Last weeks inaugural review for the pilot of Haven was mostly negative with a few positive notes thrown in focusing on the more enjoyable aspects. For this weeks episode, titled Butterfly, things are more positive.

Haven is forging ahead and forming its own identity separate from the source material on which it is based. This weeks episode further illustrates that Haven contains a unique and original story that viewers should not confuse with "The Colorado Kid." For example the antics this week included rampaging butterflies and a large metal ball crashing into the local bar.

Haven is also coming into its own with a production quality that is more refined. There were less Warehouse 13 and Eureka influences in this second episode, a good thing for a series focused on becoming Syfys unique supernatural franchise.

What Worked

Stephen McHatties character, Reverend Ed Driscoll, plays a fire and brimstone end-of-the-world type preacher that brings a lot of creepy goodness to this second episode. He is a haunted, miserable and sinister looking man who appears to be shrouded in mystery. Viewers are privy to his antics, his anger and wrath, but not much more. He comes across as an individual suffering from symptoms of some unknown affliction, making his character interesting to watch unravel. By way of his antics and comments to others, especially Nathan Wournos (Bryant), Driscoll also hints that there is a lot more eeriness hidden in Havens history. Hopefully the towns past will continue to be served up in future installments.

Reverend Driscoll is counterbalanced by his doe-eyed daughter Hannah who shuffles around from scene to scene and appears perpetually frightened. She is also tasked with looking after Bobby, an orphan with supernatural abilities. Bobby is also the primary culprit for all things that go wrong in Butterfly, unbeknownst to him.

Driscoll, Hannah and Bobby are wholly new characters for this second episode and work well at moving the mysterious plot of Haven toward the next installment.

What Didnt Work

Like the pilot episode, the scary elements of Butterfly were not frightening in the least. In fact, they were cheesy and comical to watch -- but not in a good way. One particular example was when Audrey was attacked by the blanket on her hotel room bed. This scene should have been filled with tension to help instill anxiety and fear in viewers. Instead, there was some bad looking CGI as the cocoon enveloped Audrey, and when she was lying on the floor, the victim, all wrapped up, viewers should have been horrified. Instead apathy was the prevalent feeling. To make matters worse, there was also a commercial break at this climactic moment further ruining mood. Haven is still suffering from its thrown together look and so this may be one of the reasons the horror is not as effective as it should be.

Like last weeks pilot episode, the supernatural elements in Butterfly appear contrived and tacked-on. There is nothing organic about the way they are portrayed, nothing to give the illusion of reality. As a result, viewers may have a hard time getting into (or back into) the story once the illusion is shattered.

In summary, Haven appears to be on the right track in that there is perceivable improvement from one episode to the next. The biggest and most important hurdle to be addressed in short order is to get the horror/supernatural right. Hopefully Haven will not shed too many viewers while the bugs are ironed out.

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

"Haven" stars Audrey Parker, Lucas Bryant, Eric Balfour, Richard Donat, John Dunsworth. "Butterfly" was written by Ann Lewis Hamilton, and was directed by Tim Southam.

"Haven" airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on Syfy.