Original Air Date: 10 November 2011
Adam: Sure. How about something with an olive?
Faye: How about whatever I can con the bartender into giving me?
Review: Looking at this episode from the mid-season's finale perspective (who the hell came up with this lame idea, anyway?), "Balcoin" was not as exciting as it could have been. Yes, some very important revelations that could be a game changer were made, but I didn't really feel it at the intensity it could have had. I'm not saying the episode was boring, far from it even. But if you compare it with its sister show (and how can you not?), The Secret Circle is not at the same level of awesomeness.
But wait, that's not all! This week's most important revelation was that Cassie has a half-sister or a half-brother, because... wait for it... she is not the only Blackwell child in the circle. And not let the speculation begin. It can't be Adam, cause... well, we wouldn't have the love thing anymore and it would be a shame. Given Dawn's crush on Blackwell back in the day, Faye would actually make the easiest choice, if you also consider her personality. But the brother or sister should be able to do magic on their own, the same as Cassie, and Faye has already tried that, and failed. If we look at it from this angle, maybe it's Jake, since he is certainly able to do magic alone (though that could be because he wasn't present when the circle was bound), and that would certainly explain the interest Isaac has in him and being willing to forgive his betrayal.
That leaves Diana and Melissa - and I somehow hope it's Diana, since her and Cassie already have a sisterly bond, though I would not be surprised if "emo girl" would also turn up to have more going for her than just the heartbroken depressed chick. We haven't seen much about her while the others each have their own back story and so far she has been boring, which I don't understand, unless the showrunners give her a shocker past.
As for how things got to that surprising conclusion, the episode was a race for Cassie to find out what the papers from Calvin meant and for Issac to get his hands on Cassie, by convincing Jake to abduct her. Jake is as ambivalent as they come: he wants to avenge his parents' death by aligning himself with the witch hunters, but starts liking Cassie and thinks she may be able to beat the darkness inside of her; even more, he develops feelings for her, which make him act like a jerk sometimes. That's a bit more interesting than the written in the stars thing she has with Adam, especially since nothing really happened on that front. But I found Cassie pathetic in her "There is something between us. I felt it" adolescent plea. Are we all the same at age 16? I hope not.
I wouldn't call this episode bad, despite my initial rant. The pacing was good and the tension between Charles and Dawn regarding the possession of the crystal (which looks a lot like Smeagol's desire of the one ring) and the effects of the spell they did on Jane. Speaking of which, Cassie should figure out pretty soon that something's wrong with her grandmother. She'd have to be blind not to.
The Secret Circle should learn from TVD how to do a cliffhanger though. The revelation of another Blackwell child in the circle is not exactly the best way to end a midseason finale. I would have ended the episode with Cassie's abduction, especially since we won't be having another episode until 2012. As for the show's return, I'd like less teen drama and more mythology regarding the Balcoin line and the witch hunter council, which Issac referenced a couple of times.
The Secret Circle 1x08: Beneath Back to Season 1
