TEEN WOLF: ViewerVision

Teen Wolf was an American supernatural teen drama series created by Jeff Davis and loosely based on the 1985 film of the same name starring Michael J. Fox. The show takes place in a small town in California called Beacon Hills, known for some strange occurrences and mysterious happenings. Scott McCall (Tyler Posey) and his best friend Stiles Stilinski (Dylan O'Brien), search the woods in the middle of the night with hopes of uncovering a certain dead body. But the small adventure ends up seeing Scott bitten by an unidentified creature (which later turns out to be a werewolf). From this moment onward, everything changes for the young high school student. The bite leads to a series of struggles and other dangers affecting him as well as his family and friends, which includes his new girlfriend Allison Argent (Crystal Reed). With the help of Stiles, Scott is left on a mission to both overcome the struggles and learn the truth surrounding the bite along with his new connection the supernatural world. Here are seven questions regarding commonly thought opinions from the general audience about Teen Wolf:

1. Was Scott McCall really as weak as many thought?

Much of the series had left open the discussion of whether Scott McCall was really alpha material. Flooding all Teen Wolf communities was social commentary from everyday viewers that expressed a certain level of disappointment in the character's progression. This was especially noticeable during the back half of the show. It was people feeling an incompleteness, like an appropriate route was never taken. Public criticism at most times had often mentioned brute strength, or lack thereof. Scott became the face of losing battles and self-restraint. They were details imposed on the main man by Davis and the writers. Details that now and then displeased viewers, most who were only ever chasing after that extra dimension for the character. There's no blaming one for thinking this. There's no blaming one for sticking with the idea that more could've been achieved with the pack leader. Scott however, is one of those different sort of characters. Where I lean towards in this problem, should be no surprise to anybody.  

While I do tend to believe that Scott's full potential was never touched upon, I don't see it as having taken away from his alpha status. Regardless of the heightened senses and enhanced abilities, perhaps he wasn't that gifted for physical confrontations. But what he lacked in fighting, he most certainly made up for in morality. There was never any need to question this young man's leadership. He stood solid, never afraid to make a decision and stick with it. Not to forget that defining aspect of his which had the power to change the image of most supernatural creatures for better. That being his hope. The sheer determination in looking for a third solution, when two obvious ones don't impress him. If this doesn't scream strong, I don't know what does. And he did all this after starting off as an asthmatic, love-struck nobody. Scott had undoubtedly proven strength being more than just throwing a punch or winning a fight. Besides, some people were demanding for a little too much. We all well and truly know that a character such as Scott McCall, wouldn't ever end a life unless there really was no other choice.

2. Was Allison Argent's death the ultimate turning point?

Every film franchise and television series, is driven by its earliest content. The first few things viewers see and get to know, become the base for multiple story ideas. And with these contents being the base, it makes it all the more harder for them to undergo any sort of change without the risk of damage to the overall product. Allison Argent was indeed a part of this base. People loved her for the innocence she arrived with. For the growing love affair with the main protagonist. For the desire to be stronger and stand on her own two feet. Allison despite her rocky journey, had left enough of a mark for her exit to raise doubts about the future of Teen Wolf around the time. But the most interesting thing about this is that it wasn't just any exit. It was a write-off. One that never once came into the mind of creator Jeff Davis until actress Crystal Reed informed him of her preference to permanently quit the role. Rather than it be a simple departure with a chance of return, it was a permanent death. The gutsiest of moves to bring forth a new direction for the entire series.

A turning point it certainly was. Allison's death could arguably be biggest moment in the whole show. The real question however is whether the moment was one that led to better or worse. Everyone tends to agree that season four was the beginning of the downfall for Teen Wolf. But did the killing of Allison in season three spark this? I personally, don't think so. I won't be afraid to admit that my love for this character waned after the first season. I found her to be a little one-dimensional and did not see her carrying the sufficient detail to last through the entire series. And there came a time close to her exit which saw me question her purpose moving forward. The death scene as a result, felt kind of appropriate. I won't deny it having been the tiniest bit upsetting. And I certainly understand it never was intended at first. But this moment provided both a small element of surprise and a small dose of reality at the same time. I felt like certain characters such as Scott grew better from this moment. The death also raised more questions about what the series finale could look like. To me, it was basically a move made that saw the show worthy of more attention. Don't wish to tease people about this, but that's just the way I see it.

3. Should Stiles Stilinski have been given the bite?

Stiles Stilinski would almost be everybody's favourite character (not mine though). Much to the point here he'd be the first thing one would think of when the name Teen Wolf is mentioned. Stiles throughout most of the journey, kept the show intact with his bright and comical personality. Whenever a moment seemed dark, he'd be there to lighten it up a little. Whenever a moment seemed dull, he would add a little flavour of his own. And to top it off, he carried so much depth and was as multi-layered as they'd come. Although he wasn't completely perfect, he still somehow made it impossible for anyone to dislike him. A big question surrounding the character however, was whether he could have been even more than what he already was. I'm referring to the idea of him being a werewolf. Could it have worked? Would have adding fangs and a pair of glowing eyes been an improvement to both Stiles and the series as a whole? A selected few thought so. But be prepared for the complete opposite here.

As for my thoughts on the idea, I utterly despised it. I even went as far as thinking it would have been the absolute worst, had Davis and his team persisted with it. Thankfully they didn't, though I couldn't ever hold my breath and think it wasn't a possibility given how bad the writing became over time. I had no problems with the occasional teases, but I felt any actual attempt to make Stiles a werewolf or some other supernatural creature would be both damaging and demeaning to the overall character. The thing that made Stiles so special, was his human qualities. It was how he kept the show on the ground with his light-hearted approach to nearly every matter. The jokes. The sarcasm. The natural fears and normal aspirations. They said in the show that the bite is a gift. I however, saw such a thing taking more than it would give to the character of Stiles Stilinski. I saw the idea potentially breaking Teen Wolf. So for it to have not happened is a great thing. Besides, the only people who were wanting Stiles as a werewolf were those that had a crush on the actor and thought it would just be cool. The idea was nothing but a chance for certain fans to feed their sexual desire. I'm glad Davis looked past this and didn't pander to people here.

4. Did the 'Stydia' relationship work out in the end?

The relationship between Stiles Stilinski and Lydia Martin (Holland Roden) was without a doubt, the most anticipated side story of Teen Wolf. Many fans tuned in each week, hoping for some gradual development between arguably the two most developed and most respected characters of the show. The 'Stydia' ship was something even long supported by the creator himself. It began with hints from the very first episode of the series, and continued with occasional teases over the years until becoming official in the first half of the final season. However, was the wait for the ship to become canon worth it? Did the fandom perhaps wait a little too long and if so, what was the reason for it? I'm sure many fans are happy with what they were given. But believe it or not, some fans did come around to admit their disappointment. Some even saying they kind of felt ripped off. Here's what I think about the show's greatest ship.

