Tonight is the second installment of CBS’ 13-episode mystery series Harper’s Island. It’s not the most mind-twisting show of all time — Harper’s has a trashy-ish I Know What You Did Last Summer vibe — but I found it to be quite a nice little trifle last week, especially since a handful of my Thursday night staples (Grey’s, Ugly Betty) weren’t debuting new episodes.
Basically, the show is about a wedding party who goes to an island off the shore of Seattle for the nuptials and, as the creepy-voiced little girl Madison keeps saying when the show cuts to commercials, most of the folks are going to be killed off "one by one." So far, the bride’s cousin, Ben, has been offed — he was tied to the propellers of the ferry that the party took to the island and you can figure out what happened to him. We know virtually nothing about him and why anyone would want to kill him. And then, at the end of last week’s episode, the groom’s uncle Marty (poor Harry Hamlin!) was sliced in half after falling part-way through a rickety old bridge. He, however, was more of an obvious target because he saw an exchange he shouldn’t have between the bride’s nasty father and the bride’s ex-boyfriend. Actually, if you missed the episode, why don’t you just catch this helpful little recap, via CBS:
Now, people, the question is: Who’s gonna die tonight? Honestly, with the randomness of Ben and Marty’s deaths last weekend, that’s a hard question to answer. Maybe an inconsequential bridesmaid or two? An unsuspecting child? The weird, overly blonde couple, perhaps?
Yet another question: With the history on the island (a crazed man killed six people on the island years ago) and now that uncle Marty will be discovered dead (cousin Ben seems to be forgotten by this point), why would these crazy folks continue with the week-long wedding festivities? Seems nuts to me. Get off the damn island!
And most importantly, who’s killing all these folks? Can’t be the same guy who did it last time because, supposedly, he’s dead, too. But you know how these things work, a la I Know What You Did Last Summer. No one is ever really dead. The suspects that the above video points out — the groom’s weirdo brother JD and the bride’s powerful dad — are moot, as far as I’m concerned. With 12 episodes to go, it couldn’t be so easy to figure out the mystery yet, right? No good R.L. Stine-ish murder mystery would even hint toward the true killer this early.
Do you have any early theories, PopWatchers? Who’s killing? Who’s dying tonight? Are you even watching?
More on ‘Harper’s Island’ from EW:
‘Harper’s Island’: Was it seriously ‘debauch’?
‘Southland’ vs. ‘Harper’s Island’: New-show face-off!
Spring TV preview: CBS’s ‘Harper’s Island’
Comments (1-15) of 35 Add your comment
The killer is the groom (Ugly Betty’s ex-boyfriend).
I happened to catch this show last week cause nothing else was on too and enjoyed it. i’ve always liked mysteries so it seems it will be fun one, despite the low-budget feel. i agree that suspects like the bride’s dad and JD obvious this early on makes them irrelevant. i think a good twist would be the lead girl somehow being connected, probably though some kind of split-personality cop-out. or the bride or groom being involved somehow. that would be a good twist. considering there’s only 12 episodes, i’ll definitely keep watching.
I don’t know who the killer is, but that little girl freaks me out. If there isn’t something wrong with her now, there will be in the future. Serious strangeness.
I’m watching. It’s still way too early to tell…or is it? Most modern mysteries really show you the killer up front, in a most non-threatening situation, then we won’t see them for 2-3 episodes (or briefly)… or not?
Hmmm, or is there a red herring (Uncle Marty was really a parapalegic, haha) and he is the real killer… or is he? Is this a supernatural flick and the creepy little girl conjures up dead Ben… or is she a 40yr old midget wrestler that can kill… I vote for the groom (Henry) and Henry from Ugly Betty, what a coincidence… or is it?… Will we see a crossover to Ugly Betty when it returns… Henry is paying everybody back since he is poor and marrying into rich. he wants the money,… or does he?…
I think th blond girl (skinny dipping) will die this week.
By the way, I can’t get passed her performance on House. Anyone remember her (him?)
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I too think the killer is the groom. That would be a good twist.
I totally think is it the groom! And I hope that blond guy with the terrible “British” accent gets it tonight!
I like it because it’s different. But why would the groom want to kill his beloved uncle? I think the killer will probably be someone we least expect.
This show is stupid and pointless. theres no motive or even logical reason.
I disagree with all the “Its the groom” comments. I think a good twist would be if it was the sheriff, who’s wife died in the first round of killings.
Thanks for the reminder – I would have totally forgotten this was on! (Not a good sign for my interest in it.)
I think its the sheriff,i think he was the original murderer.
I love this new show! It’s totally trashy, but I love it. I totally think that the killer is the Sherriff. How delicious! I hope that blonde couple gets it, too. They bother me. And that little girl? It was fun creepy trash until she appeared talking about her “new friend.” Nothing creepier than a void-behind-the-eyes little girl talking about “friends”. Ha! I’ll be watching tonight!
Why are all the men on these types of shows such panzies? The groom represents the worst in the “modern man” — politically correct, unassuming, unmasculine, and weak. Such a candy ass. I suppose this is necessary when a show calls for a “strong female character.” All the men thus have to play second fiddle. No wonder North America is such a haven for feminists…Thank God for Band of Brothers.