‘Haven’ Series Finale: Showrunners Explain Each Character’s True Fate
Spoiler alert! Don’t read until you’ve seen the last episode of Haven …
It may have taken them five seasons multiple 27-year cycles, but the little town of Haven is finally a trouble-free zone—at least in terms of anything supernatural. But not everyone managed to find a happy ending. With so much going down in the Syfy show’s series finale, we asked executive producers Gabrielle Stanton and Matt McGuinness to explain why each storyline wrapped up as it did —and to point out some hidden Haven Easter eggs.
A Walk (Into The Barn) to Remember
Audrey (Emily Rose) chose to enter the barn a second time as only her love for the town—and the people in it—would keep it safe from the Void, which was threatening to invade the world.
“It always felt like that’s where it was heading. That there was something inevitable about her destiny, and having to go back and walk into that barn one more time,” says McGuinness of Audrey’s sacrifice. “We definitely knew we needed to see the barn again,” says Stanton. “So much of this series has been about ending the troubles and figuring out how the barn works and all of that. We really wanted to explain everything at the end so you felt, ‘Oh, okay. I see what they were working for in these past few years.’”
Turning A New Paige
As the series’ final moments show, Audrey hasn’t truly left Haven. Nathan (Lucas Bryant) runs into a woman having car trouble who looks surprisingly like Parker—except she’s a young teacher named Paige who has a young son, James—who Stanton confirms is indeed the formerly deceased James Cogan (AKA the Colorado Kid).
“It felt like a way to demonstrate how special Audrey was relative to Nathan and how special their bond was, but still be true to the rules and mythology we set up,” says McGuinness of why Audrey chose to come back as someone else and not her original self. “We allowed that ‘couple of the ages’ be together, but we put a little spin on it that protects the easy thing of letting them walk off into the sunset and not having to deal with all the challenges that they dealt with. They have to pay a little bit of a price, but that makes their connection that much more powerful.”
Déjà View
If Paige and Nathan’s meeting felt familiar, Stanton and McGuinness say it was all intentional—even down to the Captain & Tenille song that was also used in the show’s pilot. “There were a lot of call-backs,” notes McGuinness. “Everything from the song to having Nathan’s hand slammed in the door, even some of the dialogue is very intentional. Hopefully it gives a feeling that, whether she’s Audrey Parker or not, the entity that is Audrey Parker is what Nathan really connects with and he’s going to re-connect with her again right down to their joint love of pancakes.”
Daisies for Duke
In a moment of freedom from Croatoan’s control, Duke (Eric Balfour) chose to die rather than let him have access to all the troubles he contained. “It was the most powerful way to end his character’s arc,” Stanton says. “[Duke] was always the loner. He was always the pirate, the one who wanted his own destiny. We liked the idea that he was able to sacrifice so much for his friends and for this town that in the beginning seasons he pretended not to care about. We felt like we were almost cheating his character out of an awesome ending if we didn’t end up actually killing him.”
A Little Belief… Goes A Long Way
While it may have seemed that Lizzie was fading away with the departing troubles, Stanton and McGuinness confirm that the young girl fishing with Dwight (Adam Copeland) in the end is indeed his daughter. “Our original intent was that the girl is his Lizzie, and that what Dwight has to do to keep her is believe in her with all of his heart. It’s a little bit like that moment in Peter Pan.”
A Teague of His Own
Audrey was eventually able to get through to her father, convincing Croatoan (William Shatner) to put aside his designs for revenge and help save the town by stepping into the barn with her—and Vince. So while Audrey Paige eventually returned to Nathan, the older Teague brother and his new companion were left to become barn-dwelling roommates of sorts. “They’re still alive,” says Stanton. “Croatoan is going to learn from his mistakes and become a better person and Vince is going to help along on that journey.”
For those wondering what Vince’s trouble turned out to be, Stanton says that it was his ability to find the lighthouse with the symbol that would open the door to the Void—that’s why his tattoo swirled around.
Team Effort
As the troubles left Haven, we got brief appearances from a few familiar faces, including Jason Priestly’s uber-likeable Chris Brody. But the show’s writing staff, as well as a few producers, also made cameos.
