If you had told me two months ago that I’d be excited to tune into CBS on Saturday nights, I would have had trouble catching my breath while I was laughing my hinny off.  Then again, at the time, Harper’s Island was supposed to be airing on Thursday nights after CSI, so… 

Nevertheless, here we are near the end of June and this horror junkie is completely fixated on CBS’s take at something very near and dear to my heart; the good ole slasher pic.  Aside from one very predictable and rather uninspired episode, Harper’s Island has held my interest and done an impressive job.  I consider attempting a clever and fresh approach to the genre under the scrutiny of primetime television (and under the supervision of a major network) a daunting task, but so far the show has proven to be up to the challenge.  
 

 As the show winds down to its eventual end (CBS has not renewed the series for a second season), I can only hope that the show finishes what it has started. 

With only a handful of episodes left, I’m very anxious to see how the end game plays out and who is left standing when the smoke clears.  We’ve got an egregious body count rolling, which is only going to grow and a killer that has yet to be revealed. 

Episode 10 is up for review, so lets take a look at the key points while getting ready for this week’s mayhem. 

Everyone is gathered back inside the Candlewick when the episode begins.  Shea is busy checking over Madison despite her protests. 

She tries to explain to her mother that she was never in any real danger and that her abduction (at the hands of Sheriff Mills) was only a game for Abby’s benefit. 

Abby sits nearby, obviously floored by this startling revelation.  Meanwhile, Shane has pulled Henry aside and shown him Katherine’s body.  
 

In the lounge, Sully, Danny and Trish are trying to wrap their head around Sheriff Mills’ involvement in the kidnapping.  They make the assumption that he is also the killer as the trio struggles to make sense of what is happening. 

Jimmy appears and tries to soothe Abby, who is still turning everything over.  She is at odds with the report of her father’s conduct and is unable to accept that he could be responsible.  She points out that her father was badly wounded and was laid up at the clinic. 

While she continues to question how he could have been involved, Henry enters and asks Jimmy if he could take the group off the island in his boat. 

Jimmy replies that he could do so and Henry shares with them that Katherine is dead.  They all agree that they are still in potential danger, but now that Madison had been found, Henry is adamant that they all leave the island as soon as possible.
 

While this conversation is taking place, we see that the state police are indeed en route to the island, via an amphibious airplane. 

Shortly thereafter, Henry and Abby arrive at the clinic in order to pick up Cal, Chloe and Sheriff Mills.  Of course, they find that Mills is gone and neither Cal nor Chloe have an explanation.  When asked if Mills was even in shape to leave on his own, Cal offers that it was possible. 

He reports that Mills’ oxygen tank was also missing and suggests that he probably would have taken it along because he was more than likely still very weak.

Down at the marina, the state police have landed and are pulling up towards the docks.  We can see someone wearing a sheriff’s jacket standing nearby, waiting for them to dock.  The state troopers pull up beside him and exit the plane, greeting him as they move to tie up.  When they do so, the man pulls a handgun and shoots them both in the chest.  The trooper’s bodies’ fall into the water as the still unseen man turns to leave.

Outside the clinic, after revealing that her father is missing, Abby is insistent upon looking for him before she leaves the island.  She tells the others to continue on without her while she goes to look for him at their house.  Not wanting to go alone, Henry volunteers to go with her.  Somewhat uncomfortable by this, Trish asserts that she is going along as well.  The three of them depart for the Mills house while the rest of the survivors head for the marina.

Having left straight for the marina in order to prep the boat, Shane and Jimmy arrive before the others.  Upon arriving, they spot the plane docked nearby and immediately identify it to be the state police.  Not seeing either of the troopers they proceed directly to Jimmy’s boat.  They still have to refuel and Jimmy begins to pull the boat around to the opposite docks by the fuel pump to do so.
 In the meantime, Abby has arrived with Trish and Henry at her family’s home.  Not finding her father, she turns to the attic in an effort to find something that may exonerate her dad.  The couple follows her up and Trish is clearly appalled by the chilling Wakefield exhibit found therein.  Examining a picture of Wakefield, Trish notices a blueprint beside it of what appears to be the tunnels underneath the Candlewick.  Calling attention to it, she comments that this would seemingly further incriminate Mills.  Abby stands in awe of this until Henry abruptly ushers them off to the marina.

