When you first hear about the premise of Peacock’s WOLF LIKE ME, you may be skeptical. Now in its second season, the Australia-set series focuses on Gary (Josh Gad), who is struggling to connect with his “tween” daughter Emma (Ariel Donoghue) after the death of her mother. But when Mary (Isla Fisher) literally crashes into their lives, everything changes… especially when Gary and Emma discover Mary is actually a werewolf. But Mary is so kind and a calming presence in both Gary and Emma’s lives; she can’t be that terrifying, right?
See, I told you the show’s concept may make you think twice. But as wild as the series may sound, something about it is going to make you keep coming back for more. Maybe it’s the episodes’ short runtimes, or maybe it’s the endearing chemistry between Gad and Fisher, as well as the weird and creative swings the show takes. I think it’s a mixture of all the above. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough of shows playing it safe and having mediocre episodes to fill out the season. That is never the case with WOLF LIKE ME, and even in the show’s sillier moments, you can’t help but respect the effort and creativity behind it.
Season two picks up quickly after the ending of the first, with Gary and Mary as expectant parents. They are fearful that the baby in Mary’s belly may not actually be human… but they begin werewolf-proofing the house anyway. Much of the fun this season is exploring the technicalities of a werewolf pregnancy. Do you try to get a C-section so you can better plan the timing of the birth and protect the baby? But what about the incision… will it burst open and kill Mary when she transitions at the next full moon? And don’t think Mary’s :ahem: itty bitty murder spree at the end of Season 1 won’t come back to haunt them.
Few stones are left unturned this season, with showrunner Abe Forsythe focusing on building out the world and exploring the rules and mythos of the series and its werewolf star. I love that Forsythe leans even more into the concept of the show, letting his creativity pour over each episode. It’s so interesting how he finds ways to weave themes of trauma and grief into what on the surface may seem like just another werewolf story.
Admittedly, there are definitely moments in each of the seasons that are even a little much for me. This season, my biggest issue was the random and fleeting introduction of Anton (Edgar Ramirez). Without getting into spoilers, Anton is Gary’s romantic rival and I would’ve liked to see that dynamic continue to expand over the season. Instead, I was surprised by how quickly Anton left the picture. I imagine there may be plans for his return should WOLF LIKE ME get picked up for a third season, but I worry his character was wasted.
Is WOLF LIKE ME silly? Absolutely, but I have a lot of respect for the fact that this is such an original idea and not like anything else on our screens at the moment. It is one of those shows you just have to choose to go with. Absorb yourself into the action and allow yourself to have fun with it. It’s clear the series is a lot of fun to make and I love how much thought is put behind developing the world. While this series is admittedly not for everyone, it is going to be a lot of fun for nostalgic genre fans that miss having a monster of the week-esque series.
My Review: B
