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Harper's Island Season 1 Episode 2

Crackle

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AIRED: Apr 16, 2009

7.0

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Episode Summary

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The wedding party has some fun while embarking on a scavenger hunt. Trish confronts an old flame, while Henry works towards making peace with some locals. Meanwhile, Abby runs into an old friend who is still being haunted by John Wakefield and the murders he committed.

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Fan Episode Reviews (8)

With a scavenger hunt, 3 deaths and some sound development in various storylines, this second episode of Harper's Island maintains the high standard set by the first episode.

8.5

By scifigay, Oct 01, 2011

While Uncle Marty's absence is briefly mentioned by Henry, no-one seems to think too much of it – I wonder how long this can last after the kill count went up fairly significantly in this episode.

First the Reverend Fain, who I did not expect to see die this early after introducing him, if at all. Clearly someone is out to stop this wedding, which would support Thomas Wellington, the father of the Bride, as the killer, but I don't buy it – he's too nasty and therefore too obvious a choice. Then there was Kelly – the symbol of what Abbey could have become if she had stayed on the Island (though we still don't know exactly why she left). This girl was creepy most of the time, but I couldn't help feeling sorry for her as she's clearly a victim of circumstance. That she was killed just after finally hearing that she could escape her hell is tragic. Her Wakefield sightings are interesting too – is John Wakefield really dead? Given the '25 suspects, 1 killer' slogan of the show, one of our wedding party or the locals we've already met must be the killer, but that doesn't mean Wakefield isn't lending a helping hand...I guess we'll see...

And then there's Lucy. We really didn't know her that well, except as the blonde one with the dog she carried everywhere (I did enjoy Nikki telling her off for having the dog on the bar). The danger with an ensemble cast this big is that some of them are going to die before we can really get to know them, and that's what happened to Lucy. Though being burned alive is undoubtedly a horrible way to go, it wasn't as emotional as it could have been had she been developed a bit more first.

We do have a lot of mystery set-up here, such as the missing headspade at the museum, seen later being used to decapitate the Priest. The only thing slowing down the episode is the Hunter storyline, which I'm still not a fan of. While he's standing around looking menacing, I don't buy him as being behind this and hope this storyline will be wrapped up soon. No disrespect to Victor Webster, who I like in other shows, but this plot just doesn't interest me at all.

JD is being made to look very suspicious, what with the creepy music as he showed his tattoos in Episode 1, and the blood on his hands now – yet I wouldn't put any money on him being the killer, he seems too misunderstood for all that.

Shane, on the other hand, is a douche. His rants about Abbey, his taunting of Kelly – this guy is not likable at all! Jimmy, in comparison, seems like a nice guy, and clearly cares deeply for Abby – I'm definitely routing for a reconnect for these two down the line... Also in the douche category is Sully, for leaving Cal hanging in the woods (I was very worried he'd be chopped to death too, so happy to see him still breathing at the end!), but points to Chloe for rebuffing his advances. Her fascination with killers, and Wakefield in particular, make her an intriguing character and one to watch as the killings continue!

Overall, a solid episode with lots going on, despite the basic premise of a scavenger hunt, which even the groom admits is a lame idea... Look forward to seeing the reaction to these deaths next time!moreless
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Another strong episode

9.0

By vicky24c, May 23, 2010

In this episode of Harper's Island, the following happens. As the wedding party take part in a scavenger hunt, it is not all fun and games on the island. The bride learns that her father has brought her ex to the island in the hopes that she will call off the wedding. Abby runs into an old friend, and offers her to stay with Abby in LA after the wedding. But as the episode ends, we see that the girl is dead, most likely murdered, but it has been made to look like a suicide. Overall another good episode, more deaths and more of a story developing.moreless
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having a weeklong wedding party on an island is a great way for people to not be aware when someone is missing. but holy crap, they killed 3 people!

7.5

By QE-Zodak, May 09, 2010

1 of them was a priest! i can't believe they showed his head after it was cut off. how do they get away with this!? i guess if they show any blood then they can't show the wound & if they show the wound then, they can't show any blood? ok, one of the deaths was made to look like a suicide but still, that girl is dead. and setting the girl with the dog on fire: man, that was horrible way to go. you need a priest to have a wedding so i think at some point someone might notice that the priest is missing! lol! i have no idea who the killer is & i'm hoping it's not someone in the main cast, i hope everyone does get murdered until it's just abby running around on the island alone. (preferably in a bikini, because she was hot in that red dress) but who knows what the plan is, i'm not worrying about it right now, i'm just enjoying the ride. oh & i love the episode titles. this show totally rocks. thank you jon turteltaub, man this guy is original. first jericho & now this show. he's the new joss whedon. (cause dollhouse sucks.) that jd actor is an old looking guy.moreless
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A very enjoyable second episode, especially now that we're getting to recognize who's who.