Jimmy has now positioned the boat near the fuel pump and Shane hops onto the docks to refuel.  Finding the pump has no power, he informs Jimmy that he will have to fire up the generator in order to fuel up.  Jimmy stays on board, preparing the pump while Shane rushes off down the docks.  When he gets to the generator, he notices an oxygen tank lying on top of it.  Not making any connection to it, he pushes it aside and gets to work on restoring power to the pump.  

While the men attempt to refuel the boat, the remaining survivors arrive at the marina.  They make their way down to the docks and Madison again inquires about where her father (Richard) is.  Shea remains hushed about her husband’s death and merely tells Madison that he won’t be coming with them.  As they draw closer, Shane makes a shocking discovery, spotting the two dead troopers floating in the water. 

He tries to shout down to Jimmy, but Jimmy can’t fully hear and demands that he turn on the pump. 

Shane does so, but the generator doesn’t kick and sparks start to fly from it.  Suspecting something is very wrong, he again tries to shout to Jimmy and warns him to get off the boat, but as he does so a chain of explosions rock the marina.

 Henry and company watch in disbelief as all the boats in the harbor explode.  Shane is able to get clear, but it appears that Jimmy was engulfed when his boat exploded.  As everyone reacts to the blasts, the same man wearing the sheriff’s coat begins to fire at the survivors from a distance with a hunting rifle.  The group scatters as they look for cover and a bullet clips Henry.  The wound is largely superficial however and they find their way to the Cannery nearby.  They quickly break into the bar to escape the rifle fire.
 

They are all dazed by what had just happened, but Abby turns to Shane and demands to know what had happened. 

He tries to explain, but Abby accuses him of getting Jimmy killed.  Shane quickly counters that he had tried to warn him.  Danny steps in to break up the squabble and mentions that all will be well once the state troopers arrive.  Shane then informs the group that he found their bodies in the water nearby and that was what tipped him off. 

The Sheriff is promptly brought up and the accusations begin to fly again.  Abby attempts to speak on his behalf, calling on Cal as a witness to why he couldn’t be responsible.  Cal concurs stating that he would have been very weak and that he had brought his oxygen with him.  Shane reveals that he had seen his tank lying by the generator.
 The potential victims regroup inside the bar and the conversations all concern the Sheriff.  It is now widely believed that their hunter is in fact, Sheriff Mills. 

The group considers the scenario and discusses their options. 

Sully points out the futility of the situation stating that the killer obviously wants to keep them all on the island, having blown up every boat in the harbor. 

That’s when Chloe chimes in and mentions a sailboat that Cal had rented for them across the island.  Cal verifies that it would be big enough, but questions arise concerning how they would get there safely as well as if the boat would even still be there.  Despite this, it is rapidly viewed as their only real option. 

The group begins to quarrel about who should go to try and reach the boat when someone begins pounding on the door.  After a brief scare, Henry goes to the door and finds it only to be Nikki.  Being totally confused by what is happening, they all hurriedly update her on the situation, but are puzzled on how she was able to approach and enter the bar with no trouble.  Maggie offers that perhaps the killer is only after them, not the locals.  Shane reminds her that Jimmy was a local.

In an effort to speed things along, I’m going to be very broad for much of the middle act in this episode.  Starting with Abby sharing news of Jimmy’s death with Nikki in the kitchen along with regrets that she never truly told him how she felt.  She also reveals that everyone is now convinced that her father is the killer, despite that she is still having trouble seeing how he could be.  Nikki replies that she hadn’t been around in years and that Mills had “broke” after the original Wakefield events.
 

A plan is formed among the men in which Cal will make a break for Nikki’s car, parked near the front door in the lot.  From there he could reach the boat on the opposite side of the island and bring it around to pick up everyone else.  After Henry maintains that Cal shouldn’t go alone, Sully volunteers to go with him.  Just then, Maggie resolves to leave, stating that the killer hadn’t touched Nikki, so in turn he wouldn’t harm her. 

