This very well might be my most unfavorable review of The Vampire Diaries ever. And if you’ve read my reviews, you know they’re basically weekly love letters (so it shouldn’t be too bad). Still: read with caution, fans!
Another week, another episode, another routine death in Mystic Falls — wait a minute, you say that’s a normal human-on-human death? Well, that’s not very routine at all. What happened to the usual “animal accident” coverup the town’s been doing for the past year now (in show time)? It seems tomorrow’s front page of The Mystic Falls Herald will read: “Man murdered by human, not animal.”
Last week I was already groaning that the show wanted to develop a love interest for Alaric when Jenna just died… and there are so many other things we need to be thinking about. I still feel that the show is doing this: they are almost halting some stories to take care of every romantic interest. Tyler isn’t just sired by Klaus, he’s betraying Caroline. Elena isn’t just upset about Stefan’s “betrayal,” it’s throwing her into Damon’s arms. Jeremy isn’t just leaving because, y’know, everyone’s dying, Bonnie’s upset he didn’t say bye. And apparently Klaus didn’t only make Tyler bite Caroline, he… likes her? Did I get the right impression there?
He was being quite genuine and — dare I say — tender with Caroline when he was, basically, saving her life. Although, Ms. Forbes could have just taken Caroline outside (let’s not get into it). But the sweetest part is… he left her a gift: “From [Santa] Klaus” it read. Well if that’s not the most romantic thing Klaus has done thus far then I don’t know what is! We know he has a soft side, for his family that is. Not for much else. So it’s interesting to see him interact this way with Caroline. I wonder what will come of it.
Klaus brings up a valid point, however. It’s understandable that Caroline is upset she’ll never be 18[*] but she has an entire world that’s waiting for her. She doesn’t have to confine herself inside the limits of Mystic Falls — and she has thousands, nay even millions, of “birthdays” left. Now that’s an acceptable reason to have a character leave Mystic Falls that makes the most sense.
[*] Let’s not talk about the stupid “funeral!!!!” stuff, because first of all birthdays aren’t just you becoming older it’s also celebrated because it’s the day of your birth and regardless of if you died it’s still your birthday and why exactly does Caroline need to forget her past self and why does Elena think it’s a good thing to have a funeral for Matt’s “ex-girlfriend and a really good friend”? Anyway…
But let’s just compel Jeremy who had, potentially, the most amazing story that could have been written for him. Did everyone just forget about ghosts? I think the writers of Vampire Diaries either forget or… I don’t know, but there is a huge potential here for a story about ghosts trying to, basically, have a war from the other side. It’s a story I thought was going somewhere this entire time and it indeed did go somewhere: to Denver. Oh, well. I only hope that Jeremy comes back in a big way because it’ll just be useless if he left for the hell of it.
Meanwhile, Matt was in this episode and no one noticed.
Well regardless, I’m glad that Dr. Fell has a hidden side of her (should I have expected anything less?) and, if I remember correctly, she should be related to Logan. Perhaps she’s back for revenge? (Someone should tell her to call Amanda Clarke.) At least she’s not just a love interest and now I’m very excited to see where her story goes.
But I would be a terrible Stefan and Elena fan if I did not comment on them at all. Everyone keeps mentioning that Stefan is becoming reckless and evil. He’s not. Stefan has always chosen to kill bad guys or people that would otherwise kill innocent people. In fact he killed Vicki, remember? You probably do since it’s one of the most memorable deaths of the series. All this talk about Stefan having “to be the better villain”: I’m not buying it. He’s not reckless, he’s heroic — and distancing himself from Elena is not only selfless but heartbreaking.
Now, could he have done it in a less I’m-going-to-kill-you way? Sure. But where’s the fun in that? Besides, he wouldn’t have actually done it. There’s no way. It’s a definite parallel to when Damon made her drink his blood and — well, he wasn’t about to kill her, but if it was him driving that car, he most likely would have if he needed to. And I think that’s the line that separates Damon and Stefan in which you still don’t know what Damon would actually do. And there’s also a disconnect here with the audience in which if Damon is willing to sacrifice everyone else for Elena’s sake (he once offered Bonnie’s life), then he’s in love with her; but if Stefan does it, he’s villainous.
Absurd.
And you might argue that “Damon’s changed since then!” but his own words indicate otherwise in the Damon-and-Elena-almost-kiss-again scene.
But I’ll leave that be. Apparently it’s “not right now” for those two.
Elena’s “you had me!” was spot on; Stefan’s “I lost you, you just haven’t realized it” makes me think the writers just want to push Elena even further in love with Damon. And I reiterate: I’m not buying it just yet.
Update: I forgot to mention that this was also one of the more bloodier episodes. And welcomingly, so. Thank you.
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i strongly AGREE WITH U.. i thought u wud think the klaus and caroline thing came left field.. they never even had a convo for him to liek her.. this show!.. elena and carolien are raking in the men.. and its only season 3.. will bonnie get a man from the main cast?
