Whatevs, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE MY FAVORITE FUCKING TV SHOW, OKAY?
So this episode gave me a couple of things I've always wanted, things that were considered "fanon" at best, but made my heart explode with even more feels than I could possibly contend with. I was totally spoiled from tumblr, twitter, and the like going in to this episode because I couldn't stand it. But let me address the two issues that mattered most to me, and then move on:
1) Damon recognized that he was loved unconditionally by someone AMAZEBALLS AMAZING, and that was enough. If that's all he gets, if he "peaked" then so be it. He's okay with it. I don't think he's really considering how wrecked Elena will be by this, but I'll give him some time to dwell on it.
2) Lexi Branson, bless your soul, YOU FINALLY DID RIGHT BY THE SALVATORE BROTHERS. Of course, it didn't work out the way we planned, but the intention counts in my book. I FORGIVE YOU for all your shenanigans. You are back in my good book. But I still don't care that Damon killed you to begin with.
Beyond that, I thought this episode was MOTHER FUCKING RIDICULOUSLY GOOD. Just, everything I could have wanted. Y'know, minus Bonnie and Damon going to the 4th Dimension, or wherever Grams got them a deal. Because I'm sure they're not gone forever, especially based on the two of them going to BloodyNightCon in Brussels. And, yes, part of me ships Bonnie and Damon and has always wanted them to have more screen time together. And I in no way think that they are gonna fall in love and dump Elena and Jeremy when they finally make it back to Mystic Falls. Damon would fight just as hard to return Bonnie to Jeremy as he would to get himself back to Elena, so I think it will be a hell of a story. With lots of Bamon Bonding (TM pending) along the way.
And Alaric. Alaric is back, y'all. ALARIC FUCKING SALTZMAN IS BACK. I already saw an article confirming Matt Davis as a S6 regular. So, yay. And I don't think Liz is dead, praise Damon. But fucking Enzo is as well. I certainly hope there is a scene next season where Ric gives Enzo the BFF smackdown, because GTFO, ENZO. Nobody likes you.
And Tyler isn't a hybrid? Does that mean none of them are magical creatures anymore, or just double spelled ones like him?
I do wish that Stefan and Damon had at least glimpsed each other, but my heart is consoled in the above Lexi-ness. Also, Lexi ships Steroline. Which also wins her big BIG points in my book ;-)
Elena. Oh, Elena. So, yeah. Here it is. The big thing. That thing, that as shippers of this OTP, most of us have wanted on some level -- just Elena finally getting it, understanding why Damon is her match, and letting go of all that other stuff that is from her old human life. Of course, now, if she's not a vampire anymore, it will be even more complicated, I suppose, but if she is still a vampire, her humanity switch will be sorely tested. She wasted time figuring out that she would rather be dead than live without Damon, and now she actually has to live without Damon, because even if she were to die, nobody knows where the hell he is.
Bonnie: Do you think it will hurt?
Damon: I don't know.
And Bonnie. My little Bon-Bon. My order of character love goes like this: Damon, Elena, Alaric, Bonnie. Bonnie didn't always hold fourth place, but she's had a steady rise since she was willing to lay down and die in 2x21 to kill Klaus. This season only cemented those ever-growing feelings for me, to the point that now, I just genuinely love her so much. The only reason she's not higher on the list is because I've loved Damon, Elena and Alaric since I first clapped eyes on them each respectively. I love that they have continually used Grams as the emotional touchstone for Bonnie, and I'm glad she got to send Silas off Bygones-style. Admittedly, it was cool to see Silas again, I really enjoyed him, and all his cracks about Broody!Stefan were the true comedy of this episode. But I always go back to how when Grams died Bonnie ripped my heart out even though I didn't really love her that much back then. And Grams has always been there, and thankfully, she prepared a place for Bonnie plus one ;-)
Caroline killing Luke? BAMF! Not so hard when the guy isn't wearing Stefan's face, yo.
And lastly, Damon. My sweet, innocent Damon. You, of the sad eyes. You, of the just wanting to be loved. You, of the get all the people you love to safety and then swallow the karmic retribution so bravely. You, of the besides Elena, Stefan, and Alaric, who would you spend your eternity with? Probably Bonnie. Y'all are kin, remember? Maybe Emily will turn up and they'll finally flesh out the whole story of how Damon vowed to keep the Bennett witches safe. I'd love that story, I really, really would. Damon, using Elena's words against her, only because he too finally gets it. Their relationship is equal now. How many times have they disregarded what the other wanted? Those days are gone. And when she hopped in the car with him, despite his protests, what he really understood was that they are who they are. They have always been and will always be each other's perfect match. Not because they are perfect, obviously, but because they complement each other. They are partners, through and through.
And ugh. Perfect OTP is perfect.
In closing though, last season they burned down the Gilbert house. Tonight they exploded The Grill and DESTROYED THE CAMARO. I AM GRIEVING OVER MY DEAD BABIES. Maybe the Grill can be repaired, but I think the Camaro is gone. Elena won't even have his car to sit in and cry. I guess she'll just wallow in his giant-ass bed, and clean the fireplace, and drink his bourbon while sitting in his bathtub.
In closing:
