Teen Wolf (TV series)

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

Teen Wolf was revamped in 2011 by MTV, and focuses more on the drama and angst of being a werewolf. A few of the elements of the story have been changed and this series tries to take a different route than the original. Starring Tyler Posey as Scott, this Teen Wolf takes a Darker and Edgier feel to it.

Now has a character sheet, which could use some love!

Tropes used in Teen Wolf (TV series) include:
  • Absurdly Ineffective Barricade: Stiles tried to warn everyone that blocking the door with desks and chairs wouldn't do anything to secure the twenty-foot wall of windows, but gets not now, kiddo'd.
  • Action Girl: Kate; Allison.
  • Adorkable: Scott. Just Scott. In the trailers, it was sort of implied, but once the pilot hits...
    • He's also a Hollywood Nerd to some: type 2. It doesn't help that he's running around shirtless...with pretty good pecs.
    • Oddly enough, the fact that he's a nerd is only really referenced by Stiles (who appears to be far nerdier than Scott), Jackson, and somewhat by Coach and Lydia. However, Lydia doesn't seem to mind that her new best friend is dating Scott, and once he becomes a lacrosse star hits on him a lot.
    • Don't forget Stiles. He's nerdy and cute.
  • Alpha Bitch | Lovable Alpha Bitch: Lydia.
    • Hidden Depths: She's a lot smarter than she seems, having a good head for science and often dumbs herself down because she's the Alpha Bitch and for Jackson's benefit.
  • Anything That Moves: Lydia - in a ten-minute span in one episode, she flirts with Jackson (her boyfriend), Scott (her friend Allison's boyfriend) and Mr. Argent (her friend Allison's father).
    • In "The Tell", Lydia flirts with Stiles as well, though she was drugged at the time.
    • Although it appears to be mostly an act as she only goes as far as flirting and kissing. In the episode "Formality" she states she won't be the type of girl who lifts her skirt to get what she wants. Then again, since she did make out with Scott in "Lunatic", maybe she meant she wouldn't lift her skirt now that Jackson has dumped her.
  • The Archer: Allison is going to be this, if the promo pictures are any hint.
  • Badass Normal: The Veterinarian. "We. Are. Closed."
    • May venture into Badass Abnormal, considering that the chair that the Alpha tossed at him seemed to shatter a few inches from his body.
  • Big Bad: Looking to either be the Alpha (The Big Bad Wolf) or the Argents (Kate and Mr. Argent, but especially Kate).
    • As of the first season's penultimate episode, it looks to be both.
    • The trend of having two Big Bad's seems set to continue in season two with both the Shapeshifter and new Argent on the block, Gerard.
  • The Big Bad Wolf: The Alpha.
  • Big Damn Heroes: Scott's about to attack both Jackson and Allison after seeing (though it was just his mind screwing with him) them make out, when along comes Not Quite Dead Derek!
    • Derek has a habit of being a Big Damn Hero to pretty much all of the teenagers. Like when he saves Stiles from the Alpha and the latter's human accomplice.
  • Big OMG: Stiles, in regards to not being able to help Scott out at sneaking over a fence, Batman style.
    • Actually, he pretty much goes "OH MY GOD" all the time. In every episode. And it's funny. Every time.
  • Biting the Hand Humor: In the Pilot, Scott's mother worries about him having a new girlfriend, and says she won't be on "some show with a pregnant teenager." Teen Mom also airs on MTV.
  • Blond Guys Are Evil: Mr. Argent.
  • Blood From the Mouth: Derek, after getting claw-stabbed in the back by The Alpha.
    • Scott, after being shot by Kate.
  • Book Dumb: Both Scott and Stiles. Especially the latter, who's fantastic at coming up with on-the-spot ways to get his ass (and sometimes, those of his friends) out of trouble. Averted by Stiles in the second episode with an A+ on a test, where he tells Scott he should study more and episode five or six, where he takes attentive notes.
  • Brainwashed and Crazy: Scott by the Alpha in Night School. He snaps out of it pretty quickly, but still...
  • Brick Joke: A dramatic use of one. Throughout the series, all the werewolf incidents are dismissed as mountain lion attacks. In "The Tell", the school parent teacher conference seems to be under attack by the alpha. Turns out after Mr. Argent shoots it, it was a mountain lion.
