When Stefan lost his memory last week, I was split pretty evenly about it. On one hand, you have what could be a trite plot twist. On the other, it could be a lot of fun having Stefan rediscover this weird world. I mean, these are people who are vampires and where a friend is dead but is making sure no one knows. That’s kind of funny, and maybe he would point out some of these oddities in a breaking-the-fourth-wall kind of way. He did do that, a bit. And then there was a lot of what was supposed to be serious that, to put this blatantly, was just hilarious. Ultimately, I struggled with whether to be much more lenient with this episode because it was, in a way, entertaining, but in the end, it failed at what it wanted to accomplish. It’s not like this is worst-episode-ever territory (the worst TVD episode is still “Into the Wild”). But it just did not live up to what it set out to do.
The problem with The Vampire Diaries this season is that it’s unsure of what the hell to do now. That’s really it, in a nutshell. The show focused for so long on Klaus and the Originals, that once they all were shipped off, it’s been panicking, frenetically looking around at what it can cling onto. And, unfortunately, what it’s been clinging onto is the past. And that’s simply not enough. There’s no reason why it should expound on the murky mythology that is Silas. And where is Bonnie headed, even? And are you sure you want to make a Creepy Professor the antagonist again?
And if there’s one thing that “For Whom the Bell Tolls” was — besides hilarious — it was a retread of everything. Literally. That’s what it had to be, because Stefan was getting explained to him everything that’s happened. It’s an affirmation about what season five has been like so far, which is strange because there actually are a lot of shifts in the dynamics. It’s just sad that it took Stefan amnesia to finally realize what kind of screwed up universe these people are living in.[*]
[*] Though I love Caroline and Stefan, you can’t make him forget everything and then have Caroline just shove him and then have him be all, “You’re always there for me.” What? I don’t understand this show.
Where this episode suffered however is that it was just unintentionally funny. I know this was supposed to be another hard-hitting episode in the vein of “Stand by Me,” but it just was not. From the moment Damon hugged Jeremy, I just could not stop laughing. And it didn’t stop until Bonnie’s funeral (if you want to call it that). That’s just not the reaction I should have been having, I’m guessing. I know I say a lot that I’m dead inside, but that doesn’t stop episodes from making me not laugh when they’re trying to be serious. It didn’t happen with “Stand by Me,” which did more than make me not-laugh, by the way. Normally, this would add to the entertainment factor. But here, it’s just a drawback. This episode didn’t pack the punch they would have liked it to, not for me anyway. It’s a shame.
Even worse so is that everything that had to do with Bonnie just confirmed her one-dimensionality. Damon didn’t care that she was dead, he just didn’t want Jeremy to say it because then it would be real. Oh, and of course, it would be so awful for Elena, because… I don’t know why exactly. Sure Bonnie’s death and indefinite stay in purgatory must suck for her, but think about what it will do for Elena. Caroline didn’t even want to think about it because god forbid they mourn a friend they’ve lost. And the funeral, surrounded by a tree stump, where they placed a pom-pom(?), a whistle(???), and feathers(??????) because…? Okay, she was a cheerleader, but when did we ever get to see any of that? And I get that the feathers was the first time Bonnie showed Elena she was a witch, but the problem here is that it reaffirms that’s all Bonnie was to this show. And to be honest, that’s a reason it’s suffered so much. A character should be more than just her faux-title. Elena isn’t defined by being a vampire, is she?[**] There, sadly, was just no other objects to place on that stump(?????????) because Bonnie wasn’t fleshed out beyond her convenience to the plot. The characters even went around asking for her to fix the plot this episode, but she just couldn’t — which is too bad, because the plot could use her right now.[***]
[**] Okay, I realize I’m being too harsh here. Obviously, those could very well be moments the characters hold close to them. But I just can’t help but feel having the most powerful item being feathers is just underscoring how Bonnie was important as a means to an end and not a character in her own right. But that’s me. I don’t want to harsh Tumblr’s buzz. I’m sorry.
[***] And, was that scene where Elena cried about not having anything to wear a little too close to Willow’s speech in “The Body” on Buffy the Vampire Slayer? These kinds of coincidences need to stop.
Stefan losing his memory must be bittersweet. On one hand, he doesn’t know what he should be missing, so that’s nice. On the other, all he’s left with is this.
