Contributor: John Keegan
The idea that Cassie has a deep well of dark power, just waiting to come out in all kinds of decadent ways, has a lot of potential. Especially when they hint at the possibility of Faye tapping into it, given her hedonistic ways. Unfortunately, the writers continue to fumble around with even the best of ideas, and much like the witch hunters earlier in the season, the execution falls short of the promise.
At least, that’s how it feels so far, when the first reaction from Diana to Cassie’s status leads to the two girls trying to change the color of a dress. It’s also odd that the writers are reminding us in this episode that Faye and Diana, when they have the chance, look far more attractive and mature than Cassie. As I’ve said before, I’m not sure why Adam would stray from Diana, or why she doesn’t fight harder, if she values the relationship. I realize that this is a mature way of dealing with it, and perhaps a sign that Diana is the most cognizant of the magical forces guiding their lives, but it serves to weaken the character at the moment. (Though, really, who wouldn’t offer themselves as a replacement? The actress was a former Miss Teen USA, after all!)
I have to admit, Faye knows how to pull off the sultry, sexy smirk incredibly well, and she gets one hell of a rush from using her power, borrowed or not. And I can see how she would overlook the effect on everyone else, since she’s focused on putting Cassie in her place. But in the end, she has a conscience, and she also has a very good point. The fact is that Cassie is supposed to be a worrisome threat, so why does the rest of the circle give her a pass?
The ending left me a bit cold. Not only do I think there’s a lack of chemistry between Cassie and Adam, but I’m not on board with how the impending love triangle has been arranged. Adam is the good boy, Jake is the bad boy, and Cassie is the soul caught in the middle. The not-so-secret circle is supposed to factor into the equation somehow, but it’s so fractured right now that I’d be more inclined to see the writers explore Diana and Faye sliding into bad habits than the story they are trying to present.
The biggest problem, by far, is that Cassie’s character doesn’t have the weight necessary to serve as the lynchpin of the story. If the circle around her was more cohesive, even with the personality conflicts, then they could serve the same purpose as Buffy’s “Scooby Gang”. Instead, the show just feels like it has no direction or focus, which is a bad position to be in when starting the second half of the season.
Writing: 1/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4
Final Rating: 6/10