We’re going to try something a little different with this quasi-review of Harper’s Island. Deb and I will be doing a point/counterpoint style review, where we will take turns every week discussing what we thought of the episode and, more particularly, who we think is the killer. This week, I’ll start off.
First let me start by saying that whoever the killers are, at least in this episode, they are overly elaborate with how they go about it. Cousin Ben and Uncle Marty were taken out in some pretty over-the-top ways, wouldn’t you say?
Yes, I said “killers.” So far I believe there’s more than one killer on this show. In fact, I’ll start by going out on a limb here and say that nearly everyone will be guilty before the final reveal is made on how everything went down.
The first killer on the show? Uncle Marty.
The first to die was Cousin Ben, who is one of the wealthy Wellingtons. Uncle Marty had a mysterious load of cash with him, a gun and an awfully nervous look about him. Could he have gotten that cash from Ben before deciding to tie him to the boat’s underside? (A hole here would be why Marty didn’t just shoot the guy)
So far we’re finding a handful of people who look awfully suspicious, most with some sort of motive or reason for foul play. I believe we’re meant to think these are all red herrings, put in place to veil who the “one true killer” is, but in fact we’ll find out it was everyone! The question now is: who killed Uncle Marty? I’m going with Tom Wellington, the bride-to-be’s daddy. Tom clearly didn’t like Uncle Marty and possibly knows he’s onto Tom’s plan to slip Hunter into the equation to make the wedding plans all messy.
If Tom were to die next, I’d say this whole thing is a chain reaction of deaths, but I really doubt he’s going anytime soon. (Now watch — Deb will say something about Ten Little Indians, I bet…)
I’m looking at this one more from the Ten Little Indians perspective. Really, how scary is it to be isolated and just watch everyone around you be picked off, one by one, and there’s not a thing you can do about it? I think that’s what they’re going for here, more than the unique killer angle.
If Keith isn’t right about the chain-link killers, I think we need to develop a pilot, because that would be seriously cool. However, because this is supposed to be reminiscent of the murders on the island before, I’m thinking he’s probably not right. Commenter Naf thinks the killer is probably Christopher Gorham, and because he’s a big star and playing a super-nice guy, she just might have something there.
Who it’s not? The troubled brother J.D., and the goofy British guy, Cal. They have too much character … let’s think under the radar.
I agree with Keith, the murders so far have been creative, to say the least. But I think it’s just the right balance; Harper’s Island isn’t taking itself too seriously, but doesn’t quite cross the line to hokey either. I like it.
Prediction for next week? More will be revealed about the sister with a secret, and we’ll find out more about Trish and Hunter’s affair and what that’s all about.
What did you think about the premiere of Harper’s Island? You going to continue riding the murder train with us?
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on Apr 09, 2009 @ 23:00 EST5EDT
it’s the little girl
hahaha, it’s great that they cover all the basics right down to the standard horror movie creepy kid, very nice.
i’m a total sucker for murder mysteries, so i don’t really care who’s the killer, as long as he/she/they continue to kill off those idiots with a good backstory. i actually didn’t expect the murders to be so gory though.
i think thirteen episodes is a perfect number for the mystery, at least CBS won’t make the same mistake Fox did with “Reunion,” i’m still pissed that they didn’t allow the show to finish its twenty episodes mystery.
OMG I LOVED REUNION! No one else I know watched it and it was a total crock that it never finished!!!
I think the chain reaction theory is unique and cool, but on the other hand that would mean that the killer(s) would have to have had some knowledge of the previous murder if they are killing out of revenge, and it would be a little too coincidental if each murder was unrelated to the previous murder even though there was a tie that each killer didn’t know about. So I don’t buy that theory. There are too many characters now to even venture a guess, but I will say it *should* be a man based on the first two murders. I don’t see any of the female characters being particularly brawny enough to wield a sword or whatever blade type of object used to do in Uncle Marty that way! Pretty cool reveal though! I’ll definitely stick with it!
I still can’t get over the fact that they killed off Harry Hamlin after just one episode! Come on! Unless he appears in flashbacks, which I suspect he will, it’s completely stupid.
On the other hand, we have Bobby from Supernatural as Abbey’s dad. Cool.
I’m thinking it’s one of the locals for now.
P.S. Speaking from someone who lives in Seattle, that shot of the city did not even look close. Why don’t they just set the series in Vancouver?
Vancouver? That is where Grace Park lives. Shoot. What are the odds of getting all the actors from Battlestar Galactica to do a new series and let ME write the scripts. I promise it would be very good.
Sorry Keith….just wishful thinking.
The problem is… How many characters actually make up the “indians”. There does not seem to be any scope for who the potential victims / suspects are. What would keep these people on the island once they realize people are dying? By the time the viewer finds out who the potential dead pool consists of, will we really care?
My theory after the first episode:
Killers:
The husband-to-be and his childhood friend
Reason:
Not much given to work with til now. Probably revenge. The murders a few years ago are probably tied to the family he will marry in to.
Clues:
“Second Thoughts?” One of the first line of dialogue between the two. Makes for a great AHA-effect on second viewing.
Her flashback in front of the tree. Paints her as a victim and innocent, but with a little bit more information becomes the reason for her revenge (or maybe she was always crazy…).
Because of the backstory with the island murders, it needs to be someone with a history on the island.
“I’m ready for a whole week of fun.” AHA-effect on second viewing.
At the end of the episode, when she finds the newspaper article glued to the mirror, it’s not the killer playing mind games with her. She looks shocked because someone has figured out, she and her friend are going on a killing spree.
Some more clues and stuff, but I’m too lazy now. I just hope, I’m not right…
You are forgetting about “Cousin Ben” Everyone is assuming that was him – the first one killed under the boat – but was it? We were not formally introduced to that character like the others…so who was that really???
*POST AUTHOR*
I thought about that, Sam, but we were at least led to believe it was Cousin Ben because of the cell phone ringing underwater when Trish tried to call him. It’s possible that was a red herring.
Just watched the first episode- the think about the phone that I noticed is that it didn’t appear to be ringing. Nothing came up on the display. Just thought it was an oversight while filming, but what if it was a red herring?
You probably already know the answer, so I am on to Ep 2 now!
i just saw the episode where jd was killed by his brother while at the marina..
Here’s one for you that my 15 year old came up with. The killer is Booth….reasons unknown. He faked his own death by shooting the gun into the ground and popping a fake blood thing in his pocket, pretended to die, knowing that Malcolm would be so distraught and not pay too close attention. Malcolm buries Booth in a shallow grave quickly and not very well and Booth is able to pull himself out after Malcolm leaves. Once the “secret” is out that Booth is dead and Sully and Danny want to dig him up, Booth has to kill Malcolm next because he is the only one who knows where the body is located. I think it is too close to Agatha Christie’s novel but my teen is insisting that Booth is the killer.
I agree…that was my first theory, but now I am leaning towards Henry. I think it’s one or both of them.
I think you are so right.That is my theorie too.I think its Booth for all the reasons you just mentioned. Also after the episode 2 we have seen that Abby hits some guy with short brown hair with a gun and is really angry and Booth is the only guy that has hair like that and also when you are watching carefully how the camerapeople try not to show Booth for longer then just seconds you might wonder.My money is on Booth.
For some reason, I have thought it was Henry the whole time I have been watching. Haven’t changed my mind yet!
I think Henry is Wakefield’s child, but Jimmy is the second killer.