Teen Wolf season 2: trauma for everyone
Jul. 9th, 2013 02:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
schneefinkI finished season 2 of Teen Wolf. Despite its obvious cheesiness and the fact that I was pretty thoroughly spoiled for everything I was still looking forward to every new episode. The show is doing something right.
The theme of "getting involved in the supernatural will traumatize you for life" continues! I didn't expect the show to be so dark. Bad things happen to everyone, over and over again, and they're not just forgotten, and there are few good things in between. At least they have four months of break before the events of the next season - not that they'll actually go to therapy, but it's at least some time.
Whoa, Derek is a terrible alpha. Not only that, he's also a dick about it. One of the worst things was chaining up and torturing his betas on the full moon and not even telling them about anchors, seriously, wtf were you thinking. No wonder Erica and Boyd run. At least Deaton and Peter call him out on it and he realizes it, but it doesn't seem to help much. (Scott's ill-timed betrayal doesn't help either.) I get he has a tragic backstory and is still in survival mode and deeply messed up, but at this point I have very little sympathy for him left. Okay, so it was a nice moment when he saved Scott, but that was at least partly because he thinks he needs him.
Lydia! Perhaps the most unfortunate person this season. She's suddenly ostracized at school, she thinks she's crazy, her boyfriend broke up with her, the friends she's left with (basically Allison and maybe Stiles) are acting weird and have other things to do and nobody really listens to her, and Peter is really really creepy. Poor Lydia :( I was so mad at Derek&Jackson when their unfortunate timing prevented Stiles from actually talking and listening to her. When it's so hard to get her to talk in the first place. And nobody told her the whole story even after she resurrected Peter, seriously? Shame. But she's a great character and I want to see more of her, I really hope she'll be luckier in the future.
Allison was fascinating this season. She is still on her quest to feel more powerful so she doesn't have to be afraid - that conversation she had with Kate was for me so important for her character. (Interestingly, the only other person who seeks out power to fight their fear? Jackson. It doesn't end well for either of them.) But it never works for her! Everyone tries to protect her and leave her out of things (her parents, Scott), making her feel useless, no wonder she feels drawn to Kate and Gerard because they teach her stuff and tell her she is strong. But no matter what she does she ends up feeling helpless: Matt, her stalker, eventually overpowers her (great way to show how dangerous stalkers are), so does Gerard and the kanima. This storyline is far from over.
It's also an important part of Allison and Scott's relationship and why it doesn't work that well right now: Scott wants to protect her, Allison doesn't want to be protected. Unfortunately she actually isn't strong enough yet to face what she wants to be able to face, so she actually needs protection (not as much as Scott things, though) and she doesn't want to admit it. I don't think they can have a relationship again until no matter how much power they actually have, they and more importantly Allison see themselves as being equally strong&powerful, even if in different ways.
It's also interesting because they're both being hypocritical when it comes to not wanting to be protected and wanting to know the whole truth: Allison because of how she treats Lydia, Scott because he knows how he was treated by Derek.
About her flipping and joining the "dark side", that was well done. No wonder she freaks when her mother dies, killed by Derek. (Shame on Scott for not explaining what happened, I get why not immediately but at least after.) And don't forget that the time before that when she met Derek's betas they were trying to kill Lydia without definite proof and attacked them, so it's easy to see how she slots them into the category "out of control werewolves, dangerous, need to be caught." The amount of arrows she shot into Boyd was her snapping because her mother died, and she probably justified it to herself with their healing powers.
Have I mentioned yet that I want all the Allison&Lydia friendship fic?
I still love Stiles a lot. He's fantastic. Still occasionally dark and willing to let people die if necessary (Jackson), heartbreaking scenes with his dad (especially in the birthday party episode, oh Stiles), and in general a delight to watch. I also loved his scene with the guidance counselor (heck yeah consequences, of course he can't sleep and expects terrible things to happen: kidnapped by a psychopath again, at least one person was killed right in front of him, threatened by another psycho, drugged, constant fear of deadly lizards etc., poor Stiles), and then the last one with Scott where they finally can do normal things again. At least they have each other.
I still don't see any Derek/Stiles in canon. So they interact more, but most of that are threats, like at the pool where Derek threatens Stiles and Stiles then keeps him afloat because he might still need him and basic human decency, and the scene at the police station was more the producers playing with the trope than anything actually happening. It's just not there in canon, yet over two thirds (!!!) of the TW fics on AO3 include that pairing. Argh.