And with that, she walks out and across the lot to return home.  The men are stunned and decide to wait to attempt their own escape.
 

Abby approaches Madison a little later to try and get more information regarding her father and to verify his role in the abduction.  She is looking for any scrap that might shed light on events as she still struggles to understand her father’s possible involvement. 

Overhearing this, Shea approaches and threatens Abby to stay away from her daughter.  Trish tries to intervene on the dispute, but someone walking on the roof overhead abruptly ends all discussion.  Everyone listens and follows the movement across the bar until the killer drops Maggie’s body in front of the window, hanging by her neck.
 

Soon after, the men begin to prepare their get away plan and make Molotov cocktails for a diversion.  They resolve to send Sully and

Cal off in the cover of dark.  Chloe is upset about Cal volunteering for the dangerous duty and expresses her concern for his safety. 

He reassures her that he will back and gives her the engagement ring telling her that he has a question for her upon his return.
Night falls and Henry determines it to be dark enough to send the pair off.  Henry and Danny light and toss the Molotov’s, setting a nearby truck on fire, planning on using the smoke for extra cover.  Sully and Cal are ready and wait until the fire begins to burn strong enough. 

The two run out to Nikki’s car, but before they climb inside, the killer resumes his target shooting and hits Cal in the upper chest, close to his shoulder.  Sully quickly helps him up and into the back of the car.  Under heavy gunfire, he is able to start up the car and drive off.  The group watches the scene as best as they can from inside the Cannery and witness the car drive off through the smoke.  None are able to see if either man was shot.
 

They don’t get far up the road before Sully stops to check on Cal.  He is bleeding badly, but persists that they should head straight for the boat.  Sully is not totally convinced and instead takes him back to the clinic.  Cal is indeed in bad shape and Sully has to carry him inside.  Clinging to consciousness, Cal tells Sully that there is no time to get any other help and that he will to have treat the wound.  Sully is visibly apprehensive but Cal reassures him that he can get him through it.
 

Back at the Cannery, the rest of the group is anxiously awaiting the duo’s return.  Chloe notes that hours had passed since they had left and declares that something must be wrong.  Henry tries to calm her, stating that they need more time.  Just then, the Sheriff’s SUV pulls into the lot with its lights on.  Lying on the hood of the car is, Jimmy.  The vehicle abruptly stops dumping him onto the ground in front of the bar before pulling away.  When it is clear, Abby runs out to check on him.  He is unconscious but still alive and Henry and Shane carry him back into the bar.  The group immediately start to question how he survived the explosion as well as why the Sheriff would let him live.  As she checks him over, Abby finds the key to her hotel room taped to the palm of his hand. 
 

They discuss what that could possibly mean and Trish finally proposes that the killer wants Abby to return to the Candlewick.  She surmises that the Sheriff knows how she feels about Jimmy, so delivering him to her alive is a peace offering to entice her to meet him.  There is a large debate whether or not she should follow through, as Henry is extremely reluctant to let her go.  Abby ultimately resolves to go back, stressing that if it was her dad, than she should be the one to face him.  Henry relents as Shane hands her his shotgun and she sets off for the Candlewick.
 

Arriving at the Candlewick, Abby heads straight to her room.  She braces herself for what is to come and opens the door to find her father standing inside the room, awaiting her arrival.  She is pained to find him waiting and instantly concedes that he is, in fact, the killer. 

However, he hurriedly asks her if Jimmy is safe.  She bitterly replies that he is and Mills shows his relief, pronouncing that “he” had kept his end of the deal.  Abby is confused and approaches as Mills reveals that he’s referring to John Wakefield.  He tells her that he made a deal for Jimmy’s safety.  He explains that he did shoot Wakefield seven years ago, but had never found his body and buried someone else in his place.
 

Not entirely believing this, she asks why she should.  Mills unveils that the whole thing is a trap and tells her to leave.  Still uncertain, Abby is angered by him trying to send her away and attempts to advance towards him.  Seeing her getting close, he shouts for her to stay away from him.  It is at that moment; back at the Cannery, that Madison approaches Trish to reveal her own secret.  She divulges to Trish that she lied and that the Sheriff was not the one who took her.  She tells her that it was her “new friend” and that he stipulated that she needed to tell the others that it was Mills.  He threatened that if she didn’t, he would take her mother. 

