Martin Carr reviews the sixth episode of Scream: The TV Series…
Amadeus Serafini is an anomaly. Part Christian Slater during his Nicholson phase, with a smidgen of Jason Patric pre Speed 2 and post Lost Boys. Noticeable only for his absence from my reviews, Serafini has floated around on the periphery having little impact for some time. Not only was he inconsequential but also seemed ideal material for the mortuary slab. However episode six has not only made his character more interesting, but a viable candidate for inclusion within this review.
Present in the opening five minutes, Kieran Wilcox has clearly gained some relevance beyond mere eye candy. Riffing on John Carpenter’s Halloween, ‘Betrayed’ starts in the house of Brandon James. Unlike previous attempts this sequence reveals its hand at precisely the right time, by pulling a little Empire Strikes Back Dagobah homage. Not only are these initial moments effective, but they also feedback nicely into the episode.
Similar to the increasing impact of Kieran Wilcox, Connor Weil is also experiencing a character renaissance. Portrayed by Will Belmont, an initially conceited creation has grown into a person of conscience. Showing himself to be less and less the high school jock, Connor has had minor epiphanies leading up to an eventual realisation. Continually forced into legally questionable situations, this subtle reveal has been interesting to observe. Elsewhere Scream: The TV Series continues raising questions and revelling in complexity.
Seeds of doubt are peppered throughout this week’s episode, ensuring no one is above suspicion or beyond reproach. With the finger of blame pointing squarely at a certain individual right now, there was a necessity for diversionary tactics. Which began at the tail end of last week with the introduction of Sophie Brown’s Lorraine Brock.
What her character brings to the party is an uncompromising approach and clinical bedside manner. More believable than Wile’s Clark Hudson, Brock is icy in her approach to work and comfortable bending rules. Her arrest and subsequent interrogation of key characters this week, add a modicum of much-needed spice to proceedings. Which in turn acts as a catalyst to start the ball rolling elsewhere. In terms of character development it offers up something juicy to ponder and slaps icing on the cake. A non to subtle piece of misdirection as we edge into the final three episodes.
What Scream: The TV Series continues to do week on week, is create something fresh from a tried and tested formula. There will always be those who consider a small screen version of this franchise tantamount to sacrilege. Yet what we have here continues to prove that even bad ideas can produce good results. On this evidence Season two is not only assured but dare I use the word anticipated.
Martin Carr – Follow me on Twitter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&v=8k_v0cVxqEY
Originally published August 10, 2015. Updated November 29, 2022.
