Original Air Date: 5 January 2012
Review: Ten episodes into the first season and it's cleat that TSC will not rise to its sister show's level. In broad terms, I'd say it has two main issues: the story is not as well constructed and it fails to build up the suspense, and the actors are failing with bright colors at their jobs. Britt Robertson, whom I've sort of liked in the beginning, is getting annoying by forcing facial expressions that don't come to her naturally, and I will not even get into Phoebe Tonkin's and Jessica Parker Kennedy's affected attitude. The hiatus didn't even favor pretty boy Thomas Dekker.
I hate to bash a new show just as it returned for its second part of the season, but I'm not one to hide behind useless pleasantries, no matter how much of a crush I might have on the pretty boy. I've been bashing HawthoRNe despite my huge Michael Vartan crush, and that lasted years.
That being said and returning to Cassie's dark magic, there was a lot - and I mean a lot! of talk about it, but not much action. OK, she dreamed about choking Jake (did anyone really believe that wasn't a dream?) and then she actually did choke Adam, but everyone was so quick to forgive her, that it wasn't more than a minor incident. The only more interesting part was grandma Kate (and can someone really call super sexy Stepfanie Kramer a grandma?) and her attempt to kill Cassie. Or test her abilities, was the way she put it, since apparently Cassie can be the one to tip the balance in favor of good or evil. The only question now remains, which side is Kate Meade on? Unfortunately, there was no real buildup towards that ritual, so it all felt like coming out of nowhere (though initially I thought Kate would strip Cassie of her powers and that would have at least been something). On the good side, the girl's escape was pretty spectacular and it saved the episode up to a point.
I'd like to return to Adam for a bit and say that his going into Diana's room for the sole purpose of apologizing to Cassie and telling her she was special because she was different (or something in the lines of that) was a bold move and one that directly told Diana he will not wait for her forever. Way to go, Adam!
In this week's secondary plot, Faye got in a bit of a mess when trying to do an old voodoo spell to tap into her unused power, which translates into being able to make magic for herself. In going to a voodoo priest of some sort, she found he didn't really have any power and just wanted to take her money, but I guess his hotness made her forgive newcomer Lee (played by FNL alum Grey Damon), and what girl wouldn't? He's too good to pass on and yes, bu good I mean incredibly gorgeous. Of course, in classic TSC fashion, he wasn't properly introduced and, just like Jeremy Gilbert being able to just google anything supernatural and find answers, Faye simply went on her computer and found a voodoo expert only a short drive away. Isn't that amazing how all supernatural stuff seems to gather in one place? I call this the hell mouth curse.
This was not the return I'd expected, after a two-month hiatus, and I'm still waiting for this show to pick up the pace and dive more into the mythology. Slow buildups don't really work on supernatural series.
The Secret Circle 1x09: Balcoin Back to Season 1
