Teen Wolf - Heart Monitor

I have to say our family really likes Teen Wolf. It is certainly the surprise of our spring, and we are all sold to it. I personally really like the cast, and the “mystery of the Alpha”—building towards the showdown with a major werewolf responsible for turning Scott McCall—has been a nice lure in the show’s favor.

The teen romance of Scott and Allison has been a chief “obstacle” in the upcoming Full Moon and Alpha’s revelation for Derek to overcome. Derek wants the Alpha dead, and Scott—because he was turned by the Alpha and is “linked” to him—is his tool to accomplish just that. But it won’t be without its complications. In order to control the beast within and subvert anger’s drawing of the animal out, Scott will need to hone it all through Derek’s possible help. Derek was born a werewolf while Scott was turned by a werewolf. So training could be tricky because Scott’s behavior might not be so easily understood by Derek as the two come from different places in their werewolvery. So this fun parking garage chase ensues at the beginning of the episode, Heart Monitor, where Derek initiates a chase pretending to be the Alpha while Scott runs and hides. Derek points out how the phone going off (Allison trying to get in touch with Scott) would have killed Scott. Allison is supposedly the reason Scott is weak, will get those he loves killed, or get himself killed if he doesn’t rein in the romance. And that is the whole emphasis going forward. Scott trying to stay away from Allison just isn’t happening. He goes through the school hoping to avoid her (or those tied to her), but she volunteers them to be lab partners.

Allison is so into Scott to the point that if they are together and alone sex seems to be closing in. It almost happens at the beginning of this episode but Kate interferes (unbeknownst to her), with Scott hiding in the closet. Kate once again introduces “family history” to Allison. It is like a gradual indoctrination. Introduced earlier is Allison’s marksman skill with the crossbow. Allison was somehow introduced to that weapon. Her dad with all the weapons obviously has its influence. So there are influences coming at Allison so that hopefully (dad and aunt) she will join the werewolf hunting cause. So in turn comes potential danger. Unknowingly with her relationship to a werewolf. And unknowingly because her family hunt werewolves.

The reason behind the title of the episode stems from control. Stiles is a bit miffed at his buddy for not answering his calls in the previous episode while off with Allison for her birthday. Stiles’ dad had stared down death when the animal was killed running about the school. So, Stiles was not in as good a place. He loves Scott, and vice versa, though. Stiles takes it upon himself to train Scott, by using a heart monitor on his phone. Popping Scott with Lacrosse balls or setting him up as the one responsible for keying a student’s truck, Stiles puts his buddy through this to test his resolve through the heartbeat monitor. Scott is really fortunate to have Stiles because he is willing to stick his neck out for him, to risk his life for his friend. That carries through, too. Folks who follow a show latch onto certain aspects of it. A certain friendship begins and it has two kid actors very appealing with specific qualities that are significant to us. Tyler Posey and Dylan O’Brien have a camaraderie that resonates. It is rather organic because they were young then, 2011. Their teenage trials mixed with the werewolf situation adds certain wrinkles in the friendship that brings more than anticipated, as school and girls mingle with danger and teeth.

Jackson’s character isn’t abandoned by the show, which I find surprising. I know I often keep returning to the word intensity but it fits Jackson as a character more than any other quality. He does attempt to show a different side of him to Allison. Allison has a history project—as Kate projected the family history on her which initiated her investigation into a French werewolf involving her own ancestors—and Jackson sits down to talk to her alone. He reveals a softer side, about how he’s not a bad guy and wants to be friends with her and Scott. So Jackson is sick. Really sick. That magic bullet infection caused by a Derek scratch on his neck is truly causing an illness that has Jackson hallucinating werewolf fingers crawling out his mouth. The dark circles under the eyes and the weakening effect really emphasize Jackson’s sickness. So where that takes him lies ahead in the first season.

I want to specify that I’m watching this for the first time. A lot of fans will be chortling with a hand over their mouths at me because I use future tense for current stories in the first season. I try not to ruin that surprise, research too much, or torpedo the fun that comes with being introduced to developments. So, you might know it all, but I don't. So I write from that perspective of following the show as it happens...

I do love the bait setting up the next episode as it appears the veterinarian might be the Alpha and that Derek looks the have been impaled from behind by its clawed hand. Lydia remembering the werewolf from the rental store has also changed her, keeping this secret but clearly aware of the danger in their midst, trying to avoid it the best she can. So some good alternatives​in terms of subplots tied to the main plot involving the Alpha.