“When you see the Mermen [who] are finally freed from having to live under water, that is by and large the writing staff of Haven, including me,” says McGuinness. The names Office Stan reads out at the police station are actually the show’s writers, while Stanton appears in the background of the pool party scene–she’s the tall woman with the martini glass. And longtime viewers finally caught a glimpse of producer Stefani Deoul, who voiced Laverne the radio dispatcher over the show’s five seasons.
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So if Audrey convinced her father to go into the barn then how is it Duke needed to die? I really don't care that they had the character die but if that was their idea of a heroic death, they're wrong. That was a particularly cruel death where Duke didn't get the chance to go down swinging. I actually found the scene to be uncomfortable, not tragic, or heroically sad, whatever they were going for, nope. Just distasteful and not a good end/death for the character.
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I have just finished watching this Amazing series and when I managed to recover from the emotional wreck the finale made of me, I decided to find out what the writers/ producers thoughts were. I admit I wanted the happy ending with Audrey & Nathan living happily ever after in a peaceful Haven. I liked the deja vu of Paige & Nathan’s meeting but gotta admit it would be awfully confusing for Paige with everyone mistaking her for someone called Audrey; And emotionally confusing for Nathan. Just wish they’d make a wrap up TV movie or even write a book. But 5 out 5 for a Brilliant series.
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i was late to the series too. i agree that they had 26 episodes to sort it out. i felt the mara section was dragged out to long. personally duke was my favourite and boy did they give his character a bad time. as they were doing rainbows at the end could we not have seen the ghosts of duke and jennifer. was a bit shocked to see william shatner but he actually played it well. do think he gave up awful easily. overall some amazing episodes and characters.
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I started Haven when it first came out and just finished it Saturday October 26 2024. Thank God for streaming. I didn’t like the Character Duke dying. I thought it was very unfair. I didn’t realize I was so emotionally moved by the character. I hope to see Eric Balfour on more tv and movies. Enjoyed his performances in Haven. Enjoyed the Haven series. Didn’t appreciate the ending. Hahaha….that’s the way it went.
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I just finished rewatching this show! I loooove it but still have multiple questions! What happened to the original Audrey Parker? What happened to Agent Howard? What couldn’t they bring Duke back? How is James Cognan a baby? How did she get pregnant with Nathan’s song if they met YEARS ago? Does Audrey get her memories back? Ugh all these questions!
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I really wanted Duke to have a happily ever after, especially since he’s alive a day before they get rid of the troubles.
But they had all those story lines about fate and it always happening, even when they went back in the past and tried to change things.
I don’t see how they end the series without him seeing that tattoo on the arm of the killer as he dies.
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So many comments to reply to, but most of them got answered over time. One question that kept gnawing at me that may have been dropped due to actress leaving the show, but I always wondered if Julia Carr was Vincents daughter. She had the same fading in and out guard tattoo as him. I would have loved to see more of her.
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I love this show. They could of run it another 5 seasons. I love how they developed a connection to all the characters and made it so you could feel everything they did. From Duke to Dwight to The Teagues, and Shatner as Croatoan???? This show kicked butt
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Just finished watching...still don't understand the reason Audrey went back as Paige. Nathan retains all the memories of Audrey, and I don't doubt he will love her again, but he will always see her as Audrey with Paige's personality overlayed on "Audrey." Even Mara's mother conceded that Audrey was what her daughter should have been. Her mannerisms won't be the same; something that we saw did bother him with Lexie. I guess he wont really need a crime fighting partner now in the Haven of kittens in trees...but he'll miss that partnership. And won't she think it odd when he continually refers to her as Parker. And I know this bit is superficial as hell, but did they have to make her a brunette? Of all the incarnations we've seen, the Lucy Ripley look was my least favorite. But I guess it will turn out alright in the end. After all, when Haven got changed to one without the Troubles, Audrey was willing to begin a romance with Nathan the physician. Still not quite as satisfying as I would have liked...and dammit but that hair thing still bothers me. And is she human now? After all, she's what...200 something? Will she age?
