Season two of hit American series Haven continued its run on British television and aired episode nine, “Lockdown”, on SyFy November 29th 2011. Audrey and Nathan find themselves trapped in Haven’s police station after a mysterious outbreak.
Recap of “Lockdown”
As Nathan walks through Haven, Dwight has been arrested by Officer Stark. Dwight seems unconcerned until Stark informs him Nathan isn’t police Chief anymore. Dwight notices that Stark is sweating even though it is not warm just as Nathan arrives and orders Stark to un-cuff Dwight. Nathan tells Dwight that he was been replaced by Chief Merrill who Nathan believes knows nothing about the Troubles.
Inside the station Stark goes into the bathroom and removes his gloves. His hands are black and suddenly his veins and face also become discoloured. He collapses and begins to ooze a black liquid.
Audrey is getting ready to go to the boat parade with Chris and asks if Nathan will be alright covering the graveyard shift. Duke comes to the station and tells Nathan about Evi’s text from the Rev. He has brought Evi with him for Nathan to talk to but Duke notices the black ooze coming out of the bathroom.
Chris arrives to pick up Audrey but she seems reluctant to spend any alone time with him. Nathan calls her to the bathroom; Stark’s body has been found. Chief Merrill orders Nathan and Audrey to look into people in Haven who could have made a chemical weapon. They attempt to protest but Merrill is insistent.
Duke brings Evi over to Nathan and she shows him that her hands are becoming black. Merrill sees Evi and believes the problem is biological and airborne. Merrill does not want it to spread outside of the building and orders the police station to be put under lockdown.
Nathan gives Merrill a list of everyone in the building and asks him what the state police say about the situation. Merrill lies and tells Nathan that they agree with his course of action. Merrill then orders Nathan to collect all the cell phones and weapons. However Audrey manages to hide a gun in the evidence locker.
Hugh Underwood, a doctor trapped in the station, examines Stark’s body but has never seen anything like this before. He says that chemical weapons don’t act like this and it’s not like any poison he has ever seen.
Both Audrey and Nathan believe that a Troubled person is causing the infection and that that person is most likely still trapped in the station. Nathan manages to contact Dwight who tells him that both the CDC and state police have been told that any call from Haven is to be treated as a prank.
Audrey tells Nathan Evi is getting worse and that now another woman is showing symptoms. Nathan fills Audrey in about the CDC and state police. They go to see Merrill who informs them that anyone attempting to leave the building will be shot on sight. When they press him for answers Merrill reveals that he knows about the Troubled. He tells them that the Troubled are why he is there and starts to rant about them. As he continues his outburst his veins begin to turn black and he dies.
Nathan contacts Dwight about the situation outside and he confirms that there are armed men watching the station. Nathan asks Dwight to go to the Sheriff’s station to get them back up. Audrey wants to start interviewing people and Nathan agrees but wants to interview Evi himself.
Nathan goes to speak to her and she pretends to collapse. Nathan catches her and she takes Merrill’s key card out of Nathan’s pocket. He confronts Evi about her involvement with the Rev. She says that she was told that helping the Rev would help Duke but won’t explain any further to Nathan. Duke comes in and asks her to explain it to him. Evi doesn’t have all the answers but tells Duke that she was told he was important. Duke is furious and doesn’t believe her.
Audrey talks to Nikki Coleman who seems very nervous and sits picking apart a styrofoam cup. She asks Nikki to send the next person in, which is Chris who doesn’t seems to take the situation seriously at first. Nathan comes in to ask if Audrey has seen Evi then realises that the key card is gone.
Evi walks out of the building and demands answers from the men outside. She is shot and Duke carries Evi back inside the station. From the point of view of the sniper the audience heard the order: “Hold your fire. Not him.” Inside the station Evi tells Duke she is sorry and then dies.
Duke has the key card and attempts to go back outside but is stopped by Nathan. Duke punches Nathan who in turn knocks Duke out.
Audrey goes into Merrill’s office to look for answers and finds a destroyed styrofoam cup in the waste bin. She realises that Nikki must be Troubled and causing the infection.
Audrey tries to talks to Nikki but is interrupted by Chris, who is showing signs of the infection. He sees Nikki and concludes that she must be causing it. Chris tries to use his affliction to get Nikki to undo the infection but she doesn’t understand.
Audrey gets annoyed with Chris who seems to be too willing to use his affliction to manipulate people. She tells him to let her do her job and goes back to speak to Nikki.
Audrey explains to Nikki that Troubles like hers are usually caused by a traumatic event. Nikki won’t tell her anything other than someone abusive is back in her life which is why Stark had been to see her. Nikki tells Audrey that she ran away and changed her name but today ‘he’ found her.
Hugh convinces Chris that if he can get him to a hospital he can save him. Chris uses his affliction to get the gun Audrey put in the evidence locker.
Talking to Nikki Audrey finally understands that the person Nikki is afraid of is in the police station. Suddenly Hugh bursts into the office holding a gun and demands to talk to his wife; Nikki.
Hugh uses the gun to hold everyone hostage and taunts Nikki. Chris tries to get his attention but when Audrey tells Chris to sit down Hugh turns his attention to her.
Nathan has locked Duke in the cells to keep him safe when he gets a message from Dwight. The Sheriff’s men are on their way but the armed men outside know and are planning to force their way into the station.
Hugh is about to shoot Audrey when Chris tries to talk to him again. He is able to distract Hugh long enough for Audrey to get through to Nikki. Nikki fights back and turns her affliction onto Hugh. The infection leaves everyone else in the station and goes into Hugh; killing him.
Nathan arrives and tells Audrey about the men who are about to attack. He goes to the back door just as Dwight dives through telling Nathan the men are coming. The door is riddled with bullets, all of which hit Dwight. Nathan hears the men leave and wonders how he wasn’t shot. Dwight reveals his affliction means that bullets tend to find him, which is why he always wears a bulletproof vest.
With the crisis over and Duke mourning Evi, the Rev arrives. He talks to Duke and tries to manipulate him. Duke seems sceptical but thanks the Rev as he leaves.
Audrey asks Dwight to cover up Evi’s death. Nathan has Merrill’s cell phone logs which show he spoke to Driscoll during the lockdown.
Audrey goes to speak to Chris at the docks. He apologises for his actions in the station and for losing Audrey’s trust. He thought he could handle his affliction but admits that he gave in to it and people nearly died. Chris tells Audrey that he needs her but Audrey says that wanting her and needing her are two different things.
They break up with Chris saying that when the Troubles end he will turn back into the man he was before. He hopes then that he and Audrey can be together.
Review of “Lockdown”
This was a well-paced episode which adds to the overall season plot arc. It appears Duke has a significant role to play in Haven now that the Troubles have returned. Clearly his father and the Rev have history and quite why the Rev wants Duke on his side continues to be a mystery.
It was nice to see more of the character Dwight. Hopefully more will be learnt about this ‘cleaner’ as the season draws to a close. The departure of Jason Priestley’s character Chris was sad but an excellent end to that particular plotline.
Overall “Lockdown” was a welcome change of pace for Haven, focusing more on furthering the season plot rather than the Troubled individual this week.
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