I will admit up front that I thought I’d be disappointed if the reveal of who the Kanima was turned out to be either Lydia or Jackson. It seemed like everything was pointing to the Kanima being one of these two people, though some of what was going on didn’t quite make sense. Like my friend Jason at TVaHolic.com noted to me earlier tonight, it seemed as though the Kanima was going about the killings in a rather orderly fashion and with some purpose, picking out certain people to kill and not so randomly. And these were people neither Jackson nor Lydia had any reason to want killed. So it only made sense that the Kanima was someone who knew these people.
As it turns out, this Kanima — or at least the one Jackson turns into — doesn’t necessarily need to know who these people are, because — as the ancient text Allison had translated says — the Kanima seeks out a “friend” rather than a wolf-like pack to work with. So while Jackson turns out to be a Kanima, he’s not the only one. In fact, it sure appears he’s being controlled by the second Kanima into who to kill. It makes some sense as to why the venom Derek gave Jackson affected him: because it wasn’t his. Interestingly enough, while the wolves are all aware of what they do while turned, Jackson has no idea what he is or what he’s done. Perhaps that awareness comes later.
We got a bit of a hint as to who this second Kanima is, via the bumper sticker pictured above. To me this seems to clearly point out the science teacher, Mr. Harris. He’s all about science, and Deb and I even had him as a finalist as a possible candidate for being the Kanima. The other person I could see it being is the vet/werewolf doctor, but I don’t feel like that fits as well.
I also think it’s possible that perhaps Jackson wasn’t the one doing the killing in the first place, and that perhaps this was the first time we saw Jackson turn. We did see some sort of transformation in the recovered video Danny was helping with, but it could be that the transformation ended there, for the time being. Speaking of which, what will Danny think when he takes a gander at that recovered footage? And the photographer? Will he join in with those in-the-know which, strangely enough, doesn’t include Lydia?
Yeah, when ARE they going to finally let Lydia in on what’s going on? I mean, she saw the Kanima, right? Time to bring her into the “pack,” as Derek called Scott’s group. Y’know, I’m glad Derek noted that about Scott and how he’s not at all Omega to Derek’s Alpha. With Derek’s sad excuse of a pack, I found it a bit odd that Scott never cowered, whimpering in a corner whenever Derek flexed his muscles. Now it’s making a lot of sense.
It’s time now to see whether Jackson will become cured somehow or will remain forever a problem for the packs. I’m going with the former myself, but we’ll find out soon enough how that might come to be.
“How do we know it’s not her?” – Scott, referring to Lydia being the Kanima
“Because I looked into the eyes of that thing, OK, and what I saw was pure evil. When I look into Lydia’s eyes, I only see 50% evil. … All right, maybe 60 … but you know what, no more than 40 on a good day.” – Stiles
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on Jun 25, 2012 @ 23:40 EST5EDT
Good review, Mr. McDuffee.
I wasn’t surprised to find out that the Kanima was Jackson.
I still would like to know what Lydia is. I think she may have some sort of uniqueness, I just wish the writers would let us in on it.
Love to read ur review! Thank you.
One more theory — I remember the first Kanima, the one who was about to attack Alison in Isaac’s house, was smallish and feminine-looking. I even thought I saw boobs. That French teacher/guidance counselor seems very suspicious (definitely more to her than meets the eye) to me. I was thinking she might end up being a Jenny Calendar-type, but what if she’s the other Kanima? The hand in the car was a very small one, smaller than Jackson’s, possibly feminine.
The photographer is clearly the second one. He had the skill to mess up the tape.
*POST AUTHOR*
But then why would he sit there and allow for it to be recovered without trying to stop it?
The most obvious “friend” to the Kanima is the vet, unless the character is entirely new. One might have noticed either a gloved or black hand which complemented the Kanima’s pressing against the glass. The French teacher/guidance counselor is also an interesting choice, as would the boy who sat next to Lydia at the counselor’s office, and is in one of her classes as well. The photog is a good source as an eventual ally, but not an ally of Jackson’s. I didn’t think the hand was particularly small but I could be mistaken.
There may not be a second kanima, the text says it looks for a friend
Guys,
The second Kanima has to be the guidance counselor. First her knowledge of Latin, her reluctance to translating, and I’ve seen this actress in many other productions so I think an actress like her will have a more pivotal role in the series. At the very least, she knows something that the rest don’t.
I do believe there to be a second Kanima and that the counselor has little knowledge in Latin or flat out lied in her translation. She could be hired help as well as the Science teacher, Mr. Harris under Gerard. All are new to the school as well as the new kid who was talking to Lydia. Alison’s Gramps and Mother doesn’t seem to want to play by their kind’s rules and will go to any means and lengths to rid all supernatural beings of their existence. The thing I want to know (I think I missed it somewhere) is, is Gerard Alison’s Dad’s father or her Mother’s?
As for Derek stating that Scott is an Alpha, that was cool; and I think it even cooler if all the Odd-ball characters team up with him to make his “Pack”… even Jackson. Having another shifter-type in the fold would be way cool.
Now just because we all saw Jackson transform doesn’t mean that Lydia isn’t a Kanima herself or some other shifter. It’s not like she was effected by the venom given to her in Lab class, but then again she could be undergoing some sort of slower transformation or stress/trauma (catalyst) temporarily delaying the change. Also, this might indicate that like Derek, Jackson was born a Kanima or like Scott “turned/made” into one. If he was made, then it was the guy (I can’t remember who the guy was)that Jackson saw after Derek dug his claws into the back of his neck in the first season. What do you think?
Yes but remember the old alpha and how Lydia is so scared of him therefore I think he is “jacksons” friend. And before you say, maybe Derek only thought he killed him and the old alpha just passed his alpha powers on!
Lydia is just traumatised and I don’t think is in anyway changed. However Derek is not all knowing so maybe your body can deflect the bite! That is what I think anyway!!