In the first half or so of the season Jackson was actually very interesting - still a dick, but interesting. Looking for power against his fear, like Allison, and also having to deal with hallucinations and Derek being a crappy Alpha and not looking out for him. Later we saw a lot less from him, like how much did he realize that he was killing people and why didn't he look for help or try to do anything? At times it seemed like they had too many characters, which is funny because they have a lot more in season 3. If there had been more Jackson in the last few episodes the payoff of him turning back for Lydia would have been much better. (So dramatic, with the mist and all *g*)
Scott: okay, so the actual plan in the end is not bad, but his over-protectiveness led him to do exactly what he hates when Derek does it: keep secrets from his allies to keep them safe. And it's not a good idea (although tbh I'm not sure Derek would have been a good enough actor, but Allison would be.) Overall I liked him this season, especially in the end with Isaac when he admits that he doesn't know what to do but he tries to do the right thing anyway.
We saw little of Isaac, Erica, and Boyd, so little that I almost didn't see them as characters, especially Boyd. Isaac and Erica went a bit nuts with their new powers, I'm assuming that'll go away after the first big scares. Bad luck, getting an Alpha like Derek. (Derek flirting with Erica to get her to agree to be turned was gross and unnecessary.)
Gerard is creepy but at least has some motivation, the same with Matt (yay for 3-dimensional villains!)
Peter is weird: at first he's very very creepy, but as soon as he's resurrected he's suddenly helpful and the voice of reason, smart and sneaky. I'd love to see more of him, and him and Derek. He could be a great asset.
Melissa McCall is still fantastic, and so is the Sheriff. I love that even though they don't always get much screen time they're still fully realized characters, with flaws and everything, who love their children a lot and worry about them but also have other things in their lives. I want more of them too. And even they have bad things happening to them, like everyone.
Maybe I'll rewatch the first few season 3 episodes - not exactly a hardship ;)
The theme of "getting involved in the supernatural will traumatize you for life" continues! I didn't expect the show to be so dark. Bad things happen to everyone, over and over again, and they're not just forgotten, and there are few good things in between. At least they have four months of break before the events of the next season - not that they'll actually go to therapy, but it's at least some time.
Whoa, Derek is a terrible alpha. Not only that, he's also a dick about it. One of the worst things was chaining up and torturing his betas on the full moon and not even telling them about anchors, seriously, wtf were you thinking. No wonder Erica and Boyd run. At least Deaton and Peter call him out on it and he realizes it, but it doesn't seem to help much. (Scott's ill-timed betrayal doesn't help either.) I get he has a tragic backstory and is still in survival mode and deeply messed up, but at this point I have very little sympathy for him left. Okay, so it was a nice moment when he saved Scott, but that was at least partly because he thinks he needs him.
Lydia! Perhaps the most unfortunate person this season. She's suddenly ostracized at school, she thinks she's crazy, her boyfriend broke up with her, the friends she's left with (basically Allison and maybe Stiles) are acting weird and have other things to do and nobody really listens to her, and Peter is really really creepy. Poor Lydia :( I was so mad at Derek&Jackson when their unfortunate timing prevented Stiles from actually talking and listening to her. When it's so hard to get her to talk in the first place. And nobody told her the whole story even after she resurrected Peter, seriously? Shame. But she's a great character and I want to see more of her, I really hope she'll be luckier in the future.
Allison was fascinating this season. She is still on her quest to feel more powerful so she doesn't have to be afraid - that conversation she had with Kate was for me so important for her character. (Interestingly, the only other person who seeks out power to fight their fear? Jackson. It doesn't end well for either of them.) But it never works for her! Everyone tries to protect her and leave her out of things (her parents, Scott), making her feel useless, no wonder she feels drawn to Kate and Gerard because they teach her stuff and tell her she is strong. But no matter what she does she ends up feeling helpless: Matt, her stalker, eventually overpowers her (great way to show how dangerous stalkers are), so does Gerard and the kanima. This storyline is far from over.
It's also an important part of Allison and Scott's relationship and why it doesn't work that well right now: Scott wants to protect her, Allison doesn't want to be protected. Unfortunately she actually isn't strong enough yet to face what she wants to be able to face, so she actually needs protection (not as much as Scott things, though) and she doesn't want to admit it. I don't think they can have a relationship again until no matter how much power they actually have, they and more importantly Allison see themselves as being equally strong&powerful, even if in different ways.
It's also interesting because they're both being hypocritical when it comes to not wanting to be protected and wanting to know the whole truth: Allison because of how she treats Lydia, Scott because he knows how he was treated by Derek.
About her flipping and joining the "dark side", that was well done. No wonder she freaks when her mother dies, killed by Derek. (Shame on Scott for not explaining what happened, I get why not immediately but at least after.) And don't forget that the time before that when she met Derek's betas they were trying to kill Lydia without definite proof and attacked them, so it's easy to see how she slots them into the category "out of control werewolves, dangerous, need to be caught." The amount of arrows she shot into Boyd was her snapping because her mother died, and she probably justified it to herself with their healing powers.
Have I mentioned yet that I want all the Allison&Lydia friendship fic?