I'm not particularly one to chase for ships to become 'canon'. I normally sit and take in whichever ones come my way while praising those that are handled very well. But there was a time when I did cross my fingers for these two. What happened to change me thinking like this? Well I kind of blame the writing. For more than a year, Davis and the writers looked desperate in keeping around another young woman to form a temporary love affair with Stiles (especially after failing to do this twice). So much focus was placed on this, that they practically forgot to develop Stydia smoothly. There wasn't enough progression of the relationship spaced over the seasons. Instead, only one or two episodes gave us significant clumps of the foreshadowed couple. For me, the lack of a proper build-up prior to 6A, made the confirmation feel very synthetic and rushed. I didn't find myself enjoying the romance as much as I initially thought. But that's just me. Then again I reckon if one asked any Stydia fan whether they'd want for more, they'd be quick to agree.

5. Why was Kira Yukimura the most disliked of the heroes?

The addition of Kira Yukimura (Arden Cho) and her family was the introduction to one of the show's most intriguing storylines surrounding Japanese mythology. A half of Kira herself, was a clump of mystery and unknown potential. I say a half because the character didn't entirely win the audience over. While the supernatural side of her left eyes widened, the everyday human side of her somehow ended up getting on people's nerves. Her allegiance to Scott's cause was as strong as anybody's, but Kira was long treated as an unwanted face. Fans were immediately displeased from the moment she arrived, and some refused to be convinced by her worth over the next two seasons. Most reasons for the disliking of Kira were unknown, but one shared by the majority of viewers was perfectly clear. She was seen as a roadblock to the romance of Scott and Allison. She'd even be classified as nothing but a cheap replacement to the much-loved huntress. No matter what this character did on the show, she couldn't escape the criticism.

Consider me part of the very small group of unpopular opinions. Actresses aside (who are both amazing by the way), I loved Kira and found her to be much more interesting than Allison. Although I can't disagree with the writing and treatment being of poor quality for most of her stay, the nature of the character was something I could strongly relate to. Kira had a sense of realness and I was able to connect with her on a psychological level. From the awkwardness and bashful conduct around friends to the determination to make new friends, I felt our stories reflecting in similar ways. It somewhat allowed me to perceive the innocence and sweetness of Kira when others wouldn't. These realistic aspects don't exactly make for great entertainment value a lot of the time, but it was different for me. The character of Kira Yukimura, became another strong link to my investing of Teen Wolf. She fast became one of my favourite characters, and made me love the show even more than I already did. So much so that her uncomfortable exit, heavily influenced my vision of the last twenty episodes.

6. What made Isaac Lahey so appreciated?

This is probably more of a question I ask myself. However, I still see it as something worthy of discussion. What is it about Isaac Lahey (Daniel Sharman) that made him special and deserving of love? This character wasn't Scott, Stiles, Lydia or Derek Hale (Tyler Hoechlin). He was never one to possess any distinct qualities of his own and stick out in the crowd. But somehow, he became an endearing face on the screen. Almost a fan-favourite among the entire Teen Wolf fandom. So what about him allowed for this to be the case? I find this to be rather fascinating. But if I were to ask a bunch of regular fans, the common short answer wouldn't surprise me. There has always been a natural tendency from most lovers of the show to favour male characters with good looks and/or muscular physiques. Nevertheless, I refuse to see this being the primary reason for Isaac and the universal praise that surrounds him. From my perspective, a character such as this one requires greater focus on. 

Unlike most others on the show whose popularity is driven by both personality and relevance to the story, Isaac is one built heavily on background. Viewers are made to connect with him more through an understanding of his history rather than what flavour he brings into the show. What I believe makes this kid special, is his meekness along with his unusual positive vibe. I say unusual because he didn't exactly live a pleasant life. He lived with an abusive father (John Wesley Shipp). His mother was gone. His brother was killed. He had no friends at school and he worked at a graveyard. Not to mention he lost his girlfriend towards the end. It seemed like the ultimate sucky life. But despite the tiniest bit of trauma as well as a developed fear of small spaces, Isaac never looked to be completely consumed by the painful experiences around his upbringing. If anything, he used these to become someone better. It's a nice story of a resilient young man, temporarily misguided but soon to find his feet. It's why I see him worthy of the respect he receives.

7. Would a spin-off with Liam Dunbar and pack 2.0 work?

It all began in season four with Liam Dunbar (Dylan Sprayberry), a nice little homage to the first season and a reminder of how far Scott and his friends had come (which in a way was strange at the time considering the show hadn't been around for that long). But come season five, things immediately took a change with the character of Liam. In just half of the time that it took his alpha, he became a leader of his own tiny pack. A pack consisting of his own human best friend, a love interest and his best friend's love interest. It was an attempt at replicating a group of friends like Scott's. Liam's small pack received so much attention, that the writers even hinted the possibility of a follow-up series. A spin-off of some sort centering on the four young characters; Liam Dunbar, Mason Hewitt (Khylin Rhambo), Hayden Romero (Victoria Moroles) and Corey Bryant (Michael Johnston). The new team however were given very little to work with on Teen Wolf and only ever received mixed criticism from a divided fanbase. Nevertheless, the talk of the idea outside the show remained.

If anyone asks me, I just don't think it would succeed. Davis had more than half of the entire series to spend developing these new characters, and they still couldn't strike me as ones that can carry their own show. Liam was one character I did enjoy at first (despite being a mixture of other characters already established), but slowly lost interest in as the seasons went by. Towards the end, he was left without any clear personality, and at times was made into something he wasn't (e.g. a comic relief in season six). His love interest Hayden, had an incredible fierceness to begin with. But it was taken away shortly after, leaving her to look completely ordinary. There was nothing special about her, and all she was ever left doing in her final appearances was sucking face. Mason was in a similar boat to Liam, though I never saw him as major character material. His relationship with Corey, another character that lingered around bearing little to no significance, weighed him down. This relationship too, only looked to continue into the last season as a both a personal preference of the show-runner's and a message of gay advocacy (don't have anything against this in general, since I was very fond of Ethan (Charlie Carver) and Danny (Keahu Kahuanui)). This group of four may look cute to many, but they don't carry the necessary weight to lead a show in my eyes.

Travis "TJ" James

TEEN WOLF: The Question Marks

Have you ever watched any of your favourite shows and asked questions about what happened, only to never get the answers you were looking for in return? Have you ever had those moments whilst watching your shows when you felt the need to apply logic and wanted to know how something was the case? Were there ever times during the show, when you simply thought 'Huh?'. If you are a huge fan of Teen Wolf, than you would've been somewhat familiar with such ideas. A series that ran for 100 episodes over the course of six seasons and built one of the biggest fan bases going around in recent years. But despite the success, it still fell far from perfection. Teen Wolf doesn't seem to have as many plot holes as Once Upon A Time ( a series which is also discussed on this blog: Once Upon A Time: The Question Marks), and executive producer Jeff Davis has come around to try and close off a few of these plot holes himself. But when watching the series on its own, it is still easy to become aware of some confusing details. Things that happen without much of an explanation. It could be characters having left or stories that were shelved. Here are at least ten question marks that the show itself never really answered properly. Ten that were able to be scraped out.

Here they are:

1. What More Can A 'Kitsune' Do?

The show obviously focuses on werewolves for most part which makes sense. But they weren't the only supernatural creatures or beings to look clear and feel complete. We saw Kanimas as scaled weapons of terror. Druids as connections to humanity. Wendigos as cannibalistic monsters. Chimeras as scientific experiments with altered abilities. But one mythical creature didn't quite meet this level of clarity. They would arguably be the most interesting things touched on in the show; 'Kitsunes'. It was shared to us that they were foxes and there were different types of them (e.g Thunder, Earth, Celesital, and so on). What was also mentioned was how they were tricksters and they never tended to get along with wolves. The spirits can survive for centuries (as proven by Noshiko (Tamlyn Tomita) and becoming one with the spirit would see great control and presumably incredible powers. But the sad thing was the fact that we never got to see both a strong and well-matured kitsune. What else could they do other than what a werewolf did? Kira (Arden Cho) was shown to absorb and transfer electricity, but if she were to have to connect better with her fox spirit, what more could she have been capable of? Would she be able to generate electricity? Who Knows? Guess this will forever stay undisclosed.

2. Did You Really Leave To France?

We all remember Isaac Lahey (Daniel Sharman), and we all loved Isaac Lahey. But the thing that may bug a small percentage of us is how his exit was explained. Fact is it wasn't. At least not in the series itself. Sharman like a few of the other actors around the time of 3B, would inform to the crew of his interest in other projects (one of them being The Originals). Executive Producer Jeff Davis would too confirm of the character's exit in an interview prior to the fourth season, stating that both he and Chris Argent (J.R. Bourne) had left for France to recover from the loss of Allison (Crystal Reed). However, it still feels as if Isaac's sudden disappearance between seasons three and four was not handled as well as we probably would've liked. After all, he was deemed to be a pretty significant character around the time. Outside confirmation is good and all, but sometimes we prefer all the answers in one place. Based off what's been shown in Teen Wolf and only that, Isaac's whereabouts remain unknown. All we know is that he left Beacon Hills.


3. Where Did You Run Off To Morrell?

Despite what was revealed about this character during the course of her time on the show, she still felt so mysterious and incomplete. What's worse is that it was left this way. Marin Morrell (Bianca Lawson) was first seen as the new school counselor in season two, helping Lydia (Holland Roden) with therapy sessions. We then get given the fact that she knows more than what she tells people. The stern woman was revealed as the emissary of Deucalion (Gideon Emery), with an impartial attitude to the fight between Scott (Tyler Posey) and the Alpha Pack. The last we saw of her was when she played some sort of rehabilitator/psychiatrist at Eichen House for one episode ('Echo House') in the back half of season three. Suddenly after that, she disappeared off the face of the Earth. No further connections with the supernatural. No further interactions with Scott, big brother Deaton (Seth Gilliam) or any of the other residents of Beacon Hills. We saw nothing more. The actress must have certainly been busy. Or maybe her character was shelved. It just doesn't make much sense that someone who seems to know so much, is left having done so little.

4. So The Hunt Failed, Right?

Back in the season four finale ('Smoke and Mirrors') after the big battle between the Hunters and Berserkers, Chris confronts his wounded sister Kate (Jill Wagner) down within the ruins. They share an exchange of words, most of which were about Chris' deceased daughter Allison and how she bowed out. Then and there Chris would let Kate get away, only to inform Scott and his pack in morning light of a deal he struck with Araya (Ivonne Coll) and the Calaveras. A deal that would see the Calaveras out of Scott's way, but also Chris having to join them to capture the very thing he let escape. Come on, you have to admit that wasn't a very smart decision by everybody's favourite hunter. Kate could have easily been caught during this battle. Not having done so made the cavalry look inept. I'm guessing it was all about making it easier for Davis and the writers to fit her back into the story whenever they wanted. But it still seems a little ridiculous.

Anyway, it was what it was. From that moment on, we were left to wonder throughout the fifth season (and much of the sixth as well) how much progress was being made. Especially when Chris would make numerous unrelated appearances in Beacon Hills, with no mention whatsoever of the hunt for his sister. Then comes 6B, the time when some of the answers started rolling in. Kate was shown to be well and truly alive, on the loose and unswayed in her determination to bring down Scott. It was like nothing had changed, except the fact that she was made to look like a bigger pain in the neck with her role as a fake FBI agent. So what happened to the whole alliance with the family of Mexican hunters? Did the Calaveras give up or something? Doesn't sound like them, because they were portrayed to be somewhat menacing and persistent at their jobs. It all but says that the Nagual hunt must have failed. Either that, or the writing team completely shelved that idea. Perhaps they forgot about it.


5. The Name.

Probably something not to worry too much about, as it most likely was intended to throw people off (a common strategy in storytelling, and used regardless of inconsistencies). But that didn't stop many viewers from picking up this moment when the name was in question. I am talking of course about Stiles' actual first name. In the eighth episode of season six (titled 'Blitzkrieg'), Sheriff Stilinski (Linden Ashby) would reveal to Scott and his friends that he remembers his son. It's this moment when he drops the name 'Mieczysław'. The same name of his father-in-law. Pretty outlandish name for many of us, but a nice touch nonetheless. However, if we were to go back all the way to the very first season. In episode five ('The Tell') during a discussion between Sheriff Stilinski and Coach Finstock (Orny Adams), we are shown a very small clip of Stilinski's finger pointing to Stiles' paperwork revealing what was meant to be some of the letters of his first name. What can be discerned are the last few letters being 'e', 'n', 'i' and 'm', with the letter before being either a captial 'g' or another lower case 'i'. This has gone on to cause some confusion amongst people. But as previously stated, this was likely to be intended. They might not have had an idea for the name back then (unless it's been confirmed otherwise somewhere on the internet). Let's just be satisfied. The show has finished and we now know the name.


6. You Could Have At Least Left A Note Danny.

Yet another local that disappeared without a trace. Our favourite gay student of Beacon Hills said goodbye with a mutual break-up and nothing else but the words 'Dude, it's Beacon Hills'. After that, it would be like he had never existed. Like the Ghost Riders had got to him long before they got to Stiles. No reappearance. Not even a single mention. His ex-boyfriend Ethan (Charlie Carver), would return from London with his former best friend Jackson (Colton Haynes), both in a relationship that made the Teen Wolf universe seem so incredibly small. That and the fact that neither would even touch on the one thing they shared in common other than their sexuality. Danny (Keahu Kahuanui) was treated as 'dust in the wind'. True, the actor had chosen to depart the series. True, the character may also have not had as big of an involvement in each of the storylines. But Danny's face was one we enjoyed seeing every time he was on screen. He made school scenes all the more enjoyable as well. 


