenes Video Logs and further interviews with Rose, Bryant and Balfour provide some great amusement and looks at how this series is made. There are a lot more visual effects in use each episode than you might think.
This is a great set and I highly recommend you pick it up ASAP in order to be ready for the July 15th season premiere! This show has been described as a cross between Twin Peaks and X-Files, but is much more narratively satisfying than either of those two series and has much more vibrant characters. Fans of either of those shows will certainly like this, but it is straightforward enough that fans of high quality drama and mysteries will be captivated as well. It may take a village to hide a secret, but it’ll take one episode to make you want to know what that secret it.