I do think it was a bit out of left field (if it's romantic, which I think it is). Maybe he just admired her gusto? Idk. I think they've shared just one scene together. Maybe Klaus's plan all along was to have Tyler bite her so he can save her! XD
I definitely disagree - i dont think Damon could have ever killed Elena - even in season 1 simply because: a) she looked like Katherine, and b) he genuinely liked her. I think Stefan is more unpredictable at this point, just like Stefan is the deadlier of the two when he's on human blood.
Also, I have to agree with Stefan - Elena has very much been in denial, and I hope this was a nice wake up call.
Damon's: "it's right, just not right now" was spot on.
All in all it was a good episode. I do think Elena is falling deeper into Damon, now. Her resolve to let go of her old life is only going to further their romantic journey.
I don't disagree that she's in denial; she needs to distance herself from him, but the problem is I know it's all being written just to make her go to Damon so it weakens it for me. But I disagree with Stefan being more unpredictable than Damon was in seasons one or two.
But I thought the respective funerals were lame and unneeded.
Overall I just haven't been as impressed with the couple of episodes since the return.
i strongly agree with you.. the episodes are all over the place.. damon is being stefan 2.0.. elena is being kat 2.0 somewhat.. bonnie has yet to find a storyline.. caroline and klaus came otu of nowhere and i saw no chemistry.. she is now in a love square.. will bonnie ever get a man? who wants her and won't die in 4-6 episodes lol.. i thought klonnie was happenin..but i guess not.. the writers think they messed up wit forwood and its true.. despite what they believe they could have just stayed friends.. but all thier scenes are them tryin to have sex with each other after something heartfelt.. aren't there supernaturals in denver? when klaus gets hybrids out of town where will they go? arent they gonna be scattered around the world?
I agree with everything you said...
NANNY CARRIE IS STILL A PSYCHO
I LOVED this episode. I thought that the scene between Stefan and Elena was brilliant. Even though Stefan seems to has lost his humanity, you can still see its there. He can't forgive himself for everything that he has done. It doesn't matter if Elena does; the moment he left, he sacrificed everything.. and he knows he can't change everything that has happened. Which also is why he wants so badly to make Klaus suffer because he really was the cause of everything that has happened. SO good.
While the Caroline and Klaus relationship may be random, I am not completely surprised. If the show does go in that way it kind of makes sense. Klaus has always desired true friendship and love; and in a way so has Caroline.. maybe it could work...
Also, loved the symbolism in the name of the episode.
So good.. while this Stefan is pretty awesome.. this episode broke my heart and made me miss old Stefan.. sigh..
I agree with everything you said. To comment on it would just be reiterating exactly what you wrote!!!
But I enjoy the Stefan who would make Elena drink his blood haha!
But if you think the writers are just writing the Stefan and Elena scene, to push Elena into Damon. Obviously you will never be convinced or buy it.
Not true; if you read my reviews then you would probably know that I was a fan of their bed scene earlier this season and basically fangirled when they kissed (except I think they need to be much sexier).
The problem I have with this is that it's like one of those tactics writers use to declare a character is in love with someone. They did that earlier this season with Caroline, instead of letting the character go through the emotions.
The point is that Elena had already let Stefan go but they need to keep making her think he's betraying her to fall for Damon. Damon and Elena is never going to be right — for MANY reasons (morals, he killed her brother, he turned her mom, he's just as reckless as Stefan is right now…) but that's okay. The show should have used that feeling of taboo to go ahead with the relationship.
Instead, they are making it seem like Damon has taken a complete 180 and he's basically acting as a Stefan transplant for Elena's other half. And unfortunately, the way they've executed it thus far, I don't see how Damon and Elena could ever be in a serious, longterm, endgame relationship… but the writers sure as hell are trying.
The difference between Stefan and Damon is that while they both think they don't deserve her, Stefan is willing to actually give Elena up, to make her hate him, for her own sake. Also, as much as I like Damon, I don't understand how everyone can just forgive him for all his past actions when all along his goal has always been the same: keep his lady love alive at all costs (be it Katherine (in season 1) or Elena). Damon hasn't really changed all that much and fans need to stop excusing his behavior because *he loves her*. News flash: so does Stefan.
Now about Klaroline; I admit to shipping for months before it actually became canon and being biased, but doesn't it make sense for big bad hybrid Klaus to notice the baby vampire who seems to be in the thick of everything? Caroline remained the one non-threatening connection from the Elena& the Salvatore brothers to his hybrids. She's in the middle of everything and yet she hasn't actually taken any measures against him. Klaus spent his entire human life being rejected by his father and began his immortal one being rejected by his mother, he craves companionship and acceptance (Examples: compelling stefan to be BFF's and the whole family coffin cargo affair). Caroline has proven to be compassionate, loyal, forgiving, and above all accepting. Who better for Klaus to try and befriend/woo?
I agree, there's much more of a selflessness with Stefan's character than there is with Damon's.
And Klaroline came out of nowhere, but it's a bit ridiculous. IDK can she start liking the guy that's had a hold on her current boyfriend? It's weird.
Stupid damons better ... Nuff said
Oh, you're right. Whoops! Must have forgotten all that when I was explaining why I don't think they should go there just yet.
Silly me.