Midseason report card: ‘Beauty and the Beast’ season 2 mixes the good and bad
The latest edition of our Midseason Report Card series is bringing in the focus on a show that has been somewhat polarizing since the start of its series last year, and also one that has undergone a major change in terms of timeslot this fall: The CW’s “Beauty and the Beast.” There are good things about the show, whether it be the compelling characters, some of the mythology, or the shockers that come up occasionally.
But then at the same thing, there are issues that have and do continue to weigh it down. There are some episodes that don’t feel important, moments that become a little melodramatic, and a relationship where it feels like not enough ever really happens between the two save for them almost becoming an item time and time again. How long can the show really play this game?
The shining stars – Keeping the focus primarily on Cat and Vincent’s relationship. That’s obviously what this show is about, and the writers have honored that tradition. Not only that, but you do get a sense that even the smallest of moments for the couple during season 1 mattered. When you are telling a story that can be somewhat of a long game, this is very important.
Also, hats off for the inclusion of Tori. Cat needed a counterpoint, and Vincent needed a real temptation to activate his beast powers in a way that he hadn’t quite experienced before. Without this sort of conflict, their relationship could have been easy and they could’ve just slow-motion ran into each other’s arms. Also, Cat’s dad was a nice little story that also kept us engaged.
What needs work – The biggest issue that we can think of with “Beauty and the Beast,” and this is a criticism of the show as a whole, is that there are a number of stories that tend to blend into each other. Cat and Vincent get closer together, something pulls them apart, there are a few violent situations, and then rinse and repeat. Then, there are the supporting characters, who never have enough to do. We were hoping that something was going to evolve from that JT / Tess kiss, but nothing every really evolved. It was like the moment happened, and that was really it.
While we’re not sure that the show would really ever do it, the best thing that could happen for Cat would be for her to find a mission or a case that really started to bring her some distance from Vincent, and really forced him to be the one who came back for her. We’re not talking about a full episode either; we’re talking about a major story arc, where you can see some of Vincent’s independent struggles.
Overall – “Beauty and the Beast” has taken some steps to improve since the start of the series, and we can appreciate that. But, it still has a few more steps to take. We’d like to see the characters become more complex, and the story to encompass more than just what is at the center of it. You have solid actors on the show, and there have been some moments of brilliance, but there have also been episodes this season that we honestly would not remember unless we were to go back and watch them again. We do still believe in the show and want to see it succeed, since it’s a show that is putting forth the effort and cares about its fans. It’s just not where it could be yet. Grade: C+.
Click here to read more of our Midseason Report Card entries; we’ll have more daily throughout the month of December for some of your favorite shows.
Photo: The CW