  • Bullet Seed: A variation where Stiles can spit a highlighter cap to ceiling of a classroom (and then catch it).
  • Bunny Ears Lawyer: Coach Finstock; ambiguously crazy, competent coach and economics teacher.
  • Butt Monkey: Derek. Shot, poisoned, apparently murdered, tortured and beaten by way of setting the stakes and showing off the worst the baddies can offer. Nothing good happens to him.
    • As of season 2, his recent transformation into an Alpha, though hypothetically good, may ultimately end up being bad news.
  • Conspicuous CG: In the pilot episode, we're treated to a sequence of stampeding deer as well as quick shots of a werewolf.
  • Cruel and Unusual Death: It is a hunter policy to cut defeated werewolves in half so that they can't heal their injuries.
  • Cursed with Awesome: Scott, who doesn't see it when Derek says the bite is a gift. This leads the audience to believe that Derek had bitten Scott, but he didn't.
  • Dawson Casting: Although not as egregious as the main cast of some other shows set in high school, the youngest of the main cast, Tyler Posey (Scott), is 19.
  • Darker and Edgier: Than the '85 movie.
  • Dark and Troubled Past: Derek, via Dead Family, and eventually, ripped-in-half little sister.
  • Dating Catwoman: A variation in which he knows she's on the opposing side, or, that her father is anyway.
  • Dead Little Sister: Derek has one.
  • Deadpan Snarker: The whole cast in spades, but special props go to Mrs. McCall.
  • Did Mom Just Have Tea with Cthulhu?: Scott's mom gets asked out on a date by the Alpha, much to Scott's horror.
  • Distracted by the Sexy: Danny never stood a chance with a shirtless Derek in the room.
  • Dogged Nice Guy: Stiles, who crushes on Lydia, who really doesn't care.
    • Lydia flirts with Stiles in the fifth episode when he came by to see if she was okay - much to his delight, at least until he finds out that she's only doing so because she was really drugged up and thought he was Jackson.
  • Dope Slap: Stiles gives one to Scott when Scott says he might go to Derek for help about being a werewolf.
  • Enemy Mine: Scott, Allison, Chris, and Kate versus the Alpha in the season finale.
  • Enter Stage Window: Stiles.
  • Evil Redhead: Lydia, particularly in "Lunatic." Way to blatantly manipulate Allison and Scott.
  • Failure Is the Only Option: If a werewolf kills the Alpha that bit him he can either be cured or take a Klingon Promotion. Knowing this Derek kills Alpha while Scott begs him to stop.
  • Fantastic Racism: Though it may be justified as werewolves are dangerous creatures, the Hunters' treatment of Derek in "Pack Mentality" comes off looking almost like a hate crime.
    • As does Aunt Kate's invading Derek's home and taunting him with the description of her 'murdering Derek's sister and cutting her into pieces for bait' in "The Tell."
  • Five-Man Band: Made especially prominent in "Night School":
  • Flat What: Jackson's reaction to being demoted to co-captain... alongside Scott.
  • Follow the Leader: To Twilight and Vampire Diaries.
  • A Friend in Need: Stiles doesn't waver when his best friend goes through his...wolfish tendencies. He offers support and stands by his side even when he tried to kill him in one of his transformations. So far, he's Scott's confidant and Secret Keeper.
    • Hidden Depths: Stiles is also seen somewhat frustrated with Scott at times, particularly in "The Tell" when he's got things to tell him, but Scott doesn't have his phone on.
    • Stiles is considered very smart but may possibly have a disorder affecting his concentration seeing how he takes Adderall and has no focus in school.
  • Genre Savvy: Stiles is much more aware than Scott of the 'rules' governing werewolves and chides him for not recognizing wolfsbane. He also is more focused on the werewolf plot than Scott much of the time - Scott is often a little distracted.
    • He also, noticing that Scott is showing signs of being a werewolf, proceeds to read what seems to be every book in the library and EVERY POSSIBLE WEB PAGE on werewolves.
    • Derek parodies this when he talks to Scott in the second episode.

Derek: Do you think your little buddy, Stiles, can just look up werewolves and now you've got all the answers?

    • In the sixth episode, Stiles tries to do experiments with Scott's heart-rate by throwing Lacrosse balls at him.
    • Scott in the season finale:

"Don't say it was too easy. Whenever someone says it was too easy bad things happen."

