Is the Secret Circle beginning to go all polygonal?

There was just something about the return of The Secret Circle that didn’t well with me. Perhaps it was the massive amount of buzz surrounding the return of its (quasi) sister show The Vampire Diaries (which Deb covered here). Where was the big WTF moment in Chance Harbor? I feel a little left out!

Maybe part of my problem is with Thomas Dekker’s Adam. I’m not sure if it is the character or the actor, but the whole idea of him just falls flat with me. When I look at the hypothetical love triangle that isn’t forming between he, Cassie and Diana, I just wonder what the two witches would see in him. He’s untrustworthy, jealous, selfish and … well … wooden and boring. It doesn’t help that the only other male character in tonight’s story (other than newcomer Lee), Charles Meade, is just as blah. Seems that Chance Harbor needs at least one of the Armstrong boys around to keep men half as interesting as the women.

Fortunately, there is always Faye and Melissa to infuse some life into Chance Harbor. Melissa was so much more interesting enjoying life with Nick than mourning him, and I’m hoping shenanigans with Faye will breathe some life back into her character. I like Faye as an antagonist to Cassie, but only if it isn’t taken too far. The show has done a solid job of walking that line so far, so I look forward to that relationship continuing.

That is three of The Elders we’ve met so far, right? The mythology of the six families is one of the more interesting parts of The Secret Circle story that I’m interested in. Was their act of blocking their children’s power one of compassion or one of vindication? Are they good, bad or both? Kate’s attempt to kill Cassie seemingly puts her in the “bad” category, but where is she compared to Charles and Dawn? They’ve killed out of the selfish desire to reacquire their power. Kate’s attempt was based on either preventing Cassie’s darkness, or testing her power. Who’s cause was more noble?

Speaking of The Elders, I think this show also suffers when Jane isn’t around to help guide Cassie through the minefield that is life as a witch in Chance Harbor. I get that having her around is a little too convenient to the narrative, but she’s such a great part of the cast that has been relegated to the background.

Notes & Quotes

• Anyone surprised that Chris Zylka was picked up as a series regular? Yeah, me either (though according to the credits, that promotion still hasn’t taken place yet).
• “Girls don’t tell their fathers these things, Charles.” – Kate, providing advice that teenage me wouldn’t agree with.
• Yeah, that’s definitely Hunter’s Stepfanie Kramer.
• And that is Friday Night Lights’ and The Nine Lives of Chloe King’s Grey Damon.
• “You think I’m trying to poison your mother?” – Dawn
  “Based on the fact that a few hours ago you suggested killing her? Yes.” – Charles
• “We need help with a spell.” – Melissa
  “Want to setup the mean girls to set their boyfriends on fire?” – Lee
  “No, smartass … we are the mean girls.” – Faye
• “That sounds like a really bad idea.” – Melissa
  “Melissa, here’s what you have to understand. Some things can be really bad and really good at the same time!” – Faye
• Remember that blouse of Faye’s I was shocked by a couple of weeks back? Turns out it wasn’t a blouse.

Clacked by Ivey West
on Jan 05, 2012 @ 22:20 EST5EDT