Oh, you guys. After my huge, redundant, and delayed (all in one, it was weird) epiphany last week about The Vampire Diaries being a grand ol’ thrilling soap opera, this episode was just that much more enjoyable. Because, obviously, we can talk about all of things that would normally irk me in this episode. We truly can.
For example, the fact that my sister and I were yelling at Elena to just break Damon’s neck (though, that could have been a sire thing… who knows?) for about 20 minutes before someone did that. Or that Creepy Professor tells Bonnie that she likes Expression rather than showing us that. Or that TVD‘s love map needs to grow even more now that Rebekah has also had her share of the Salvatore brothers (but, actually, I’m not mad at this). Or that the show easily brushed aside that one of its heros was completely okay with murdering innocent people. Or even that Bonnie’s dad is just part of the story all willy nilly. Or the continued tradition of BIGGER BAD is still a thing: now Silas can end ALL OF TIME.
But we won’t talk about those things. Because Vampire Diaries last night was fun — and that’s all I’m asking for these days. And I hate to put it this way, but I think that “Catch Me If You Can” may all be about Stefan. Stefan, not being “in” love with Elena looks good on you. Please do more of that, thanks. We’ve spent so much of this series with Stefan being a bit obsessive about Elena in that sense, that seeing him being of sound mind and still not fawning over our heroine was a breath of fresh air. You don’t need to make Stefan a Ripper, writers, you just need to make him not be in love with Elena — and it turns out, there’s a character underneath that. Now, I can’t attest to whether or not Stefan meant that sincerely (it has been, like, a day… and he’s still looking for the cure… and he’s apparently still being tortured by his relationship), but I do think it was sort of a meta moment that the episode where Stefan’s been the most fun without being a psycho murderer is the same where he tells Elena, “You don’t know what I look like when I’m not in love with you.” Priceless.
The same goes for Rebekah telling Stefan that he used to be fun in the Roaring 20s when he was murdering people — nay, he wasn’t a murderer… just a killer. And it was fun! Killing is a delight! Once again, this can be nothing but the writers telling us we’re taking death too seriously… especially considering it came right after the bar massacre scene. And you know, why not? Though I think it’s a bit of a juxtaposition to have a season where the writers are trying their hardest to give more substance to death on the show and then have about three massacres and a character calling it “not murder.” But I feel as though, unlike before, the show is very aware about it all. It’s not executing it as self-aware as it can be, but even Stefan admitted that Damon tried to kill Jeremy before — and yet, Elena continues to love him. The show gets how disturbed it can be sometimes, and I think it’s sort of like, look, we know… but… let’s just have some fun. Let’s! Although, we should mention that Damon would be willing to let Jeremy kill him rather than continue with his compulsion. But as aforementioned, isn’t his reactions to Mayor Lockwood and Jeremy dying sort of undone by his approval of the bar massacre?
Anyway, to hell with Elena! I’m glad more people are onboard with this, including Tyler who was absent this episode. All Stefan wanted was to get it in. Poor you Stefan, the only other CW character that has gone this long is Dan Humphrey.
But there are still people that care about Elena, so we must discuss them as well… I guess. What I truly love about this conflict here is that everyone is sort of in a rat race and against each other. If we think about it that way, I think Silas is a much more interesting plot point to have even more people be against each other. What I seriously love about this season of the series is that it has put all of our characters in constant battle against each other in a way that no other season has been able to construct. So I like the idea of everyone going after the cure, and I’m mostly okay with all of their motivations. I can’t explain it, I just think that the show can utilize these tensions across the board better than, say, brining Silas in and now everyone has to take him down. Last night, as my sister and I were watching, she mentioned that Klaus is the worst villain. And normally I’d agree, except this time I replied, “Well, there really is no villain right now.” And it’s true. And I sort of love that.
Now, as for Damon being compelled, I won’t comment on how it’s another epic romance detour. But I do like that it caused Elena to think of a plan. (Well, let’s be honest… plans and Elena don’t mix, more like she thought of an idea. But I sill love the idea.) And speaking of Damon, I’m glad that the show sort of acknowledged that maybe Damon can’t love her without being a vampire, just like Stefan can’t completely love her if she isn’t human. Once again, it’s just people telling them that (I mean, they could have had Kol compel it out of him…) but it’s just another reinforcement of how the brothers love her.
But mostly, even with Kol’s large following, I just want to see Jeremy kill an Original.
Some bites:
Weirdly, I put this up about 12 hours after I usually would. This is like the second time the entire series I didn’t watch it “live,” but also my Internet was acting up. The same will most likely happen next week when I watch the 30 Rock finale live instead because… come on, it’s the finale!
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1.stefan and rebecca:hot!great!i want more of that!(not the sex,the relationship.and sex too,if you insist)
2.bonnie:holy shit.liked that.hope she won't be a bad witch though.
2.mr.creep-whatever:what's that glamour-compel thingie he does with bonnie?
3.damon:poor fella.he always falls in love,he sacrifies everything and he ends up locked in the basement,AGAIN.
4.col:WHERE HE HELL WAS HE?HE'S HOT!MORE PLEASE!i even googled the actor.and he has sexy voice too.''darling..!''
5.klaus:being klaus.sorry for everyone but i love this lil fella whatever he does.
6.elena:why is she still alive?was she hoping that stefan would still be in love with her?who the hell she thinks she is?that's what happens when a lot of hot guys fall for you.the little brain you have,evaporates whatsoever.
7.jeremy:whatever.keep walking.
