If only Teen Wolf aired on Tuesday’s; then it really could’ve boasted a
full moon on a full moon. Alas, the
series does not, but the season four finale did
air Monday night, titled ‘Smoke and Mirrors’, and it had so much going on, it
encroached on Wolf Watch, going a
whole fifteen minutes over its allotted hour. Normally I wouldn’t mind that,
but it did mean I missed out on fifteen minutes of the after show, which just
so happened to have ballooned up to a forty-five minute episode. It’d have been
nice to have gotten a head’s up on that, but I relent.
This week’s season finale felt
more or less like this season has felt, iffy on a hole with it’s season long
arc, but nonetheless still good. Compared to 3B’s season finale it was
unimpressive, but the writing on this season has been so back and forth and all
over the place, I wasn’t altogether that surprised. I mean, the benefactor
issue gets fixed last week, and then we have to deal with Peter again, really?
He is interesting as a villain, but I
really enjoyed having him pop up every now and again with his quippy little
one-liners, and having make another 180 and go back to being evil Peter just
felt like a devolution. Besides, the way the actor had been playing him most of
this season – without the knowledge of Peter’s “true” intent – didn’t feel like
it was leading toward this. And what’s the point in killing Scott anyway, when
you can’t become an Alpha by stealing from a True Alpha?
As always, I adored Stiles this
week – he’s continuously unmistakably fantastic. Loved the face he gave Derek
when the latter was explaining to Liam what the “talisman” was. (Side note: is
anyone worried that the use of mantras predicts Liam leaving Scott’s pack for
the docile one?) It was really great seeing Stiles discussing with his dad
everything that was going on with Scott and Kira in Mexico, and him having to
go there because there isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for the pack (read: weird
family, a la Buffy), particularly
being Scott’s best friend. Despite his ferocity for the sardonic sense of
humour, I really feel like Stiles, in this moment, shines as a young adult
because he really has his priorities straight and understands responsibility.
Speaking of responsibility, absolutely adored at the end when Sheriff Stilinski
cuffs Stiles to the desk – perfect punishment.
One thing I do have to commend
this week is the use of sound. The eeriness when Kira wakes up to her open cage
and calls out for Scott thinking it was his doing (No, sweetie, it’s not Scott.
Don’t you watch horror movies?) devoid of any other music or sounds other than
what would be natural to that environment was absolutely perfect. Also, the
final song of episode I greatly enjoyed.
Speaking of technical aspects,
there’s also the ever-enjoyable cinematography I need to take note of. Despite
a few choice close ups at the end – I’m looking at you Kate and Argent – that
didn’t really give the actors a lot of good light, most of the filming was done
quite well, including the shot of Peter skidding to a stop with his shocked
face in regards to his nephew. The CGI-ing, though, or whatever it was, towards
the end of the fight between Peter and Scott when Scott’s stopping all of
Peter’s punches, was kind of terrible, but otherwise it wasn’t too bad.
In other respects to the episode,
I may be one of the only people that don’t really care of Braeden and Derek. I
mean, yay for Derek and his discovery of a non-homicidal – at least not yet –
girlfriend, but much like how Stiles and Malia started, these two felt like
they were just kind of haphazardly thrown together. For the most part, I didn’t
even feel like those tears were real for the loss of someone she cared about
(read: cared about, not loved, so many goddamned shows throw the word love
around too much without believability).
A couple other final things to
mention – one being the fact that Liam was the one that brought Scott out of
his Berserker state. Okay, sure they have that commonality of worrying whether
they’re monsters, and Liam finally got the hang of that this week (and whoa was
that ever quick), but I would’ve hoped that at least Stiles would be the one to
get through to him. Maybe it had to be a werewolf, and maybe that werewolf just
happened to have to be Liam because he’s Scott’s Beta, but I don’t know, I was
just a bit bewildered at this when it happened – although maybe it was just the
acting. Also, thank God Derek is still alive, and how cool is it that we’re
going to get to delve into the whole werewolf myth – hopefully – next season
with Derek’s complete transformation. I bet his mama would be proud. And,
finally, I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, and I’m going to keep on
saying it: I adore Coach; he is absolutely fantastic, and possibly my favourite
adult on this show.
All in all, this episode, much like
its season, was unimpressive and a bit too discombobulated. Individually this
season’s episodes have been good, but they haven’t quite meshed well. Then
again that’s how this series seems to be. It’s a rollercoaster of ups and
downs, goods and bads, and the stories are just interesting and well enough
done that it keeps me interested and coming back. Plus, who doesn’t need a
guilty pleasure show stock full of drama and otherworldly nonsense to keep them
going through their average day?
My rating: 7.5 out of 10 – this season: 7 out of 10.
Best Lines:
“I can keep you from going.” – Sheriff Stilinski tells his
son. “I’d find a way.” – Stiles replies. “I can throw you in a cell.” – his
father volleys back. “I’d still find a way.” – Stiles states, full of conviction.
(Awe, Stiles all loyal.)
“Okay, okay, great. Do I get a fun?” – Stiles asks his
father, after he agrees for them to both go down to Mexico together. “No.” –
Stilinski exclaims.
“I’m not okay with that.” – Braeden says to Derek, upon
realizing he knows he’s going to die. “I am.” – Derek replies, simply. (A
simply beautiful line at that, and so much behind those two words.)
“If everyone is sufficiently freaked out, I say we get
going.” – Peter states.
“You, you were dead.” – Kate mutters, shocked. “No, I was
evolving; something you will never do.” – Derek corrects, after changing full
form back to human shape.
“Okay, I believe you.” – Coach says. “Really?” – Liam
replies incredulously. “Absolutely not.” – Coach shoots back.
Oh, and a friendly reminder, don’t stand between Lydia and
her friends, she’s getting mighty handy with a bat.
