The Teen Wolf series finale has aired and the show is officially over after 100 episodes. Did the closing chapter do the series justice? Spoilers ahead.
This is it. We’re finally here. After six seasons, we’ve finally reached the end. The Teen Wolf series finale has premiered and the story is done (for now).
After season 6, episode 10’s ending, in which Scott and Stiles literally drive off into the sunset, I was worried that we still had 10 more episodes left of the show. Could they really give us enough story for another half of a season and do another proper sendoff for our favorite characters? The bar was set pretty damn high.
After watching season 6, episode 20, however, I’m ashamed that I had any doubts. It was like a beautiful trip down memory lane.
When you’re building to a series finale, there’s a lot of pressure to satisfy fans. First and foremost, you have to conclude the current storyline, which Teen Wolf succeeded in doing. There were two major plot points in the back half of season 6, including the Anuk-Ité and Gerard Argent.
As for the supernatural threat, it once again came down to Scott and Stiles. This time, Scott was the one to figure out how to defeat this season’s monster, and it was Stiles who saved the day by tossing a jar of mountain ash at the creature’s feet and watching it turn to stone. It was a welcome role reversal for these two characters, and one that showed how far Scott has come from his humble beginnings.
The human threat also met his end. After putting a gun in nearly every set of hands in Beacon Hills, Gerard thought his plan had gone off without a hitch. But he once again underestimated Scott McCall. The pack knew that if they could defeat the Anuk-Ité, most of the people in Beacon Hills could be convinced that not all werewolves are bloodthirsty animals. Gerard was satisfyingly ripped to shreds by his own daughter, whom he rejected because she’d been turned into a werejaguar.
While the show did its job and wrapped up the season pretty neatly with a bow, it did leave a few threads hanging. At the end of the episode, we learn that a young boy named Alec was being hunted by Monroe because he was a werewolf. Scott offers him a spot in the pack, but only if he’s willing to fight against those who are putting bullets in innocent people.
It’s nice that not everything was taken care of by the finale’s end, not only because it would’ve been unrealistic, but because it gives fans more to think about after the show is over. We know MTV doesn’t quite want the show to end just yet, so whether they do a spinoff or a podcast (or both), this gives them a foundation to share more stories in the Teen Wolf world.
My favorite part about the finale, however, was how they managed to honor six seasons of Teen Wolf in the process. Gerard himself has been around almost consistently since season 2. Allison was also mentioned more than once throughout the episode, which was a nice callback to her importance in Scott’s life. Even Jackson’s short arc this season, and the fact that he’s still part kanima, shows that the series remembers what came before. Ethan, Deucalion, and Derek’s returns also pay homage to that idea.
Plenty of villains made momentary returns as well. While Scott was in the library fighting the fear that the Anuk-Ité inspires, he was attacked by a whole slew of opponents he’s fought before, including the Oni, a Berserker, and Void Stiles and the nogitsune. Even Jennifer Blake shows up to torture Derek with her memory. It was nice to see Haley Webb back in this role, but it also gave us a good look inside Derek’s mind, which is as rare as it is exciting.
Of course, there were plenty of people missing from the finale that we would’ve loved to have seen as well. Isaac, Danny, Kira, and Braeden are just a few who were missed. But, alas, not all of our dreams could come true.
It’s hard to put a finger on exactly why the series finale was so satisfying, and I think that’s because there’s no one single reason. It was quintessentially Teen Wolf, which means it had humor, horror, and heart in equal measure. We saw Scott rise to an impossible challenge and overcome it, bringing his friends along for the ride.
It was little character moments that made it all worth it. Stiles and Derek’s interaction after all this time. Scott hugging Derek upon his return. Theo learning to empathize. Liam learning to trust a former enemy. The reveal that Peter’s greatest fear is probably losing his daughter. The knowledge that Lydia knew about Jackson’s bisexuality all along. The moment when Malia was able to help Scott heal. When Melissa kicked total ass. When Chris walked away from his father, knowing that death was the only way to stop him and his fanatical mission.
But maybe the satisfaction comes with that final shot of the McCall pack walking together to face their next challenge, knowing that they can defeat it as long as they’re together. The return of Stiles and Derek is particularly exciting: Their influence over the series was profound, and it seems only right that they get to walk off into the (metaphorical) sunset with everyone else.
But mostly it’s that Scott’s eternal optimism is contagious. His pride in being a werewolf is an inspiration. He should be bitter given everything he’s been through, everyone he’s lost, but he’s not. He truly sees the bite as a gift, and knowing he’s going to take other werewolves like Alec under his wing and teach them to love themselves and their abilities makes me believe the pack will be just fine.
Parting ways with Beacon Hills is bittersweet, but that knowledge lets me do so with a little less sadness and a whole lot more hope.
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