There’s this moment in the season 4 premiere of The Vampire Diaries where Elena and Stefan are sitting on a rooftop, talking about how awful their lives are because people keep wanting to kill them and whatnot. They sit there (with better greens-creening than Revenge, might I add — how is that even possible?) and Stefan places a ring on her finger (foreshadowing? pandering?) and decides to ease her pain and fright.
“You don’t need to tell me everything’s going to be okay,” Elena offers. And Stefan nods. And for that moment, I thought: okay, this is good. Because, you see, the series up until that moment has always been about everyone telling Elena to not worry, they’ll handle this or that, they’ll save her from whatever apocalyptic morally ambiguous someone is after her week after week. When Elena woke up in the morgue during the final shot of season three, this is what I yearned for — I felt this urgency of basically needing for the series to step up its game and have Elena take responsibility for anything. It doesn’t matter if it’s good or if it’s bad, but the characters of Mystic Falls have this tendency to view everything as anyone else’s fault. It happened in this episode as well. Stefan thinks he should have saved Elena (let’s not get into how he’s a vampire and seriously could have carried two bodies). Damon thinks the same. Damon thinks Matt should have died.[*] Matt thinks it’s his fault for…I don’t know, being unconscious and having no say in the matter. Damon confronts Rebekah.
[*] This, by the way, is a storyline I did not like in the least. On one side, you have Damon using Matt as his plaything for basically zero reason, which I thought he had evolved from and which made the weird retcon flashback of last season’s finale even more glaring; and on the other hand, you had Matt sulking because I have no idea and also because that’s so original for him.
Meanwhile, Elena almost screeches at everyone to stop taking on the guilt for this or that. It was her decision to sacrifice her life for her friend. She demands that Damon stop being mad at other people for not only being undead now but also for choosing Stefan at the end of season 3. And I know, I know, Elena does a lot of these what I call “MAH FAULT” moments, but I can only hope that her message was heard loud and clear tonight. Because if nothing else, if making Elena a vampire won’t allow her to start fending for herself and fighting her own battles, I hope it at least puts an end to this magical aura that surrounds Elena and makes people view her as this do-no-wrong entity…in the characters’ eyes.
That said, what I’m reviewing is this one hour, not the future. And I have no proof or even suggestion that the show will continue into that area or not; all I have is hope. In this hour, however, people were treating Elena like Most Perfect Human Ever as they usually do. Let’s begin at the top with the love triangle.
Ah, the very-much loved and not at all tiring love triangle, may I say that — surprise, and no sarcasm here — you were handled quite well tonight. In fact, the only problem with tonight’s triangle side of the story is that it was, once again, so blatantly obvious how the series wants you to view both sides of it, just in case they haven’t hammered it in enough. We get it — Stefan honors Elena’s wishes and Damon is “just that selfish.” Whichever way to love someone you think is best, I guess that’s up to you. For now, however, Elena seems to prefer the one where her suitor decides to make good on her wishes. That said, the bottom line is this: when it came to the final moments in which Elena was about to die, Stefan thought having Elena feed early on in the day would have been a better option than waiting around all day for Bonnie to save her.
Speaking of, I guess if Bonnie is going to continue being a plot device (this is almost a trope of Vampire Diaries reviews now), at least she does it in a way that they try to explain it. The series decides, “Well she’s done a lot of magic now so she has power she didn’t have before” and that’s how they explain this never-before-explained newfound magic. The show’s got to keep on rolling, so in this episode, I wasn’t as annoyed with it as in the past. However, what still irks me is Bonnie’s continued declarations of being her own woman but constantly being coerced by everyone, including Klaus.[**] Whenever Klaus threatened her in some way this episode, I just kept hoping she’d do magic that hurt him or something? Fight back, Bonnie! Something!
[**] Also, now that I think about it…what was even the point of Klaus going into Tyler’s body? Perhaps I forgot something, so if someone can explain that to me, thanks. It was like thirty seconds later and Klaus was like “Yeah put me back in my body, thanks.” Why did you go in Tyler’s body in the first place? What?
