Being replaced by a shape-shifter at your own birthday party kind of takes the fun out of the celebration. The guest of honor did not even get to sample the birthday cake or open her own presents. Instead, Audrey (Emily Rose) was stuck in a chest while the shape-shifter walked around pretending to be her.

In a grand whodunit kind of mystery, this week we glimpsed into the souls of each of Audreys new-found friends. We saw how well they knew each other, or in some cases, how well they did not know each other. It made sense for the shape-shifter to impersonate Audrey because she was the only one who had not grown up in Haven. Without that history, no one knew her really at all. It was the safest choice; whereas, Nathan (Lucas Bryant) and the Chief (Nicholas Campbell) are father and son, Nathan and Duke (Eric Balfour) have a long history, Dave (John Dunsworth) and Vince (Richard Donat) are brothers and Eleanor (Mary Colin Chisholm) and Julia (Michelle Monteith) are mother and daughter. Audrey may have been the birthday girl, but she was also the one they knew nothing about.

It was a lesson that they all learned. They all need to be more involved with each otherslives. Their strength is in knowing exactly who their friends are. It was Audreys lucky day in that she did not even know the one thing about her that made her special. Nathan knew that he could feel her -- that was her gift. It made her special and it was the one thing that the shape-shifter could not replicate. It also made her special to Nathan. He did not know how or why he could feel her, but it was a human connection that he craved.

Fearing he had lost that one connection -- and perhaps the one person he loved, it gave Nathan the strength to kill the shape-shifter, which it perhaps did not deserve. He was that lost in grief. How was he to know that the one thing that made Audrey special to him was also what perhaps saved her life?

What Worked

It was ingenious how Duke lured Audrey to the island under the pretense that there may be something trouble related there, just so they could throw her a surprise birthday party. Anything else and she may have seen through it. It also provided a great remote and isolated location for the perfect murder mystery. It felt a bit reminiscent of Agatha Christies classic mystery And Then There Were None. Fortunately, in this case, not everyone died.

But the trap to get Audrey to the island was perfectly planned and executed. She even cried a little with happiness once she found out that they had all gathered in her honor. While we do not yet know much about Agent Audrey Parker, she clearly lived a lonely and isolated life. This episode served well to remind Audrey that she needs human connections -- people who love and know her. After all, we all need someone to miss us when we are gone.

The birthday gifts for Audrey were inspired too: Vince brought her a book; Dave brought her a party dress with matching accessories; Eleanor brought earrings; Nathan had picked out a cashmere sweater; and Duke brought a necklace -- her mothers necklace. While they all may not know everything about Audrey yet, they knew how to pick out the perfect gifts. It was touching that they cared that much and made such an effort. Audrey may not have been in Haven very long, but she has clearly touched their lives.

This episode also showed the shift in Audreys romantic interest. Previously, Audrey had given Duke the idea that she may be interested in him, but lately she had become much more attune to Nathan -- especially seeing him so vulnerable after Jess (Anne Caillon) left. Thus, Audrey was tickled when Nathan gave her a present, but the moment Duke mentioned he had something for her, she only expressed interest in finding out what Vaughn Carpenter knew about Lucy Riply (Emily Rose). Audrey only had thoughts of Nathan and Lucy; Duke was just an afterthought. So when Duke called her on it, Audrey tried to ask what he had brought for her, but Duke, sensing her distraction, told her to just forget about it.

Perhaps Duke is slowly realizing that Audrey is not actually falling for him. Instead, for her, it is all about the mystery. Audrey is drawn to Nathan because he is a part of that mystery. Thus, until Duke revealed his connection to her mother, Audrey was only mildly curious about him. That all changed once Duke gave her his birthday present. He smiled and said, Just because you got body snatched doesnt mean you dont get a present on your birthday. The minute Audrey realized what he had given her, she had renewed interest in him. She then sharply asked, Where did you get this? To which Duke admitted: Lucy gave it to me. The boy standing next to Lucy in the Colorado Kid photo -- thats me. Now Audrey has two men vying for her affections and both have mysteries that she wants to solve. Will she ultimately choose Nathan, the man who cannot feel anything except her touch; or will she choose Duke, that man who knew her mother and perhaps he has the answer to the mystery that she so desperately wants to solve?

It was fascinating throughout the episode watching the body language amongst the three of them. The chameleon, mimicking Audrey, moved to stay close to Nathan and Nathan did the same. Their body language mirrored each other. But with Duke, he was still a free spirit, going his own way and thinking of himself first. When the lights went out, Duke moved for the gun whereas Nathan moved to protect Audrey.

That was ultimately what gave the chameleon away, he was mimicking Audrey too closely and stayed too close to Nathan. That is when Nathan realized that he could not feel her. The chameleon had loosened the ropes tying Nathan to the chair and Nathan did not feel it. This raised Nathans suspicions, which he confirmed when he asked faux-Audrey if she trusted him. As he caressed her hand, he knew. So when it asked Nathan, Are you okay? Nathan angrily replied, No, Im not! and kissed her. It was not a kiss of affection. It was a kiss good-bye. A kiss for the woman he would never get to see again. A woman he loved and would never have the chance to kiss. Audrey was dead and it was the chameleons fault. So as Nathan kissed Audrey good-bye, he pulled out his gun and shot her, softly saying, You killed my friend. As the chameleon whispered, How did you know it was me? Nathan said, I can feel her touch. I cant feel yours.

That was the secret Nathan was keeping. After discovering when Audrey kissed his cheek that he could feel her, Nathan never told anyone -- not even Audrey. It was a secret he kept to himself and cherished. It was the one human connection that he craved, and only Audrey could provide it. With her death, he was condemned to live a life of isolation yet again. The emotional and physical barriers had returned -- after just a brief period when he thought he may be saved from it.

Thus, as the chameleon said, I thought she could help me, like Lucy, Nathan sorrowfully asked, If you thought she could help, then why did you kill her? The chameleon replied: Shes different. She should have died.

With renewed hope, Nathan rushed to find her. Finding her alive, Nathan could not help himself and caressed her hands. A man who studiously refrained from touch was refusing to let Audreys hands go. The physical contact reminded him that he is not immune to touch. He can feel her. Just what about Audrey makes her special, he does not know. But for Nathan, all he needs to know is that she is not gone. His one human connection is not lost.

Later when Audrey asked Nathan, When did you realize he wasnt me? Nathan simply said, I knew. He still did not want to reveal his secret. It is a vulnerability that he is not ready to disclose. So as Audrey curiously asked, You know me that well? Nathan merely smiled and said, No, not that well. He was perhaps worried that she may not feel as strongly for him as he was now beginning to feel for her.

One final cool mystery is: what is up with the earthquakes? Who or what is causing all those cracks in the walls and roadway? Is that the big bad evil making its presence felt?

What Didn't Work

The shape-shifter knew to hide Audrey in a chest, but did not think to hide its molten skin after shedding Von in favor of Audrey. That is what ultimately tipped everyone off that there was a shape-shifter in their midst. It would have gotten away just fine had it used a little common sense to hide that skin.

Plus, if the shape-shifter truly did not want to harm anyone, then why lock Audrey up in the chest in the first place? And who was his wife? Why did she have to sneak away and he just did not go with her? Hopefully those mysteries will be answered soon.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

"Haven" stars Emily Rose, Lucas Bryant and Eric Balfour. "As You Were" was written by Jose Molina and was directed by Rob Lieberman.

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