B+
Bonnie is on a "Phoenix-a-la-Jean Grey in X-Men" path and I CANNOT WAIT to see that come to life! Also, “You don’t know what I look like when I’m not in love with you.” A++. Broken Stefan > Ripper Stefan > "In Love With Elena" Stefan.
I don't want Jeremy killed a original because it was Elena's idea and Matt had help a la distractions from Stefan and Elena to kill Finn (you know the least harmless out of siblings). You are right about the murder thing as Elena was pitching a fit over them turning innocent people and killing them but has no problem with destroying a bloodline because she can't get laid. Also Elena got told by Stefan like first all, Rebekah only started attempting to kill Elena after Elena daggered her and lest we remember prior to the car accident, Elena and company had just spending their time trying to off her family whereas Damon did murder Jeremy over the fact Elena (his brother's girlfriend) told him it would always be Stefan (the guy she was in a serious relationship with) and Damon decided the best way to prove his love was murder Jeremy who had nothing to do with it.
I also need to point out no one seems aware during Jeremy's i see dead people storyline, Damon was beating on little dude to get information. But yeah Elena needs to shut up and her plan sounds like stupid written on it as Jeremy has only been practicing on Matt and newborn vampires and I am done for Kol to make his exit because of Elena's dumb sire self, it bad enough she was allow to off Connor.
Bonnie badass but she had me laugh when she stated her friends wouldn't go too far if they were aware people would die...come on, Bonnie should know her friends would throw anyone under the bus, just ask Abby.
"Bonnie badass but she had me laugh when she stated her friends wouldn't go too far if they were aware people would die...come on, Bonnie should know her friends would throw anyone under the bus, just ask Abby."
AMEN TO THIS!!!!!!! Bonnie do you even know your friends/allies? Honey must have amnesia..I present to the jury for evidence Exhibit A: Abby and Exhibit B: the hybrid Chris.
I will say that this episode was fun to scream and laugh at in all of it's ridiculousness. I mean, what's funnier than having Damon explain why he's trying to kill you while he's trying to kill you? Again!! And I suppose the best line goes to Stefan. I think it's more accurate to say that Elena does not remember a Stefan who is not in love with her. I think that her mission from the very beginning was to get Stefan in her corner. And she succeeded in that by essentially isolating him and establishing rumors. But I digress.
It was stupid for Rebekah to act surprised that Kol would kill her (in defense no less). She was just about to stake him out of fear of her own big brother, Klaus. It's kind of pathetic that everyone in that family has to bow down or concede to his authority. I mean, I guess they couldn't all just team up and get rid of him or something.
Also during the interrogation scene with Rebekah and Stefan I thought they could just turn the guy into a vampire before he offed himself. Or prevented him from killing himself and biting his own tongue. I mean just a scene before Rebekah stopped a knife from penetrating her face. She can't be so slow that she can't stop a guy from stabbing himself in the neck.
And the back and forth of whether or not it's okay to kill innocent people. Clearly Elena is just saying shit b/c it's beneficial to Damon. Of course she wants to kill Kol, so Damon can be free from compulsion and she can see Damon, innocents be damned! And the previous episodes indicate that maybe her "love" for him is due to Damon's desire that she actually love him rather than just be compelled to love him. So much compulsion. Compulsion overload. *crash*
Also, Ruddy comes in wanting to protect Bonnie from Shane. Shane convinces him that he can teach/control Bonnie so she is less of a danger to herself and others. Ruddy tries to force Bonnie to go back to Shane who is really just out for himself. Clearly Bonnie has no supportive people, or people who want to support her and whatever she pursues for the betterment of herself. Cause her killing Shane would have been the right thing to do. She was actually doing a good thing but then both Shane and Ruddy are trying to convince her otherwise. A lot of patriarchal control in one situation. Bonnie had the right idea. She should decide how she wants to use her powers. She shouldn't be forced to do anything but here we are. If she were to become a "bad" witch I'd prefer it be of her own volition.
This episode was fun for the fact that Elena got served some truth by Stefan AND Matt on her behavior, as well as Bonnie doing expression magic with Shane showing his true colors.
I hope it goes down that Bonnie teams up with Kol to stop everyone else from raising Silas. I feel like this point needs to be addressed; are none of these MF-ers wondering why they might have to massacre 12 people in a ritual as well as kill a # of vampires to reveal a map to some person who has a supposed "cure"? I mean I would wonder about the person who has the cure, like why is all this death necessary to raise one person? What kind of being are we dealing with, ya know?
Only freaking KOL, the "unhinged" original, is thinking rationally - that's messed up >.< So anyway, Bonnie should team up with him. Team Bekah should shake down Team Klaus and Elena...actually Team Klaus and Elena can go jump in a river somewhere.
I really did enjoy Elena getting told off more than once in an episode. I don't think Stefan is in ripper mode though, I really think that's the REAL him. I like him better this way, sassy Stefan needs to stick around :)
Elena is coming off hypocritical again though. This episode she balks about Damon pressing for Jeremy to murder people and the next episode she WANTS Jeremy to kill Kol (and essentially every vampire descended from him, which may be 1000s)...
anyone else get a chuckle out of the scene between klaus/jeremy/damon/matt when jeremy says he doesn't want to kill people and damon remarks "they're not people."
.........he just gave jeremy license to kill him and stefan, because they're not people either.
"You don't know what I look like when I am not in love with you"
Best. Stefan Quote. Ever! Yes, now we know what Stefan looks like and I love this new look!
Photo recap comeback plz!!!!!!!!