I still love Stiles a lot. He's fantastic. Still occasionally dark and willing to let people die if necessary (Jackson), heartbreaking scenes with his dad (especially in the birthday party episode, oh Stiles), and in general a delight to watch. I also loved his scene with the guidance counselor (heck yeah consequences, of course he can't sleep and expects terrible things to happen: kidnapped by a psychopath again, at least one person was killed right in front of him, threatened by another psycho, drugged, constant fear of deadly lizards etc., poor Stiles), and then the last one with Scott where they finally can do normal things again. At least they have each other.
I still don't see any Derek/Stiles in canon. So they interact more, but most of that are threats, like at the pool where Derek threatens Stiles and Stiles then keeps him afloat because he might still need him and basic human decency, and the scene at the police station was more the producers playing with the trope than anything actually happening. It's just not there in canon, yet over two thirds (!!!) of the TW fics on AO3 include that pairing. Argh.
In the first half or so of the season Jackson was actually very interesting - still a dick, but interesting. Looking for power against his fear, like Allison, and also having to deal with hallucinations and Derek being a crappy Alpha and not looking out for him. Later we saw a lot less from him, like how much did he realize that he was killing people and why didn't he look for help or try to do anything? At times it seemed like they had too many characters, which is funny because they have a lot more in season 3. If there had been more Jackson in the last few episodes the payoff of him turning back for Lydia would have been much better. (So dramatic, with the mist and all *g*)
Scott: okay, so the actual plan in the end is not bad, but his over-protectiveness led him to do exactly what he hates when Derek does it: keep secrets from his allies to keep them safe. And it's not a good idea (although tbh I'm not sure Derek would have been a good enough actor, but Allison would be.) Overall I liked him this season, especially in the end with Isaac when he admits that he doesn't know what to do but he tries to do the right thing anyway.
We saw little of Isaac, Erica, and Boyd, so little that I almost didn't see them as characters, especially Boyd. Isaac and Erica went a bit nuts with their new powers, I'm assuming that'll go away after the first big scares. Bad luck, getting an Alpha like Derek. (Derek flirting with Erica to get her to agree to be turned was gross and unnecessary.)
Gerard is creepy but at least has some motivation, the same with Matt (yay for 3-dimensional villains!)
Peter is weird: at first he's very very creepy, but as soon as he's resurrected he's suddenly helpful and the voice of reason, smart and sneaky. I'd love to see more of him, and him and Derek. He could be a great asset.
Melissa McCall is still fantastic, and so is the Sheriff. I love that even though they don't always get much screen time they're still fully realized characters, with flaws and everything, who love their children a lot and worry about them but also have other things in their lives. I want more of them too. And even they have bad things happening to them, like everyone.
Maybe I'll rewatch the first few season 3 episodes - not exactly a hardship ;)
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no subject
Date: 2013-07-09 04:17 pm (UTC)I didn't see chaining up Erica, Isaac & Boyd as torture (the spiked headband was overkill) but a necessary evil, but I had totally forgotten that Derek only mentioned anchors when it was almost too late. He is the worst Alpha and a dick but I still love him to death.
I love Allison, love, love, love her. I think it was completely reasonable for her to go after Derek judging from their interactions and how she had been manipulated. I draw the line at the betas. I would still like that addressed with her and Boyd, they have unfinished business. Too bad there's no chance for that with Erica now. :( I saw a lot of potential there for Erica to become an interesting character. I've given up hope for Boyd now that Jeff & fandom have fallen in love with Isaac. :/
no subject
Date: 2013-07-09 11:11 pm (UTC)I love Allison too. I even think that given her past violent interactions with the betas her going after them too can be somewhat justified, at least in show-logic. (Not how many arrows she used, though.)
I think there might be hope for a bit more character development for Boyd now that Jackson and Erica are gone, but then it wouldn't take more for "a bit more", he had almost none so far. The show just has too many characters they're trying to keep track of by now.
no subject
Date: 2013-07-09 05:35 pm (UTC)Who does Stiles has chemistry with in your opinion? From what I've read, he's one of the characters that interests me more. And Danny! I find fandom!Danny awesome.
no subject
Date: 2013-07-09 11:20 pm (UTC)Chemistry, hm. I'm in general more of a gen fan than a shipper. He's great with Lydia, and (eventually) they could make a nice couple. Maybe Danny, though I'm not the biggest fan of Danny's actor. If Erica hadn't died I could imagine them together, so far they didn't quite have enough interaction but the potential was there. As for Derek, I can see why some people would ship it despite the little canonical interaction (it has some potentially interesting dynamics) but that it's the fandom juggernaut and even more the people who claim that it's obvious in canon baffle me.
no subject
Date: 2013-07-09 07:24 pm (UTC)THANK YOU! All of fandom was flailing maddly at the time 'There, it's happening, do you see it now, oh, it's gonna happen, OMG, OMG.....' NO - it's the writers teasing you and giving you want you want without actually giving it to you....LOL
no subject
Date: 2013-07-09 11:24 pm (UTC)