  • Getting Crap Past the Radar: Out bowling, Lydia bowls a perfect frame, after a game of lackluster throws. Alison tells her she should stop sucking for Jackson's benefit.

Lydia: Believe me, I do 'plenty' of sucking for his benefit.

    • Another instance in the second episode, again with Lydia when she was talking to Scott about him not playing.

Lydia: I prefer my boyfriend to be at peak performance.

    • In the season 2 opener, Stiles and Scott try to persuade Jackson to help them search for a missing Lydia who they believe is becoming a werewolf. Jackson tells them to worry about the search party instead.

Jackson: You've got this all backwards McCall. When I was with Lydia, you should've seen the scratch marks she left on me.

Stiles: Scott, you okay?
Scott: No. I'm so far from okay, right now!

    • Again, arguably used by Stiles in "Magic Bullet":

Holy God, what the hell is that?

    • Surprisingly averted in quite a few instances, particularly in the sixth episode.

Scott: Son of a bitch!

Ms. McCall: Don't either of you care that there's a police-enforced curfew?
Scott and Stiles: ...no.
Ms. McCall: *Walks Away*. All right, that's enough parenting for tonight.

    • In episode 2, Scott's mom notices that he looks tired. The conversation very quickly goes to:

Ms. McCall: It's not like you're on drugs, right?
Scott: Right now?
Ms. McCall: Right now? Have you ever been on drugs?
Scott: Have you?
Ms. McCall: *Walks Away*. Get some sleep.

  • He Who Fights Monsters: Derek becoming the alpha MAY be this.
  • Hero with Bad Publicity: Derek is known as a criminal, but he's actually a decent, if somewhat dark, guy.
  • His Story Repeats Itself: Derek has first-hand experience and reasoning as to why he thinks Scott shouldn't date an Argent.
  • Hot Mom: Scott's mom is rather pretty.
  • Hotter and Sexier
  • Ho Yay: Quite a bit between Scott and Stiles, in the traditional best-friend type. He seems utterly unfazed by Stiles coming in his window, hanging off his roof, etc.

Stiles (to Scott): Do you enjoy hurting me?

    • Stiles also has his own copy of the key to the house.
    • Scott has no problem with Stiles walking in on him showering.
    • Stiles wonders if Danny doesn't like him and asks Scott about it, saying, "Am I unattractive to gay guys?" Although Scott completely ignores this. He later asks Danny himself if he finds him attractive.
    • Derek does not care for anyone's personal boundaries. If you slow down any scene which involves Derek getting a little too close... Well...
    • Any scene between Derek and Scott is going to come off this way. In fact, as written, Derek is the Angel to Scott's Buffy.
    • Any scene between Derek and Jackson. Namely when Derek forces Jackson against walls and intimidates him. All of which while Jackson is COMPLETELY naked, except for one flimsy towel around his waist. Did I mention that all of the above takes place in a locker room?
    • Stiles using a shirtless Derek to get Danny to help him.

Stiles: You may bat for the other team, but you still play ball, don't you, Danny?
Danny: You're a horrible person.

"A dog joke? Really? You're gonna go there and that's the best you got?"

  • Large Ham: Coach Finstock, oh so much.
  • Last-Name Basis: 'Stiles' Stilinski is only Stiles. Even his father calls him Stiles.
  • Lightswitch Surprise: Scott came home, closed the window, turned on the lights and BAM! There was Derek, sitting in a chair expectantly. Stiles went to Scott's house, went to his room, closed the door, turned on the lights and saw Scott sitting in a chair.
  • Living Lie Detector: Derek, Scott, and most any werewolf courtesy of their Super Senses. They can tell lies through smell and quickened heartbeats. Also, sexual attraction.
  • Love Dodecahedron: Scott likes Allison. Jackson is dating Lydia. Stiles is single. However, Allison broke up with Scott, and Jackson seems to like flirting with Allison. Stiles has liked Lydia since the third grade, but Lydia doesn't care about Stiles. Lydia likes Scott and likes having her trophy boyfriend Jackson. Scott doesn't have any real feelings for Lydia, but the full moon and misinformation causes Scott to fulfill Lydia's affair and slap Stiles in the face.
  • Mama Bear: Ms. McCall does not react kindly to Mr. Argent's implication that her son is dragging down his daughter.
    • Also, Mrs. Argent.
  • Manipulative Bastard: The Alpha.
  • The Masquerade: Beacon Hills is currently in one, via the Argents, the Hales, and the Alpha, but with all of the murders and investigations and sightings, the masquerade is under threat of being broken by many individuals, individually.
  • Meaningful Echo: Scott said it to Allison at the formal, then after the fight, the exchange is reversed.

