Okay, I actually use a lot of this review to talk about Bonnie and stuff. So, if you want to skip to the part where I mostly praise this episode, go to “SKIP TO HERE:”!
You guys, I’ve been so tired of bitching about The Vampire Diaries for the past three months. It’s been exhausting. Last week, I wrote that I might actually cry if I had to reiterate the same nonsense I’ve been saying since January. I wasn’t lying.
Okay, maybe I was. But I’m dead inside. The point being: there were no tears tonight. The Vampire Diaries returned today — and goodness, it’s been so long since I’ve watched an episode of this show where I felt like it was actually TVD.
There are, of course, still some setbacks (as there always will be) — mainly in the Bonnie arena. Once again, Bonnie is used to further the Original family plot. I mean, I know that everyone is sort of acting as an extension of the plot, but in most ways it helps them further a bit. Stefan has gone to his dark side and back, accepting his demons. Damon has begun to think of the consequences, even if just a little bit, when planning. Even Elena has slowly been transitioning from patsy to mini-badass. (Holy crap, did you see her with the crossbow? Me gusta.) Bonnie’s just been there to do spells and undo them. I suppose I should be happy that the writers at least considered giving her a scene in which we get to see her emote. She didn’t do it because Klaus asked her. She wasn’t trying to express herself to Elena to then just forgive her. It was just Bonnie. Alone. And it wasn’t offscreen. And even so, she’s been getting better treatment than the guys who are seriously offscreen — Tyler and Jeremy. Talk about getting the shaft.
I’ve been talking about Bonnie a lot lately. The reason being, well, complicated. I admit that before thinking about this show “critically,” just as a casual viewer, I wasn’t much of a fan of Bonnie. She always just seemed to rear her head to badmouth vampires and then disappear. And so when she’d show up, you’d go “Ugh, just… be a team player for like two damn seconds Bonnie!” But those were back in the days when I just watched for entertainment value. And when you begin to think about the show analytically, you start to realize that having Bonnie be nothing but this person who undoes plots cheapens everything. Yes, you don’t like Bonnie — and yes, her lack of characterization is cheapening the stories you do like. She’s too often used as just a thing. Just think about that. If the show had a, uh I don’t know, a rock of some sort. And for every plot, they just had a rock that could undo anything. You’d start to think, “This rock is so stupid. Can’t the writers think of anything better!? What’s the point of watching if this rock is just going to change the story for no reason all the darn time?” (Worst analogy ever, probably.)
You know? Like, it becomes deus ex machina — except it’s very expected… and predictable… and tiring. Where’s the payoff in having your rock introduced only to move other plots? There needs to be characterization, there needs to be backstory (hell, there needs to be story), or else you’re left with this hollow plot device that very desperately reverses plots because they can’t think of anything better.
More so, it’s about the fact that everyone lives in moral ambiguity on this show. Caroline mentioned this specifically on tonight’s episode. She tells Alaric that she’s no better than him because she has blood on her hands as well. For a long time, Bonnie could have been that voice that makes us second guess the morals of this show — but having her only come in to bitch about it for two seconds an episode and then change a plot line makes the audience automatically side with the vampires. This show, though targeted for a CW audience, could be so much more with this. It’s something I’ve also been mentioning in my reviews: what is the actual resolution to vampires reaching a middleground? Should we be rooting for that? Is Elena supposed to fall in love with vampires who use humans as their… food? I mean, think about it. This struggle of humanity could be a much more grandiose uncertainty with a stronger voice from the polar side. Goodness, the witches balancing the supernatural power (from the other side, no less!) could be one helluva story. But instead, it’s muted offscreen.
And wow, now I’ve spent too much of this review talking about Bonnie and the witches. So, moving on to why this was enjoyable…
SKIP TO HERE: Mostly, it moved along. And it thrilled me. And it was shocking. And it made sense, for the most part. And it wasn’t fixated on love interests, for the most part. We’ve watched as the Originals have become mostly irrelevant… and in this episode, we didn’t really get much of a reminder of why they were an immediate threat (I mean, it ended with Klaus being all “Yeah, ‘kay, I’m gonna go now…”), but we got something else: actual tension. I suspected that Sage was introduced to give the gang conflict — but instead, the conflict was much, much, much better. If they kill an Original — twist!!! — the entire bloodline of vampires turned from that Original will die as well. That’s a much better reason to not kill them — I mean, that puts tons of our characters in danger. And the best part is that we don’t know which one of them can’t die for sure. Though, I also suspect it can go two ways: (A) Rock Bonnie will do a spell; or (B) We’ll be getting much more Originals for the rest of the series. I think I’d be happier seeing Bonnie be used as a plot device again and killing this Original story by season’s end. We need to move on. Vampires vs Witches — season 4. Do it. (I mean, even if it’s a resolution that involves in the Originals not dying, it’s okay. Rebekah has begun thinking about the definition of family, and so on.)
