The Fanged & The Furious: ''Teen Wolf'' Returns For Season 5

Front and center Scott McCall (Tyler Posey) answers the call of the wild as the true alpha.

Scott & His Pack Are Back For a 5th Season

Werewolf fans and paranormal lovers rejoice--“Teen Wolf”season five premieres next Monday, the 29th! The frothy MTV series centers around Scott McCall, reluctant werewolf turned true alpha and his adventures with his ‘pack’ of friends as they face off against supernatural --and plenty of n’er-do-good human-- adversaries. A little bit comedy, a little bit thriller, and a little bit B-movie horror, Teen Wolf is a potent mix of all three.  Which makes it some seriously addictive escapist TV show, and a guilty pleasure that I’m actually not guilty about at all. ;’)

The werewolves --and Kitsunes, and Banshees, and Werecoyotes, and fighting-fuck-toy huntresses (ermm Braeden by any other name)-- are going to be back in a season that looks to be like a bad trip through some serious nightmare-verse. And I couldn’t possibly be any more flippin’ excited to see how this creepy-as-hell arc is gonna go down!!

Stiles's (Dylan O'Brien)  'sleuthing' was in full form season 4.

The eerie asylum institution and the shadowy, frantic cinematography in the trailer just screams of psychological thriller, and plenty of terror. In other words-- bring it. Noooow.

Season 4 was the strongest offering yet to the series. Ignoring some of the less thought-out plots, in short; the mute who was a freaking creepy villain and had the potential to be a recurrent baddie but someone decided the next best place for him to go was the chopping block; the downer that was the revealed identity of the benefactor and the resounding W-T-F-Did-I-Just-Watch that left me slack jawed and feeling bitch-slapped out of a satisfying conclusion; and the whole Kate back-from-the-dead spiel with her berserker shenanigans. (Where the hell did that even go?)

Kate (Jill Wagner)  is a uhh Were-Jaguar with a serious 'tude.

Thankfully, the other ick-factor, the orphans, and their storyline only lasted a few episodes of season 4. Violet (Samantha Logan) and the blond guy she pal’d around with (who looked almost identical to Liam and Liam’s ex-LAX teammate, Brett) had a satisfying demise, because both were just so darn unlikable and just were not convincing as mercenary killer types. Fourteen-year-old assassin* worked for Saoirse Ronan in “Hanna”, not so much for Vi and whats-his-face in this season. Their roles were more cannon fodder if anything.

Despite those brain farts, the awesome things in Season 4 made up for ‘em.

Lydia was a knock out last season. With the spotlight on her budding Banshee powers, and her lack of any romantic relationships meant that she kicked ass in every episode she was in. Instead of being weighed down by soapy twu-luv teen baggage, she dove head first into investigating the origins of the dead pool. As viewers we got the scoop on Lydia’s family. 

Much like 'The Mute' the Berserkers were never fully explained.

In particular we took a trip ancestry dot com style and found out that her granny was a Banshee and that she met up with the curly haired kook, and a fellow Banshee, Meredith, from the asylum before she croaked.

We also saw Lydia to continue maturing beyond the self-absorbed designer-diva with boy crazy tendencies she was in the earlier seasons. She’s proven herself to not only be loyal as hell, but pretty darn fearless too. Instead of just turning tail she charges into whatever she has to face.

That’s really been a strength of all of the characters this season. They’re all fighters. Aside from the hot mess that is Malia who seems to be there just to provide snarky and socially awkward comments (that aren’t charming like the writers intend them to be), and suck face with Stiles. Oh and to angst about Peter being her biological father.

Lydia (Holland Rodan) tries to get through to kooky Meredith (Maya Eshet)

As for the addition of Liam as a new main cast member I initially had some mixed feelings. Liam started off as a snotty freshman with enough anger problems to bust out as the next incredible hulk. Then a heel-face-turn to the extreme with him actually becoming a decent beta and a better team player (both on the LAX field, and in the pack).

After his Timmy-stuck-in-the-well incident, and being saved by his ever so forgiving and do-gooder alpha, Scott, Liam’s ‘tude took a nose dive which means his likability has exponentially increased. I rooted for him to die on the hospital roof top when the Wendigo had a go at him, but I don’t feel that way any longer.

I can’t help but wonder if Liam is going to be groomed to be the starring lead of the show, especially considering the title is “Teen Wolf” and the fact that Scott and his crew are in their senior year and will be heading off to college. I mean hell, the cast is my age (a glorious 23-years, aside from Holland Roden, who, I shit you not, is pushing 30). 

Liam (Dylan Sprayberry) needs HAAAALP!!! 

Unlike predecessor Buffy who easily was able to transition to a college environment for the slayer and the Scoobies I gotta say I’m not so sure “Teen Wolf” is gonna go there. But, staying in the present and all, it’s best to take the show as it comes and savor it for what it is!

Another aside about Liam that cannot be overlooked,  is his best friend Mason.

Mason (Khylin Rhambo) is the new token gay character who also happens to be black. Sure, that’s a double win in the diversity department but it’s also disheartening that Liam, instead, couldn’t have been the latest gay identifying guy on “Teen Wolf”.

