This Whodunnit Horror Series Is One of the Best of the 2000s, But No One Remembers It

Anthology television is having a moment of late, particularly in the genre space. While episodic horror anthologies have been commonplace for decades, series featuring a season-long narrative arc have only recently become more popular. Such a format allows each new season to start fresh with a brand-new setup and a cast of fresh faces. It might be tempting to credit Ryan Murphy’s hit series American Horror Story with popularizing the format in the horror space, and the show surely deserves much credit. However, Harper’s Island, a whodunnit slasher series set in a remote corner of Washington state, beat AHS to the punch by two years. Even still, Harper’s Island never really caught on with the masses, and it has since been forgotten by most.

Though we recognize that not every series sticks around in the public consciousness indefinitely, it’s a shame that this thrilling and often unpredictable program doesn’t have a larger fan base.

Harper’s Island Is One of the Best Horror Series of the ‘00s, but No One Remembers It

Harper’s Island is a smartly written, pioneering effort and one of the best genre offerings of the ‘00s. That makes the fact that it didn’t resonate as expected all the more tragic. With the benefit of hindsight, however, we can readily identify a number of potential reasons why the series never caught on with the masses. For starters, the slasher format in a television series is seen as something of a gamble.

Since slasher stories rely heavily on building and sustaining momentum, the ups and downs of the televised format can make it difficult to effectively manage pacing. In contrast to cinematic fare, TV writers have to effectively hook, engage, and sustain the viewer with each new episode. Balancing that while simultaneously progressing the greater narrative can be a bit of a challenge. However, fans who have seen Harper’s Island from start to finish will likely tell you the series does a commendable job of walking that delicate balance and keeping the central mystery alive.

As effectively as the series functions within the constraints of broadcast television, CBS didn’t have a lot of patience. In fact, after the first three episodes failed to perform to expectations, the network effectively gave up on the show and moved Harper’s Island from its Thursday time slot to Saturdays. Had the program maintained its original time slot or perhaps come about a few years later and been developed for a streaming platform where all episodes bowed at the same time, the series may have found its audience more easily.

Those who did find their way to Harper’s Island connected with the show for a number of reasons, including the unpredictable narrative and complex characterizations for a series that proactively sets out to kill off the bulk of its core cast. Speaking of which, the deaths are somewhat gruesome for a network show.

Fans also connected with the program’s sense of humor, which is perhaps most apparent from the quirky episode titles. Each installment takes its name from the sound of a character’s death contained within. The pilot is called “Whap,” the second episode is “Crackle,” and so on and so forth.

Though the series was cancelled before its time, fans love that it delivers a complete story with a proper ending. That was very much by design, seeing as the producers planned to start fresh with a new premise in the event the show was greenlit for a second season.

For anyone unfamiliar, Harper’s Island follows Abby (Elaine Cassidy), a young woman returning to her titular hometown for the first time in several years to attend her best friend Henry’s (Christopher Gorham) wedding. Once the wedding party and guests begin to arrive on the scene, a series of murders begin to unfold. Perplexing to all, the deaths are eerily reminiscent of a killing spree that transpired years earlier.

All things considered, Harper’s Island is a trailblazing effort that deserves more recognition. Nonetheless, the show is a great short-term binge and stands as an early example of the season-long anthology format in the horror space.

If you’re curious to experience the series, you can find the episodes available to rent or purchase via Prime Video and Apple.

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