8.11 - 'You Made a Choice to Be Good' (The Vampire Diaries)

[arabian]

So, I got a job! (Yay! It's not ideal, but it's a job!) I start tomorrow and I'm thinking that I will probably be getting the rest of these up on Saturday or Sunday from now on with my new schedule. So, yay!

Comments

[amberfocus]

Honestly, I can't get past all the real estate crap. I mean, it's The Vampire Diaries. I am regularly required to suspend my disbelief and believe for 42 minutes each week that there are vampires, werewolves, and witches, which, you know, I can do in the name of escapist fiction. But don't expect me to believe a house could ever be acquired in this manner. Even if he could forge Bonnie's signature, there would still have to be a witness besides the real estate agent and a Notary who was not the real estate agent, because you CAN NOT notarize your own sale or purchase, it is against the law. And even if all of that was in place, the documents still have to be filed with the city the sale takes place in AND be recorded so at least two to three business days to take possession, assuming it is a well-functioning department who stays on top of things. This was a slap in the face of reality to anyone who has either bought or sold a house. It would be easier to believe that Bonnie had a mortgage on the house and he bought the loan and became ispo facto the owner of the house that way, than that he compelled a real estate agent to forge paperwork. And then there is the whole thing of how a real estate agent not hired by the owner could even get a hold of the documents for the house in the first place. Not enough time. Stupid plot. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I do not expect TVD to be stupid. Over the top and ridiculous, yes, but not stupid.

Other than that, Caroline was pretty. Damon was snarky. I wish Bonnie was a descendant of Cade and hence had the power buried in her to defeat him. Now that would be a plot twist I could get behind, instead of random black dude student of Alaric's that I have not had time to care about yet, and if I were writing it, I would totally do that.

I hope things turn around. I want a happy ending that is plausible and doesn't end with me throwing things and/or swearing off teen vampire shows forever. I don't usually have this many feelings about TVD. My feelings are big this time.

[arabian]

Honestly, I can't get past all the real estate crap.

sarcasticcheese was the same way. That plot hole was just... SERIOUSLY!?

But like I said, Tsu Taylor generally makes one or two big BOFFO WTH? issues in her scripts.

Stupid plot. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I do not expect TVD to be stupid. Over the top and ridiculous, yes, but not stupid.

Yup.

Other than that, Caroline was pretty. Damon was snarky.

I wish Bonnie was a descendant of Cade and hence had the power buried in her to defeat him. Now that would be a plot twist I could get behind, instead of random black dude student of Alaric's that I have not had time to care about yet, and if I were writing it, I would totally do that.

I'm glad it's NOT Bonnie because for a while there every single dark-skinned character with any kind of psychic/witchy ability was an ascendent/related to Bonnie. It was pretty ridiculous. I think they've done a good job with Dorian actually. He was introduced early on in the season, as a bright student who figured out things, then we saw by virtue of Alaric telling him all that he was trust-worthy. We saw him working first with Ric, then Matt, now Caroline for a bit. We saw him mourn a dear friend and fight to avenge her. We've seen his interest and level-headedness when dealing with the crazy and in this episode we got back-story, and first his interest in maybe being a vampire, and then put in a situation where he was able to definitively make the decision not to. All of that and we don't even know for sure that he is the descendant of Cade.

I hope things turn around. I want a happy ending that is plausible and doesn't end with me throwing things and/or swearing off teen vampire shows forever.

Other than Bonnie/Enzo and their relationship (ugh), I think that most episodes this season overall have been great to awesome. There was only one so-so one before this, and again, outside of Bonnie/Enzo, the other stuff was pretty fabulous, so yeah, I have faith we'll get a good ending that works!

I don't usually have this many feelings about TVD. My feelings are big this time.

When a major stupid invades your show and it's SO unlike the show that is bound to happen!

[amberfocus]

I did think about that, that Bonnie has been related to almost every black character on the show, except that one witch and his dad. But because everyone has always been related to Bonnie it would actually make sense for them to fall back on that again. To be honest, I kept expecting Dorian to be a long lost cousin or something of Bonnie's.

