When a show undertakes an expansion of its primary cast, there’s a cautionary tale to go along with it. Too much energy focused on any new arrivals could mean that the pre-existing, already well established characters will be sidle-lined, leading to hostile fan reaction, and a resulting drop in quality. In Ice Pick, two new secondary characters were brought into the fold, but the success of their introduction lies in this show’s ability to always keep its core cast front and centre.
Take Erica’s introduction. This episode gave us just enough information to get the full picture of her transformation, but always kept the spotlight fixed on Scott, and how her admission into Derek’s pack affects him. That’s all we really care about; at least for now. To give new characters a chance to become part of the family, their entrance should be almost staggered, affording viewers the opportunity to get to know them, before they start to steal the spotlight. That’s not to say Erica, Isaac or any of this show’s minor cast will ever be more important than moving parts, but their level of importance was pitch perfect here, with enough shown to keep me invested in their involvement.
Lydia’s mysterious affliction continues to keep a hold on her, with some strange visions of deceased, or maybe not so deceased, Alpha Peter. Though Lydia’s still retained that snarky edge, she’s continuing to flourish under the writers’ renewed attention to her development. Jackson appears to be taking a turn for the worse, though, with his desperation to become a Beta not only causing Lydia more heartbreak, but also putting him in harm’s way. I doubt that he’ll escape any of this unscathed, but judging by how this episode ended, it appears as though he’ll be getting his wish.
The tension I mentioned in last week’s review continues to build here, and Derek’s growing pack makes clear to Scott and Allison that they’re about to be caught right in the middle of a war between wolf and hunters alike. It’s a strong direction to take this show in, as the constant rivalry between the two sides is what this show was based on, but I’m glad that other external forces are being toyed with as well, like that slimy creature from Shape Shifted. It helps to keep things interesting.
8/10
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