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What are you now? ... Better
I've been away, but I'll try and make more of an effort. I need to read the friends page and scroll backward. In the meantime I wrote up thoughts on this week's episode of Teen Wolf.
Teen Wolf: S4, E4 - The Benefactor
I really thought that Stiles was never going to mention being possessed, how it felt, how he’s recovering – anything to do with the ramifications of Season 3B.
I was wrong. And I’m glad I was wrong because something so life changing needs to have consequences. So Stiles remembers everything he did, how it felt, that he liked it (which was particularly heartbreaking). It’s during this scene that I feel we see the real Stiles, the one that works everyday to hold it together to be something normal, something “better”. His control breaks when he confides in Malia as he tries to help her control the full moon impulses. He is terrified and it shows when his voice breaks, shakes and becomes so desperate but provides Malia with enough support that she succeeds. I feel the hug has dual purposes: a hug to congratulate Malia on a job well done but also to hide his shaking hands and the fact that he was scared.
Stiles has to be so much for Malia. And this is one of the reasons that I’m not cheering that Stiles finally has a romantic interest. The other is because it’s Malia.
Now before anyone calls me a hater it’s not because they don’t have chemistry – they do, a lot of it. They are adorable together. I love the glances, the kisses, the support, the caring – I feel this is such a great portrayal of what highschool loves can be like. That scene last week (in Muted) on the bed studying was so cute and perfect that I couldn’t help but grin. And if the characters didn’t have this baggage I would be oohing and ahhing, but they do.
The problem is that Malia, who has been in a human form for all of a few months, should (emotionally and mentally) be a 10 year old. She has no life experiences as a human, she turned into a coyote at 8, there was no learning about boys, giggling in the playground. Nothing. She was an animal with no “adult” (human or animal) to guide her. She should not be so well adjusted, she shouldn’t be able to understand what the hell is going on, let alone making out with anyone. If we really think about it, mentally she is 10 and that is so many levels of wrong.
The second problem is Stiles. He spent weeks being controlled by an evil spirit, doing things that he would never do, watching people die. Boy will have trust issues and to jump right into a romantic whatever with anyone is a bit farfetched. I do think Stiles needed more time to himself, ground himself, figure out how to tackle the world again before becoming someone else’s support structure. Where is his support? It just seems so obvious that Stiles needs someone in his life to put him first for a bit, he is the only human in the bunch.
Isn’t anyone wondering why Lydia’s parents have a sound proof bedroom (in the lake house)? Kind of makes you think that perhaps Lydia’s Mom is a banshee as well, that she would retreat to that room for quiet. This room has really peaked my interest and makes me wonder how banshee’s “work”, if it’s absolutely quiet does that allow the banshee the opportunity to listen to things that they would not normally hear? The record player (and really who has those anymore?) is odd: why was it there, did it help Lydia listen further, or did it provide information? And the key to unlocking the code was “Allison”? I don’t see how that’s possible as the key Lydia used should have been the same as anyone else needing access to that file. (It wasn’t the password to the computer, but the key to the file.)
I think the effect of silence in the bedroom (where the viewer could not hear anything) did not have the desired effect, I found it frustrating instead of intriguing, especially when you find out later what was being said. So Lydia’s family have money problems? When did that start, why is it important? And then she breaks down in front of a perfect (freshman!) stranger? Doesn’t really seem like Lydia.
I like this new, lighter Derek. He started to let go of his anger in Season 3B, but it’s very evident in Season 4 that he really isn’t as angry anymore. He cracks jokes, is a smart ass and can work with others. He and the Sheriff were hilarious, I loved all the scenes with them together, they play off each other really well. I also felt his statement to Peter in the school about not doing it like that anymore, or they found a better way (can’t remember but the sentiment is the same) shows how much Derek has changed from Season 1.
I wonder perhaps that whatever happened to him while kidnapped has lessened his guilt about the past, the events still happened, but perhaps he has enough distance. I’m also curious if Derek remembers being teenage-Derek for that short time and can see how Kate manipulated him and that has helped give him perspective.
The return of Chris Argent was very timely and I clapped/laughed at how overdone the whole thing was, but I still welcome his return. Perhaps some of his guidance will take root in Scott.
The Dead Pool is sick and the fact that you have freshman “playing”, it’s… more than a little disturbing. And I like that (it appears for now) that the big bad are normal people hunting supernatural beings for fun/money. (Yes I know Muted had no mouth so he was probably “something” but unlike the previous seasons there is no huge supernatural being reeking havoc – at least right now). The evil humans can do is always more terrifying than what a monster can do.
