Teen Wolf review – 4×05: ‘I.E.D.’

Courtesy of MTV

The Beacon Hill Scoobies try to control the new Beta while uncovering the identity of the assassins targeting supernatural creatures. Easier said than done.

Let’s bitch it out…Last week I gave Teen Wolf both cheers and jeers for its current storylines. While I don’t think that the drama unfolding around Liam’s (Dylan Sprayberry) transformation into a werewolf is completely out of synch with the ongoing threat of the Benefactor’s posse of assassins, the new Beta storyline certainly continues to bore me to tears.

I don’t know if it’s because I can’t quite get behind Sprayberry’s less than nuanced performance as the rage-aholic teen, or if it’s simply because I find the other storyline more interesting, but each time we return to Scott’s (Tyler Posey) attempts to keep his protégé under control, my eyes glaze over. Especially considering that so much of this so-called “drama” takes place under the auspices of the recently reintroduced lacrosse team, which has never been the show’s strong suit (give me rave clubs any day).

Thankfully the Benefactor storyline is more than interesting enough to compensate. In the opening scene, the group lays out the evidence for Sheriff Stilinski (Linden Ashby) and the season’s loose ends fit together nicely, including the fortune stolen from the Hale vault that earlier felt like such a waste of time. We learn that the dead pool that Lydia (Holland Roden) discovered last week at the beach house is the first of three lists, which means there are two others that each require their own cipher (Side Note: I somehow missed that ‘Allison’ was the first). The second is revealed courtesy of the only other Banshee we know: Meredith (from last season’s stay in the nuthouse during the Nogitsune arc). With her help, Lydia and Malia (Shelley Hennig) are able to crack the code in time for Scott and Stiles (Dylan O’Brien) to save Brett, a visiting lacrosse player before he meets a grisly end courtesy of Violet’s (Samantha Logan) heated garrotte. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with the young girl – and her partner in crime – next week now that Scott knows her identity.

Courtesy of MTV

Other Observations:

• This episode is directed by Jennifer Lynch, as in the daughter of famed director David Lynch. Considering she’s more of a feature director herself, it’s surprising to see Lynch doing an episode of a teen werewolf show for MTV. I would have expected her to pursue a more feminist/sexuality-driven episode considering that’s more of her forte.
• Although the character hasn’t made much of an impression thus far this season, I do like how nonchalantly Mason’s (Khylin Rhambo) queerness is introduced. He’s just checking out another dude – no fuss or dramatic monologue necessary. Can’t wait for the same casual reveal about Violet’s partner, Garrett (Mason Dye) who is offering up plenty of drag queen fierceness each time he graces the screen.
• The ever-helpful deputy Parrish (Ryan Kelley) is quite interested in Lydia’s powers, isn’t he? As we’ve long suspected, this may have something to do with his own otherworldly status which is confirmed when we see his name on the second list (Side Note: he’s certainly not worth much, is he? Parrish must be pretty low on the totem pole for such an insignificant sum).
• This week’s insignificant “comedy” subplot is shifted from Malia onto Kira (Arden Cho) whose position on the lacrosse team is played for laughs with her father. I really wish that the writers would recognize that the show is better than this and stop trying to shoehorn in unnecessary humour into the narrative because it falls flat far more often than it yields yuks.
• After threatening Scott in the premiere, it’s no surprise to see Araya (Ivonne Call) arrive in town. What is surprising is that she’s paying a social call on Argent (JR Bourne) in an effort to redirect his efforts towards his calling. The question is whether she wants him back in the hunting game to go after Scott or Kate Argent. Perhaps the answer is both?
• Finally, Derek (Tyler Hoechlin) is losing his powers. That’s a new twist on his S4 arc…

Best Lines:

• Stiles (when Liam admits he doesn’t take his meds): “Obviously”

Your turn: are you onboard for Liam’s journey? Do you find the benefactor storyline gripping? Will Violet rat out Mason? How will the third cipher be cracked? What exactly is Deputy Parrish? Will Argent return to hunting? And how long before Derek’s powers disappear (or will they)? Sound off below.

Teen Wolf airs Mondays at 10pm EST on MTV *Please note that there will be no reviews for Teen Wolf  for the next three weeks as cinephilactic is moving internationally*