OH OW OH OW OH OW OH OW OH OW OH OW
Okay, only watched Scott POV, so spoilers for that.
But there's social game Scott. Manipulate. Make them believe what you need them to believe. He does it with the town. Convinces them the vampires chose this, or at least they weren't against it. Pyro was easy. They were invested in the history. Shelby already wanted to find proof of the supernatural! Scott was just helping her. (Which, side note, interesting that Shelby was who was brought up for non-consensual turnings and not Pyro? Like Shelby didn't want this, but Pyro did. Ouch.)
Scott did it with Apo in episode 3. This whole, 'I'm the victim. You're the one who keeps attacking me. I only hurt people who asked for it.' schtick. 'I'd leave you alone, but it's you who keeps provoking me.' It's all tools to make it seem like anyone else's fault. Which, to be clear, Apo's turning was not her fault and certainly not her choice. Coercion does not make proper consent (for the one or two posters I've seen saying Apo can't be mad at Scott for turning her when she said yes, although that yes was made after Scott manipulated her for several minutes).
Scott does it with Pyro in this episode. Pyro's little, "I suppose I did run," after Scott goes on about not committing unnecessary massacres breaks my heart. Like, no, you were allowed to run. This wasn't your fault. And Scott's later sentiments about Pyro's betrayal? Ouch, ouch, ouch. Guilt-tripping and victim blaming. 'I was hungry. You shouldn't have been stupid enough to go out into the woods.' Pyro's turning, Pyro's fault. And he can't be upset! He likes this. He's been reaping the benefits. He can't pick and choose.
UGHHHHHH. Scott is so good at this. How he slants things in his favor, sometimes saying things that are technically true but greatly misrepresented and sometimes outright lying. He plays the social manipulation game well. It's always such a joy to see him do his thing. This might be the one series I'm not actually rooting for him (because I went and got attached to Pyro and Apo), but he's so fun. Love it when he's allowed to be evil.
(Also, heard Apo's thing at the end is a ploy, but she's in the same castle as Pyro and that means their friendship doesn't have to be dead forever. There's a chance! Pyro's also not dead, but there's always next episode 🙁)