I just haven't taken to Dorian. He didn't grab me from the beginning like the male witch did. No spark, I guess. Not like Georgie. If there had been more time with him and Alaric, I might care, but really I don't attach to new characters anymore because I know time is running out and they will just end up dead anyway, like the Miss Mystic Falls girl who was turned. Or like Matt's cop friend last season. Most of the time I don't even remember their names anymore.

Do you know if Jeremy is coming back for the last episode, too, or is he done done?

[arabian]

I did think about that, that Bonnie has been related to almost every black character on the show, except that one witch and his dad. But because everyone has always been related to Bonnie it would actually make sense for them to fall back on that again.

I don't know, for me it would have been a step too far, and well, I like Dorian. :)

o be honest, I kept expecting Dorian to be a long lost cousin or something of Bonnie's.

Now that actually didn't cross my mind!

I just haven't taken to Dorian. He didn't grab me from the beginning like the male witch did. No spark, I guess. Not like Georgie.

I do agree with that. (Although, the male witch--Luka--I thought was awful. Didn't like him at all. His dad, Jonas, was way better.)

If there had been more time with him and Alaric, I might care

I think they could have cast the role better (I mean, I loved Oscar--still miss him!--after one episode. Rebekah? One episode. Elijah? One episode. Tessa? One episode. Georgie? Two episodes. So I think it's the casting here.

but really I don't attach to new characters anymore because I know time is running out and they will just end up dead anyway, like the Miss Mystic Falls girl who was turned. Or like Matt's cop friend last season. Most of the time I don't even remember their names anymore.

I can see why you would feel that way. I'm OK as long as the casting/writing is good.

Do you know if Jeremy is coming back for the last episode, too, or is he done done?

I'm fairly positive that he is for sure coming back, but not 100% (about 99.9%) but I know no specifics, because, yeah, still trying for spoiler-free.

[amberfocus]

I did like Luka, though. I thought he was gorgeous and had chemistry with Bonnie. Not as much as Jeremy, though. I did like his dad, too.

Even though I like Bonnie/Enzo and I am not sure he will come back from the dead, I would throw them over in a heartbeat for a Bonnie/Jeremy happy ending. Not like super epic or anything, but him holding out his hand to her and saying "Want to try again?" and her pausing for a long moment, swallowing hard, and then saying, "Yeah," and taking his hand and then the wind blows their hair and the sunset does something glorious and she takes a step closer. And that's it. That is all it would take to make me happy with Bonnie's storyline closure. I don't even need a kiss, because it would be a disservice to Enzo, but a sweet moment with Jeremy with a chance for a future, yes. That would be enough. But I doubt I will get it, because this show likes to hurt me.

[arabian]

Oh, see I thought Luka (and the actor who played him) was a big giant suck of anti-chemistry. Hell, even his few scenes with Ian Somerhalder had like no spark. The guy just did NOTHING, actually less than nothing for me. I was so happy when he died!

RE: Bonnie/Jeremy and Bonnie/Enzo -- I actually said something very similar in the last write-up:
I just wish I could buy their love story, but I don't so I don't think for one second that they'd actually get a happy end together. Bonnie still hasn't faced reality in their relationship, and Bonnie is literally the FIRST person who has ever even claimed to love Enzo back and where he actually got to be with her. There's just so much hinky with them and their "great love." Ah, I really wish they hadn't killed off Sarah (Salvatore). I liked her and Enzo. And I could happily see Jeremy show back up (because he so will) and have a moment of re-connection with him and Bonnie that would show that was her happy ending, and Enzo after realizing that he needs a love that faces all reality and goes to an exhibit of Sarah's or something and she turns and sees him and they share a smile. That would work so much better for me. But, alas, yeah, not happening.
To repeat myself: Yeah, not happening. But since I'm positive we'll get Damon/Elena and Stefan/Caroline, I'll be very happy with that.