7. So Kira, How Did Your Battle To Control The Spirit Go?

Here is arguably the show's biggest blunder. Much like another series abruptly ending on a cliffhanger after cancellation. Only difference being that this was much worse, as it all came from somebody's choice while a sixth season was planned. Throughout the entirety of season five, Kira would sense something is off with herself. She'd search for answers with help from her parents, later learning she was a victim of the Dread Doctors. As time progressed, Kira got worse and lost control more often as the fox spirit became stronger. It got to the point where nothing else could be done other than Kira agreeing to join the Skinwalkers. A battle to gain back control and become one with the fox. A battle that according to her mother Noshiko, could take many years. Kira was written off the show from here, having left on a depressing note. All that was left behind in the sixth season was her mother, her sword and two mentions of her name in the same episode. Nothing more and nothing less.

The character and her storyline were only meant for half a season, but Jeff Davis and his crew made it too good to leave behind. It even became something worthy of its own spin-off (which was an idea raised by Davis once, but it unfortunately never came into plan). However, Kira and her kitsune instead of being embraced and developed along the way, would be pushed aside regularly and later removed from the entire picture. Something with so much potential was wasted. And the important thing to remember here is that her status had been left unknown. What Davis said about her having mastered her abilities and going off on her own adventures should really not be believed. That was most likely said to satisfy Kira fans and leave them unworried. The truth is Kira left with the Skinwalkers, with her story cut short at the moment she was at her lowest point with little to no support from anybody. Understandably the storyline could've been a lot to focus on with very limited time. It however doesn't change the fact that the shelving of it serves as injustice not only to the actress, but to many of the fans as well.


8. You're Back, But You're Different.

If one can recall, this man (who by the way is Scott's biological father) left Beacon Hills for business reasons. He would promise to his son that he would return, and in the end he did. But it wasn't just a promise he'd make before leaving. Agent Rafael McCall (Matthew Del Negro) would hope to continue rebuilding his relationship with Scott by requesting him to share the whole truth when he returned. The truth about Scott, his friends and the supernatural occurrences in Beacon Hills. Sounds reasonable. And it was to be expected that he'd return at some time. Within the last ten episodes, it happens. Only now, that something appears a little off. It seems that he no longer needs Scott to share information. He somehow in some way, knew enough. How he came about gathering this newfound info, we'll never know. But he did during his time away and then became another ally in the battle against Gerard's growing army of hunters. The relationship with Scott, also took a back seat. And Melissa (Melissa Ponzio) the ex-wife would continue her out-of-nowhere relationship with the widower and father of Scott's deceased ex-girlfriend. Hmmmm?


9. What On Earth Were You Josh?

Undoubtedly one of the more frustrating mysteries throughout season five. We were well aware he was a chimera, experimented on by the Dread Doctors. But after seeing the shapes of his fangs, the violet eyes and his abilities surrounding the absorption and transference of electricity, we were left all the more eager to know what supernatural creature he was supposed to represent. In the end, he'd get killed before an answer was given. But somewhere at some time, Davis had gone on to try and close this mystery off too, saying that Josh (Henry Zaga) was supposed to be part werewolf and get this, part 'eel'. Uh, okay! So we've been moving on from mythical creatures and sticking with regular animals. Like Corey (Michael Johnston) being a chameleon and that (this wasn't confirmed via the show either, but seemed more accurate given the ability to blend in with surroundings). Perhaps it was a tad less imaginative than most of what Teen Wolf had previously explored, which is a shame given how intriguing Josh's abilities looked. Also, Davis shouldn't have to answer these questions. It's best if they were revealed during the season, as it would save everyone the trouble of having to search for it. This was yet another thing the show alone, left open to interpretation.


10. Now, About The Twins...

We know how the story of these two went on the show. Biological and Identical twins. Ethan the sensible one with a liking for guys and the other being short-tempered and somewhat power-hungry Aiden (Max Carver). Omegas turned Betas by an abusive pack leader. Then turned Alphas by the lessons from Deucalion. They shared the awesome ability to merge into one super-sized werewolf (though it took many years practice). They arrive in Beacon Hills to cause trouble, help Deucalion push Scott towards the swords edge and find the Darach. Their Alpha form would be killed by Jennifer Blake/Julia Baccari (Haley Webb) and they'd just manage to survive and drop back to being omegas. The back half of season three would be them fighting to earn the trust of Scott and his pack. It would end with Aiden dying for that trust in battle and Ethan leaving town to escape much of the pain (though he would later return with Jackson by his side in 6B).

That's just about it. The two still managed to become well-received characters on the show given their tough surface and the awesome merging ability they had. But one can still say what their story still wasn't detailed enough. No word about their actual family. Was it a werewolf one, or were the tins simply bitten? Did they run away at first? Was their family killed? Any siblings or other relatives? None of that. Well what about their surname. And I don't mean one shared by a writer of the fourth or fifth seasons. I'm talking about confirmation in the series. Couldn't get that either. Sure, not every character in the show had to be super well-detailed. It's just that these two were considered to be fairly significant additions in the show during the third season. It would've been nice to get a little more of their backstory rather than have them just being werewolves that came from a couple of packs. If I couldn't have that, very well. What about how Ethan 'coincidentally' crossed paths with Jackson (neither having known each other based on the earlier events) prior to both of their returns? Can they have shared that? No? Damn, these writers are stubborn!

Travis "TJ" James

TEEN WOLF: A Tale Of Two Halves

Teen Wolf became a major stepping stone for me. It was something that helped give further meaning to my life and guided me to discovering new joys. It was my first scripted fantasy drama and the one that opened me to the world of fantasy on television. I will always be grateful to Jeff Davis for allowing this to happen. But despite my great amount of love and respect along with my work in collecting all of the seasons on DVD, the series couldn't finish off as my favourite. It had multiple chances in doing so, yet blew them all. There's a pretty significant reason as to why this was the case, and the reason is practically what this piece is all about (the title even provides a little hint). I came to understand the major problem Teen Wolf brought to itself after viewing the entire show. A problem nobody managed to fix. As a matter of fact, it was one that Davis had actually encouraged to some extent and it obviously didn't do him any favours.

Notice how in my previous piece (Teen Wolf: Ranking The Seasons), I have gone with ranking the first three seasons higher than the last three? Well I'm not the only one who shares this view, as a majority across the internet have too expressed similar thoughts and feelings. If you were to ask most of the Teen Wolf fandom what their favourite season was, expect the third to be the common answer (especially the second half of it). Some might even go with either one of the first two. Regardless, I can surely guarantee that seasons two and three (both arcs) will get the most votes from people. Why is this the case? Well for me to answer this as best as I possibly can, I'm to first deviate a little and discuss television shows from a general perspective. More specifically, I'll be referring to those written that have succeeded in producing more than one or two seasons (I'll also weave Teen Wolf into my discussion too, just to not lose track).

