Wolf Pack review: Sarah Michelle Gellar can't save this supernatural teen drama
Paramount Plus' latest series comes off as a regurgitation of previous hits instead of a fresh take on the genre

Since the premiere of genre-defining staples like Sabrina The Teenage Witch and Buffy The Vampire Slayer in the mid-to-late ’90s, the supernatural drama has been a consistent force in teen-oriented television. From Buffy to The Vampire Diaries to newer entries like Stranger Things, the reliable formula of “soapy teen romance plus pulpy B-movie action plus supernatural elements” has been a go-to for both cable and network television, and MTV’s latest endeavor, Wolf Pack, is certainly no exception. Yet despite all the requisite pieces for success, Wolf Pack comes off as a regurgitation of previous hits instead of a fresh take, even with the presence of Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Starring Armani Jackson, Bella Shepard, Chloe Rose Robertson, and Tyler Lawrence Gray, Wolf Pack follows introverted, anxiety-ridden California high schooler Everett (Jackson) whose life is turned upside down when a mysterious injury during a wildfire makes him the target of a terrifying supernatural creature. Feeling an inexplicable draw to fellow student Blake (Shepard), the two reluctantly join forces to investigate their newfound abilities, allying with siblings Luna (Robertson) and Harlan (Gray) along the way, all while dodging questions from no-nonsense fire investigator Kristin Ramsey (Gellar).
On paper, Wolf Pack has all the requisite elements that have seen success in the past: a young, attractive cast; a gritty aesthetic and penchant for violence (the first episode features some surprisingly graphic kills in a remarkably frightening extended wildfire sequence); and soapy plot points that often surround romance and coming-of-age narratives. But where Wolf Pack fundamentally fails is as a teen drama, and the way the first two episodes (the only ones screened for critics) are structured provides virtually no warmth or relatability in its core four.
Sure, we learn plenty of rap-sheet facts about the characters: Everett has severe anxiety; Blake has a younger brother with autism; Luna has abandonment issues; Harlan is gay. Technically, each of these people has a neat and tidy reason for viewers to latch on and/or understand them . But unfortunately, there simply isn’t the charisma or personality to make any of these protagonists worth watching.