[warning : this post is LONG and also pretty heavy on the animated GIFs, so I really hope I don't end up breaking anyone's Internet. Also mild spoilers, I guess. ]
It's time for a long overdue confession, guys. Has that post title completely lowered your esteem of me and my otherwise impeccable taste in all things pop culture? I would think so. I spent the longest time refusing to admit my big, sloppy love for this show to anyone. And when I finally came clean I was met with gasps and many disbelieving capslock responses of "YOU WHAT?!!". But you know, I'm tired of having to play down my Teen Wolf love. Or justifying it with dismissive remarks like "Oh, it's just for fun, it was like a little juvenile holiday fling while waiting for the new season of [insert respectable critically-acclaimed TV show here] to start". I love Teen Wolf. I LOVE it. And I'm not apologizing for it. And I am waaay excited for the season 3 premiere in June. THERE. Now we all know.
Teen Wolf is meant to be a remake of the Michael J. Fox film, but there aren't that many similarities apart from the title. This incarnation features Scott McCall as the awkward, bumbling high school sophomore who is bitten by a mysterious creature (werewolf!) in the woods one night while out looking for a dead body with his best friend (as we all do, no big deal) and must consequently deal with the problems that come with turning into a raging bloodthirsty fur monster once a month, along with more run-of-the-mill adolescent issues like girls and grades.
So allow me, with the use of a list and many pretty GIFs, to illustrate the reasons why Teen Wolf is not as terrible as you may think it is.
To be fair, my initial impression of Teen Wolf was not great. I went into this show anticipating horrible acting (but great hair, always great hair), bad dialogue, non-existent character development, and a ludicrous plot. I ended up finishing two seasons in a two-and-a-half day marathon. This show was like junk food to me, in the best way. Look you guys ; this is MTV. It's not exactly classy shit, like Breaking Bad or whatever it is my smart and cultured young adult friends are watching these days. Actually, I wouldn't even put it on the same level as the first 4 seasons of Supernatural. Teen Wolf is often flawed and can be deeply problematic. But it makes up for it with tonnes of snappy dialogue, self-aware digs at its own expense, great pace and energy and more than enough juicy plotlines to keep things interesting (and keep me coming back for more). And above all, it's just plain FUN. Fun without being frivolous, light without being shallow, and it carries a surprising amount of depth without ever getting too bogged down in its own angst and melodrama. And self-awareness seems to be the key ; Teen Wolf knows it is probably not going to win any Emmys or be touted as a cultural touchstone of our generation 10 years from now. And it's totally fine with this reality. Which seems to give it more license to let down its hair, kick off its shoes, deprive all its male leads of their shirts, and just have a great time. Which leads us very nicely into -
2. The plot.
So much plot, wow.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm plot.
Have you ever seen this much plot in your life? Because I sure haven't.
3. No, but seriously. The plot and writing.
There exists a surprisingly compelling storyline; rich and remarkably consistent in-show werewolf mythology and season-long story arcs. The characters grow, change, reveal layers and facets that are unexpected and very intelligently written ; people you initially think will never evolve beyond the typical high-school stereotype roles assigned to them (bitchy over-achiever, arrogant jock) are shown to be so much more than their generic labels. The good guys aren't always nice, and the bad guys are never all evil. What's that? Why yes - complexity and shades of grey! On an MTV show! Featuring many actors who are all allergic to shirts! But truly, it's a wonderful thing to behold. Because when you have characters who are well-written, well-acted and believable, it's that much easier to invest in them and the journeys and relationships they undertake.
There is also an incredible amount of attention paid to details - from the significance of colours worn by various characters in any given episode to the use of one of the four natural elements as the defining motif for each season (water was the motif in question for season 2, fire for the first season). This sort of well-researched, geeky attachment to metaphors and symbolism and seasonal arcs on the show's behalf is more than enough to get the English major in me all weak in the knees. Teen Wolf knows what I like, you guys.
3.5 There are consequences. Most shows set in high school, whether of the supernatural variety or not, eventually stop pretending that the characters or the viewers care about actually going to classes anymore. But the kids of the Teen Wolf universe have to deal with the fallout of poor attendance, slipping grades, failing tests, and not completing group lab work. Small details, but utterly refreshing by the fact that all this is actually acknowledged.
