Teen Wolf 3.06: Motel California

“A lot could happen in one night.”

Was this episode really as filler as it seemed? It may have felt like a time waster at first, but after a while it seemed like everything that happened was pretty important...almost.

The Motel stuff started out fairly independently. I loved all the ominous and creepy haunting stuff that was going on. The idea of this place being a suicide hotspot was incredibly disturbing, and the episode played with the scenario really well. But after a while I started to get a little restless about where this episode was meant to go. Even after the truth about their arrival there was explained I was still a little at odds. Making the trip to the motel into an elaborate plan to trap the weres is a little farfetched. How could this person, or demon, know that they would end up there?

If they’ve managed to pull off as many killings as they have already it must not be beyond them. Does Lydia have some sort of connection with whoever (or whatever) it is? I liked that this episode finally directly addressed Lydia’s psychic (just guessing) abilities; a year later and we still don’t know what she is. The introduction of more witchy stuff into the series to balance the wolf side out a little is great too. Hopefully it will give Lydia more of a reason to figure out what she can do, and why she can do it, especially if it seems to be directly affecting everyone around her.

If she learns to use it then it might be something pretty powerful. She helped to save Boyd and Isaac from themselves. Stiles was a bit of a hero here too, helping to stop Scott from doing some major damage, even if his fears were a little hard to grasp. Was he lamenting his old life, or belittling it? Being a werewolf has brought a lot of bad into his life but it’s also helped him out in a lot of ways. He’s stronger and faster; he fell in love with Allison; and he’s developing into a great leader. I guess it’s hard to just accept it when his life seems to be falling apart, especially when he still believes he’s responsible for killing his (sort of) mentor.

I’m not sure if Derek’s wounds healing were because of Jennifer or something else, but I like the logic of emotions playing a huge part in a werewolf’s abilities. It definitely grounds the whole thing a little bit, especially if it can help Deucalion to manipulate Derek’s pack.

I’m still not entirely sold on this episode right now. It was good fun, and Teen Wolf always embraces the horror genre to its fullest, but I think the tall episode order might have hurt the fast pace of the show in the long run. Still, if it hits this many notes when it takes a sick day, then the show is doing something very right.

7/10

Plus

Gerard is back! Maybe Teen Wolf should learn to put its surprise guest stars in the end credits from now on.

Was that creepy form Lydia saw in the flames the thing responsible for all the killings or just what was summoned to do the deed?
I’m not sure what Ethan’s fear is? What was with the whole stomach thing?

He Said, She Said

Scott: “We weren’t important. We were no one. Maybe I should just me no one again. No one at all.”
Stiles: “[...]You’re not on one. You’re someone.”

Also posted at Doux Reviews.

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