[Who names a kid Malachi? It's like they expected me to be evil!]
So, I'll come back to how much adore Kai (or is it 'Chi?), but let it be known, I adore him. And he's a serial killer, big surprise.
Here's my biggest impression coming off my re-watch of this episode: Elena. ELENA IS THE KEY TO EVERYTHING. And I know Julie Plec has said it before, how this is the story of two brothers ripped apart by Katherine and brought together by Elena, but for the first time, it's fundamentally clear to me. I mean, I get that Damon is also Elena's journey, loving him, accepting her love for him, being ripped apart by that love on so many levels, and everything, but this 1994 flashback doesn't feel as ret-conned to me as some of the other infamous TVD flashbacks. Other than the discrepancy with regard to Stefan's 90s hair (please rewatch the Pilot, Stefan had long hair, according to Damon). Damon came home in 1994, looking to be healed. Looking for Stefan to fix him or something. And of course Stefan can't, because Stefan is also so fundamentally broken, too, but as always he's much better at faking it. So, it blows up, it doesn't work, and the brothers part ways again. Damon is still mostly off in his emotions here.
So, in 2009, this happens:
I have only referenced this a million-trillion times, I know, but this is literally when Damon's switch started flipping back. It was Katherine's face, but it was the distinct difference of Katherine's face CARING ABOUT HIM, and for all the weird psychological reasons in the world, Stefan couldn't do that for Damon. But Elena could. Elena did.
Now, Elena never healed Damon completely--Damon is the ONLY one who can do that, but she helped him make repairs, so to speak. He didn't know he was doing it most of the time, and it snuck up on him (like he snuck up on her), but that's what I have loved about his story all along...
Stefan said, "Damon inspired you" and "He pushed you to own the darkest parts of yourself" and "you made him feel human." And you know what, you can reverse those exactly, "Elena inspired you, Damon," and "She pushed you to own the lightest parts of yourself" and "you made her feel human (alive) when everyone else just judged her, abandoned her, or otherwise couldn't handle who she truly is."
And, I'm sorry, I may be done writing fic about my OTP, but I'll never be done shipping them, because, AUGH. For all their dysfunction, and the flaws they both have, this, THIS, is what made me fall for them in the first place. All those little things. In 1x15 when Damon tells Elena her mother sucks because she left her, and Elena is so taken aback by that, but come on, it's the truth. Compassionate, loyal Elena has truth thrown at her, and she's trying to digest it, and then Damon's face when Elena tells him HE killed her mother. Which, yes, technically he did. At her request, mind you, but that's a whole other argument.
Anyway, I just simply love them so much, and I'm so grateful for S6 and how it's bringing us back to the basics.
And how about that, while we're here, let's talk about that more. S6 is doing away with SO MUCH SUBTEXT from previous seasons. Whether you believe our unreliable narrators or not, the show is spelling stuff out for us. Elena was attracted to Damon in SEASON ONE. She fell in love with him during Summer of Stefan (LOL, that's my own reference to Summer of Sam, couldn't resist), and understood how much she loved him on her 18th birthday--pivotal, significant "adulthood" number 18.
She wanted to kiss him more than she wanted anything else when she finally gave in and kissed him. And then she retreated, freaked out and scared of all she felt.
And then she became a Vampire, and all those childish things were left behind.
Stefan's speech in 6x04 is more significant than just my little shipper heart's joy can cover. This is Stefan, UNDERSTANDING HIMSELF, too. This is Stefan admitting his need for his brother. Damon tried, so many times, in so many ways, to say this to his brother, to communicate it. And by the time Stefan really tried reciprocating it (remember 2x08?) Damon just couldn't believe it. They had to go through so much more for him to really see that Stefan does love him, and that he will love his little brother regardless of the way Stefan treats him. He had to *steal* his girl, LOL, not really, but you get what I mean. Stefan had to lose Elena, really, truly lose her, and still feel happiness for Damon, and communicate that to him (4x23) before Damon could even really begin to hope.
But he did. And now he wants to get home to his brother, just as much as his beloved.
And I am all verklempt.
I also loved the call back to 1x06, when Stefan takes Damon's ring and he kills a bunch of people. Nice continuity, show.
And then Elena's letter to herself...I want you to rediscover yourself in the absence of the one who defined you. Seriously, ALL THE TEARS. Because yes, there were problems in Damon and Elena's relationship, just like in her relationship with Stefan. And she is so young. And my hope is that even when Damon comes back, she will just fall in love with him, naturally, all over again. And THEN. Then she can remember all the other stuff. Because that would be so beautiful.
And there could be no more poignant love letter from Stefan to Damon than him restoring the Camaro. Honestly. This episode was all brother love for me. And Delena love. And everything I love on my favorite show, minus Caroline. I really do wish Elena had been pushing Caroline to Stefan a bit more. Or at all, you know.
As for Kai, whom I now want to call Malachi, just to piss him off, I find him very interesting. And I'm sure he'll die, and I'll have to keep enduring Enzo, but I am going to enjoy him while he lasts. His snark rivals Damon's for me, so I like him a lot.
And I loved that Alaric had Jeremy screened for STDs! Finally a TV show acknowledging the dangers of promiscuity! Of course, we never heard the results, but here's hoping Jeremy had to pick up an Rx for chlamydia. And that he'll pass the info on to Sarah.
Who is a Salvatore! I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING. Poor Nephew-Uncle Zach, LOL. Best line, EVAH. I loved Kai's consternation at their ridiculous lie about Zach. So funny.
But Damon protecting Bonnie? That was FUCKING HOT. Still, only ship them as bros, but you know, it's getting stronger every week.
Also, I've loved Matty Blue-Blue since the beginning, but I think he looked hotter than usual in last night's episode. And his whole playing dumb with Tripp was great. Still wish Enzo was dead though. Seriously.
And I did not see Ivy coming back as a Vampire AT ALL. Nice, show, very very nice.