[amberfocus]

Yeah, we often disagree about chemistry, though. And characters. I liked Jo. I liked lady cop. I liked Luka. I thought Stefan and Elena had a ton of chemistry and I really loved them together. But I always rooted for Damon because he was far more interesting and was never holier than thou, which is a character flaw I don't like in Stefan and it turns out he never had any reason to be holier than thou. He's the brother who has done the worst things. (Once it was obvious Caroline had a crush on Stefan and they built a friendship (at least once Tyler/Caroline was no longer viable), and Elena's eyes were turning towards Damon with increasing frequencey, that's all I wanted, though.) And I like Bonnie/Enzo even with the short-shrift. I did not like the actress who played Mama Salvatore, however. Didn't hate her, just...didn't connect. And the lesbian couple, you liked one, I liked the other, so...*shrugs* Personal preference, I suppose.

I don't think I read the last write up. I usually read them all, but that week was a mess and I wasn't ready to read two long and detailed write ups this week as I'm sick and I generally have to read them, think about them, and then read them again. So I picked this one. I'm sure I'll go back and read it in a day or two when my head no longer feels twice as big as it should be.

[arabian]

Yeah, we often disagree about chemistry, though.

Well, chemistry is soooo subjective!

And characters. I liked Jo. I liked lady cop. I liked Luka.

I think we agree on most characters, though, it's just a few where we differ. I think.

I thought Stefan and Elena had a ton of chemistry and I really loved them together.

Now, I do think they had chemistry (if not a ton), but yeah, even before I became die-hard Damon/Elena, and did like S/E, I never went beyond kinda liking them and thinking they were sweet.

But I always rooted for Damon because he was far more interesting and was never holier than thou, which is a character flaw I don't like in Stefan and it turns out he never had any reason to be holier than thou.

Hah! LOL! Oh, Stefan. My self-righteous boo!

He's the brother who has done the worst things. (Once it was obvious Caroline had a crush on Stefan and they built a friendship (at least once Tyler/Caroline was no longer viable), and Elena's eyes were turning towards Damon with increasing frequencey, that's all I wanted, though.)

It's so weird how things change. I mean, I liked Tyler/Caroline (and Klaus/Caroline) at first, but as the story progressed they just didn't work for me. (Of course, that really could have been intentional on the writers' part--show why this pairing doesn't work.)

And I like Bonnie/Enzo even with the short-shrift.

I think if I didn't think all of the other love stories were so well-done (even ones I didn't like, such as Jo/Alaric), that the short-shrift wouldn't bother me. I love Bonnie, really like Enzo and I do think they have chemistry... my frustration with the sub-par writing of the love story has just grown with each episode so I like them less and less. This one is not on the actors AT ALL; it's totally on the writing.

I did not like the actress who played Mama Salvatore, however. Didn't hate her, just...didn't connect.

I can see that completely because I actually liked her WAY more on TVD than I did on 24. I think that if I had just seen her first on TVD, I would feel the same as you. (Still didn't like her, though.)

And the lesbian couple, you liked one, I liked the other, so...*shrugs* Personal preference, I suppose.

Ah, which one did you like? Because I started out really liking Mary Louise (blonde) and being meh on Nora (brunette), then switched over (about mid-season) to really liking Nora and kinda losing that early bloom for Mary Louise.

I don't think I read the last write up. I usually read them all, but that week was a mess and I wasn't ready to read two long and detailed write ups

Me? Write long and detailed write-ups? I don't know what you're talking about! LOL!

I generally have to read them, think about them, and then read them again.

Aww, is that because I give so much to think about or they're not clear?! Eek!

So I picked this one. I'm sure I'll go back and read it in a day or two when my head no longer feels twice as big as it should be.

Well, I hope you do feel better soon!

[amberfocus]

Nora was the one I liked all the way through. I did not care for Mary Louise, never warmed up to her. There was maybe a moment or two, but I don't know. I think, also, it might be because she looks so much like Liza Huber (Susan Lucci's daughter) who played a character I really did not like a long time ago, which I didn't realize at the time. But ML just felt cold most of the time. I really did not like any of that group much, though. I liked Oscar, Nora, and Beau (oh, hey, black guy who wasn't related to Bonnie).

