Home Reviews

Teen Wolf Review: “Chaos Rising” (Season 3, Episode 2)

There are several elements that have now combined forces in an effort to defeat, or at least figure out, this mysterious Alpha-pack. First we have Scott (Tyler Posey) and Stiles (Dylan O'Brien) representing the obvious choices in a fight against evil. These to have a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. They also never back away from a threat, no matter how small. This dynamic duo posses a moral compass that jumps right over most normal teen urges. Sure, their are plenty of other things they would rather be doing than risking their lives on a nightly basis, but when it comes to doing the right thing, it's just an unspeakable urge for them. It's almost comical when situations arise and there's a question about who will go up against the odds to save the damsel (or dude) in distress. Scott always goes for the win, and Stiles always follows his lead.

Teen Wolf

Recommended Videos

It looks like everyone is working for the same team this week on Teen Wolf, and it’s a bit disconcerting actually.

There are several elements that have now combined forces in an effort to defeat, or at least figure out, this mysterious Alpha-pack. First we have Scott (Tyler Posey) and Stiles (Dylan O’Brien) representing the obvious choices in a fight against evil. These two have a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. They also never back away from a threat, no matter how small.

The dynamic duo posseses a moral compass that jumps right over most normal teen urges. Sure, their are plenty of other things they would rather be doing than risking their lives on a nightly basis, but when it comes to doing the right thing, it’s just an unspeakable urge for them. It’s almost comical when situations arise and there’s a question about who will go up against the odds to save the damsel (or dude) in distress. Scott always goes for the win, and Stiles always follows his lead.

Next, we have Derek (Tyler Hoechlin) and his band of merry Betas. Although, his pack is obviously diminished with the kidnapping of Erica (Gage Golightly) and Boyd (Sinqua Walls), so it’s more like a band of merry Isaac (Daniel Sharman) for now. Derek knows a lot more about the werewolf world than the former pair, and he uses it to his advantage. It is something that he has to hold over everyone’s heads – knowledge is his contingency plan. Derek grew up in a family that was comfortable with the supernatural. If memory serves me right, not everyone in his family had the werewolf gene, but they definitely were all well aware of its functions. The other thing Derek has going for him is his righteous anger. He is, well was before the resurrection of his uncle and the surprise appearance of his little sister, the only surviving member of the Hale family. Knowing that your family was persecuted – literally burnt to death – for something they couldn’t control, is sure to take a toll on your psyche.

Then there’s the wavering women – Allison (Crystal Reed) and Lydia (Holland Roden). Both of these characters have been through terrible personal ordeals over the last two seasons. Allison has lost several members of her family and had to come to terms with their werewolf-hunting tendencies. She loves Scott, but is constantly in a state of push and pull. She pushes him away because it’s too much for her to deal with those emotions, but she has a pull to him that keeps her coming back for more.

Lydia, on the other hand, is just as emotionally damaged, but for other reasons. She was bit by a werewolf and not only did she find out that she is apparently immune, but now she suffers from paranoid delusions, time lapses, etc. It’s almost as if the bite had an entirely altered effect on her, more so than we’ve even seen yet. On top of that, her boyfriend turned into a serpent creature before transitioning into a run of the mill werewolf, and subsequently leaving town.

And last but not least, Peter (Ian Bohen). He spent season one doing either one of two things, pretending to be in a catatonic state that spanned the last ten years or terrorizing everyone we actually like in Beacon Hills with the help of his naughty nurse. Since he was killed at the end of that season, his return in season two of Teen Wolf might have been even more of a sneak attack to us than it was to Lydia, who frankly is still learning her way around the supernatural comings and goings. Death certainly didn’t stop him from playing on the weakened mental condition of that teenage girl, and the result was a full-fledged resurrection. Since Peter did try to kill everyone, he’s not exactly the most popular member of the team, but like Derek, he as a knack for knowing helpful information at the right time.

Continue reading on the next page…