Let’s talk about Klaus. Actually, no, let’s talk about Rebekah, who I find infinitely more interesting. The series has tried so hard to add layers to its big villain Klaus, and what’s felt effortless is how many layers they’ve added to Rebekah. I say time and time again, I don’t know if it’s the actress, the writing, or pure accident, but Rebekah is actually one of the more fleshed out characters on the series. I know they’re using the good, ol’ “she wasn’t loved enough” bit here, but for me it feels so organic (I think that’s the actress, then). After witnessing Elena’s declaration of love to Stefan, and how she stated that even though she is about to die she doesn’t regret choosing him and going back to be with him, Rebekah goes with that emotion over to Klaus’s. Here you have someone who, after a century or so, has never felt unconditional love in that way. I know, Elena is not Stefan’s sister, not in the least, and while Rebekah hasn’t found companionship in that sense either, the root of all her issues there begin with her family. Her mother was more than fine with killing them off, and Klaus was okay with her being captured or tortured or killed as long as it wasn’t him. Hell he even saved someone he’s only known for a few months! Stefan and Elena have only known each other for a few months, too, if you think about it. And after a thousand plus years, the bond between Rebekah and her family seems to be hanging by a thread. There’s no doubt she’s affected by the warmth of Elena and Stefan’s conversation and the brittle cold of Klaus’s abandonment.
Besides, hybrids suck and those blood bags needed to be burst.
Tonight’s outing relied on the plot much more than anything else, in true Vampire Diaries fashion, but personally that’s when this show excels most. So let’s not be prude here and say anything less; this was an entertaining episode — and it surely made more sense than the most entertaining episode of season 3.5, the penultimate one. For someone surely expecting the worst out of this season, given its disappointments last season, I may have been sold to stick around for much longer. I just hope it continues on an upswing and doesn’t derail into a shadow of its former self.
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This triangle...this triangle is going to kill every bit of love I have for Damon, Stefan and Elena. You were much more kind in your assessment of it's handling tonight than I was. I was simply bored. I don't care about Elena's journey.
The Originals saved the piece for me. First, Trevino did a fabulous job portraying Klaus. I didn't have faith in it based on last seasons finale, but he came through here and did an awesome job. As you said, Rebekah continues to be the character you want to root for. She's an evil bitch, but she admits her mistakes and many times her actions are that of a tween (and we all forgive them). I've seen Claire in a few other things, and while she is good, her style just meshes with this character in a way no other role I've seen her in has.
Vampire Barbie held her own with TylerKlaus too. I was happy nothing much happened during the body swap and that she got that smack in. I wasn't expecting much more than that. Look what Damon did to her and all she got to do there was throw him down a hall and fear and forgive him immediately.
I was happy to see Jasmine Guy. Her pain made me care about Bonnie's arc a little more. Though I think after four seasons, if you're still using a supporting (dead) character to buy goodwill towards your regular cast member, you should cut your losses and kill her off.
The Founders Council is reminding me a lot of the Watcher's Council in that they are completely ineffective and irrelevant.
Great recap -- esp. put out so quickly. I love hearing your thoughts on the triangle because I feel you aren't one team or another. You sit by me on Team Over It, except you sound way more sane than I do.
Jenners (I have no idea why the site now thinks I'm Jenni -- well I am Jenni, but why it's not using my twitter).
I want elena to be with damon!! well im happy tyler is back! i cant wait for next episode
Personally I was hoping for a much more intriguing and exciting premiere. I would have liked for Elena to be more sensitive...poor Damon :/ Back to BORING Stelena hopefully it will get better!
Hey Damon? YOU KILLED MATT'S SISTER SHUT THE FUCK UP.
That what really grate my nerves...Damon purposely turned Vicky because he was bored yet Matt should feel guilty over something he had no control over and now prove he worth being alive to the two dumbass Salvatore Brothers. JP fuckery logic.
So I did not bother watching this episode(hopped off this trainwreck since S3 finale) and from the overall bits I caught from others, I am glad I did not as apparently Elena was still a background dressing, annoying love "triangle" was still going on, everyone was still trying to protect their precious Mary Sue and the whole episode had no plot?
And seriously, Damon "I Killed your sister, banged your mom and raped your girlfriend" Salvatore blamed MATT?
is everyone in this show a sociopath?....
Didn't Klaus move to Tyler's body so that when his own body was staked; it wouldn't kill him? When his body survived, and everyone thought he was dead, he could safely re-inhabit it.
The magic plot lines are getting so thin with this show - random new power; some of which doesn't have consequences.