4. Stiles Stilinski
Stiles - real first name as yet unknown to us - very quickly made his way into my list of favourite TV characters ever. Played brilliantly by first-time actor Dylan O'Brien (who turned 21 last year so it makes me feel like less of a dirty old lady THANK GOD), Stiles is dorky, smart, and a walking grab-bag of deliciously snarky one-liners and pithy retorts. He's also perhaps the best goddamned thing about the show. Stiles bears the classic hallmarks of your Tortured character with a Dark Past - he is still grieving for his dead mother, he hides his fears and inadequacies behind a veneer of couldn't-care-less motor-mouth sarcasm and flippant humour, and is protective of his (very selected few) loved ones to a horrifyingly selfish and ruthless degree. And I can't tell you how much I love this subversion of what could have been a very straightforward geeky guy-comic relief-sidekick character. There is a darkness and a certain ruthless quality to Stiles that contrasts wonderfully with our protagonist Scott's more open and idealistic hero type. I love it. I love this character, and I love every tone and nuance and gesture and expression through which Dylan O'Brien (may he be blessed with many many lead roles in his career amen) chooses to convey everything that is mysterious and layered and complex and unconventional about this kid. I love it. One of you should give me a call and we'll go out for bubble tea and talk about how much I love Stiles.
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Because I love Stiles
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A lot.
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5. Everyone else.
It helps that the teenagers are played by actual teenagers, or at the very least people in their very early 20s, so it makes their appallingly attractive faces more bearable.This is also a beautiful cast with some genuine acting chops, and they're also adorable and lovely in real life, which is always a plus point for me. Tyler Posey in particular, strikes me as being the human incarnation of golden retriever puppies and sunbeams.
6. Awesome TV parents!
TV parents usually annoy me to no end, but the ones in this show are well-fleshed out and involved in their kids' lives, not just props to come in once in a while and administer some Generic TV Parenting before conveniently disappearing again. There are positive portrayals of single parent families, and frighteningly realistic depictions of abusive families, and just wonderful relationship dynamics all around. Thumbs up, Teen Wolf. Thumbs waaay up.
Allison Argent, born into a werewolf-hunting family (naturally) wields a crossbow like no other, and Lydia Martin flings around algebraic equations and knowledge of arcane languages that defies her status as all-round popular/mean girl. Erica, who suffers from epilepsy and is made a social outcast in school, finds her own means of physical and sexual empowerment.
Jeff Davis, the creator, needs to revise his statement that his show takes place in a world where homophobia, racism and sexism effectively do not exist ; an admirable sentiment, but problematic considering his own less than perfect treatment of women, gay characters and characters of colour. There are elements of tokenism, queerbaiting and other such infuriating things, but as far as the girls go, this is a hell of a great place to start. Neither Lydia, Allison nor Erica are reduced to pretty faces, love interests or plot devices.Now all they need is as much screen time and development as the boys are getting. And maybe some friendships of their own? I am a sucker for a good, mushy bromance as much as the next person, but sometimes I just really want to see two girls love each other's company and have each other's backs too.
Our protagonist, Scott, and his best friend Stiles, are both adorably sunny and dorky, so it's only fair that we have a much moodier character to balance it all out. Enter Derek Hale, professional werewolf and expert Mysterious Brooder In The Shadows. Derek enjoys brooding, lurking, creeping around, skulking, not smiling, being morally ambiguous and also brooding. Sometimes, he even broods. Oh and there was that other time he did some brooding for a while. Did I mention brooding? Brooding. Lots of that.
Now that is just precious.
Also I won't wave aside the very obvious fact that the guy is fine as hell, even when he's technically faking a flirty smile (only one of his many weapons of mass distraction) in this scene.
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Poor Derek.
9. It is legitimately creepy when it wants to be. This is no Twilight-lite. The body count in the pilot episode alone is mighty impressive. What's even more impressive is its ability to build and sustain genuine suspense and tension ; the everyone-gets-trapped-in-the-school-at-night episode was probably one of the creepiest + most nail-biting 40 minutes of TV I've watched in a while.
10. My mother's seal of approval. My mom has great taste in everything, and is also very hard to please, and shows no mercy in her judgement of a TV show or movie. I often use her reactions as a gauge for how good or horrible a thing is. For instance, if she actually gives up her daily, sacred afternoon nap to finish watching something, that thing has now received the seal of my mother's eternal approval. So guess who joined me in that two-and-a-half day Teen Wolf marathon (and kept asking me if Stiles was going to be okay)? That's right, my friends. That's right.
At best, Teen Wolf is a lot smarter, funnier, creepier and better-written than it should be, and contains a lot more emotional and intellectual depth and complexity than I would have ever given it credit for. I am delightfully and pleasantly surprised by everything it has done so far, and I am actually super excited to see how it grows and (hopefully) improves from here on out. And even if the show itself does absolutely nothing for you, you are more than welcome to come sit on the couch with me and keep count of exactly how many times Derek Hale broods his way onscreen with no shirt on. Surely no one can be opposed to that.
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