Haven

Anyone who knows me does know I like TV. As a genre, it can be incredibly thought-provoking, interesting, entertaining, informative/educational, as well as escapist, a procrastination aid, and a general waste of time. I used to downplay it, but on the whole, and as long as it doesn't interfere or prevent one from getting on with one's life and the whole business of living, I say "okay". Besides, I watch taped programmes from the PVR often enough, I may as well write about some of them.

I came across this new show called Haven on Showcase last week. It's based on a Stephen King short story and that caught my attention. I think his books are a little too scary for what my imagination can handle, but I do think he is a gifted storyteller. He knows exactly where the black and the white is, and directs his attention to all the areas of grey people usually don't consider. He did it with another short story "Needful Things" and he did it also with "The Colorado Kid", on which this new series is based.

I'm two episodes in and I already can see the tendrils of arcs and possibilities stretching out. The fact that it is on Showcase is a comfort, I think, because even if no one and their sister watches it, they'll continue producing it. Kudos for shooting it in Canada - the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia figures prominently in most panorama shots of "Haven" (supposedly in Maine) and the cast is also engaging. The two leads I know very little about (Emily Rose and Lucas Bryant), but Nicholas Campbell will be a regular and two of tonight's guests were Stephen McHattie (another icon among Canadian actors) and Caroline Cave (who I know and like from another Showcase programme called Crash & Burn). Maurice Dean Wynt was in the first episode, and he also doesn't suck. All in all, a promising beginning for a promising show. I hope it lasts.

Performances Reviewed

So, I had my performance review the other day and one point that came to my attention was my habit of unsolicited offerings. Trouble is, I don't have anyone at home with whom to process my thoughts, or knows the same people I encounter at work, or any of that, so I process at work, which can make me come across as snotty, smart-ass, bitter, or all kinds of things. BUT, I can use this as my outlet, so here goes.

Dude at work. Useless (was that already too judgey?). So, he starts dating this girl in October, moves in with her in February, proposes in April - gets so hammered (or stoned) the same night, he can't be bothered with a rubber, and, you guessed it, knocks her up. Expecting twins. This from a guy who, so I've been told, has in the past and on a regular basis, used his rent money to purchase coke and pot. Anywho, dude is also from another country and hasn't officially emigrated. His deportation was ordered a few months back, SOMEHOW, he got it extended, but in his infinite competence, missed a hearing earlier this week and a deportation order was issued. His solution, to marry his pregnant girlfriend (fiancee) next week (like THAT isn't going to raise any flags for Immigration). The plan still is to have a wedding in her home province (ON) as well as a wedding in his home country (Mexico) and to have a "real" wedding here in BC for their friends.

They both in their infinite wisdom decide they should have the twins in Ontario, because health care is free (no it isn't) and then they can live with her parents (rent-free) until they move to Mexico to live with his parents (rent-free) until they can claim welfare. He's sending her to Ontario in September/October (when she needs the most help from him and it's really not her parents' job to do so) so he can stay in Van "and save some money" and work a little longer, then move to Ontario in November/December. The twins are due in late December. Statistically, their chances of going to full-term are close to non-existent.

What a bona fide clusterfuck! I feel sorry for the children already. Their parents are very nice people, but I really don't think they know what they're in for.

I feel better now. Might even be able to shut up at work when it is mentioned in future. It does after all have nothing to do with me (thanking God for this small mercy), but COME ON! insert a frustrated "ARGH!!!" sound here. Thank you for listening.