Allison: Why did you do that?
Scott: Because I love you.

  • Meaningful Name: The family of werewolf hunters have the last name Argent, which means silver.
    • Which is brought up in "Wolf's Bane."
  • Messy Hair: Coach Finstock, full stop.
  • Mistaken for Prank Call
  • Monster Lord: Alpha's all the way. While Betas are limited to Wolf Man, Alphas can fully shapesshift into huge, half-wolf forms. They're also stronger, heal better, and are the only type which can create more werewolves.
  • Mr. Fanservice: All the younger male characters seem to spend an oddly significant amount of their time shirtless, but Derek is heading into Taylor Lautner territory.
  • Ms. Fanservice: To get Scott's mind cleared so he can focus on bowling...

Allison: Think of something else. Think of me... naked.

    • In "The Tell," we also get Lydia, high, in pretty revealing sleepwear.
  • Mugging the Monster: Narrowly averted, thanks to Allison. Coach Finstock should probably thank her for his continued health.
  • Necessary Evil: According to Mr Argent in "The Tell".
  • New Transfer Student: Allison. Though Scott eyes (or should it be, hears? Both?) her before she's even introduced to the class.
    • Hidden Depths, Allison is apparent skilled in gymnastics and archery and is willing to be a bad girl at some points despite her normally good girl complex. Though, being the daughter of a werewolf hunter, such should be anything but a surprise.
  • No Sense of Personal Space: Derek had no qualms about pinning Scott to whatever wall was around every time they were in a scene together for the first few episodes. Once their blatant antagonism was over, he moved onto better pastures and started getting into the spaces of everyone else.
    • Namely, Jackson. Ho Yay ensued. Every time they share a scene.
    • Derek also has a tendency to Ho Yay Stiles, breaking into his house, pushing him up against a wall, and basically car jacking him on two occasions. This works both ways, as a majority of the episode Magic Bullet has Stiles babysitting a weakened and shirtless Derek dying under the influence of poison. Culminates in Stiles climbing astride a half naked Derek smacking him awake.
  • No Ontological Inertia: Derek said there's a rumor that a turned Beta may be able to be cured by killing the Alpha who turned them. However, it doesn't say what happens to any other Beta's the Alpha may have turned, so it would at most be situational.
  • Not Himself: Jackson becoming creepily pleasant, albeit increasingly unstable. Allison takes notice.
    • A full moon seems to make Scott meaner.
  • Not Quite Dead: Derek, in Lunatic.
  • Obfuscating Stupidity: Lydia. She outsmarts Jackson by knowing a cougar and a mountain lion are the same thing, then plays dumb again asking "Isn't it?" She also has a 5.0 GPA.
  • Oh Crap: Scott has one in the pilot when he learns that the werewolf hunter from the forest is the father of the girl he has the hots for.
    • Stiles has one as well when he realizes that he's surrounded by both the Alpha and his human accomplice.
  • Only Friend: From what's seen, Stiles seems to be Scott's only friend. And possibly vice-versa. At least until the Love Interest pops up.
    • Despite being the obvious Alpha Bitch, this also appears to be true for Lydia whose only friend seems to be Allison. Jackson has some other friends floating around, such as Danny.
  • Only Known by Their Nickname: Stiles, whose first name is apparently very difficult to pronounce.
  • Only Sane Man: Jackson in that everybody but him cheers on Scott's rather miraculous change of athletic ability. He almost seems frustrated that no one else thinks that something is wrong with Scott - even his girlfriend starts hitting on Scott.
    • However, as the story progresses, Jackson seems to be falling very far and very quickly on the scale of actual sanity.
    • Now the role has been doubly passed onto Stiles (for Jackson and Scott), and Lydia (for Allison).
  • Oral Fixation Fixation: Stiles has a tendency to over-work his mouth in more ways than being witty. Chewed up lacrosse gloves, overabundance of curly fries, and an underused highlighter cap to name a few of the victims.
  • Our Werewolves Are Different: They transform when angry, aroused, or otherwise feeling strong emotions or increased heart rate and can tap into advanced senses, reflexes , coordination, regenerative abilities and strength even when not transformed. There are differing levels of the curse as well, some being more animalistic. Wolfsbane also has some effect, though what it is at this point is unclear. Scott doesn't like it.
    • At this point, we can tell that one form, Nordic Blue Monkshood, has the ability to kill a werewolf when encased in a bullet. Another form can cause pain and breathing problems to a werewolf when one is in close proximity and perhaps trigger a transformation by raising the heart rate. However, under certain conditions, wolfsbane can even be beneficial to werewolves.
    • Pain can keep betas from transforming and can even revert them back to human form.
  • Overprotective Dad: Mr. Argent, of course. And this plays right into...
  • Papa Wolf: ... Except he wants to protect his daughter from an actual werewolf.
  • Parental Issues: Each and every one of the main characters has this. Scott's dad left him. Stiles' mom died. Lydia's parents went through a divorce and forced Lydia to choose which one of them she wants to live with. Derek, obviously, since his whole family was killed by rogue hunters. Jackson was adopted and has never met his parents, which causes him to strive to be the best at everything he does to prove himself to the parents he's never met.
    • Allison at first sight would seem to have the least parental issues. Her parents are Happily Married, although they do force her to move around a lot. Because they're werewolf hunters.
  • Perma-Stubble: Derek.
  • Pet the Dog: Despite Kate's awful attitude towards werewolves, she is a loving aunt to Allison.
    • Great example in "Lunatic." She comforts a sobbing Allison over her boyfriend - right after making Allison taze a teddy bear.
  • "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Coach Finstock gives one to Scott. See Mugging the Monster.
  • Refusal of the Call: Scott doesn't want to be a werewolf, so he ignores the call as long as possible. Unfortunately for him, the call keeps calling, so the choice ends up being: Man up and deal with your new-found werewolfness, or kill your loved ones.
  • Red Eyes, Take Warning: Scott's yellow/gold eyes whenever he transforms.
  • Red Herring: Scott's boss was a Red Herring for the Alpha.
  • The Reveal: Derek's seemingly catatonic uncle (Peter Hale) is the Alpha!
  • This Is Sparta: "Give me...the bottle...of Jack."
  • Running Gag: The Baseball Bat and the almost hitting of Stiles with it by members of the McCall family. Stiles's reaction is always to question why they have baseball bats if no one in the house plays baseball.
    • Also Stiles wanting to know if gay gays find him attractive.
  • Running on All Fours: The fastest way of travel for Betas and Alphas.
  • Scary Black Man: The vet, enough to make the alpha back off.

