Peter Hale was always a comic book Baddie. Manipulating his nephew into a mercy killing
just to score a minor victory against his sister because he didn't like her management style. Then
we have Peter's well-documented murder spree that started with the death of his niece and
included almost driving his nephew crazy while Peter just sat there playing possum.
He's a bad guy with an established pattern of villainy. The writers did a really good
job of establishing that pattern. Peter is shown repeatedly manipulating and moving people like
pieces around a chessboard in the pursuit of power. But no matter how many times he shows us
he's a bad guy, I still get people saying, "But Peter loved his family." Yeah. He loved them right up until
they were in his way at which time he disposed of them. He loved them so much that he did that
season four, Legion of Doom, supervillain team up with the woman who literally massacred his family.
I believe this desire to create a positive narrative from irredeemable actions is one of
the reasons why we have so many repeat cases of domestic violence. It's the "but he has a
good heart" syndrome. And even if they recognize all Peter's actions as those of a true villain,
some fans still cling to the fact that he helped out against the big bads in season six and that
somehow means he is redeemed. Peter is the same level of bad at the end of the series as he was
at the beginning. There's a lot to examine but I think I can debunk this redemption narrative using
only three key scenes. The first from Radio Silence. The power is out at Eichen for the first time since
Peter was locked up at the end of season four. He escapes but catches scent of his daughter who
is trapped and in desperate need of help. In this moment Peter has the opportunity to do something
heroic or even just decent. Instead he decides to save his own skin to avoid a difficult situation.
He leaves that building knowing that there's a good chance his daughter will die there.
Okay the second scene - Peter escapes through the portal - where so many fans
see the mirage of redemption.
Stiles: Yeah what about Malia?
No. His decision to escape comes not due to anything Stiles said about saving his friends.
It happens because Peter has just realized that he is not in a hopeless position.
Peter: This isn't a train station. This is a way station.
Prior to this moment he thought he was inside the wild hunt from which
nothing ever escapes. But then he realizes this is just a way station. He actually has time, all the
time it will take the riders to clean out Beacon Hills, plenty of time to escape through the portal
and get out of town. Unlike before, Peter now has a choice - stay here and eventually get taken forever
or try his luck and maybe save his skin - he chooses to save his skin once he realizes that's an option.
"But the keys," I hear you screaming. "He picked up Stile's keys so his friends would find him!"
In other words, Peter did the very least he could do to help. He bent over at the waist and lifted
a few ounces of metal that just happened to be under his foot. Okay. You got me. Redemption complete.
Yeah, no. Peter actually believes that Beacon Hills is a lost cause but if there is a way to save the
town he knows that Scott's pack will figure it out and if they're given the chance they'll
save the day. Peter is not dumb he knows these heroes often win in impossible situations and
that would benefit him in case he can't get out of town in time. If you don't believe me listen
to Peter's assessment of the McCall pack.
Peter: Scott I admit that you have a flare from beating the odds.
He thinks Scott might actually come up with something, which is why he bothers to lift
those keys from the floor. But that doesn't make him less of a villain. Please just listen to the
voice of reason.
Melissa: Remember who we're dealing with. Your father is a ruthless con man who always
has a devious plan hurt everyone around him.
Trust Mama McCall in all things. Anyway -
This standing up to the Ghost Riders while Malia escapes happens twice once in Heartless and again
at the end of Blitzkrieg. People view this as love for his daughter and they're probably right Peter
does love his daughter I mean Hitler doted on his niece and had a dog. A villain isn't defined
by hating everybody they're defined by viewing everybody as disposable. In this instance, Stiles
is disposable to Peter Malia is too but she's more valuable to him than Stiles or the rest.
Peter: Go!
But facing the Ghost Riders isn't the sacrifice you guys seem to think it is. I mean he knows
the worst that can happen is that he ends up back in the train station and he knows that
Scott is close to figuring out how to open that portal to save Stiles he also knows that they'll
save him rather than let him get taken forever because they're heroes and that's what they do.
I mean, maybe the writers intended for him to look heroic, but he is literally in no danger in these
moments. There's at least one more scene we need to look at. In the second half of season six he comes
back after first claiming he won't help against the hunters.
Peter: Hunters destroyed my perfect automobile.
I'm sorry for those who see heroics here but this is actually Peter's most selfish act.
There is literally nowhere in the world he can hide from this planetary "Kill All
Werewolves Brigade". So he has no choice but to stick with the one pack left in Beacon Hills.
But there's this montage when Malia confronts him about his decision. She claims it's because
he saw something in her head and I agree with that but for a very different reason than what
the writers intended. I'm sure the writers wanted this collection of scenes to give the impression
that Peter is helping the pack because Malia loves Scott. But that's not what I see here. What I see is
Peter realizing it will be just as hard getting her away from Scott as it was getting her away
from Stiles in the first part of the season. I see him realizing that he now has an automatic inside track
with the most powerful Alpha that Beacon Hills has seen since Talia Hale. He's not changing or growing
as a person here. He wants to restore his family as a power base. It's what he's always wanted.
In this case, that means keeping Malia close and if her boyfriend happens to be the power player in
Beacon Hills all the better. Remember Peter's pattern of villainy manipulate and move people
like game pieces while seeking power. Nothing in Peter's season 6 arc breaks that pattern