Meanwhile, Stefan and Elena have yet another scene and my critical mind is all “Oh, goodness, not again!!!” but my shipper heart is all “Oh, goodness, not again!!!” except in the latter one, I’m crying. Like, internally, because it breaks my heart. Thinking of it objectively, Stefan and Elena did need to confront Elena’s feelings for Damon in some capacity. But at this point, I don’t know why they continuously need to express their love for each other. Everyone knows they love each other, but I’ve had trouble with Elena doing a 180 since 3×09 where she decided to let Stefan go. Unfortunately, the plot can’t let them go, either. Every time Stefan grows a bit, it has to be some sort of reflection for his internal struggle to be what Elena needs or wants in some way. (The same, for the most part, happens with Damon.) At this point, let’s get Stefan and Caroline to be friends again so that he may air his grievances to someone who’s not Elena and therefore can develop without it tying into the triangle just for the sake of it. The Stefan who ripped a girl’s head off and then professed how sorry he was — let’s see that. For some reason, I feel like if he did that in present day, somehow Elena would walk in on him, and it would end in a conversation where he goes “I’m sorry, I’m too dangerous to be with you right now.” What? How’s about he’s too dangerous to just be at this moment?
Did I just get mad at a hypothetical situation?
Continuing, Elena keeps saying she doesn’t know how she feels about Damon… and I think the same. I just don’t thinks she loves him… though, I suppose doing the 180 after she kisses Damon could scream “denial!” but unfortunately the kiss didn’t amp up the triangle as I thought it would. Gossip Girl did a year in denial story and it was nothing but aggravating. It’s true that stories need time to simmer, but they don’t need time to stay stagnant. Let’s get a move on, here.
But, okay, let’s just forget about it. Tonight’s episode was a dang good ride. It was fun. It was exciting! And the pacing was finally something that resembled a TVD episode. Thank you, writers. If the last few episodes of this season are a reflection of tonight’s episode, I can only imagine how much greatness there is to come. And now that Crazy Ric has a stake of his own: the s—- is gon’ hit the fan. Fun times. Suspenseful times. Unpredictable times.
Goodness, I’ve missed you.
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Throughout the episode, all I could think of was "OMG, I can't wait for Michael's photo recap" ... ok, maybe that's not all I was thinking. I was also thinking that I couldn't believe I didn't see the originals die/bloodlines die twist coming, and I was squealing like a fangirl at the promo for the next episode ... but yeah, I'm dying to see how you recap it with photos
This episode made me really hate Bonnie's so-called friends. The group consists of three vampires. Like not one of them could have tracked her down to see if she was all right. They only leave her alone until they need something from her, and then it's back to the nauseating love triangle. And no one wanted to spend time with her after her mother just up and left? This episode did have something that was previously lacking. And for that reason I do look forward to the next after yet another hiatus. But I'm getting really tired of this undervaluing of Bonnie's character. I mean, are they even going to tell us how she ended up in Klaus' mansion? SMH. Glad to see that she brings out the villain in almost everyone she encounters. How can Klaus not appear oh so loveable by threatening to harm Jeremy and Abby? And where the fuck was Jamie? The only dignified thing she was allowed to do was leave Damon's sorry ass behind. I'm surprised Bonnie isn't suicidal at this point cuz I would be done.
I had an idea for a recap. The scene with Klaus calling Rebekah stupid for wanting to stay with him, something like "frankly my dear I just don't give a damn." "mope mope sob sob." Haha. I really feel bad for Rebekah. I can understand why she's developed so horribly.
this one was indeed a very good episode. I enjoyed it a lot. Even Matt felt interesting. I'd prefer that Bonnie actually sided with Klaus rather than got threatened by him. That way, there might be more storyline for her. But I guess it would just conflict with how she forgave Elena last week.
I love how Klaus and Rebekah acted in this ep. like you said, there was lots of tension, it sort of made me ignore the fact that there was still actually no reason to kill the Originals.
Also love all the twists in this ep and how they link Alaric's killer story with the Original plot.Stelena <3 it's been a while I havent seen these two together like that, but it was kinda sad.
