Teen Wolf 4.03: Muted

There’s been a slight disconnect so far this season, and it had me worried for the past couple of weeks. For that reason ‘Muted’ is easily the strongest so far. It felt like the show was brought home after a long vacation, and everything is the same, except totally different.

It’s strange that Allison’s absence is such a non-factor. I honestly thought that we’d see the effects for a while, but it’s really like life has moved on without her, and I guess it makes sense. We already saw everyone mourn her last season; it doesn’t make sense for this series to slow down to and remember her right now when there’s so much going on and the new girls are starting to feel like they belong.

Kira finally showed that she’s less of a stand in for the late Ms Argent and more of a character in her own right this week. Sure, a lot of this episode focused on her and Scott, but she also had fun on her own. Could she be the first female lacrosse player to join the Beacon Hills team? Is that even allowed? I really hope it is.

Also, how great is it that lacrosse is part of this show again? It’s fun watching such a familiar Teen Wolf trope being used with completely different characters, whether they’re Kira or newbie Liam (who I really didn’t like all that much). It’s easier to watch them being integrated into the show like that when it’s being done in such a classic Teen Wolf way.

It’s also great that the series is remembering what age these characters all are. You’d forget that in between all the trips to Mexico they’re still high schoolers who have mid-terms and reading assignments to think about. I think that setting makes Malia’s struggle to join the real world that much funnier. Although I really don’t think she should be in the same math class as Lydia, who we all know to be a certified genius.

Algebra and Hale resume-packing aside it’s not all real world problems that are part of Beacon Hills this season. Not with mouthless mass murderers running around. I wonder what that was all about. Is he independent of Kate or the Hale robbery? Scott has even more supernatural problems to deal with now that he’s bitten someone for the first time. How long until those Mexican wolf hunters come a knockin’?

I should have more faith in this show. It always has an endgame in sight, but I don’t want to be left wanting like I was last week. ‘Muted’ proves that Teen Wolf can dedicate equal parts to arc building and stand alone action without breaking a sweat.

9/10

Plus

Derek continues to be irrelevant now that he’s an adult again.

Peter and Braedon are fun to watch together. More of them please, show.

Coach is the best, isn’t he?

He Said, She Said

Stiles: “It’s ok to want something for yourself once in a while. Team captain, alpha werewolf, you’re still only human.”

Also posted at Doux Reviews.