Vet: Let me make myself clear. We. Are. Closed.

Stiles: Why is it starting to feel like you're Batman and I'm Robin? I don't wanna be Robin all the time!
Scott: Nobody's Batman and Robin ANY of the time.
Stiles: Not even some of the time?"

    • Stiles says he would make a better Yoda than Derek.
    • Scott compares himself to the Incredible Hulk.
    • So far, at least one to The Wolf Man in the second episode when referring to Wolfsbane.

Stiles: Haven't you ever seen the Wolfman?
Scott: ...No
Stiles: *Sighs* You're so unprepared for this.

    • There was also a shout-out to the original Teen Wolf in Lunatic, in Scott asking for "the bottle of Jack" back, instead of a kegger.
    • Another shout-out to the original is when the Alpha says that when he was in high school they played basketball.
  • Shirtless Scene: Scott, he seems to go on without one for about one-third of the whole pilot episode, if not more. This occurs significantly less in following episodes.
    • Derek gets one in the fourth episode. He really spends a disproportionate amount of his time shirtless.
    • Jackson's been getting in on the action as well.
    • Rumor has it that Stiles will be getting in on the shirtless action in season 2, as well.
  • Silver Bullet: Stiles thought that Derek got shot by one, which caused Derek to call Stiles an idiot.
  • Single Woman Seeks Good Man: Allison has no problem being with apparent loser Scott.
    • Scott's mother seems to be seeking a good man, too. Too bad the one she found was the Alpha.
  • Skewed Priorities: Typical episode:

Stiles/Derek: Scott, you could kill everyone and people could find out about your powers!
Scott: Lacrosse! Allison!

