THE EYES HAVE IT: Tyler Posey stars in MTV’s new series “Teen Wolf.”
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You had me at “grrragh.”
The much-anticipated “Teen Wolf,” which hits next week, is about the best new teen/adult crossover series since “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” And I can’t wait to see Episode 2.
Yes. I mean it.
Think of “Teen Wolf” as the forbidden love child of “Friday Night Lights” and “Twilight.”
That’s because “Teen Wolf,” unlike the tremendously entertaining Michael J. Fox movie of the same name, isn’t tongue-in-cheek. It’s serious teen angsting. Fangs are a metaphor for raging hormones. Not only is it really well thought out, but the good-looking kids in the show can actually act. And, while they are great-looking, they don’t look like they fell out of the Ford modeling book.
The 12-part series begins with nerdy Scott McCall (Tyler Posey) getting ready for bed when his best friend, Stiles (Dylan O’Brien), drops in (literally) outside his window.
Stiles’ dad — a cop — was called to the woods, where someone found half a body. Like the boys in “Stand By Me,” the kids, of course, have to find it first.
I won’t tell you what happens (like you can’t guess). But there is a scene with a rampaging herd of deer that is (I mean this) more terrifying even than the wolf attack.
The day after the attack, with his side still inexplicably bleeding, Scott tries out for the lacrosse team. (This California town cares about lacrosse, not football, for some reason.)
Not only does he get over on the big bully on the team, but he’s suddenly got supersonic hearing and the lightning-quick reflexes of, well, a wolf.
He’s so good that even the beautiful new girl in town, Allison (Crystal Reed), is smitten.
But will smitten turn to bitten when the moon is full the next night? I’m not even close to telling.
After all is said and done, how do you make a teen heartthrob out of a werewolf?
Vampires are sexy –and thin. Werewolves have giant, hairy hands and comb-overs that make Trump’s look normal. Not easy, so you’ll have to see how it’s done.
The real plus here is the combo of Tyler Posey and O’Brien. They are so off-beat-looking and have such terrific chemistry as the goofy outsiders, you’ll be pulling for them even as one of them is pulling out a throat or two.
Interestingly, the series was originally commissioned by MTV production head Tony DiSanto (who also gave us “Jersey Shore“) and developed by the guy behind “Criminal Minds” — two of my least favorite, not to mention dopey, shows.
I’m shocked and delighted that they got their minds in the gutter — and dug their fangs into something bloody good this time around.