Teen Wolf Review: A Monster Like Me
Carissa Pavlica
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Argent's back!
That's just one of the many exciting developments brought to us in Teen Wolf Season 4 Episode 4, which felt like a return to what the series does best -- action and suspense with a very amusing undertone.
Considering the very heavy Teen Wolf Season 3 and all the death and destruction in its wake, it's a relief to get back to the heart of the characters. They're teenagers and they're supernatural, they say and do some very wise things, but more often than not it's after a trial and error of many stupid things.
That's not saying teens have the lead on that behavior, but when they're dealing with nemetons and nogitsune, it can be hard to remember they're just kids. And you know what? I love these frakkin' kids.
Dylan O'Brien has been delivering his A-Game as Stiles and I'm really enjoying how Tyler Posey, the True Alpha Scott McCall, lets go of the reins a little bit allowing both O'Brien and Stiles some room to play around. Even when you'd think an Alpha would have all the information at hand, Scott lets Stiles drive, allowing him to handle some of the dirty work. It doesn't always work out fabulously.
Stiles: OK Liam. Now, you've seen a lot of confusing things tonight and more confusing things are gonna happen because of the confusing things that happened tonight. Do you understand?
Liam: Not really.
Stiles: Good, that's good.
Scott: I don't either.
There were some genuinely funny and compassionate moments in "The Benefactor" that could have taken a more serious turn.
As Malia struggled against restraints, Stiles remembered through his history as a pawn to the nogitsune that sometimes you accomplish a lot when you realize you aren't in control of the situation. Releasing Malia and freeing her from the torment of trying to break away stopped her change.
Similarly, when Liam crashed at Scott's feet after Argent tranqed him, he was in a world of hurt about what his behavior might to do his parents. He's a good kid and doesn't ever want them to see him as a destructive monster again.
You're not a monster, you're a werewolf, like me.
Scott
Lydia was wrapped up in trying to hear the key to the message buried in her math notes. Ultimately, it was Allison. The nod to her best friend was appreciated. Once entered, the list was revealed and she announced it to be a dead pool of all the supernaturals in Beacon Hills, and they're all on it.
There were no dollar signs next to the numbers on the dead pool, and I know they're essentially a betting instrument that allows people to get paid according to the odds of predicting when someone will die, or, in this case, carrying it out for a specific amount of money. Given the small numbers next to the major players, I can only assume they give higher payouts.
It was pretty frakked up seeing Violet take a wire and beheading a werewolf who was going about his business, resisting change with a mantra so he could fix a flat. The look of glee on her face as her boyfriend received the text that the money had been transferred to hhis account made my stomach turn.
First, I had to wonder why her lame ass boyfriend set his girl out to kill so he could get a payout and second I realized that if the "regular" citizens in Beacon Hills think so little of supernaturals, our heroes are kind of in trouble. Again.
At least one killer is out of the way. After the muted one axed Peter in the chest (and it was laced with wolfsbane), he announced via a voice device that Derek was next. Stilinski and Derek tracked him and were placing him under arrest when a very sexy Peter Hale dashed down the school hallway to pummel the mute and rip his - heart? - out. Whatever was in his hands seemed more stringy than heart-like, but what do I know? Monsters don't necessarily have a lot of heart. Ha.
It was an all around pleasing installment of Teen Wolf Season 4 and felt like comfort food. I've missed these types of episodes and Mr. Argent.
Scott: How did you know?
Argent: I got your text.
Classic. It's great to have everyone back to normal, even if their lives are at stake by an unknown benefactor. Given that the installment bared his name, it's kid of surprising we learned very little about the benefactor. We have yet to even see another appearance of Kate Argent. Maybe she was waiting for her brother to come home.
If you've missed any installments or need to catch up with all the Beacon Hills action, you can watch Teen Wolf online via TV Fanatic.
Do you have any idea who the benefactor is?
Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.
