The story in Happy Birthday to Me revolves around a surprise party for Kieran and a bottle of bad tequila. Scream has always had to balance being both PG-13 horror and MTV-style teen drama, and for the most part it has managed. This episode, however, tips itself heavily in favor of teen drama. It may have been an intentional choice, an attempt to undermine the trope of the high school slasher party setting, but it’s tough to say. The first act felt a tad inconsequential, despite the usual doubt and suspicion casting. It wasn’t until near the end of act two that things picked up, and viewers were treated to a more balanced show featuring some fun horror tropes. The start was slow and the ending was a touch too predictable, but this episode pushed the story along just enough to make it worth watching.
