I, personally, am not interested in lengthy discussions about the clear-cut “morality” of the choices these characters are making. Mostly because it’s often a fruitless, pointless discussion.
I agree. I do take issue with media generally when it glosses over terrible things, but really, I think TVD is surprisingly about criticizing its characters. (If it were holding up Damon as a *role model* I would take issue? But it's very clearly not.) And in this particular case, I thought it was very explicit about "they are doing a terrible thing that they know might come back to bite them and especially Jeremy, but they're not doing it for villainous reasons." I really love that comparison with Bonnie and Luka, by the way. I think Bonnie and Damon are a lot more similar than either of them would like to think.
But also because it oversimplifies things and it detracts from what I like to think is the more interesting discussion that we should be having: what drives a character to do certain things, specifically here, to make the choice to impinge on another’s right to choose?
Yes, exactly. I think this is clearest with Damon specifically, because it's situated in the episode where he's the most vulnerable he's ever been when it comes to the brother-love. The sibling relationships in particular are never shown as entirely good or bad, but realistically complicated and powerful and I quite viscerally understand why Elena would do it, and why Damon would valorize it.
All of this. I share your issues on that front re: media. I love Damon very much, I identify with him a great deal too, but I don't aspire to BE him and I don't think that's what the show is doing--so I'm thankful for that.
And word, this instance was pretty obviously framed for what it was: terrible. I really can't wait for the fallout, like REALLY. If they play it right, it shall be amazing.
Bonnie's treatment of Luka is some of my favorite messed up stuff in season 2. I feel the same about her similarities to Damon, the show did that a lot with them in season 2 in ways that are really interesting.
Yes, exactly. I think this is clearest with Damon specifically, because it's situated in the episode where he's the most vulnerable he's ever been when it comes to the brother-love. The sibling relationships in particular are never shown as entirely good or bad, but realistically complicated and powerful and I quite viscerally understand why Elena would do it, and why Damon would valorize it.
THIS. This show has some of the best sibling relationships I've ever had on TV; it never shies away from how complicated and messy those types of relationships can be.
I agree. I do take issue with media generally when it glosses over terrible things, but really, I think TVD is surprisingly about criticizing its characters. (If it were holding up Damon as a *role model* I would take issue? But it's very clearly not.) And in this particular case, I thought it was very explicit about "they are doing a terrible thing that they know might come back to bite them and especially Jeremy, but they're not doing it for villainous reasons." I really love that comparison with Bonnie and Luka, by the way. I think Bonnie and Damon are a lot more similar than either of them would like to think.
But also because it oversimplifies things and it detracts from what I like to think is the more interesting discussion that we should be having: what drives a character to do certain things, specifically here, to make the choice to impinge on another’s right to choose?
Yes, exactly. I think this is clearest with Damon specifically, because it's situated in the episode where he's the most vulnerable he's ever been when it comes to the brother-love. The sibling relationships in particular are never shown as entirely good or bad, but realistically complicated and powerful and I quite viscerally understand why Elena would do it, and why Damon would valorize it.
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And word, this instance was pretty obviously framed for what it was: terrible. I really can't wait for the fallout, like REALLY. If they play it right, it shall be amazing.
Bonnie's treatment of Luka is some of my favorite messed up stuff in season 2. I feel the same about her similarities to Damon, the show did that a lot with them in season 2 in ways that are really interesting.
Yes, exactly. I think this is clearest with Damon specifically, because it's situated in the episode where he's the most vulnerable he's ever been when it comes to the brother-love. The sibling relationships in particular are never shown as entirely good or bad, but realistically complicated and powerful and I quite viscerally understand why Elena would do it, and why Damon would valorize it.
THIS. This show has some of the best sibling relationships I've ever had on TV; it never shies away from how complicated and messy those types of relationships can be.
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