The Secret Circle "Family" Review

David Simon inspired too many blog posts and articles about the need for weekly episode reviews. Simon argued that TV shows should be consumed the way novels are, essentially saying bloggers and critics are unable to write anything decent about a show because of the poor way they're watched. I didn't care about his words or the backlash from critics and bloggers, in which passionate defenses of the weekly episode review format were written. I skimmed over old reviews of The Secret Circle. My thoughts fluctuated each week between 'this is the show Miller needs to make' and 'what the hell is this? This is brutal.' I thought, 'Maybe it would've been worthwhile to write a gigantic post about the season instead of assessing it week-by-week' but I don't like TSC enough to do that, and no one would've read it. I don't think I missed any subtle brilliance of the show; it's not like TSC really knew their show. There were flashes of promise throughout the season, including the last three episodes; however, "Family" clarified that The Secret Circle is a mess of a show.

Prom" is the quintessential penultimate episode. "Family" is the quintessential season finale. The episode isn't bold or game-changing or anything like that. It took care of business though. The plot threads of the season were resolved, the bad guys lost, storylines were set up for the second season. Characters were urgent with each other because of the life-or-death stakes. Jake risked his life to save Faye. Adam and Melissa passionately hugged. Diana and Cassie stood up to Blackwell. Charles killed himself to get rid of his demons (boy the writers laid it on thick). The action was plentiful. The majority of the Acts ended with the characters in peril. Andrew Miller, Williamson, and the other writers, delivered a true finale. It just wasn't very good.

The Secret Circle dropped storylines without abandon. Character dynamics changed episode-to-episode. Different pairings happened each week. The Adults storyline seemed like it was written off the top of the heads of whoever wrote that week's episode. The Secret Circle finally hooked me with the Blackwell/Witch-hunters storyline. I never expected "Family" to confidently and successfully conclude the first season though. It was impossible. The writers clearly scrambled to re-work what didn't work. Along the way pieces of the story were dropped, so it was impossible for the show to resolve every thread. I won't slam the show for this. The scrambling produced entertaining television in the last three weeks. I'll be honest: "Family" made me want to get as far from The Secret Circle as possible.

The writing for Joe Lando's John Blackwell became my favorite part of the show. They successfully crafted an ambiguous character. Lando portrayed him well, never showing his hand and really inducing trust in the circle AND the audience. "Family" essentially destroyed all of that good work. I've been fond of comparing The CW Thursday night lineup to 90s slasher films. John Blackwell transformed into a cartoonish 90s slasher villain. Literally, the dude went bonkers in one fell swoop after weeks of being cool and ambiguous. Blackwell and his daughters created the crystal skull together. The crystal skull is so powerful and dark that it's seductive. Blackwell admitted he didn't care to stop Eben. He dismissed the witch-hunters as threats, which I liked, because the witch-hunters were lame. Blackwell, indeed, wanted a circle of Balcoins and all non-Balcoin witches dead. Diana and Cassie didn't. Together, they used black magic to kill their father. Of course, four other Balcoin siblings strolled into town to close the season. My fondness for comparing the Thursday night lineup to 90s slasher film doesn't mean that 90s slasher films are good by the way. The 90s slasher films always transformed the killer into a cartoonish villain of 'muahahaha' proportions. So, when the innocent and lovable heroine murdered the character, a traumatic thing for anyone, it's dulled by just how much the killer deserved. The same basic thing applies to Blackwell. Cassie and Diana should feel something about what they've done, whether Blackwell deserved it or not, but TSC is content to move on and not dwell.

The witch-hunters kidnapped Faye. The creation of the crystal skull broke the circle bind. Faye easily used her magic to escape and call her mother for help. The witch-hunters were killed easily. Diana's grandmother gave her son and Dawn her power to use against Eben. Dawn and Charles were redeemed in the eys of the writers. Charles sacrificed himself to stop Eben. Dawn saved Faye, Jake and Melissa from burning at the stake. The redemption of the adults is a bit tough to swallow. Dawn and Charles were responsible for rotten things in Chance Harbor. Dawn told Charles that Nick's life was worth it for their magic. I can't cheer the adults or celebrate their good deeds. The show absolutely botched what could've been an effective story about the teens seeing their parents for who they really are, as a sort of cautionary tale for using magic. But Charles and Dawn are heroes.

The teenage witches gathered after the fireworks of the episode were finished. They contemplated binding the circle again. Faye wisely noted that they didn't need the circle to be connected. I liked how the 'binding' theme came full circle. The circle is a family now. The group agrees to lay low for awhile since ghosts, demons, and other supernatural things started happening the moment the circle was bound. Adam needed to take the dangerous crystal skull far from Chance Harbor; he was chosen because of his reliability. Of course, we see him touching the skull near the end of the episode. Jake and Faye will spend the summer as a couple. Faye will have fun with magic. Diana left town with Grant. Cassie realized she had the mark of Blackwell now, which means she's even more powerful. The finale laid out interesting story for season 2.

The Secret Circle's chances for a second season aren't great. I can't commit to watching and writing about it for a second season if renewed. There were only glimpses of promise shown throughout the season. The characters weren't figured out until late in the season. It just wasn't a good season. I tried to see the good in the show, but the bad was impossible to ignore.

Other Thoughts:

-Adam and Melissa will be a couple if season 2 happens. Thomas Dekker has great chemistry with Jessica Parker Kennedy. Sadly, Melissa's going to like a messed up boy, thanks to the crystal skull.

-I should have more to write about Cassie. She's the main character. Cassie wanted Diana to stick around because she needs a sister. She didn't emote too much, not even after the Blackwell thing. She apologized for wanting to trust her father. Britt Robertson delivered the line that made Cassie seem like she was apologizing for her dad failing to order a limo for a dance or something.

-The show never addressed Blackwell murdering Jane nor Charles killing Nick. Jake killed Eben for his parents and for Nick. This is another instance of the mess TSC is.

-Andrew Miller and Andrea Newman wrote the episode. Dave Barret directed it.

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