'Teen Wolf' Season 5, Episode 9 recap: 'Lies of omission'

Something’s Coming
There’s a cloud hanging over Beacon Hills, and it’s darkening everyone’s mood, mine too if I'm being honest. The pack began pulling apart last week, and the chasm between them only gets wider this week. They are barely speaking to one another, and many of them are enjoying the silence because it makes it easier for them to keep their secrets: Malia doesn't have to talk about the Desert Wolf, Stiles can ignore Donovan’s death and avoid telling his father that Parish is the one taking the bodies, and Scott doesn't have to speak about Kira. They are all keeping secrets, “Lies of omission” if you will. Scott feels trapped, guilty even, so much that his crippling asthma has returned; something he hasn't had to deal with since becoming a wolf. Five days of silence, but everyone can sense that something is coming. I hope that something is the The Desert Wolf. After hinting about her impending entrance, it would be disappointing to have to wait until next season to see more of her. Her entrance would also be much needed break from The Dread Doctors and the Chimeras, whose storyline is becoming a little stale and repetitive.

The Chasm grows
The pack that used to trust one another with their lives can no longer depend on each other. Liam and Hayden were both taken by The Dread Doctors because of Scott’s failed plan, thus Liam can no longer cannot confide in Scott. So when Hayden starts bleeding mercury, a sign that she has become defective, he mentions it to no one. Corey, the new Chimera has also lost his belief in Scott after Scott dug his nails into his neck in order to access his memory. A classmate of Malia’s also turns into a Chimera, and she too begins to bleed mercury. She runs out of the school and attacks Malia who is trying to help her, only to encounter The Dread Doctors who kill her by snapping her neck. Malia cannot take seeing more and more bodies pile up, so she also begins to detach herself from the rest of the group.

Theo
Though the core pack seems to be falling apart, Theo is the only one who remains untouched. Theo reveals to Scott that Stiles killed Donovan, lying that after Donovan attacked Stiles, Stiles continuously hit Donovan with a wrench until Donovan’s head caved in. But Theo does not mention that he too killed a Chimera. After being approached by Sheriff Stilinski who found mercury at the library, Theo tells the Sheriff a whole different story: That Stiles wasn't in the library at all that night. Theo claims that he was the one who accidentally killed Donovan in order to protect himself and Stiles, who Donovan had threatened to kill in front of the Sheriff. Theo has wormed his way into the inner circle, painting himself as someone trustworthy and self-sacrificing, whilst pushing Stiles out of the circle. This was probably Theo’s plan all along, as Stiles was the one who was apprehensive and questioned his sudden return.

Parish is still one of the good guys
Lydia and Stiles are unable to find the Nemeton on their own, so Lydia decides to clue Parish in on the fact that he is the one who has been taking the bodies, something Parish is unaware of. At first Parish is unable to remember its precise location, but after Lydia manages to distract him, he remembers. He also reveals that there are actually hundreds of bodies already there, not just the recently deceased Chimeras. Lydia believes that Parish isn’t taking the bodies because he is evil, but because he is trying to protect their supernatural secrets. Parish turns himself in, locking himself in a jail cell because he knows the danger he poses.

Defective
It seems like all the experiments are becoming defective. First Corey, who begins hemorrhaging mercury then attacks everyone at the hospital, but The Dread Doctors get to him and kill him before Theo and Scott can save him. Hayden knows that she is next, so she and Liam, who are now are couple by the way, decide to run. They head to club Cinema to steal money, but are met there by The Dread Doctors before they can make their escape. The Dread Doctors attack them, but Scott and Theo arrive to fight them off. Though they put up one hell of a fight, The Dread Doctors manage to inject something into Hayden. They do not kill her as they did the other failed experiments because, in a prior scene, Theo had told them that he needs Hayden to remain alive. That they promised him a pack. Is that what Theo is trying to do? Build his own pack? Hayden seems ok at first, but begins to fall gravely ill. Liam suggests that Scott should turn Hayden into a wolf in order for her to heal, but Scott says no.

Theo is in, Stiles is out
At the conclusion of this week’s episode, Scott confronts Stiles about what happened in the library that night. Stiles tries to explain that he didn't have a choice because Donovan was going to kill his dad. Scott doesn't believe Stiles because he only knows the side of the story that he heard from Theo. Scott flinches when Stiles takes a step towards him, clearly afraid of what Stiles is capable of. Stiles asks Scott how he can fix it, but Scott tells him not to worry about any of them, that instead he should go talk to his dad. Scott basically tells him to take some time away from the pack.

The change in dynamic within the core members of the pack will be interesting to see. I wonder who they will now gravitate toward and how they will deal with the loneliness. I am also curious to learn Theo’s true identity and his connection to The Dread Doctors. As much as I am enjoying the darker edge to these episodes, I do miss the happier times, especially from Stiles, who always provided much needed comic relief. I hope next week’s episode is a little bit lighter, more fun.

See you next week!

Image courtesy of MTV