Martin Carr reviews the first episode of Scream: The TV Series season 2…
Funded by Netflix but carrying the MTV logo Scream emerges from the rubble of season one where it earned renewal, with some serious backing and bulked up production value. Now it resides on the cable equivalent of HBO, we get a full eighteen certificate and more opportunities denied lesser network sponsors.
Everyone who made it through this surprise hit without becoming machete fodder is back. With the same self-awareness and use of social networking, Scream keeps it current, interesting and tongue in cheek. Lead by Taylor-Klaus back as Audrey and John Karna’s Noah Foster, we find ourselves back on familiar ground. Needless incidental music intrudes once or twice in this opener which acts as little more than a refresher. Flagrantly employing the post-modern slasher ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ monocle, we get plentiful film references and sledgehammer subtlety as carnage commences.
With the return of Willa Fitzgerald’s Emma after a forced hiatus things return to normal. There are the usual conversations about relationships, which end in bear traps, decapitation and a modicum of last season blackmail. Taylor-Klaus, Fitzgerald and Karna are comfortable and look slightly better off than previously. With additional seasons comes the promise of more money, which in turn leads to larger parts, a sense of opulence and greater on-screen confidence.
Netflix have provided us with the opportunity to continue watching a good series. I know there were those who felt a Scream television show was unnecessary, but I for one knew last season’s closer earned it some stripes. Sure everything was far from plain sailing, but no legacies were tarnished, feelings hurt or lawsuits filed which is not a bad thing.
In this opener I am glad to say there are some neatly handled flashbacks giving the audience enough insight without spoon feeding. Imagery including a small girl wrist deep in pig entrails and Saw references, which make episode one a pleasure to watch. While Karna’s use of ‘Catfish’ in a chuck away moment, made me remember why I liked this show so much. What ultimately came out of episode one for me though was a reminder of the reverence these writers still have for the source material. They know, as do we, that this here is no Shakespeare. Scream is clever but no longer feels the need to point it out which is noteworthy and admirable for any show.
Whatever Netflix reason for this acquisition they continue to employ savvy when purchasing programmes. Whoever runs the roost invests wisely but clearly likes Adam Sandler and Ricky Gervais, for which they should be forgiven if only because of Daredevil; long may it continue.
Martin Carr – Follow me on Twitter
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