Teen Wolf 2.06 "Frenemy" REVIEW

Teen Wolf 2.06 "Frenemy" review

Episode 2.06
Writer: Jeff Davis
Director: Russell Mulcahy

THE ONE WHERE Derek and the Argents go after the Kanima, whilst Scott and the gang try to protect Jackson.

VERDICT Director Russell Mulcahy (the man who has defined the show’s visual style since the start of season one) is back in the driver’s seat for episode six and boy, did we miss him. Last time, we found out that Jackson was in fact the mysterious creature that has been terrorising the folks of Beacon Falls. The creature – now known as the Kanima thanks to the handy bestiary – is the Argents’ newest target. The episode starts with Jackson’s recovered footage from the night of the full moon; what we get is a Grudge -like transformation that is quite frankly, surprising for Teen Wolf and demonstrates that the show is not afraid to embrace its horror side. We haven’t seen much gore or bone-breaking since episode one, so it’s nice to see that Russell and showrunner Jeff’s influences are well and truly back.

What follows is a decent fight scene between the Kanima and Derek, complete with CGI pillar-crushing and plenty of wolfie roaring. Scott and Stiles are soon on the scene, with the Argents also taking care of business. Chris takes a good few shots at the Kanima but doesn’t seem to be a match for it at all, as he’s easily tossed aside with a simple kick. Startled by the impact and blinded by his car’s front lights, Chris can only just make out Gerard and the Kanima but Gerard doesn’t attempt to attack or harm the creature in any way; instead, he seems to be communicating with it. Unknown to Scott, he quickly kicks the Kanima away from Gerard, who can only give his best scowl as a means of thanks.

As Scott and Stiles continue to follow the Kanima, they arrive at Beacon Fall’s finest gay club. It’s the kind of club that only exists in TV land, with dancers hanging from the ceiling, chatty barmen and glow stick essentials. It makes for some awkward dialogue and token comedy attempts from Stiles that actually come off better than they could have thanks to Dylan O’Brien’s delivery. Jackson seems to be after best friend Danny and as he paralyses seven boys on the dance floor; the crowd don’t seem to notice at first thanks to some dry ice, but it feels a little unconvincing that it takes them so long to react, nevertheless.

To keep Jackson safe, Scott and Stiles decide the best thing to do is to kidnap him and lock him up in a local police van. To keep his parents from missing him, Stiles sends a few counterfeit texts over to Jackson’s father but the plan immediately falters as Stiles put an “I love you,” at the end of the message, which Jackson hasn’t uttered in over 11 years – that’s some nice domestic drama placement there folks. The gang can’t keep Jackson locked up for long and he soon escapes back to the police station where’s he’s decided to grass the boys up to keep up with his complete asshole personality. And to add more fuel to the fire, Lydia corrects Ms Morell’s translation of the Kanima seeking a friend – it is actually seeking a master. Could that master be Gerard?

Seeing as the episode is mainly based around him, Colton Haynes does become a little annoying around the halfway mark. Yes, Jackson is supposed to be a jockey douche bag but Colton’s overacting and deliverance of the character gets a bit much. He’ll be featuring heavily this series so let’s hope he tones it down a notch.

BEST BIT After a homage to Scream -style horrors, Lydia encounters Junior in her back yard and gives him some serious Cher Horowitz (of Clueless fame) back talk. Holland Roden is seriously upping her game.

WORST BIT Scott and Allison do their best Rose and Jack from Titanic impression as they fondle each other in a steamy car. She even caresses her hand on the window.

BEST LINE
Stiles: “Scott! Come on, I’m 147 pounds of pale skin and fragile bone, okay? Sarcasm is my only defence.”

Sammy Maine

Teen Wolf airs in the UK on Sky Living, Thursdays

Read our previous Teen Wolf reviews