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
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