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Just to say, I would imagine that - unless the barn changed her biologically and genetically - something it never did except for superficially - in the end, then no, there's no reason why she would suddenly become human.
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I know that this is beyond late, but I just finished up watching the last season of Haven. Then of course I had to re-watch the whole series. lol But I pretty sure that Charlotte said something about Mara being around 600 not 200. Also, I read somewhere that the writers were planning on Paige getting Audrey's memories back over several months. This would have been a setup for just in case the show got another season. Now that being said, just because I read that online doesn't make it true. Thought I would share. I really liked this show, especially Nathan and Audrey. Was it perfect good god no, the writing had a tendency to be sloppy but at it's core it was a good show.
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I can't help but wonder if Jennifer hadn't have been killed off, if Duke and her would have gotten married. It was her choice to leave the show. I thought they were great together.
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I know I'm late to the party with my comments, but I'm just in the middle of re-watching for the 3rd time! Love this show and agree with J Woodbridge, the whole Croatoan thing felt rushed and weird, even for the show. And it did feel somewhat anti-climactic. HATED that Duke was killed, I know, I know, it was how he was 'supposed' to die, tatooed guy and all, but I LOVED Duke 🙁 (agree w/RedRing) Wasn't a fan of the whole Mara story either, could have spent less time with her and William, he should have stayed in Eureka! He's a better Sheriff Carter than an Evil William 🙂 That storyline seemed like it took a left turn from the beginning of the show. Because if she was from the barn.... Also, the whole Dave story at the end, really didn't make sense from the way things were at the beginning of the show either. But I'm still watching it again, even so. Glad about Nathan and Audrey/Paige, and of course he knew that was his baby! Glad we got to see one last look at Duke at the end to, like someone mentioned it would have been cool if Jennifer would have showed up with him to get a 'happy ending'. I liked them together.
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I still wonder if there was meant to be a larger confrontation with Croatoan. Part of me thinks that Shatner probably wasn't meant to play Croatoan, just Mara's father. I think maybe Dave wasn't meant to die originally because the last few episodes felt a little rushed, like they had to wrap everything quicker than intended. I wonder if there had been another series if we would have seen Croatoan split from Mara's father and then they would all fight to put Satan back in the void. It all seemed to peter out rather than explode and while I'm really glad Nathan got a sort of happy ending, it all felt a little flat, this wont stop me watching it all from beginning to end though.
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Yes, I believe the show got canceled last minute so maybe. Although, I admit I bawled like a baby over some of those scenes. It seemed the last few year's were more emotional then the whole five years. I gasped when I saw Shatner then laughed at the absurdity. After yelling out, "you got to be kidding me."I wish they let Stephen play that part. That would have been better.
Also, Audrey could not come back as herself as the rules of the barn dicate and it was pointed out many times.
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I believe the show's producers and writers knew they were ending the show when they began filming season 5. Syfy had bought two season's worth of shows (26 episodes) and told them to wrap it up. This is one of the few lingering issues I have - I agree the last few episodes felt rushed, but it feels like poor planning than anything else. They had 26 episodes to get it all right. For example they could have stripped out the whole storyline about Dave being from the other world and being Croatoan's conduit. The whole "darkness killer" thing just ate up lots of time as well.
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I loved the show, but feel sorry for Dukes tragical turn to killer and afterwards to regretting and sacrificing sinner.
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Just watched this series again after all these years and loved it just as much the second time.
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I HATED that Duke made it all the way to the end then STILL DIED!
JUST LIKE, I HATED that Spike (BTVS) made it all the way to the end then STILL DIED! BUT CAME BACK!!!!!
HERE'S TO A SPIKE LIKE RETURN OF DUKE...in a sequel (say in a west coast or gulf coast town) or "reboot"!!!!!!
I've been waiting almost 10 years for it and I will CONTINUE to wait.......
AND speaking of a characters making it to the end THEN "DIEING"..."RED" (TBL) ISN'T DEAD EITHER!!!!! :)-
BTW, IMHO, a little bit of Kirk is STILL IN THE NEXUS SOMEWHERE..........
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