Airdate: July 11th, 2009Episode Title: "Gasp"/"Sigh"
Episode #: 12/13
Starring: Elaine Cassidy, Christopher Gorham , Katie Cassidy, CJ Thomason
Wow. If Harper's Island did one thing right, it was hiding the identity to the killer right up to the very end. Until the big reveal came at the end of "Gasp", I was still guessing at who Wakefield's accomplice really was. And when I found out, I was shocked. Harper's Island as a whole has been a bit campy, with a lot of hand-waved plot points, but if nothing else, it was fun. I don't understand why major networks don't do more shows like this, especially for the summer. 13-episode, heavily serialized, one and done dramas would be a good way to attract a summer audience, because frankly, not a lot of people watch TV as much in the summer. Harper's Island isn't going to ever be a critically acclaimed ratings titan, and if put against a show like "House" or "Lost" it would get destroyed, but its the perfect summer series. A who-dun-it mystery that keeps you guessing with every twist and turn. I would recommend Harper's Island for just about anyone 14 and up.
WARNING: The following contains Spoilers.
The two-hour finale packed a punch, but I wanted it to knock the wind out of me. This show has been rocketing to an end, with the body count rising and the characters dwindling down to a handful, I was still left clueless until the killer revealed himself after stabbing his fiance. That's right, Wakefield's son and the killer of Harper's Island is every bodies best friend, Henry Dunn. Looking back, Henry did have motive. He was obviously disturbed by both his past (being Wakefield's son, a murderous serial killer), his family (liars as he called them, and not to mention his suicidal brother J.D.), his fiance (Trish's dad didn't want him to marry his daughter at all) and his relationship with Abby (virtually ending when Abby ran away after her mother's murder) If you think about it, Henry had a lot of bad things happen to him over the year, and something inside him obviously snapped. The episode began with a flashback sixteen years prior where young Henry and young Abby are playing at Abby's house before Henry leaves Harper's Island for the summer. There is a moment of worried exchange between the two mothers of the children, revealing to the audience that they know that Henry is not a Dunn, and is in fact, Abby's half-brother. (For clarity, Abby's mom had a child with Wakefield before marrying Sheriff Mills) The two kids run down to a cliff before Henry leaves and have a cute, childhood moment where Abby whispers to Henry "I want to live with you alone on this island forever!" Well as it turns out, Henry's psychosis leads him to want to do just that. He kills everyone else on the island so that he and Abby can be together and share their love, a love that seems to be only one-sided. With his father mentoring him in the art of serial killing, Henry reveals to the audience that he is responsible for 11 (eleven) of the twenty-seven Harper's Island murders. (There was 29 in total, but one suicide (Chloe before Wakefield could get her) and an accidental suicide (Booth trying to bury the money). Henry tells Abby all about his killing, including his fiance (Trish) whom he admits was very difficult because he did actually care for her. But he cared for Abby more...a lot, creepy, stalkerish, Stephen King number one fan "Misery" more. But there is one hiccup in Henry's plan. Abby's ex-boyfriend and true love, Jimmy...is still alive. Henry has him captive in the barn because he wants to use him to sign a confession to all the murders, so that Abby and Henry can live happily ever after (or something like that). However, when Henry takes Abby to say goodbye to Jimmy, she kisses him, and an enraged Henry slaps her, also conveniently knocking a small blade across the floor to Jimmy's hands so that he can pick the handcuff lock. Abby runs from the barn, and Henry chases her, confronting her beside a small cliff (what is with these people and standing near cliffs?). As Henry is trying to convince Abby that is "all going to be OK" and he "loves her" and she'll "always have him", he even throws down his knife (Chekhov's gun- a technique where an item is set up to have importance later). Obviously confused and scared she screams out "I DON'T WANT YOU!" which shakes Henry up right before Jimmy blindsides him and the two fall of the cliff and land on the beach below. Jimmy, in pain, is comforted by Abby as she rushes down to his side while Henry seems to be alive and walking. As he approaches Abby she recovers his knife and stabs him through the chest with it. Henry falls to his knees "Sighs" and then dies. Abby and Jimmy are seen leaving the island on a coast guard boat as one of four survivors of Harper's Island (Shea and Madison got away on a small motor boat thanks to Sully before Henry killed him). Doesn't that sound messed up? Serial killing father-son teams, a wedding as a trap to lead your REAL love back home so you can kill everyone she knows in some twisted chivalrous attempt to win her heart, and not to mention slaying your own family? Well, it was, but it was fun. And when the final scene, a taped Wedding Video of the eight main character toasting to Trish and Henry came across the screen, ending with Henry saying "Let's get married", you could really appreciate the irony and sadness. It was just a fantastic, fun summer series. The acting of Christopher Gorham (Henry) and Elaine Cassidy (Abby) have to be highlighted as being way above average. They both gave stellar performances throughout, and I hope they both have long and successful acting careers, because I would love to see more of each of them. All in all, would I recommend Harper's Island? Absolutely, but I'm never even thinking of having my wedding on a freakin' island.
"Gasp" (part one)
Episode Score (out of 10) 8.4
Characters: B
Story: B-
Creativity: B+
Impact: B
"Sigh" (part two)
Episode Score (out of 10) 8.7
Characters: A-
Story: B+
Creativity: B
Impact: B
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