#which is also the reason that my internal timeline of early s4 is so distorted

[theheightofdishonor]

this was not on the agenda but let's analyze some of the dialogue in 4x03 real fast

Stiles: Dude, what is going on with you? Scott: I don't know. I'm having a really off day. Stiles: Off day? You were dying out there! I feel actual physical pain watching you. Scott: I didn't see you make any shots. Stiles: Yes, that is because I'm terrible, though, Scott. You... You are the Alpha. Scott: Not on the field. I'm a human on the field. Stiles: Well, human you is kind of sucking at the moment. So do you think there is any way you can use just like a little tiny bit of wolf power? Scott: It's cheating. Stiles: I know it is! It's just I hate seeing this little freshman come in and steal all your glory after you worked your tushie off. I hate it. Scott: He's not going to steal all the glory. ----- Stiles: We still don't know if he's a werewolf, too. And if he is, he'd just be cheating. And we'd just be cheating the cheater. Scott: But he's not. I'd know. I'd be able to catch a scent or something. Stiles: Maybe you need to get closer. Scott: I think I'm about to get my chance.

So this takes place during the lacrosse tryouts. First thing to note, is it me or is Stiles playing devil's advocate more than usual? It might just be because Scott's listening to him more than usual but Stiles seems unusually persistent

Anyways, that first bit caught my attention because i'm always hyperaware when regarding the human/monster theme in teen wolf. Scott's firmly continues to maintain the boundary between his werewolf and human sides while Stiles vagues around the idea of "true alpha has to mean infallible" that later plays such a huge role in their s5 fight. It's interesting that he's telling Scott that it's unsightly for the Alpha to lose here and then pivots literally minutes later into assuring him that "[he's] still only human". Stiles is ever so quick to turn to whatever will benefit him in the moment.

Like, really look at that first exchange for a second. First Stiles tries concern which Scott brushes off. Then Stiles becomes more overtly critical but it's aggressive enough that Scott takes a shot back at him to which Stiles immediately tries to pacify him via self-depreciation/flattery. And when Scott rejects that, he tries to compromise- you don't have to go all out alpha werewolf, just a little bit's enough-and when it fails, changes to a commiserating sympathy, which with a little bit of well-timed remarks by Finstock, surprisingly does somewhat work. And Stiles immediately capitalizes when he feels Scott wavering by justifying the behavior and then re-framing it via 'if you just get close to scent him, it's not reallyyy using your powers, right'.

Scott's what is most interesting about this exchange though. Their entire conversation has a practiced air to it, as if Stiles suggesting things that Scott shoots down is a common enough occurance that Scott doesn't even need to really think about his responses, which is probably true. The convo actually reminded me a little of their first conversation in 1x01 when Stiles and Scott goes off in search for Laura's body and Scott's protesting even as he follows. The difference is that since their power dynamics have shifted (at first with Scott becoming a werewolf and then again when he becomes a True Alpha), Scott's been far less likely to grudgingly go along with Stile's schemes but he does so here, despite being against it.

This is where I dip into speculation but I think that the reason Scott's behaving so unusually is because the events of 3b-caught unawares by the nogitsune, aiden's death,allison bleeding out in his arms,isaac leaving- has made Scott less sure of his own judgement coming into s4 becuse he actually does something similar to this in 4x02 too where when Stiles initially suggests lying to Derek, Scott firmly rejects it but when the opportunity arises, he hesitates and then ends up lying to him in a move that even Stiles is surprised by. (the camera intentionally pans to stiles side eying scott and i can't help but wonder if that has anything to do with how persistent he is here)