Check out the Teen Wolf 5B premiere on Tuesday, Jan. 5 on MTV at 9/8 C. (Note the day and time change. No more Moonday.)
So where does that leave a hapless Teen Wolf fan? With hope. The season 5B premiere has a lot to offer. For one, there is far less filler than there has been throughout season 5. For the most part the pacing is on point and the action zips from one character to another. Better still, it doesn't feel like they are throwing a multitude of plots at the audience all at the same time. Last season felt frenetic, almost berserker in nature. Things were going quickly but they were not necessarily going anywhere. In the midseason premiere, the goal for the good guys is focused: Save Sheriff. Save Lydia. Period. To do so, the pack (read: Scott, Stiles, and Malia) also has to work together despite hard feelings and it is here where most hope can be found. Although 5.11 makes clear that there is no instant cure, Scott and Stiles have more screen time together than most of 5A put together. Scott in particular is insistent that they combine their skills to find a solution just like they have in the past. For those who have been missing the bromance that is the foundation of Teen Wolf, it's a real start. There's plenty of Mason and Liam bromance too and Mason gives one of the better speeches to talk Liam through his own hard time. All in all, the midseason premiere gives me hope that our heroes will indeed get back from the hell Jeff Davis left them in and maybe come out of it stronger people, stronger leaders, and stronger friends.
Highlights in no particular order:
Argent.
Mama McCall and Stiles scenes
Scott refuses to move
Hellhounds are this season's favorite pet
Hot Doc is smarter than most people at Beacon Hills Memorial
Mason is the new Giles
Science Mom (Mrs. Martin) is just done with this whole supernatural thing
Stiles tears will break your heart as will the flashback
The symbol
Theo doesn't care about your rules, silly man
Biggest Questions:
Do the steampunk scientists have a plan and will that plan pay off?
Does Hayden remember what's going on or not?
Exactly how many concussions can one group get in one episode?
How can more back story on Theo possibly make less sense than what we already know?
Is Valack going to end up being the good guy?
When will ALL of Team Good Guys be united and back to pre-5A madness?
Who is the last chimera?
Will Beacon Hills ever see the last of its insurance woes?
Grade: B+
Best Reason to Watch - less filler, more story, more questions, more Scott and Stiles time
Best Scene - Scott won't let Stiles….
Best Awww Moment - (sorry, spoiler)
Best Entrance - Argent
Best Back Story - Theo killed his sister because he wanted…..
The "Oh, Poor Baby" Award - Stiles
Worst Doctor - Valack, who drills into Lydia's skull
Worst Plan - Thinking anywhere in Beacon Hills is safe
MVP - brain injuries
Best Catch - Smart Scott figures out that Theo……
Best Flashback - Stiles
Worst Parenting - Hot Doc
Best Reaction - Mason to Liam…
Most Missed - Braeden, the Desert Wolf storyline, Kira and her family
Most Wonky Werewolf Powers - Scott, who doesn't….
Most Awkward Relationship - Stiles and…well, everyone
Best Quotes -
"Hey, you've still got me."
"I am starting to seriously think about a transfer."
"I need to learn to shut up."
"Knowing something is different from understanding it."
"She's a pretty little thing, isn't she?" "That pretty little thing could shatter your skull with her voice if someone decided to teach her how."
"She's got a hole in her head. It's not a good look for anyone."
"We kind of broke up I guess." "Yeah, we kind of broke up too."
"We need to find this kid." "Isn't that a little dangerous, especially since he almost killed my kid?"
"We survived an alpha pact, a dark druid, professional assassins. We can survive dread doctors and chimeras too."
"You can't do this alone, okay? You need me. You need all of us."
Teen Wolf 5B premieres Tuesday, Jan. 5 on MTV at 9/8 C. Don't miss it.
Screencaps from MTV Teen Wolf Tumbler, TV Line, and Pinterest.