The aspect of a hidden island (much like "Widow’s Bay") -- and its secrets -- always depends on the characters inhabiting the process and how much they play with convention. Noah Reid as a PI called Rapp operates with a cavalier attitude but is also connected. He has a way of investigating that is loose and fun (much like Castle was). He doesn’t care about standards but knows what he wants but also how he needs to approach both his conquests and his questioning. As soon as he steps off the helicopter in Episode 1, he realizes what is happening since he has been here before Clark Backo plays the reluctant Carson who knows that this is her island to protect but that Reid has one definitely over on her. The best curve ball so far as episode 2 ends is Katherine (played with aplomb by an older but still wretchedly effective Carrie Ann Moss). Reid goes toe-to-toe with her especially in one bar scene and later in her office. It really works.
A late party of the man who is missing (Henry Park) thrown by his slightly doppelganger roommate pushes what the viewing audience might want to accept but the way this functions is almost a slightly sexier Twin Peaks (which is saying something) but maybe without the deep deep mythology. But this is alao in a half hour format and made by Crave who did "Letterkenny" but has good genre cred of course. There is an inherent Canadian-ness to the proceedings but it doesn’t take away from the progression of the story. Reid really keeps it moving even as the undercurrent of witches play out quietly underneath. The only way you would know that this is the case of the context, besides the open shot, is the voice over at the beginning and end. It is probably not the best story device because it still does not show its inherent importance. The flyovers of the island definitely shows that something might happen but it doesn’t make it feel dread-filled. There is a sense of fun and yet the mythology exists. 87%/B+
By Tim Wassberg