Most television series tend to reach their peak approaching the middle of their running. This is primarily due to a couple of reasons. The first of them is how well a series is first received by officials, along with the commercial performance. If a network is pleased with the test run of any particular project they invest time and money in for telecasting, then they're very likely to spend more on increasing promotion for future seasons. And many scripted programmes as a result of increased promotion, will more often than not record larger figures in both ratings and viewership. This was very much the case with Teen Wolf, as the third season went on to average series-high numbers. Promotion focuses mainly on success through numerical data and doesn't necessarily answer for the quality of a TV crew's work in putting the series together. That is where the second reason comes in. It's also important to note that the two reasons aren't mutually exclusive.

The first season is undoubtedly the most vital part of every existing TV show. It's the framework. It's the foundation. It's the engine of a machine in testing. An entire series hinges on both the starting material and the very first story shared with the audience. It doesn't always appear this way to us, and not often is it our favourite season of any particular series (though it is the case for me when discussing Once Upon A Time).  This is usually because the story is small and simple, to allow for viewers to connect with the content and follow what happens with ease. Simple stories may look like what they are, but bringing them to life isn't as simple as we think. I bet if we were to ask the question to any TV producer, they'd be quick to consider the first season of a series they're involved with as one of toughest challenges of their lives. While having to be easy enough to understand and follow along, a show's first season still needs to feel unique and highly imaginative. It needs to create a home with striking personalities while also balancing everything nicely. The story requires flow and consistency over each chapter. And logic is an absolute must to ensure viewers don't leave because of confusion.

There is an awful lot to take in when bringing a television series to life. But when done effectively, a fandom is born and people anticipate the many possible directions a show can take. Each season after the first is a collection of exciting new flavours in the form of fresh faces and unexplored places. The foundation of any successful show, sees more detail as the stories are granted the opportunity to become more sophisticated. Think of it like alterations or extra attachments to a product. It's all for the sake of improving the product and making it more enjoyable to use. Scripted television is not much different. And not only do series improve in quality and complexity, but the idea of this becomes the ultimate objective for the crew. They are always aiming to reach new heights while not losing what they stand for. Teen Wolf displays itself as an incredibly strong example in this area as well, with season three outperforming the first two seasons in positive viewer response and receiving universal acclaim for it's darker and more emotionally powerful storytelling. For those who aspire to become producers and/or screenwriters, just remember the many responsibilities that come with the job. Be sure to think outside the box. Have both an artistic mind and a careful approach.

I shouldn't forget to also state that after every peak comes a decline. It is pretty much like the life cycle of a fruit. At it's most ripe stage, it only then deteriorates and turns inedible. This is yet another thing Teen Wolf can relate to, with it's collapse being one of the more significant ones I've come across in my life so far. A decline in quality is when new stories fail to beat or match the old ones. It's when the decisions and efforts from writers are not seen to be good enough. The ideas lack true creativity and imagination, leading to the series drying up and edging closer to dusk. Much of the audience is gradually lost over time and the negative reviews increase. Every show goes through some sort of decline. Sometimes it's by choice and other times it can be unfairly forced upon workers. With Teen Wolf, it ended up being a bit of everything. The mishandling of concepts. The departure of cast members. The unhealthy presence of personal bias and favouritism. All of this after the masterpiece that was season three, led to the almost unwatchable final season in the space of three years.

The way I see it, the quality of this show was indeed a tale of two halves. The first half being what I call the 'rise' and the second being the 'fall'. The 'rise' of Teen Wolf was the period when the show appeared it's strongest and got better by the year. It began with the first season, a loose and twisted adaption of both the 1985 Teen Wolf film and a Shakespeare play (Romeo and Juliet). Although lacking originality, it still caught interest through dark and mysterious content and built rational ground with plenty of mythological and supernatural elements. The second season went one better, with a story more intense and scary while both creating and exploring unique mythos. Then there is the celebrated third season, an even darker two-part stroke of genius that brings the action and recognises emotional connections with audience members. All of these stories took place within a time when Jeff Davis and his team were in full focus. They balanced everything well and covered their tracks nicely to keep people around and always guessing what comes next.

Straight after came the 'fall' of Teen Wolf. It was during the fourth season when I started to sense Davis and his support dropping the ball. There was little surprise here though, especially since they came off a near-perfect story and lost a few highly-respected cast members to other projects and pursuits shortly afterward. Losing a small fraction of the audience was unavoidable, but it was the crew's response to the tougher challenge that led to more viewers quitting. The interesting thing being that it wasn't a lack of effort, but rather an overabundance of it. They tried too hard and the final product made them look somewhat desperate. Season four attempted hanging onto fans through endless use of nostalgia. Much of what was given involved throwbacks and recycled personalities. The villains were the same ones from the first season and new characters didn't feel as natural or refreshing (just copies or mixtures of existing ones). The follow-up to 3B wasn't as bad as some made it out to be, but a few ideas did get botched and one or two priorities were disordered.

But it would certainly get worse. I suspected there were quite a few changes within the writing team for the last two seasons. This added to the confirmation of Jeff Davis taking a backseat to work on his other plans. After viewing the last 40 episodes, I refused to believe these were the same people who gave viewers the ultimate series highlights. Season five was the start of an underwhelming experience. The writers no longer cared with covering their tracks or exploring ideas with great concentration, which left many bits and pieces of the story becoming predictable and unimaginative. A concept both inevitable and intriguing at the same time regarding science's twisting of nature, was mistreated with forgettable and shallow components (from the characters to the mythos). Part one was incredibly lethargic and dull while part two although a small improvement, failed at most times to convey the mystery and allow for viewers to wonder. It was a low point in my eyes, but just enough for me to still consider it a decent conclusion to the series.

Season five though wasn't the real conclusion. Davis and his team still believed they had a couple more narratives to share, and I'll definitely give them that. The concepts were once again interesting enough to explore. But when it came to how well they were carried out, a big thumbs down from me. Season six as a whole was so horrible, that I was on the verge of skipping them on DVD. Prior to the production, multiple sources regarding a cast member's exit hinted the possibility of some cruel treatment they received on set. It led me to the view that this crew was somewhat unprofessional. And with the way the season itself played out, I was also left to gather that they weren't so bothered with trying. It felt as if they had completely given up and just recklessly chucked a bunch of things together, hoping rather than knowing whether it would all work out. Bar a couple of heart-rending scenes with the more weighty characters of the show, season six in its entirety was a collection of force-fed romances and plot conveniences to escape hard work and kill time.

One of the biggest problems that so many people didn't see however, lied with the executive producer himself. Nobody (including myself) can deny the amazing work Jeff Davis had done over this time. He put forward a rough idea and it turned into a huge success that would be shared between teenagers and young adults around the world. Throughout much of the journey though, Davis sort of abused his power and one could come to the conclusion that he may have just overfed everybody with his personal preferences. Most of the decisions he made were more for his benefit than the show's. When he enjoyed working with any particular actor, he kept them around without thinking whether or not their character would fit well into the story. Being openly gay (which is no problem whatsoever as I do support it myself), he too arguably went a little crazy with LGBTQ representation. Certain relationships were made official without much of a build-up or connection with the characters involved. Understandably, Davis steered the ship and had the right of direction for his idea. But sometimes he just couldn't see the forest through the trees. He couldn't see a lot of his desires having a negative impact on the show's quality towards the end. 