It would’ve been refreshing to see a gay couple in a starring role-- to be able to see Liam’s own gay dating adventures, and to have his, hypothetical, same-sex relationship to get as much screen time as say, Kira and Scott.

It’s a shame that “Teen Wolf” passed up on the opportunity to showcase a ‘butch’ gay relationship as well, especially because the gay representation on TV for many of the male characters slants toward the ‘femme’. And it might just be me, but I could easily see some homoerotic tension between Liam and his ex-LAX player, Brett, who well, could’ve been his Ex in more than one way if you catch my drift-- it would’ve been a break from all the straight teen whaambulance dating drama.

OOC!Derek (actor) . . . tail between his legs much?! 

But anyways, I think it’s safe to say that Liam’s gay BFFL is most likely going to be treated well by the “Teen Wolf” writers and will actually be a fleshed out and realized character. 

Showcasing minorities is certainly a strength of “Teen Wolf”. Scott is strikingly Latino, and Tyler Posey even confirmed in several interviews that Scott does have Mexican roots. BOOYEAH! His relationship with the kitsune of the pack, Kira, is the kind that strengthens a show and doesn’t add unnecessary soapy teen drama. Nor is it just there for us to watch a desperate girl swoon into crushable Scott’s well muscled arms (as I’m sure, many a fanfic describes him). The first win is that it’s a biracial couple in which both of the partners are minorities. Hell to the yeah.  Scott and Kira are, in fact, such a genuine matchup with chemistry galore and a certain d’awww factor that it blows the whole Allison and Scott romance away.

The next big win is  with Kira herself. She’s arguably one of the best additions to the show, and my favorite character. Kira’s got such a sweet and plucky disposition that it’s hard to not be taken by her, especially when you add in her slightly awkward social skills, and her genuine compassion for everyone in the gang. 

Kira (Arden Cho) using Fox Fire to put Scott in a sleeping beauty coma.

Not to mention her tough as nails skillz as a katana wielding Kitsune dojo warrior/ninja babe without any of the icky sexual innuendos or attempts to make her a Hott and Dangerous Femme Fatale in Leather, Shooting Guns. In other words, she’s not Braeden. K?

As for what’s to come in Season 5? There’s A LOT to be excited about.

I mean, we’ve got a three-eyed guy in the hospital/cell with Peter. Our little vixen Kira has her first tail, and there’s plenty of mystery yet to be solved.  

With the shift of Jordan Parrish (played by Ryan Kelley) to a character that was simply a Nice Guy, to more of a front and center position with the big reveal that he’s got some paranormal mojo of his own is a big draw.

Instead of being turned into a crispy critter by one of his cop co-workers, on account of Parrish being on the deadpool that was shared with enough circulation to rival the rate of a high schooler’s nudie pics, he survived! Holla!  

They DIDN'T shoot they sheriff, but they toasted the deputy! 

Not to mention all of the obscure top secret military grade knowledge he has. Hmm. So whatever creature feature Parrish is beneath his handsome hunky human shell, he was worth some seriously big bucks to kill off and is unlike any other paranormal person we’ve seen on the show.  

Derek’s doom day is set to go down this season as well. Now that it’s revealed Derek’s not the neutered ex-werewolf it looked like he was becoming-- it’ll be interesting to see how he’s going to be taken down by his certified-Banshee predicted ‘death’ this season. I can’t help but cross my fingers and hope that Braeden will sink with that ship. Quite erm...literally. (Hey, a gal can dream!)  

While we’re talking ‘bout love it’s gotta be said that nixing the Stiles and Malia relationship would be another score for Season 5. Sure, it’s not exactly the desperate-attempt-at-adding-drama, and completely OOC matchup thang between Allison and Isaac back in Season 3. But all the same, the whole Malia and Stiles ‘ship is nothing more than a cardboard imitation of that of goofy sidekick Xander and self-absorbed ex-demon Anya in "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" which was hands down funnier and more believable.

It can’t be just me who is having a hard time stomaching that Malia’s return to society has been so seamless for a gal who spent much of her lifetime alone in the woods. Her uber kissable lips, fashionista looks, and academic skills --hell, even the way she interacts and talks to the other characters-- just don’t make sense. 

The way Malia  (Shelly Hennig) is written in the show, leaves much to be desired.

That whole hook-up in the basement of the mental hospital with Stiles left me cold, and my opinion of the two hasn’t changed since then. But, there is enough about  “Teen Wolf” to like to make up for this one less than satisfying component to the show!

Yes,  “Teen Wolf” can be a little ridiculous, with plotlines that are sometimes wonky, but for the most part it’s a fun an attention grabbing show. It’s darn good escapist TV richly textured with supernatural and paranormal themes. While the tone is leans towards horror and thriller, there’s plenty of comedy, and the dialogue between the characters -- especially the comedic connection between Stiles and Scott-- is brilliantly funny. The colorful and three dimensional characters and storyline that is thick with mysteries keeps me as a viewer coming back for more. Season 5 can’t get here soon enough!

Stiles's detective work continues to help Scott and the Pack come out on top.

*Yes, I do know that Saorise Ronan in "Hanna" was playing a 16-year-old. ;) close enough

Images from MTV.com ; first image from IndigoMemoirs.com