Teen Wolf: S4, E4 - The Benefactor
I really thought that Stiles was never going to mention being possessed, how it felt, how he’s recovering – anything to do with the ramifications of Season 3B.
I was wrong. And I’m glad I was wrong because something so life changing needs to have consequences. So Stiles remembers everything he did, how it felt, that he liked it (which was particularly heartbreaking). It’s during this scene that I feel we see the real Stiles, the one that works everyday to hold it together to be something normal, something “better”. His control breaks when he confides in Malia as he tries to help her control the full moon impulses. He is terrified and it shows when his voice breaks, shakes and becomes so desperate but provides Malia with enough support that she succeeds. I feel the hug has dual purposes: a hug to congratulate Malia on a job well done but also to hide his shaking hands and the fact that he was scared.
Stiles has to be so much for Malia. And this is one of the reasons that I’m not cheering that Stiles finally has a romantic interest. The other is because it’s Malia.
Now before anyone calls me a hater it’s not because they don’t have chemistry – they do, a lot of it. They are adorable together. I love the glances, the kisses, the support, the caring – I feel this is such a great portrayal of what highschool loves can be like. That scene last week (in Muted) on the bed studying was so cute and perfect that I couldn’t help but grin. And if the characters didn’t have this baggage I would be oohing and ahhing, but they do.
The problem is that Malia, who has been in a human form for all of a few months, should (emotionally and mentally) be a 10 year old. She has no life experiences as a human, she turned into a coyote at 8, there was no learning about boys, giggling in the playground. Nothing. She was an animal with no “adult” (human or animal) to guide her. She should not be so well adjusted, she shouldn’t be able to understand what the hell is going on, let alone making out with anyone. If we really think about it, mentally she is 10 and that is so many levels of wrong.
The second problem is Stiles. He spent weeks being controlled by an evil spirit, doing things that he would never do, watching people die. Boy will have trust issues and to jump right into a romantic whatever with anyone is a bit farfetched. I do think Stiles needed more time to himself, ground himself, figure out how to tackle the world again before becoming someone else’s support structure. Where is his support? It just seems so obvious that Stiles needs someone in his life to put him first for a bit, he is the only human in the bunch.
Isn’t anyone wondering why Lydia’s parents have a sound proof bedroom (in the lake house)? Kind of makes you think that perhaps Lydia’s Mom is a banshee as well, that she would retreat to that room for quiet. This room has really peaked my interest and makes me wonder how banshee’s “work”, if it’s absolutely quiet does that allow the banshee the opportunity to listen to things that they would not normally hear? The record player (and really who has those anymore?) is odd: why was it there, did it help Lydia listen further, or did it provide information? And the key to unlocking the code was “Allison”? I don’t see how that’s possible as the key Lydia used should have been the same as anyone else needing access to that file. (It wasn’t the password to the computer, but the key to the file.)
I think the effect of silence in the bedroom (where the viewer could not hear anything) did not have the desired effect, I found it frustrating instead of intriguing, especially when you find out later what was being said. So Lydia’s family have money problems? When did that start, why is it important? And then she breaks down in front of a perfect (freshman!) stranger? Doesn’t really seem like Lydia.
I like this new, lighter Derek. He started to let go of his anger in Season 3B, but it’s very evident in Season 4 that he really isn’t as angry anymore. He cracks jokes, is a smart ass and can work with others. He and the Sheriff were hilarious, I loved all the scenes with them together, they play off each other really well. I also felt his statement to Peter in the school about not doing it like that anymore, or they found a better way (can’t remember but the sentiment is the same) shows how much Derek has changed from Season 1.
I wonder perhaps that whatever happened to him while kidnapped has lessened his guilt about the past, the events still happened, but perhaps he has enough distance. I’m also curious if Derek remembers being teenage-Derek for that short time and can see how Kate manipulated him and that has helped give him perspective.
The return of Chris Argent was very timely and I clapped/laughed at how overdone the whole thing was, but I still welcome his return. Perhaps some of his guidance will take root in Scott.
The Dead Pool is sick and the fact that you have freshman “playing”, it’s… more than a little disturbing. And I like that (it appears for now) that the big bad are normal people hunting supernatural beings for fun/money. (Yes I know Muted had no mouth so he was probably “something” but unlike the previous seasons there is no huge supernatural being reeking havoc – at least right now). The evil humans can do is always more terrifying than what a monster can do.