The Trouble with Haven’s Fifth Season (So Far) 

I’m going to be honest with my fellow Haven fans. There was several things about this season that just made me nauseous and uncomfortable. When we got Audrey back last season, there was a definitive Audrey personality with flashes of Mara bubbling up. This season, Audrey was suppressed under the Mara personality while Mara did terrible, horrible things. I’ve always hated torture porn, and Mara was pretty close to the mark on some of her tactics. To get flashes of Audrey, who was witnessing those things being done by her own hand while she was held hostage inside of her body and threatened with death, just compounded it.

Then we had Audrey split off into a wholly new physical being and it seemed gross to me that we immediately picked up with Nathan and Audrey in bed. I think I’d have been OK with them waking up together, back together, reunited, but to be pretty blunt that they’d already been test driving the new equipment, which was essentially only a few hours old, just hit me the wrong way. Would sex be the first thing you’d do with a brand new human body when you’re not even sure what you are or whether you can hurt someone?

All of those thoughts were replaced with rage when Nathan told Audrey he couldn’t feel her anymore. I was shouty at that point, y’all. One of the key bonds between them, which has made for some beautiful moments over the course of the series, was just gone. I felt something click off inside of me as soon as he said it. And for the rest of the season when he tried to compensate for it and she knew that he couldn’t feel her, it was just pushing the sads.

Next, we had Mara sidling up to Duke and eventually bedding him, and there were so many things wrong with that, because we already knew Audrey was deteriorating. So not only did Duke have sex with the same body that Nathan had sex with when Audrey was the dominant personality, but Nathan would very possibly be having sex with that body again, if they had to merge Audrey into Mara, which is EXACTLY the scenario we got. Next season should be full of awkward. And do not even propose a pregnancy to me with lingering questions about paternity (and maternity) or I will riot.

So, those were the things that turned me away. And by the time we got to Nathan and Audrey saying goodbye (again) and Audrey offering to sacrifice herself (again) and the Troubles resetting (again), I just wasn’t right there with them anymore.

I love this cast, and they did exceptional work, but I wasn’t on board with where the arcs were going.

My friend Kate mentioned she’s missed the humor, which we were fleetingly reminded of in “The Old Switcheroo” episodes. I agree. There wasn’t a lot of light this season so there was no balance. I often grouse when shows lose their monster of the week format, and I think Haven suffered a bit because the larger arc was so oppressive on top of whatever the week’s Trouble was.

I’ll be back to finish Haven, but I’m past the emotional investment that I’ve built over four years and the 20,000+ words (yes, really) that I’ve written about this show and these characters here at TV Goodness.

We don’t know yet when Haven will be back, and whether that will be it for the show, but as of right now, whenever we get the next (or last) 13 episodes, I’m not in knots about the wait.

I’d love to know what you think and feel about this season. Please add your comments!