Truth be told, Teen Wolf from a more logical perspective didn't always turn out great. Some of it in fact, wasn't professionally written. A few promising stories failed to deliver and the rotating of characters across the seasons was a little too much for a show with only 100 episodes. Don't get me wrong, I still love Teen Wolf and will continue to do so for the rest of my life. But I won't ever be somebody to consider it the best of television drama. I won't ever act like it hasn't got flaws, because it most definitely has these (and quite a lot of them if you ask me). It did once edge very close towards perfection when I was finishing school. But the wheels then suddenly fell off, and the series reached its finish line soon after with little to no repairs. We all have our own opinions and we won't always agree with each other. Nothing however will change my view that this was a show split by a large, indestructible wall at the halfway mark. A wall that just about signified the differences in quality TV.

Travis "TJ" James

TEEN WOLF: Ranking The Seasons

Teen Wolf is one of MTV’s biggest successes and one of the finest works brought forward by Jeff Davis. After six seasons and seven years on television, this series had seen fans make new friends and build new interests. It had won millions of hearts around the world with its colourful characters, formidable foes and interesting interpretations of long-existing mythologies. Though not always perfect from a writing perspective, Teen Wolf maintained relevancy through it's wonderful cast. The show both recognised talent and kick-started the careers of many beloved faces. Not to mention it has helped with reinvigorating visual entertainment for younger generations. Here I thought I'd rank the seasons from worst to best as well as give an opinion on each of them. If you happen to think differently, that is okay. As a matter of fact, I'd encourage you to share your opinions down below in the comments section. Allow me to start with number nine on my list:

9. Season 6: Part 1

REMEMBER

Rating: 2 / 10

If you are a sucker for anything Stiles (Dylan O'Brien) related, then this probably is the story for you. Otherwise, enjoy the absolute ridiculousness that is the first half of Teen Wolf's final season. Here was the beginning of my disinterest in the show, and the funny thing about this was it happened quite sometime before the first episode's release. After learning of several changes in the writing room and the suspected mistreatment of a couple of cast members during season five, I knew a strong finish to Teen Wolf could not be guaranteed. And based on the provided content at the time of my doubts, it appeared the crew were also starting to prioritise the wrong characters and storylines. Having now seen all of 6A, I can safely say I was right all along (or at least I feel that way). Never before have I witnessed such a promising story idea get treated like complete garbage. It was as if Davis and his team had  already given up trying to produce quality entertainment.

These ten episodes were nothing but a snore-fest comprised of just about every defect known to Teen Wolf viewers already, from underdeveloped and pointless characters to lacklustre scenes. Making matters worse, the illogical aspects and mismanaged flow of the main narrative were obscured by cheap tactics in maintaining satisfactory viewership numbers. Why do you think so much attention was placed on the 'Stydia' relationship and the feelings between the two fan-favourites? Why do you think so much attention was placed on relationships in general (e.g. Liam (Dylan Sprayberry) and Hayden (Victoria Moroles) endlessly sucking face)? Why do you think Davis agreed to the pairing of Chris Argent (JR Bourne) & Melissa McCall (Melissa Ponzio)? Why do you think the crew brought back Theo (Cody Christian), only to have him doing next to nothing? The answer to all of these questions quite obvious. Season six was all about pandering to fans with cute boys and sweet-looking couples.

I suppose Davis or whoever else behind the scenes thought that because the series was given the opportunity to end gracefully, there was no need to put in a good effort. 'Just use whatever characters that are left, bring in some new ones and tell a story using all of them. If it doesn't turn out well, then so be it'. While I will give a little credit to the writers for working their way around O'Brien's accident, I could argue they still didn't do a good enough job. They had an amazing concept in the ghost riders and the 'Wild Hunt', but they turned it into something completely underwhelming. And as a result of this, everything else that happened didn't seem to matter much. If it were not for the couple of emotional moments involving Sheriff Stilinski (Linden Ashby), I probably would have given this story arc a big fat F. Ironic that the slogan for the season was 'Remember', because 6A for me was pretty much something worth forgetting. I can say I'm doing a fine job here, as I have still not touched the DVD after purchasing it around year or so ago.

8. Season 5: Part 1

WATCH YOUR PACK

Rating: 4 / 10

I don't know about you, but part one of season five was a rather tedious experience for me. After viewing the whole ten chapters, I was made all the more aware of a drastic free-fall in quality storytelling. Indeed it confuses me as to how the writing and production crew could not improve on the average fourth season, especially given they had more time on their hands and less episodes to worry about. Could it possibly have been the kick to the stomach that was Tyler Hoechlin's departure? I wouldn't think so, since my issues mostly regard the execution of the story idea. At most, Derek's absence probably would have hurt the confidence levels of Davis and the team. While I myself will admit to also having had doubts in a strong Teen Wolf season without Derek involved, those doubts immediately disappeared once I saw the first official trailer for 5A. From those creepy Dread Doctors to Deaton's words regarding the rules of the supernatural world. I was so excited at the time. It's strange how my thoughts of part one are almost the complete opposite now.

I found most of season five's first half to be significantly short on energy. An overwhelming portion of it dedicated time to lifeless, long-winded and somewhat soporific conversations between characters, further leaving action and fight scenes to be either cut short or kept to a minimum. Adding to my disappointment was the sudden mishandling of personalities, with some such as Liam losing his charisma from season four and Scott (Tyler Posey) displaying an intolerable and uncharacteristic demeanor. This was the start of a quick downhill spiral for Teen Wolf, as a new group of incompetent writers slowly took over with harmful ideas and strategies. One of those ideas came in the form of several newcomers with insignificant roles, played by small-time actors and actresses with tiny CVs. Storylines were one too many, resulting in some becoming half-arsed (E.g. Kira (Arden Cho) and her out-of-control fox spirit) and others lacking creativity (E.g. Can Theo be trusted?). In short, 5A was a load of uninspiring material stretched out to meet time requirements.

Were there any highlights here worth praising? Of course! These episodes explored one of the show’s most intriguing concepts in the collision of Science and the supernatural. The artificial creation of shape-shifters. An idea surprisingly unforeseen by all, that took the established fundamentals of Teen Wolf and twisted them to recapture long-lost interest and raise more questions. 5A also devoted hours into testing the strength and cohesiveness of Scott’s pack. The rifts between friends and lovers brought about new sides to each of the existing characters. Finally there's the most interesting fact of all. This was the only season/part of the entire series to contain no relieving conclusion, as the plan was for all of season five to be a single story. Not exactly a massive highlight given how poor the entire half turned out, but it indeed was a striking difference. Unfortunately though, the faults were too much and too many for me to consider 5A a success.