  • Stalker Without a Crush: Derek, to Scott. He's making sure Scott isn't being too destructively disobedient.
  • Stoic Spectacles: Mr. Harris, the strangely intense chemistry teacher. If this show wasn't live-action, you could expect Scary Shiny Glasses to be invoked for emphasis.
  • String Theory: Stiles set up this and called it a "crime board", where the starting state of all strings as "unsolved."
  • Super Senses: Being a werewolf grants one such powers.
    • Unfortunately for Derek, when he was feeling the incapacitating effects of the wolfsbane bullet, he received a painful sensory overload from the overwhelming noise and activity happening in the school. Especially from the school bell that happened to be placed right above him.
  • Tempting Fate: Scott really shouldn't correct his loony coach. Especially when said coach is also the Economics teacher:

Coach: Remember, there's no 'me' in team!
Scott: Uh... Yes, there is.
Coach: Fine, then there's no A in Econ unless you score a win tonight!

    • A lesson Stiles has learned well ("Call me Biles from now on!")
  • The Masquerade Will Kill Your Dating Life: A Type Three for Scott and Allison. Scott loved to whine and moan about it and pass his Masquerade duties on to someone else (mainly Stiles) so that he could try to avert the trope.
  • They Were Holding You Back: The Alpha's opinion of Scott's friends and family.
  • Title Drop: In the sixth episode.

Stiles: Be a man. Be a werewolf. Not a teen wolf, a werewolf.

  • Transhuman Treachery: Jackson seems to be way too eager to be turned into a werewolf just to be better at Lacrosse. This gets to the point where he walks alone into the woods in the season finale and begs the Alpha to be turned. When that doesn't work, he asks Derek.
  • Troubled but Cute: Derek, to some extent. Scott seems to be rapidly heading in this direction.
  • Two-Teacher School: Averted. We've seen the economics teacher/lacrosse coach, science teacher, English teacher and math teacher. All but the math teacher have appeared multiple times.
  • Unfazed Everyman: Stiles wears this coat quite well, and it seems to fit him even more the weirder things happen to get.
  • The Un-Reveal: "Hey look! They're showing us the Alpha transforming into a human-- ...Oh wait. You can't tell who it is with that shadowy silhouette."
  • The Vamp: Lydia TRIES to be this. With anyone. Including Scott. And Allison's dad. While Allison is in the room. Neither of them notice.
    • She does eventually succeed with Scott.
  • Too Dumb to Live: YMMV, but some viewers definitely consider Scott this. Most of his teachers would probably agree.
  • Viral Transformation: Scott becomes a werewolf once the Alpha bites him in the woods.
  • Weirdness Censor: No one notices Scott breaking a locker off it's hinges in the middle of the hallway.
    • Also, no body seems to notice that Scott leaves frantically, right after the game in the second episode, both times. Right after he injures Jackson (which they also pay no mind to, except really Lydia), and right after he wins the game for them (except Stiles and Allison).
    • Scott bashing his head into the wall, repeatedly, during school, anyone?
  • What You Are in the Dark: Stile's answer to the Alpha's proposition in the season finale. Of course, the latter said he could tell he was lying, so there's definetly more to this.
  • Wolf Man: Of course, a wolf teenager. This seems to be the look for most betas, anyway.
  • Wound That Will Not Heal: Derek's accidental clawing of the back of Jackson's neck.
  • Wrong Genre Savvy: Quite a few instances, several of them very different. Stiles seems to think he's in a buddy superhero show, Scott thinks the universe is simplistic with a clear villain to defeat that being Derek. We quickly learn that it's a lot more complicated. Lydia seems to think she's the main character of a chick-flick - and doesn't realize she'd be the bad guy in that situation.
    • Stiles does, however, show shades of being Genre Savvy in regards to werewolves, recognizing wolfsbane and signs of lycanthropy.
  • You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Kate offers to team up with Derek in exchange for giving her the identity of the Alpha. When she finds out that he doesn't know anything, she more or less declares this and tries to off him.
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