Next on ‘Happy Town’: I Came to Haplin for the Waters
The Mystery Continues
As the May 5 second episode of ABC’s new sleepy chiller Happy Town approaches, I’m still undecided if the series is Must See, See Whenever, or Not Even Worth the Time. Hopefully, “I Came to Haplin for the Waters” will help clear things up for me because the overwhelmingly negative reviews sure haven’t.
The latest installment follows up on the murder and self-mutilation (Uh!) that occurred during last week’s premiere. Forced to become Haplin’s acting sheriff after his father’s weird and gruesome appointment with a big old ax, former deputy Tommy Conroy must soon hide yet another one of his hometown’s spooky secrets.
Elsewhere, Henley remains determined to enter the verboten room on the third floor of the boarding house she’s staying at. Can’t wait to see what the big deal is about that and if it deserves all of the suspenseful treatment it’s been getting thus far.
Preview a scene from “I Came to Haplin for the Waters” in the video below, which features new sheriff Tommy. The full episode premieres at 10pm ET.
Happy Town currently airs Wednesdays on ABC at 10pm ET
Happy Town photo courtesy of Craig Sjodin/ABC
I liked it, but I have to say, I’m very wary as far as expecting anything original in the way of mystery here. “The Blue Door”, so many people disappearing so many years ago without a trace, never to be seen or heard from again? Why do I have the feeling this is yet another installment in the old “alternate universe” and/or time travel scenario that’s close to being done to death already?
It would be really cool if it turned out to be a continuation of Twin Peaks, and the Blue Door was just another entrance to the “Black Lodge”, but I’m dreaming again.
I have to agree with you, Patrick. I’m not sensing anything original on the horizon during Happy Town, either. Yet, as a longtime fan of similar shows, I’m practically compelled to stick with it, all the while hoping it will get better and surprise me. When suspense series are done well — such as with Twin Peaks and, say, American Gothic — they can be really entertaining. I just have a feeling that won’t be the case with Happy Town, but I could always be wrong (and hope that I am).
Last night was good, or at least the last thirty minutes were. I wonder what that business is with the birds. And that thing with the Falcon causing “Chloe” to wreck. That did kind of remind me of Twin Peaks (BOB sometimes manifested as an owl). But probably the scariest was when the girl was drugged, and ended up in those rednecks homes. You have to admit that was pretty intense.
And the sheriffs friend being the one who killed the perv. I never saw that coming. And the sheriff actually covering for him. One thing that makes for a good show is complicated characters, and that was really crossing the line, yet you can’t say he is a “bad guy”.
I’m surprised you remember American Gothic. I thought I was the only one HaHa.
I enjoyed parts of the second episode much more than the pilot, especially the ones you point out, such as the girl getting drugged in the hospital (although I warned her not to drink anything she got from a stranger — she didn’t listen, of course) and the new sheriff deciding to cover for his best friend, who openly admitted to the murder. It will be interesting to see where those two plotlines lead. I’m also looking forward to learning what’s up with the new guy in town, meaning the lawman who drugged the girl in the hospital.
As for American Gothic — I will never forget that show. Gary Cole totally rocked the sinister lead sheriff role, Lucas Black is one of my fave child actors as Caleb, and Sarah Paulson’s signature line “Somebody’s at the door” still creeps into my mind out of nowhere at odd times. American Gothic is one of those prematurely canceled series I really wish had continued for much longer. Too bad not enough viewers actually “got” it.
You know, I think I’ve come to the conclusion that State Detective is the Magic Man.
Well, you know what they say about these types of suspense shows, Patrick — anything is possible. I personally believe the Magic Man isn’t the state detective, simply because he’s such an obvious choice. But, then again, maybe that’s the intended effect and he really is the bogeyman. :-> We should know for sure soon enough.