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What was funny about this whole episode besides the awful writing was the fact that Bonnie's memorial wasn't about her it was about the other people. Which is so Julie Plec, because Bonnie's life isn't about Bonnie and neither was her death. All she is a plot device not a developed character like her counter parts, which is total BS! This just showed how crappy Bonnie's friends are, seriously Elena leaving freaking feathers at the memorial shows that she just saw Bonnie as a witch not her supposed best friend.
Also someone needs to destroy the wig that they have Kat Graham wear. Burn the thing, because it's a freaking sin! She looks so pretty outside of Vampire Diaries and they decide to put a squirrel on her head, wtf? I'm done ranting now lol
I don't understand why they don't just let her handle her own hair, she'd do a better job than their team. It just leads me to think they tone down her looks on purpose.
Seriously she looked so much better in Season 1, with her curly hair and cute outfits and it's gone down hill. I mean even Anna had a different outfit as ghost.
BTW Elena totally lied to Damon about why Stefan up and left. She was flirting with him and made it seem like they were still together with all that stuff about him being a perfect boyfriend only to turn around and announce she is doing his brother now. One thing I did like was Stefan "dumping" them. The promo is what this about though as despite the fact Damon claims he may be doing this for Elena let's be mindful he did diddly squat trying to get Jeremy resurrected, now he going to go to Silas to get Bonnie back. For Elena my ass. I was not feeling the memorial though as what she said about Elena was lie cause Elena does not swoop in and fix anything, she does the opposite. I was only moved by Matt and Tyler.
I was laughing my ass off for a good 10 minutes just because they were playing Gravity during that SE scene.
Bonnie has never mattered to these people. Her funeral reflected just that. I just don't understand how nobody said any kind words about her? instead she was going around telling them how great they were. Bonnie just go completely on the other side and chill with your grandma, these people don' care.
i'm surprised NOBODY thought about finding someone to perform magic & bring her back. Because it's not Bonnie they miss, it's her powers. I'm sure they will all become BFF with Quetsya (spl???) because wtv.
shoot qetisiyah ain't about to let them use her as their magical fix-it without getting something really good in return, and she'd probably do something underhanded too. That's just the feeling I get from her. I wish Bonnie was like that!
https://corleonesandlannisters.com/
I thought it would be fun having Stefan lose his memory but the episode was still...meh. I guess usual TVD stuff. BUT, as a biology major in college, I was offended with the way they were portraying Caroline retaining all that information. Im sorry, what? someone told you you arent smart so you went to the library for two hours and studied all types of sciences, without help from a professor or preceptor, and suddenly you are a compilation of walking science textbooks?? That ish is hard enough when its just chemistry but homegirl was doing all of it. What was is it again... chemistry, bio, biochem etc. Ugh stop playing. I'm not even sure how she graduated high school seeing as she went to school twice her whole senior year...and it wasn't for class but for the school dances she was throwing. Haha sorry for ranting but...college sciences? definitely a real struggle.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! That Price Peterson crap has been completely erased from my brain because of this review. You summed up everything I felt about that episode and Bonnie's arc.
What did he say?
He started off his review with this long rant about ghosts and why they're such stalkers that need to pass on and stop creeping on the living. Then he drools over Jeremy, states how amnesiac Stefan is dumb and had no right to get mad at Elena, says Bonnie is a creeper for sticking around. He doesn't have much love for bonnie or Stefan in this recap at all. but he does spend a lot of time drooling over Jeremy.
Ugh he's so obvious with it. But thanks for warning me.
His review made me sick too. Too much hate for Bonnie and Stefan. I didn't saw anything special in Jeremy Damon hug. I thought first he is gonna snap his neck. I thought I was the only one to hate that( review).
The part about Bonnie was spot on!!
Everything about Bonnie's funeral was so uncomfortable for me because I'm pretty sure the writers wanted us to cry, and all I could think about was "Why the FUCK is Elena dropping feathers on Bonnie's grave????"
I agree with everything you said.
"
The problem with The Vampire Diaries this season is that it’s unsure of what the hell to do now."
That has been the main problem with this show since start of S3.
I mean I can excuse Elena being FREAKING BORING CARDBOARD BOX, if the rest of the show is good. But every twist, every decision, every event was "been there done that" TEN TIMES IN A ROW. In S3 alone. Except this time it made no sense unlike the first time they used those twiss