At the hotel, Mills swears that Wakefield is alive and responsible, but Abby is resisting.  She begins to strand together a story that leads to Mills being the killer, ending with her being Wakefield’s daughter.  Mills interjects forcefully that she is his daughter and not to forget it.  It is then that she realizes that her father’s hands are bound to his side and he is unable to move.  She spots a two-way radio sitting nearby and starts to piece everything together. 

Mills states that the whole thing was Wakefield’s game and that he couldn’t stop it.  He tells her that it won’t end until Wakefield is dead and urges her to finish him.  He starts to tell her that he loves her when a car squeals outside and Mills is pulled backwards through the window. 

 Rushing downstairs, Abby runs outside to find the Sheriff’s SUV rigged to a rope and pulley.  Following the line, she realizes that the rope was attached to her father’s neck as she discovers his body hanging over a tree branch nearby.  From behind, a figure appears and spins her around while quickly disarming her. 

The light revealing his face, John Wakefield comments that she looks just like her mother.

So there it is!!!  John Wakefield is revealed to still be alive and responsible for the carnage on the island. 

I’ve gotta say that I saw this scenario coming some time ago, but kudos to the writing staff for throwing enough curveballs to lead us in other possible directions.  I mean, when Madison came out and told Abby that it was Sheriff Mills that had taken her, it definitely had me wondering. 

Still, for a series to carry the mystery this far in is an accomplishment in itself.  Lets face it, most of the time storylines are predictable enough to pick apart, or the writers will tip their hands too much to give the reveal away.  This has had a nice gradual build with a gratifying outcome. 

Not entirely groundbreaking or unique, but a sound selection that was conceptualized well.
 

 Well, if you count the two state troopers that showed up only briefly, we had four victims this past week!  That sets a new high for a single episode!  None of which were very flashy or graphic, but I guess quantity will have to make up for quality in this instance.  In total, that brings the body count up to 19!  That’s pretty respectable for a network television show… and there are still three episodes remaining!

Regarding the victims, Maggie was dispensable and it was only a matter of time before she got picked off, but Sheriff Mills’ death obviously changes the perspective of the show.  For starters, there is no enduring law enforcement left on the island with no additional help coming.  He was also the only main character remaining that had any real insight to the original Wakefield killing spree. 

It obviously absolves him of any guilt, but that’s really a mute point now that Wakefield has exposed himself to be the killer.  I would say that most of the questions surrounding Mills and his past with Wakefield have been answered… except the whole Abby being Wakefield’s daughter thing, but it looks like we’re going to get that one right from the horses mouth soon enough.

Now that killer has been revealed, what’s left?  Who will be left alive for starters!  If my count is correct, there are only 12 survivors remaining.  For the most part, we’ve weeded out all the true “victims” on the show, so anyone who goes at this point will pretty much be a surprise. 

Plus, the question of who Abby’s real father is continues to loom.  Also, based on the teaser for tonight’s episode, my prediction that there was a 2nd killer (helper) looks pretty good right now.  I mean, come on!  Common sense would dictate that one person alone wouldn’t be able to knock off 19 people without someone catching on.  Looks like we’ll see…

Only three episodes left, including tonights!  I think that there is still some blood to be shed and some shocking moments waiting in the wings. 

They’ll definitely be one more huge bombshell before it’s all said and done.  I’ll be shocked if there isn’t.  Just a feeling I have. 

Moving forward, I now have faith that as we go screaming towards the finale that Harper’s Island will have a memorable ending… but we’ll have to tune in to be sure.  Just a reminder, ALL of the back episodes are available on www.cbs.com.  Catch up now while you can! 

Although I happen to think I do an excellent job, these recaps aren’t nearly as good as watching it.   In the meantime, lock your doors and try to snuggle down. 

Do yourself a favor and watch this next one in the dark… and just ignore the creaking floorboards behind you.  Have fun!