8.5

By whiteraven2005, Sep 15, 2009

The story is being fleshed out character by character and we're becoming familiar with who's who. Some of the back story of the original island characters is being filled out as well as the relationships between them.

I'm shocked Cal survived – the last guy who got caught in the snare got his head chopped off, so either the killer's busy or didn't realize the snare had gone off. I hope he survives for a while, he's a total wimp but he's also quite adorable.

I'm definitely liking this and from the preview at the end, it looks to get even better. This is very well done, obviously no expense has been spared if you look at the magnificent setting and the quality actors who've been cast.moreless
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Trish and Henry arrange a scavanger hunt so the wedding party can mingle and get to know each other better.

8.5

By buffyangel4evr_, Apr 21, 2009

I am really enjoying this series. Each week I am wanting more and anticipating next week's episode.

Abby is out for a morning run and runs intoJimmy and Shane, who are hunting deer. When the men return to their truck,they discover the dead carcass of a deer on the hood. Meanwhile, after a meeting with the wedding planner, the church's priest is caught up in a trap and is decapitated. Trish and Henry organize a scavenger hunt which will take the wedding party around the island. The point is to have fun and to mingle and get to know each other. Everyone is split up into "random" teams designated by colored bandennas.

Abby's team ends up at the local saloon and she runs into a former friend, Kelly, who's mother was also murdered years ago by the seriel killer. They renew their friendship and discuss becoming roomies when Abby returns to LA. Kelly's ex Shane harrasses them and Jimmy intervenes.

Cal decides to split from his group and hookup with Chloe. He ends up in the same of trap as the priest and is abandoned by Sully.

Trish decides to tell her father about Hunter's presense on the island. Instead she finds Hunter talking to her father. Hunter leaves and Thomas lies to his daughter. Meanwhile, Henry finds a deer head in his bathtub.

Abby tells Kelly that she can room with her in LA. Kelly is excited and celebrates with JD. That night, the police are called to her apartment, Kelly was found hanging from the rafters. Chloe finally finds Cal hanging in the woods. Meanwhile, Lucy, chasing her dog, falls in a pit and is set on fire. Episode 2 and three deaths, bringing the body count to FIVE. Stay tuned to next week!moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Elaine Cassidy	Abby Mills
Christopher Gorham	Henry Dunn
Katie Cassidy	Trish Wellington
Cameron Richardson	Chloe Carter
Adam Campbell	Cal Vendeuson

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Jim Beaver	Sheriff Charlie Mills	Guest Star
C.J. Thomason	Jimmy Mance	Guest Star
Victor Webster	Hunter Jennings	Guest Star
Richard Burgi	Thomas Wellington	Recurring Role
Dean Chekvala	J.D. Dunn	Recurring Role
Matt Barr	Christopher "Sully" Sullivan	Recurring Role

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Episode Photos

Ben Cotton as Shane Pierce in the Harper...

® 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc.
Claudette Mink as 'The Stepmother' Kathe...

® 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc.
Nikki Bolton (Ali Liebert) is an old fri...

® 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc.
C.J. Thomason as Jimmy Mance in the Harp...

® 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc.

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (4)
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- Goof: When Lucy Daramour is set on fire you can see her fire retardant hood.
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- The title of this episode, which is Crackle, refers to the sound made when Lucy Daramour is lit on fire and burned alive.
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- Goof: Throughout the course of the episode, Trish's earrings change from large white pearls to black squares.
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- DEATHS:
  Reverend Fain: Strung upside down in tree by snare and then decapitated with a headspade.
  Kelly Seaver: Found in her home hanging by her neck.
  Lucy Daramour: Falls into a pit and then someone pours gasoline and a match on her and she is burned alive.
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QUOTES (0)
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NOTES (4)
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- Additional Credits:
  Visual Effects Provided By: Entity FX
  Post Production Sound: Smart Post Sound
  Main Title Design: The Picture Mill
  Post Production Services: Technicolor, Vancouver; Modern Videofilm, Inc., Los Angeles
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- Music:
  1. Transfer by Collide.
  2. The Winding Staircase by New Radiant Storm King.
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- Although they appeared in the episode, Gina Holden (Shea), Cassandra Sawtell (Madison) and Claudette Mink (Katherine) do not have any lines.
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- Original International Air Dates:
  Norway: Sunday, April 26, 2009 on TV2Zebra
  Australia: Sunday, May 17, 2009 on Channel Ten
  Ireland: Monday, June 15, 2009 on RTE2
  Poland: Sunday, June 21, 2009 on AXN
  Germany: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 on ProSieben
  Finland: Thursday, September 10, 2009 on Nelonen
  Czech Republic: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 on Barrandov
  Slovakia: Sunday, January 8, 2012 on JOJ
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