Teen Wolf: Season 2

MTV's entry in the supernatural-teenager genre is turning out to be one of the best of the breed—interesting, engaging, and much smarter than the more flamboyant True Blood. Inspired by the 1985 horror comedy of the same name, Teen Wolf reworks the coming-of-age melodrama for the post-Buffy era, with a supernatural Romeo and Juliet story at the center: namely, teen wolf Scott (Tyler Posey) is in love with new girl Allison (Crystal Reed), who just happens to come from a line of werewolf hunters. Where the first season was all about exploring powers and learning to control the beast within, the second focuses on independence, defining one's own path, and forming your pack—i.e., classic teenage concerns presented within a supernatural frame. Filmmaker Russell Mulcahy helped develop the show and set the tone as a frequent director, giving it plenty of shadowy style and nocturnal atmosphere. But there's also just enough humor and self-awareness to keep the series from pitching headlong into pretentiousness or excess, and it's filled with likable and interesting characters whose anxieties play out in mythic metaphors. Boasting a strong fan following, Teen Wolf is suitable for mature teens looking for something beyond Harry Potter. Compiling all 12 episodes from 2012, extras include audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, and a gag reel. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)