Contributor: John Keegan
With the CW looking for its next modest hit, and “The Vampire Diaries” still hitting all cylinders, the fundamental problems with “The Secret Circle” continue to remind us that this is a show on the brink. A lot of what happens in this episode requires the audience to care about Cassie and her destiny, and frankly, it’s the least effective part of the plot. And I still maintain that this whole “predetermined love” thing between Cassie and Adam works much better on paper than a television show.
I’ll be honest: the drug-addled antics of Diana and Melissa were a lot more engaging than the threat posed by the spirits of the dead witches. Even if I agree with those who don’t quite see Diana as the drug-taking type. I seem to recall that taking that particular drug had a very different effect for Faye, so I’m not sure why it was suddenly this recreational thing that incited Diana to kiss any guy that showed up to the door. (Though as a former pizza delivery guy, in my college days, I certainly wouldn’t have minded that kind of welcome!)
Most of the problem is that the characters still aren’t making themselves distinct enough for me to care, and that’s most true of Cassie. One would think that Faye’s tryst with Jake, complete with much undressing on her part, would at least generate some interest. But I didn’t care that it would complicate things with Cassie and Jake, or that it was another example of Faye’s selfish tendencies. The writers desperately want her to be the new Damon Salvatore, but her snarky self-interest comes across as petulance.
The other frustration is the utter lack of follow-up on the events of the previous episode, in terms of the previous generation. It might make some sense if more than half of this episode wasn’t taking place in the house of one of the adults most affected! In fact, that disconnect has been one of the fundamental problems with the show as well. Too much happens that doesn’t seem to mesh.
Writing: 1/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4
Final Rating: 6/10