7. Season 6: Part 2

FINAL FIGHT. BE AFRAID

Rating: 4.5 / 10

Don't expect too much from me here because I can barely recall anything that took place. Yep, you misread nothing! My memories of Teen Wolf's final ten episodes have significantly faded. Strange isn't it? You'd think that the most recent season of any TV show would likely remain fresh in one's mind. Especially when it is the final one that's to be an indelible experience regardless of how many times it is watched. But any mere mention of Teen Wolf's last hurrah and suddenly I blank out. Perhaps that's the reason why my interest in it is very little. Every other season after one solitary viewing was able to leave some sort of mark on me. Even the sluggish 5A as well as 6A with all of its horrible happenings managed to do such a thing. So I know this can't be my fault. What is it about 6B that has left me forgetting nearly all of it? What could possibly prevail over the charm of throwbacks and old familiar faces to cause such absent-mindedness?

If there's anything I do remember, it's the voices of unhappy fans throughout social media. As the final part gradually unfolded, complaints about the manner in which the story was told made their way around the internet. Common criticism referred to the disorder of the main plot, the lack of continuity, the misguided focus and some inexplicable decisions made to forward the storyline. 6B was home to a rehashed tale, supported by characters either overutilised or underdeveloped. It saw the once all-powerful Deucalion (Gideon Emery) killed by just one or two bullets. It saw the dawn of an incredibly forced relationship between Scott and Malia (Shelley Hennig). It saw the reemergence of some past schoolmates like Jackson (Colton Haynes) and Ethan (Charlie Carver), only for them to have no effect on the narrative whatsoever. Long story short, 6B was a complete mess. I do though admire Teen Wolf here paying homage to its own history. That was just enough for me to consider this part superior to both 5A and 6A.

6. Season 5: Part 2

TO HELL AND BACK

Rating: 5.5 / 10

I'm unsure as to why, but this season happens to be the hardest one for me to analyse. I guess maybe it's because I see the story to be consisting of innumerable small elements hard to join together. So it leaves me as a result, sitting around the fence. But what I know for certain is that 5B has long been in my view, the real finale. It was the last bit of quality content produced and it was the last time I truly anticipated watching the show. While still nowhere close to matching the precious efforts of Teen Wolf's earlier storylines, it most definitely was the strongest part of the series within the final three years. For that alone, I rate it just above neutral at 5.5. Where I felt this storyline succeeded, was the main plot and how it was treated. Not only did the writers scrape though with sporadic hints of the appealing dark tone and edginess Teen Wolf had long been known for, but they made sure the tale of the Beast was always primary focus. Never was the old work allowed to take over. Not even the sight of some returning characters. Another positive was 5B recognising where 5A finished off and restoring the pack to its former respected state.

As for where it didn't succeed, I look towards the stuff surrounding the main plot. The first of my issues was the treatment of Kira Yukimura. I could tell how desperate the writing team were in trying to nullify Kira's influence throughout the episodes, having her either kept quiet or sent away. Then there was the long-awaited confrontation between Malia and her birth Mother Corinne (more commonly known as the 'Desert Wolf') (Marisol Nichols). Because of the very few appearances made by Nichols, it gave me the impression that the fight was fairly small and insignificant. This did hurt the show, especially after all the build-up that spanned across roughly one fifth of the series. And I suppose I do have the slightest problem with the main story. A show that once was so good in covering its tracks, failed to do so here. According to words of many on social media, the idea of Mason (Khylin Rhambo) being the Beast's human form was seen as a little too easy in figuring out. Overall the equivocal season 5B managed to obtain a pass mark, but only just.

5. Season 1

LOVE. BE AFRAID

Rating: 6 / 10

I can't deny having loved Teen Wolf so much around this time. It only took couple of suspenseful promos introducing the show to leave me wanting more. And the fact that I'd stay up late on a school night anticipating each new episode, further proves this. But what are my thoughts now? Do I still feel the same way about season one as I did all those years ago when it first came on my television? Considering the amount of time that has passed since, it shouldn't surprise anybody when I say my views have significantly changed. Or perhaps the better term would be 'evolved'. I don't regret looking at things the way I did, as it has led me to the person I am today. However, there are times now when I can't help but laugh. It's almost a year since the Teen Wolf has finished and I currently find myself having seen all 100 episodes and owning all nine DVDs. When all I'm supposed to be doing now is enjoying the complete series, I've instead had fun comparing the storylines. This has led me to different thoughts on the first season, and there is one word perfect enough to describe it. Plain!

All shows when they begin, have to present a plot easy enough to understand while ensuring the characters are given proper introductions. But I take one look at Teen Wolf and I'm then thinking everything was far too easy. This series year by year, went down more complex routes and delved into other fascinating mythologies unheard of to most. As a result, it had left the many flaws of the first season to be exposed. The plot was not only small and simple, but incredibly plain and vanilla. It made for the entire product to appear somewhat empty. A few episodes also proved to be very slow-paced with not much happening. Topping it all off was the common and seemingly derivative approach with the storytelling. What started of as something intentionally based on a classic Michael J. Fox movie, also became yet another version of Romeo And Juliet. This time it chose to persist with the overused mythos of werewolves and werewolf hunters.

But none of this is to suggest season one was bad. I myself have actually spent time going back and admiring much of what had been set up here. Holding everything together was some solid character construction and the exploration of very relatable themes. Davis did an excellent job with keeping Scott at the forefront and regularly tapping into his state of mind throughout each of the twelve episodes. The audience gets taught such things like the price of extraordinary power as well as the weight secrets and lies place on relationships both raw and firmly established. And the need to entertain was not forgotten, as almost every character would be introduced through a colourful trait that allowed enough room for them to achieve further growth. These small facets were the foundation of the show's future success. But because of the main plot, the whole body of work came off rather weak. As stated in 'The TeeVee In Me', the first season of Teen Wolf is the 'ultimate lightweight' of the series. An alright starting point, but it's nowhere near special when placed next to everything else that followed.

4. Season 4

CAN'T GO BACK

Rating: 6.5 / 10

It was always going to be extremely difficult for the crew to top the brilliance of 3B, especially having to do so without the contribution of a few highly-respected cast members. But I can't blame them for trying. Despite relatively poorer reception to that of the first three seasons, the fourth wasn't as bad as most made it out to be. The writers took time to build on the few areas they got wrong previously while also making something out of small stuff already seen. I even saw this as a window of opportunity for Davis to construct a narrative more original and more realistic than ever before. The idea may have been risky and never part of the initial plans, but Allison's (Crystal Reed) death made for a interesting twist in the overall tale. It lit up a new road in Scott's journey. A road with numerous possible surprises and no clear ending. A road which was to be explored here. So you could say season four in some ways, was a new beginning for Teen Wolf. One showing a lot of promise. But the biggest question of them all still stands to this day. Did it deliver?

