Teen Wolf Review: Apotheosis (Season 5 Episode 20)

Teen Wolf Season 5 is over and hellatus is here! *commence the crying until Season 6*

“Apotheosis” is the culmination of months of us sitting at the edge of our seats, watching the McCall Pack fight for their lives. The Dread Doctors are done, The Beast is dead, and Mason is alive. Despite plenty of side characters being killed off , our core group survives to fight another day. And while many might see The Beast’s defeat, and that of Theo’s, as being too quick and not worthy our expectations, it’s not about that. It’s about love, family, growth, and the pack pulling through. It’s about changing them into something better than what they were before. (Besides, it’s not over for the Dread Doctor storyline. The Nazi, that kept them alive, is still out there!)

Let’s dig into the Teen Wolf Season 5 finale!

They vanquish The Beast as a family. All the trials and tribulations they went through in 5A, the things that broke them, made The Beast’s defeat possible. There were plenty of tense moments this season where things were dire and pain was  all they knew. But it is all about timing. They had to go through this so Lydia could access her powers, Parrish could become one with the hell-hound, Kira could start on her desert journey for control, and  Malia could confront her past.

The pain is also meant to be there to teach them the value and importance of friendship(Looking at you Scott and Stiles. No breakups ever again!) They round off the entire McCall Pack arc by bringing Allison back, even if only a memory. It is a reminder that even in death, when our loved ones bodies are gone, their influence never truly goes away.

Scott proves himself an adept leader in the finale. He never leaves anyone behind and strategizes with the right people to ensure their survival. Everyone has a role to play and his plans have backup plans just in case. It did feel like the alliance with Deucalion and Chris Argent against his father, was made in a rush, but that would ruin the surprise. Those scenes might be fillers but they help to connect the dots when the final showdown hits. Scott’s development as an Alpha worth following comes from comprehending how weak he is when his family and friends fall apart. It’s a hard lesson that he will never forget. He understands that it’s time for him to be the kind of leader that supports those around him without hesitation or second guessing. There’s too much at stake if he does let someone like Theo manipulate and break them apart again.

Stiles understands the kind of man that he wants to be now. Working with his father and the police department is where he belongs. It’s been his home since he was a child and it will continue to be so when he leaves high school. He gets a grand sense of accomplishment when he helps to keep the people around him safe. Stiles has also come to realize that there is someone close to him that is more than a friend: Lydia Martin. It’s not like the infatuation he had with her years ago. This time around he sees her as an ally, a friend, and a confidant that he cares for more than anyone else in his life (well besides Scott and his dad.) The determination and vigor that he put into keeping her safe is the foundation for something more that needs focus in Season 6. (Don’t leave us hanging Jeff!)

Now onto the strong women of Teen Wolf.

Kira’s choice to stay with the skinwalkers is an easy one. When she fought them before she couldn’t see why she had to go with them. Now she understands. This isn’t about the McCall Pack, Scott, her father, or her mother. This is about Kira’s journey in understanding the kitsune inside. Her peace of mind and ability to balance the supernatural with the human will be the core of what she is about to face in that desert.

Malia experiences similar revelations during her fight with her mother. She faces the lingering blackness that has plagued her life, and comes out on top. Her overcoming the Desert Wolf is about coming to terms with her existence. She’s no longer lost, guilty, or afraid in the woods. She’s Malia Tate, coyote and member of the McCall Pack. No one’s ever going to take that away from her, especially her absent killer mother.

Besides the creepy Nazi soldier escaping the Dread Doctor lair, it’s sunny skies and high school worries for a while. We can head off into the hiatus sunset with a calmer heart than we did at the end of 5B. And what makes this time around different is that our characters know where they belong and who they are. They are the Alpha, the brave human, the banshee, the kitsune, the beta, the hell-hound, the friend. They are the McCall Pack of Beacon Hills.

 

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Teen Wolf returns Summer 2016 for Season 6 on MTV.

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