Syfy's Haven took a short story by Stephen King and made it into a television series that lasted almost six years. Now, though, Haven says goodbye this year, as announced previously by the network.
However, fans don't have to worry: the secret is out—going into the final episodes, those working on the show already had a feeling that this would be it, although the cancellation announcement wasn't made until fairly recently.
Also, viewers of Syfy's Haven could find themselves confused when discussing the final season of Haven. Although the network billed this season as a continuation of the fifth season (despite the huge break in the middle of it), it is actually the series' sixth season.
Actor Eric Balfour, who portrays Duke Crocker on Haven, spoke to Tech Times and sorted out the confusion about the number of the season, and assured fans that the season finale is actually a series finale.
"We knew going into this sixth and final season, or whatever they've been calling it—this sort of, well, I call it a 13-episode season," said Balfour. "I think what people didn't understand that the way the contracts work, there are certain things for every subsequent season that happen contractually between producers and actors and all these things, so by not calling it season six, which it technically is, they can save some of those costs. So that's why it's called whatever this thing is that they're calling it."
Balfour also stated that everyone involved with the show knew early on that this would be Haven's curtain call, although they couldn't announce that to the show's fans.
"That being said, this final season: we went into knowing that it was going to be the final season, and it was kind of hard because they didn't want us to talk about it, and at the same time, you don't like misleading fans of the show or trying to be coy, but we knew going in," said Balfour. "I mean, I guess there's always the possibility that we come back, but all of our contracts were up—they would have had to renegotiate everyone's contract. It's not to say that there wasn't any possibility that the show, in some incarnation, could come back, but it was certainly going to be a challenge."
Of course, this knowledge gave Haven a chance to create something that would satisfy longtime viewers of the series instead of leaving them hanging at the end.
"So going in, we all had really high hopes of what this was going to be," said Balfour. "We didn't want it to just meander. We didn't want it to just be the same sort of Troubles storyline regurgitated in some way. And I will say that there were some heated conversations, but the writers did a great job of really raising the stakes and creating something really exciting for the end of this series. And it's a great end."
So what's in store for Duke Crocker this season? Although Balfour wouldn't go into specifics, he did talk a little about Duke's emotional state, especially now that the character feels somewhat responsible for unleashing the new Troubles on the town.
"Duke wasn't taught to be a good person," said Balfour. "He wasn't taught to be caring. And despite all of his environmental influences of his entire life, his nature is what it is. And I'm not actually going to say if it's good or bad. I'm just going to say it is what it is, and I think the people who care about that character know what it is. The fans of Duke are going to be challenged this season because he really is going to be tested and I couldn't be more excited for them to see how it all turns out."
Of course, Duke's guilt and what's happening in the town of Haven now will affect his relationships with the other two major characters on the series: Audrey (Emily Rose) and Nathan (Lucas Bryant).
"I think those three relationships have always been at the heart of this show," said Balfour. "Their dynamic is absolutely going to be addressed, all of them. All of their relationships: they're really important to each other. "
Balfour misses his Haven cast and crew, but he feels that the series had the opportunity to run through its full life cycle, and for that, he is grateful. However, he's amazed at the changes that have happened since they left Nova Scotia, the series' filming location. Was this a sign that the show came to an end when it needed to?
"It's interesting because right after we finished shooting up in Nova Scotia, this horrible issue came about with the Nova Scotia government where they basically ended the creative tax credit for film and television production," said Balfour. "So it's going to be interesting to see what happens to the industry up there. I don't know if it's ever going to be the same. And I don't think it will be, unless someone fixes it."
But that wasn't the only thing that changed after Haven left Nova Scotia.
"We also lost a woman who became like a second mother to me, who was all of our mothers—she passed away two months after we finished filming," said Balfour. "She was, in some ways, the heart of this place. This whole thing really did have this entire life cycle that we saw happen."
But of course, Balfour pointed out that the most important thing is to move on after such an experience.
"It's almost like moving out of the city that you love and into a new city," he said. "And sometimes, it's hard to go back to visit it first, because you're like, 'it's hard to be here and not be here.' I think, as time goes on, I know that it was time for the show to end: it was time for the next adventure. I know that it was time for the next chapter of my life. But I will miss these people and that experience so much."
Since Haven wrapped production, Balfour has been busy. He has several projects in the works, including an upcoming film called Burn about a Wall Street hustler who gets kidnapped. There's also the development of a show based on Amie Kaufmann's These Broken Stars novels with Simon Barry (Continuum) as writer and director.
"I have another project I'm developing with Allison Anders, one of the most iconic female independent film directors and writers that has ever existed," said Balfour. "We're developing a project with E1, the studio from Haven, with her and her partner, Terry Graham."
In addition, Balfour is working on building his clothing company, Electric & Rose.
Meanwhile, you can catch Balfour on Haven on Thursdays on Syfy.
Be sure to follow T-Lounge on Twitter and visit our Facebook page.