Notwithstanding the general view of season four having its many ups and downs, I personally found the positives sticking out a little more. Within this group of episodes lied growth, maturity and proper character development. Scott would take the next step and looking after a beta werewolf of his own. Malia was gifted with new meaning through a slow yet amusing return to a human lifestyle. Deputy Jordan Parrish (Ryan Kelley) receiving a much larger role as the mysterious shape-shifter he was revealed to be. As a matter of fact, almost every single character appearing in season four, shared some form of relevance. Even the story concept of supernatural genocide was alright. It looks plain from the outside, but Davis made sure to spice it up a little and throw in the usual twist towards the end. On the whole, I was satisfied with the final product. But I did happen to sense some struggle from the writers when it came to handling the major cast changes. And because of this, I consider the fourth season to be the beginning of the end.

Not long ago, I became aware of something quite significant. Something that could potentially be the reason for the mixed opinions. One of the biggest problems regarding season four, was how much of a walking contradiction it turned out to be. For the promotional slogan to be ‘Can’t Go Back’, it sure seems like Jeff Davis and his team tried going back several times themselves. Everywhere I look, I see attempts at extending the life of old work. I see recycled villains, recycled dialogue, countless throwbacks, constant mentioning of the deceased and carbon copies of past characters (E.g. Liam and Mason) to make up for the ones missing. This season ended up too obsessed with providing nostalgia that it forgot the importance of providing something brand new. If all of this was to keep the fans hanging around, I don't think it worked very well. Some people instead found the season boring, while others felt tormented by the continuous hints and references made about their favourite past characters.

3. Season 2

TRUST THE INSTINCT

Rating: 8 / 10

Now we're talking! Season two of Teen Wolf in my eyes, was the real birth of a promising drama. A period when the hit MTV series would be allowed to truly make a name for itself. Jeff Davis with assistance from one of his finest teams of production staff put together, had immediately discovered the effective methods of transcending his own work. He would not only master the basics of character development and universe expansion, but also set up solid connections with target demographics through logical thinking and hidden messages all while preserving the qualities of entertainment. Sure it can be seen as not that big of an achievement, considering the weaknesses of banality and near-emptiness lying within the first season. But the simple exploration along with a unique rendering of uncommon folklore, was enough to entice millions including myself into experiencing one's dazzling artistry blossom on the small screen.

What began as a dark, twisted and seemingly unoriginal love story between two ends of a spectrum, became something much darker and heavier in substance the very next year. Romance while still visible took a backseat, making room for the plot to thicken with villains more menacing and sequences more nail-biting. The second season of Teen Wolf provided a more sophisticated story, greater in action and packed with many new likable faces. Character development was evident through the evolution of Scott and Derek as well as the reconstruction of others like Allison, Lydia (Holland Roden) and Jackson. New relationships are explored while those already existing are put to the test, triggering stronger emotional responses from viewers. And there is no forgetting the opening credits, comprised of stunning visuals and a thunderous score composed by Dino Meneghin. In just about every department, season two went one better than its predecessor. 

Once again, the writing has to be given credit. This particular team under Davis quite possibly set a standard for producing good quality scripted television. Probably the best thing to come out of their highly-rewarded efforts was their success in throwing predictability out the window. Teen Wolf did what was necessary to build uncertainty and keep fans guessing, like when it came to the identity of both the Kanima and the Kanima’s master. Then there is the other complication in Gerard (Michael Hogan). Not well received by most in terms of personal taste but a brilliantly written antagonist nonetheless. What he lacked in appearance was made up for in behaviour, as Gerard’s overall tone and form of expression perfectly matched the dark, shivering atmosphere presented. The complete and utter hatred for this old man said plenty about how well Hogan and the writers had put him together. When the enemies do their job and do it well, there is very little wrong elsewhere. Season two remains a must-see for anyone interested.

2. Season 3, Part 1

THIS MIGHT HURT

Rating: 9 / 10

Coming in at second place for me is the first dozen chapters of season three. A continuation of the upward trajectory, with the writers and producers going next level in practically every area. Teen Wolf took itself very seriously here, delivering a story arc of sheer brutality. Guiding much of that story arc was a formidable alpha pack, bringing a ton of action whilst led by a man of mercurial nature. Occurring at the same time was a mystery more complex than any shared in the first two seasons. A mystery loosely based on Celtic mythology, that would further up the creep factor through a frightening creature and ritualistic murders of innocent lives. 3A was tension from start to finish, perfectly answering for the promotional slogan 'This Might Hurt'. The popular characters are put through many rigorous challenges, leaving audiences both on the edge of their seats and occasionally quaking in their boots. The powerful appearance and endless movement of this part of the series, is what clearly catches everyone's attention (including mine).

Now for why it came in second on my list and not first. What I can most certainly say is that 3A had done little to nothing wrong. However when compared to my number one season, I sensed one thing missing in most of these episodes. That one thing so happened to be 'touch'. What do I mean by this you ask? The first part of season three wasn't quite able to encourage emotional connections on a consistent basis. Bar one or two episodes, Teen Wolf just didn't have the tools then to penetrate me regularly. When I myself was watching 3A, there was nothing more coming from me than admiration for the material moulded together. While loving the action and the flow of the narrative, I couldn't seem to feel the weight of it all. It's as if everything here wanted nothing but a smile from me. Sure there was those flashbacks of Derek's painful past. Not to forget that one scene everybody remembers from 'Motel California'. Outside of these though, my heart was often left untouched. And because of this happening, 3A just fell short.

1. Season 3, Part 2

LOSE YOUR ꓷИIM

Rating: 9.5 / 10

Just when you think the action-packed first half of season three could not be surpassed, along comes the second half to immediately prove you wrong. 3B was, still is and forever will be the pinnacle of Teen Wolf. I could even go far as saying it's one of the most brilliantly written pieces for television in modern times. Whenever I hear the name of the show, this is the first thing that comes to mind. Whenever I'm in the mood to be entertained, this is one of the few things I consider watching. Whenever I'm discussing the series with other people, this is one my favourite storylines to talk about. Perhaps I'm the tiniest bit obsessed, but I have good reasons. Plus it's safe to say I'm not the only one with this opinion. The Teen Wolf community as a whole has spoken now and again. The countless polls I've come across in the past have proven so too. 3B is both the most popular and most-liked season of them all.

It should be no surprise to anybody why this is the case. The vast majority of these fans simply revisit 3B just to enjoy Void Stiles. And I honestly cannot blame them for acting this way, as it is impossible not to look past Dylan O'Brien's phenomenal performance. After all, it has led the talented actor to landing several roles on the big screen. However, my love for 3B extends far beyond this. The season as a whole is perfect in almost every way. It's a dark and edgy tale, well-balanced in content and complete with multi-layered characters. There's action, emotion, mystery, suspense, etc. Basically, it's like a burger with the lot. Not only that, but Davis with his best ever team looked to have used their time so wisely. They ensured the scenes mattered and they helped the cast involved become one with the story. It made it seem like everybody really enjoyed filming and had no problems at all working together. The focus on Japanese folklore was enthralling and the new additions like Kira and were sweet. The only problem I pretty much had was the introduction of Malia (which explains for no perfect score). Other than that, no complaints whatsoever. Part two of the third season was a masterpiece, deserving of all the commercial and critical acclaim it received.

Travis "TJ" James