The shock
factor is something that can go either way. In a show that knows what its doing
and where it’s going, it can work as great mechanism for enticing viewers into
returning, on one that’s messy and disjointed, it’ll just come off as cheap and
forced. The former applies in the Secret Circle’s case, but without that sense
of impending battle and culmination, Traitor’s twist could have so easily
become the latter.
In ‘Traitor’,
as Cassie deals with a huge loss, Diana deals with some life-changing news. The
circle continue to hunt for the remaining crystals, leading them to “the
creepiest place on earth”.
Among other
things, Diana’s new identity seems like the stimulus required to stop John
Blackwell in his tracks. Her opposition to his methods was never as pronounced
as it was after she discovered her true parental lineage, but I guess that’s
the point. If he’s capable of tearing two happily content people just to
further his own agenda, then he’s certainly capable of deceiving the circle. As
the show’s trademark force of good, it makes sense for Diana to be the second
Blackwell. Cassie gave into that dark side of herself so easily, we never got
to see someone like Diana who has strong morals and an even stronger sense of
self, not even entertain the notion of using it for protection. It makes me
worry that she may fall a lot harder than Cassie did, should she need to resort
to tapping into it.
Diana’s
discovery is something that also serves Cassie’s loss in a way that she could
never really grasp right away, especially if she’s dealing with the shock of it
herself. Now that Jane is gone (RIP), Cassie has no family left. Out of everyone
in the circle, Diana was always the one she was closest to, and after learning
that the bond they share could be tied to something she so desperately needs,
must be overwhelming. It’s almost forgivable that the writers waited until now
to reveal the show’s biggest mystery. It could never have had such a profound
meaning a few weeks ago.
Every week
the writers seem to entertain some different combination of all of the
characters, and it never feels like something left into chance. Each time characters
interact if feels engineered and totally intentional, especially in the light
of recent events that make their reciprocity more purposeful than it would
normally. That applies not only to Cassie and Diana but to Jake and Faye, and
Melissa and Adam as well. Every scene seems to use the traits we’ve come to
expect from each of these characters and plays them off each and every other
character, typically to interesting results. Even if the results aren’t momentous
events, or pivotal realizations, they’re always rewarding predicaments, no one
can deny the unbounded chemistry between Faye and Jake, can they?
So, Nick’s
back. I never really missed him, mostly because he was always the flattest of
each of the characters in this show. I don’t think for a second that he’s back
in some permanent capacity; his return is most likely attached to some kind of
spell being used to destroy the circle, or stop Blackwell, or kill the Elders,
or something. I dunno, this show is kind of confusing sometimes. Regardless,
his return brought the shock necessary to keep this show throttling forward,
even though casting spoilers ruined it a little for me. The only thing ruining
the season’s big narrative is that we haven’t really seen our “big bad” enough,
but that’s a small gripe, and easily overlooked in light of everything else.
The best
thing about The Secret Circe lately is the feeling that it’s following in its
predecessor’s footsteps. As far as I can remember, it was around this time during
the first season when I really sank into the Vampire Diaries and the kind of show
it was, and the same is really applicable in this show’s instance. It’s just a
shame this newfound confidence isn’t translating into ratings, since Traitor is
yet another strong contribution on The Secret Circle’s part.
8.5/10
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