Wolf Pack Season 1 Episode 7 Review: Lion’s Breath

Wolf Pack Season 1 Episode 7, “Lion’s Breath,” is a plot-heavy penultimate outing that creates an opportunity for the characters to emerge from the ashes in the season finale, but they may be changed forever in the process.

Even when “Lion’s Breath” lingers in sequences that struggle to find emotional resonance and misses the mark on others that should significantly impact the characters, especially at this point in its season, Wolf Pack‘s mystery and world-building remain intriguing aspects of the story.

For instance, the episode starts with a prolonged display of Everett and Baron’s connection, allowing the Paramount+ show to utilize horror elements while expanding its werewolf mythology.

However, assuming Wolf Pack plans to illuminate it further, the slow-burn reveal of the supernatural tether’s meaning would work better if Everett showed slightly more interest in it before jumping into a plan to save Baron. To his credit, Harlan questions why Baron would come to Everett instead of him or Luna.

Regardless, the relevant information from the uncomfortable interaction is that a person’s humanity can become entirely lost in the monstrous ways of the werewolf — positing that the werewolf acts independently.

The best thing to come from Baron’s plea is the teens crafting a plan — without any actual research or consultation with an adult — to capture Baron as a werewolf, stop his heart, and revive him as a human. Because why not?

Those antics are a tried and true staple in supernatural teen dramas, and they almost always end how “Lion’s Breath” does, especially if it’s a season’s penultimate episode.

Unfortunately, the character beats that break up those plot points are hit or miss.

“Lion’s Breath” walks up to more depth for Blake and Everett’s relationship but frustratingly steps back before they can take any strides. While dialogue isn’t required to showcase the characters’ connection, it would be beneficial here to exemplify Everett letting Blake in about his family or Blake inquiring on the matter.

Alternatively, the evolution of Austin and Luna’s dynamic unfolds more organically, even under the episode’s extreme circumstances. Even then, smaller things like Everett noticing that Harlan is concerned about Cyrus land well, but Wolf Pack falls short regarding Blake’s reaction to Phoebe’s death.

Blake doesn’t need to have an extremely emotional reaction to Phoebe’s death for her feelings to be valid, but strangely, Blake doesn’t even appear shocked that Danny discovers her former best friend’s body in her family’s motel room bathroom.

“Lion’s Breath” may run with the assertion that there is too much adrenaline pushing the characters from one point to the next for Blake to take the time to account for Phoebe’s death.

If that’s the case, Wolf Pack‘s season finale should give Blake even a minute to catch her breath and reflect on how she feels about losing someone who means something to her — for better and worse.

Wolf Pack Season 1 Episode 6, “After Party,” starts to unpack the former friends’ baggage to their dynamic’s benefit, so it’s a shame to lose the potential Phoebe carries with Blake as a friend — and as potentially something more to Tia — so soon.

Nevertheless, Phoebe’s death opens up Blake’s story to delve into the complexities of losing someone before a relationship can repair.

Meanwhile, this episode maintains Wolf Pack‘s track record of exemplifying how consistently underrated Rodrigo Santoro is as Garrett Briggs.

His first scene during “Lion’s Breath” effortlessly holds emotion, conflict, and duality because of Santoro’s performance and the direction. This scene is a better example of how dialogue isn’t essential to give a sequence purpose.

The camera’s focus pulling from the silver bullet to the height chart on the door frame is a standout shot from the penultimate episode. It perfectly captures the concern that Garrett could lose his children to the same fate that Baron experiences. 

Juxtaposing his position with Kristin Ramsey’s creates an engaging viewing experience because it tests how far is too far to protect loved ones. That line always becomes quite blurry in supernatural teen dramas, and it’s fascinating to watch Santoro and Sarah Michelle Gellar go toe-to-toe in pushing its boundaries.

“Lion’s Breath” utilizes more flashbacks from that wildfire from nearly two decades ago to give more credence to Kristin’s revenge mission.

Compounding her perspective with the reminder that Danny saw the werewolf in the parking garage on Wolf Pack Season 1 Episode 4, “Fear and Pain,” pulls together the show’s threads just enough for a season finale to expand on them.

Ultimately, the flashbacks show the lengths Kristin will go to avenge and protect her family, adding an extra edge to the silver-coated knife that Austin puts in Baron’s heart and opening the pack up to a whole host of new problems.

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New episodes of Wolf Pack stream on Thursdays on Paramount+. Try Paramount+ for free, right here.

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