About your question on Klaus/Tyler :Bonnie did the spell so that Klaus would inhabit Tyler's body (in case Evilaric-oh I miss him- found him and staked him) and then he would have to find another body.So,yeah Bonnie not only fucked Tyler over,she also fucked another innocent person over!The foggy moment is not the why he did it;For me,it's how Kyler was the one in possession of the coffin.He must have gone to the storage to get it,okay.But why was the coffin left there to begin with??And why hadn't it be opened by Damon or Rebekah before Klaus got his hands on it?I know it's only the day after the car crash,but Rebekah knew that Evilaric was dead,so it's not like he would be waiting for her there.Didn't she feel the need to go back for it?To bury it or sth?And what about Damon?He and the rest of the gang had been trying to kill Klaus for a year now (MF timeline).He didn't open the coffin just to be sure??
As for the episode?BORED TO DEATH!It only got slightly better (or should I say less dull?)during the last 10 minutes.Rebekah (and Claire Holt) nailed it!I was so proud of her for standing up to Klaus and for destroying the remaining bloodbags!!Klaus needs to die!He is the most disgusting character that has ever lived! And,in my opinion,he's not a layered character anymore.There was potential to see another side of him in season 2,we did see other sides of him in season 3,but now??He's (okay,I don't know if that's the right phrase) a one-note character.He's just evil and that's it!What he was about to do to Caroline AND Tyler was disgusting,he cares for no other than himself and with the bloodbags gone,his primary goal in life is gone!So,he's one-dimensional character and serves no purpose!I hope his siblings are gonna be the ones to kill him b/c he has that one coming for a while now!I can't wait for Jeremy to become a vampire hunter/hater!!
It's good to have you back,Michael!Even though I have to admit that I was surprised you weren't appalled by the Kyler/Caroline almost sex scene ,like I thought you would be,your review is the best I've read so far!''Matt feels guilty for being unconcious''-that was my favorite!
Great review, agree with almost everything. sincerely, I love Rebekah and she's become one of my favorite characters. Klaus this episode, ugh. Trevino was brilliant, though.
I didn't like Damon blaming Matt either but I get that he was hurt and wasn't thinking. It's one of those moments Damon just doesn't think. And it was kind of Matt's fault. He was the one that - along with Jeremy - who got her out of the house. Anyway, I think that after season 3, Damon wouldn't act like that or at least he wouldn't try to kill Matt.
Speaking of season 3, did the writers just forget everything that freaking happened? Like Klaus having layers, Stefan hurting Elena (I know it was in the rippah phase but still), Damon and Elena bonding etc?
I quit watching regularly last season and while some stuff was
different, I had no idea who the hell that priest was, pretty much
everything else was same. It was an okay episode I guess, but Damon was
out of line and I felt terrible for Matt. Everyone was telling him he
should have died and then when he agreed Stefan yelled at him to
appreciate what happened. I don't even like Matt but poor guy.
I suppose I'm a fan of Stefan and Elena, I never really try to be and I
used to think they were boring but I just believe their scenes together.
I loved them sitting together at the end and their goodbye scene was
great and they were probably why I didn't hate the episode. (that said I
would drop them in a second for Elijah and Elena, holy crap are they
hot together)
The main reason I did watch is the same as always, Bonnie Bennet. Every
time, they get me. I was looking forward to her arc this season, yet her
dark magic storyline seems to already be wrapped up. Even with her new
powers, it didn't bother me that Bonnie didn't fight back given what
happened later, she didn't want to hurt Tyler maybe? I was intrigued by
the dark magic too, but what was actually dark about the magic she was
using? I know she killed herself, but everything she was doing was
selfless and similar to what she always does right down to the dark
room, candles, Latin and nosebleeds. She always tries to protect people
and it always hurts her, and since we haven't seen her father, they just
decided to kill her grandmother AGAIN. And given what usually happens,
Bonnie grieving her grandmother AGAIN will be shown off screen and
they'll ship her off for a couple episodes.
I liked your analysis of Rebekah because I didn't pay much attention to
her when I watched, but she was one of the better parts of this episode.
Back to cheesy, lovey-dovey Stelena oh… my… god... are we really in season 4??? Yeah, with a new and crazy vampire hunter. That's all folks!