Returning for a second smash season, Haven is a Showcase Original series about a somewhat psychic female FBI agent and some strange shenanigans in small-town Maine. One of the most unique adaptations of the works of Stephen King, it's loosely based on the horror master’s 2005 unsolved-crime novella The Colorado Kid, and cooks up a secondary level of mysteries — an entire town’s worth — around the original story. Season 1 ended with the town’s ‘troubles’  being (mostly) explained, but uncovered a whole new problem: Not only is it likely that FBI Agent Audrey Parker is related to the Colorado Kid, but she also might not actually be Agent Parker after all. Confusing yet captivating? Of course it is. After all, it’s Haven. Welcome back, you’d better sit down for this.

HAVEN, Season 2 - Blog #3:
FEAR PLAY: BEHIND THE SCENES IN HAVEN (FEAT. ERIC BALFOUR)

Four episodes deep into its second season and Haven is, as always, nothing but ‘troubles’ (aka inexplicable psychic phenomena). Of course, fans wouldn’t have it any other way. Episode four, which aired last night, even managed to up the ante by introducing two different troubles, one of which was resolved [WATCH “Sparks and Recreation” HERE], the other belonging to new cast member Jason Priestley -- whose character, Chris Weekly, will be back for near-future mayhem.

So, one-third of the way through the new season, and Haven has been anything but reticent in terms of dropping clues about the bigger picture. Revelations about every main character -- not just Audrey and Nathan, but also Duke, the Reverend and the Teague brothers, to name but a few -- are starting to pile up. The conspiracy theory is only getting bigger, but it’s starting to take a definite shape.

A core part of that shape involves Duke Crocker, played by Eric Balfour. I have suspected since early in the first season that there was a great deal more to Duke than met the eye. Being as involved in the community as he is, official “outsider” status notwithstanding, it’s hard for me to buy the consistently painted portrait of Duke being ‘troubles’-free (as in, normal). In fact, a dialogue line like this one, from Fraudrey, in episode three, only makes me suspect the guy more: “You may be a criminal, but of all the people I’ve met in Haven, you’re closest to normal.” [WATCH “Love Machine” HERE]

I’m willing to entertain the possibility that Duke is unaware of his ‘trouble,’ and that there will be an epiphany in a future episode. Bolstering the unawareness factor is the point that Duke himself has made more than once, which is that a fog of forgetfulness surrounds the death of the Colorado Kid. Those who were present -- Duke and the Teagues included -- remember the day of the death only in general, not in any kind of detail. So, I’m actually positive Duke’s got a ‘trouble,’ and it’s going to be key to the final resolution of the mystery of the Colorado Kid.

But why speculate when you can ask Eric Balfour himself, confronted live on video during my set visit to the show’s Nova Scotia-based shoot?

Q: What is Duke’s secret power? You can tell me.
A: His secret affliction, you really me want to tell you? You’re not to going to show this to anyone? Duke’s secret affliction is that...

You’ll have to click on the video to find out. It’s a secret that’s devastatingly ethereal, and cannot be put into words. Suffice to say that, unlike their characters, I think that Eric Balfour and Lucas Bryant (who plays Nathan Wuornos) probably get along just fine. (After you watch Eric’s revelation, click here to see testimonial from Nathan Wuornos/Lucas Bryant about the possibility of Duke’s “power.”)

If you’re looking for more tangible proof, you’re out of luck -- so far. That said, something did happen in the very final moments of “Sparks and Recreation” that was, well, intangible, but stands as fairly concrete proof that Duke is in the middle of the troubles way more than he knows. I’ll spoil no further save to say: Don’t blink, or you’ll miss the appearance of a phantom name. More than meets the eye, then? Undoubtedly.

COMING SOON TO THE HAVEN SEASON TWO BLOG:
More cast interviews, including Emily Rose and Jason Priestley, and plenty more backstage scoops and shenanigans.