No, your write ups are not unclear at all. It's just I don't watch the show paying as much attention to detail as you do. I sort of just watch it on an emotional level most of the time, root for my people, and laugh at the snark. I don't know who is directing or writing or any of that until I read it here. The most I usually do is look up music if there is a song I like, or a new character's actor if I feel like I know them from somewhere. So then when you write about the details there's always stuff I didn't pay attention to. Or might have fallen asleep during (like when Seline died the first time, I thought she was dead, so I must have fallen asleep at the very end). Or when I thought Elena should be able to jump bodies so we could keep the character, but I didn't remember it was only a witch who could jump into the body of another witch. That sort of thing.

So when I read the write ups, you always bring in past information and tie it around to current storyline and so I have to digest that and kind of integrate it into what my impressions were of the show, then read through it all again to see how that shakes into my brain, before I respond.

I have not rewatched the show as much as you. I've seen season 1 three times and season 2 through 5 twice, and then the rest only once. Well, I rewatched a couple of Bonnie and Damon eps when they were trapped a couple times, but that's it.

I love the show, but I'm not as devoted as I was. And I prefer The Originals these last couple seasons, actually since Elena left. I will still miss TVD dreadfully, though.

[arabian]

Nora was the one I liked all the way through. I did not care for Mary Louise, never warmed up to her.

Ah, OK. My thing was Mary Louise was so reserved and tight-laced, and seemed the "nicest" but we could sense there was more going on. Then when Julian showed up, we saw that she had a real darkness to her. I thought that was interesting, but nothing ever developed. Nora, I began to like around episode 7 or 8 and she was my favorite of the two after then.

I think, also, it might be because she looks so much like Liza Huber (Susan Lucci's daughter) who played a character I really did not like a long time ago

Gwen on Passions? I was a Theresa-girl myself, LOL!

No, your write ups are not unclear at all. It's just I don't watch the show paying as much attention to detail as you do. I sort of just watch it on an emotional level most of the time, root for my people, and laugh at the snark.

Ah, gotcha. That makes sense. I do tend to go pretty deep into it, LOL!

I have not rewatched the show as much as you. I've seen season 1 three times and season 2 through 5 twice, and then the rest only once. Well, I rewatched a couple of Bonnie and Damon eps when they were trapped a couple times, but that's it.

I watched s1 about 4 times, season 2 and 3 about 3 times, season 4, 5, 6, 7 twice. And I've watched some episodes of season 08 twice. When the series is over, I plan to do a full rewatch, but take my time going through it, read my write-ups, comments, maybe clean them up, add more. And then, I plan to do a quick rewatch of the whole series after that.

I love the show, but I'm not as devoted as I was.

Sadly that's the case for many. :(

And I prefer The Originals these last couple seasons, actually since Elena left.

I'm watching TO, but it just doesn't do it for me. Of the characters that were on TVD, only Klaus I like better. Rebekah has just been written horribly, Elijah's backstory on TVD was ignored, rewritten, etc. And to me most of the characters feel like supporting ones, not lead. But, to each their own. I know you're not the only one that prefers that one now.

I will still miss TVD dreadfully, though.

ME TOO!!!

(BTW: I believe birthday wishes are in order! So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!)

[ghidorah15]

The Originals drove me away when it killed off both Camille and Davina. Screw that noise. And that's not even getting into its mistreatment of my beloved Rebekah. *sigh* The Vampire Diaries has been so much better, even with all the frustrations, and I'm really looking forward to Elena coming back and shutting down the haters once and for all. ;)

[arabian]

I wasn't happy about them killing them off either (of course, I really wasn't happy with them turning Cami into a vampire--I liked her better as a human, but ah well). I'm still watching it because (A) Jason Dohring (Will, the detective) might be back--no spoilers, LOL! so I don't know, and (B) this may be the last season, and (C) if it's not Candice or Zach might somehow wind up on that show depending on how things end on TVD.

Can't wait to see my bb, Elena again!!!

[sarcasticcheese]

Heh, I did rant pretty hard about the real estate thing.

(Hey look here I am. It's only been 3 years since I last did anything on LJ lol).

[arabian]

LOL! Great icon.

You clearly were not the only one who had an issue with the 'real estate thing.'