The Secret Circle’s second episode, “Bound,” is starting to open up the world and mythology of Chance Harbor. We’re introduced to our first crystal, hear about “the elders” and see a Circle of witches bound together. Cassie is trying to figure out how she wants to live her life in her new home, but her heritage has a funny way of getting in the way of the simpler existence she desires; one without monsoons, cars catching on fire, and exploding chemistry experiments.
Cassie is just starting to get used to the idea of magic being real. She doesn’t understand how the power works, seen by her attempt to the light the candle. My favorite part about how this story is constructed is that the rest of the Circle is almost as clueless as the new girl. Faye has personally proven several times that they don’t comprehend the boundaries of what they can do. Little experiments have disastrous results. Their ignorance is a nice change of pace from similar underage magic stories, where there is always someone to teach. For these kids, some of the people that should be teaching them, their parents, are activity manipulating them.
Often, when shows about high school students include distinct storylines for the adults in their lives, they never really sync well with the other arcs on the show. I’m not sure about you, but on The Secret Circle, I’m digging the dynamic between the Circle exploring the power that they’re just discovering, juxtaposed against Charles and Dawn so desperate to regain that same power they lost over fifteen years ago. So desperate, in fact, it’s obvious that the only reason they are secretly pushing the kids is so that they can steal the power back for themselves.
Exactly how long do you think it will be before Cassie and Adam become more than just “friends?” It is a love triangle that should probably be put to a slow burn, but seems to be going full steam ahead. Between the way that the magic is connected to physical intimacy (at least for these two), and the pressure of the stories of their family’s destiny, I’m surprised that Adam hasn’t already kicked Diana to the curb. It is only a matter of time, no?
I’m glad that they’ve brought in a new character not involved in the Circle to be a friend for Cassie. We will need to see a balance between her relationship with the Circle, and her life away from it. Her grandmother could fill that role, but I am hoping she’s our gateway to the history behind these generations of witches. What I am afraid of, though, is that Sally will spend a lot of time Lois Lane style (which, for those that didn’t watch Smallville, means knocked unconscious so power can be flaunted while keeping secrets).
Notes & Quotes
Clacked by Ivey West 
on Sep 23, 2011 @ 01:56 EST5EDT