All in all, great episode. It has to be the best one ever since Stefan started to be good again. Those eps with Rippah Stefan (and awesome Paul Wesley) were still my favorite
Even though this episode was 100 times better than the previous ones..it was still not enough! I was really happy about Bonnie finally getting some screen time..and that scene in the parking lot broke my heart. Kat did an amazing job..I was also really excited about Damon being tortured by Rebekah (wish Bonnie would've helped her though)..and Klaus finally speaking the truth about the whole Abby situation..what I don't understand is why the writers don't want to make Bonnie more exciting! Her turning to dark magic and siding with Klaus would've been amazing! I mean her friends don't give a shit about her..(Stefan asking where was Bonnie made me want to punch him in the face..Your brother turned her mother like what? 5 days ago? and you expect her to show up and help you?) . Her and Rebekah becoming friends would've been awesome. Thank God Bonnie was threatened with Jeremy and not Jamie..that would've been weird. Everything else was kinda boring..Stelena moments are THE SAME in every episodes! Finn & Sage dying = DON'T CARE! It was obvious the plan would fail - I mean Damon & Stefan were both involved in it and it's Thursday..About the whole bloodline dying with the Original who created it - predicted it when Esther told Elena about the "killing her children" ritual. Why would she want to kill her children if other vampires would live? it doesn't make sense..can't believe they haven't thought about it..And who in their right mind would give a psycho with two personalities a stake that can kill an Original? Next ep promises tons of Delena..and even though I shipped DE for 2,5 seasons (after Elena told him that him loving her was the problem - I was done) I don't care. That love triangle has become so annoying it's painful to watch. The only thing I'm happy about is Jeremy and Tyler being back! Yeah and people are hating on Bonnie again..saying that she ruined the plan..when she actually saved everyone again! If she didn't unlink the Originals everyone would've died..including Katherine, Stefan, Damon and everyone's precious Caroline...oh and Tyler too..even though not many people care about him. The only question is would Elena also die if all the Originals die? She's a doppelganger after all..
It was a good episode but sometimes I don't find myself even liking the characters anymore. Finn was actually one of the good originals kind of like Elijah but they went after him because he was weak just to get to Klaus, it made them seem like bad guys and yes I get that their vampires and they are technically bad but it just gave me a bad taste in my mouth.
I agree, I don't think Elena is in love with Damon. She's just attracted to him I guess
Agree. I think she likes Damon for sure but I don't feel the love yet. Or maybe this show just fails to show it. She just cares for his well being as much as she does for other close friends. The part in one of the first eps in this season, when Damon asked her to admit she cared for him after she asked him to stop searching for Stefan and leave because of the werewolves in Tennessee also did not show her feeling for Damon at all. Also the scene in this ep when she asked Stefan to change plan and rescue Damon instead of killing Originals also only prove that she cares for his safety. I'm pretty sure if Alaric or Matt was the one getting caught, Elena would've acted the same.
Nice way to save the originals (and the storyline ;)) from dying. And the cliffhanger was nice and unexpected. The rest had some minor flaws. I'm surprised that Caroline didn't react to Alaric wearing the ring again and I was also hoping for some bigger reaction to a large part of the vampire population dying (maybe we'll see some of that in the upcoming episodes). Overall it was a very good episode and it reminded me of TVD's good old days when so much was happening in ~40 minutes.
While it was good, I'm tired of this season.
OMG. I CANNOT WAIT THREE WEEKS FOR A NEW EPISODE. I just watched the promo for the next episode 10+ times on youtube. arghhhhhhhhhhhhh
But, yes, overall sentiments were exactly the same as yous: Hoorah, TVD is BACK to it's usual level of badass. It was SOOO nice to finally have an episode where the love lives weren't the main plot. And I'm really pleased at the clever way they figured out to keep the Originals around. Why couldn't they have just done this two/three episodes ago?
Some of the shows magic returned this episode, but it still as some ways to go.
Klaus is back to his bad self an still enjoying doing it. And he is still interested in making his ideal family of obedient drones out of Hybrids. I wonder if Tyler will throw monkey wrench into that.
Caroline and Elena time together and helping each other overcome there own personal hates and fears. It relieved much of the tension between them. Then she uses that to truthfully deal with Alaric and his problem. This is what I consider the best part of her character. Helping others overcome there supernatural problems that they are not responsible for. And lastly her
excitement about potentially getting Tyler free of the sire bond. Thanks to Candice for being truthful in her recent interviews.
Stefan seems to finally have found his way back to his real self now that he has learned drop the hate and realize what it had cost him.
Bonnie it seems has the tendency that her mother has to run when things become to much. It also looks like an interesting twist to put her in a similar situation that the Salvator brothers were but it when they turned her mother. She did something that, at the time, she believed was wrong and going to potentially cause many more deaths when she broke the binding spell in order to keep her boyfriend and mother alive. She also left Damon hanging there which may cause future problems for her and the rest of the group. They will understand but it may still cause problems. She needs her mother back and I would like her to return and maybe used to give time to the older characters that have seen so little time this season.
This is a good first step and I hope it continues. They have a lot to make up for before the end if the season. I don't think they can fix everything this season but there do seem to be more on the right track.