Scream
Season 1 Episode 7 “In The Trenches”
Directed by Leigh Janiak
Written by Jordan Rosenberg, Meredith Glynn
Created by Jill E. Blotevogel, Jay Beattie, Dan Dworkin
Starring Willa Fitzgerald, Bex Taylor-Klaus, John Karna, Amadeus Serafini, Connor Weil, Carlson Young, Jason Wiles, Tracy Middendorf, Tom Maden, Bobby Campo
MTV
Air date: Tuesday, August 11th, 2015, 10pm

MTV’s Scream has been more 90210 than Wes Craven’s Scream. After 4 murders in the first three episodes, we are now 3 straight shows sans death. Last week, suspicion fell on Audrey (Bex Taylor-Klaus), whose high school tormentors and girlfriend were the victims. Emma (Willa Fitzgerald) is convinced she’s not guilty, and after her mom reveals some truths about the mysterious Brandon James killings, Audrey is freed. We have suspects galore. There’s the Mayor, who may have killed his wife. There’s the weird podcaster Piper, with a dark past (Amelia Rose Blaire). Jake and Will (Tom Maden & Connor Weil) have plenty to hide, and of course Abercrombie… sorry I mean Kieran (Amadeus Serafini), who seems to show up and disappear when he wants. After a long blood drought, last week’s episode ended with Will and Piper attacked by the masked killer in a garage, with Will being stabbed and carried off.

We pick up where we left off, and as Piper comes to woozy and bleeding we see Will is tied up, mouth taped as our masked killer comes in. Soon, we’re back in high school where, thank heavens, we can spend some time with Audrey and Noah (John Karna). Seriously, if they made a spin off about these two, I’m down. He is wearing a “Free Audrey” t-shirt, and disappointed in her for being released, and costing him money selling his tees. They still suspect English teacher Mr. Branson (Bobby Campo), who is absent today leading to this gem from Noah: “the sub-plot thickens… get it!” Silly puns and laughing at his own jokes… who is this kid, me?

Piper takes Emma, Jake, and Brooke (Carlson Young) to the garage, and right before I can get upset about the lack of cops, the killer left a spray-painted message: NO COPS EMMA. Soon, the killer calls telling her it’s time to play hide and seek for Will. Soon Emma, Brooke, Jake, and Noah are at an abandoned building outside of town, and Emma decides they should split up.

Thought in my head: “Noah, what d’ya think about that?”
Noah: “That sounds like the first of many bad decisions!”

I love his character. I’m a sucker for the geeky sidekick who makes genre references. That’s why my passion for the Scream franchise died in part 2 when they killed Randy (Jamie Kennedy).

The scary building is a bowling alley. Jake throws out Noah as a suspect, while Noah tosses Jake’s name out to Emma as well. I just keep hearing Randy screaming “Everybody’s a suspect!” from the 96 original. The killer shows up right as Jake leaves, and as Emma and Noah find Will. Through clues carved onto Will’s back, Emma finds out that Brandon James worked at the bowling alley, and there’s a tape that reveals that Daisy (Emma’s mom) may have slept with Brandon James!? Jake is left impaled but alive (of course). Will survives (of course). And the killer gets away, right as the cops burst in.

Just when you think the episode is going to trog down into teen-drama… HOLY CRAP!!! Emma goes to see Will, but the killer calls, and she runs right into the middle of a Saw-esque trap where she accidentally triggers a piece of farm equipment, which splatters Will in front of, and onto her!

FINALLY!!! After 6 episodes of non-interesting teen drama, and an occasional reminder that this was a horror show, Scream hit the jugular tonight. Tense, old fashioned scares in dark abandoned buildings, geeky sidekicks spouting one liners the entire episode, and an ending that Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell would appreciate. This was far and away the best episode of the season, and with only three left, there’s no more time to kill time with love triangles, rather time to use the Scream-name and idea for all it’s worth. Those previews for next week look GOOD!

Scream returns with a new episode next Tuesday night at 10:00pm ET on MTV.

Videos

Scream (TV Series) | Official Teaser (Episode 7) | MTV

See what’s to come on Episode 7 of Scream! Watch it this Tuesday at 10/9c on MTV.

Scream (TV Series) | “˜Will Needs Help’ Official Sneak Peek (Episode 7) | MTV

Emma thinks Will is in trouble, so she asks Noah if he can help her find Will’s phone. Don’t miss new episodes of Scream Tuesdays at 10/9c on MTV.