The Vampire Diaries "Children of the Damned" ~ Baby, you can invade my personal space anytime
Just a quick pre-statement. These reviews are simply the way I see the episode and the characters, with ranting and bashing thrown in. I do not enjoy Stefan's character at all. If you have read my previous reviews, you know this. If not, this note should tip you off. Just to say, I will not be responsible for any hurt feelings. So, please, no flaming.
Hello, Damon show. I don't think it is a mystery to anyone why, when I say that The Vampire Diaries newest venture that they put out this week entitled "Children of the Damned" was the strongest episode to have aired yet, and considering the history constructed around the show and it's mythology so far, a milestone. Also, the entire 45 minutes was completely centered around Damon and his evolution as a character, hence why I thoroughly enjoyed the episode so much.
First, all the information we were given before the episode ever aired was enough to make any fan risk going into a seizure due to pure excitement. We were finally going to finally see Katherine's death? Check. Seeing Damon and Katherine sexytime? Check. A more innocent and naive Damon? Check. Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder looking ridiculously attractive in lush period costumes while exuding the most blatant and smoking sexual chemistry ever? Check, check, and check! We were also getting Dexter's dad playing Papa Salvatore. If all of that already didn't set the bar high enough, making me wonder if the writer's would ever be able to cater to my expectations, they did. And then some. First of all, "Children of the Damned", while answering some needling mysteries, takes all of your pre-conceived notions of these characters and turns them on their heads while breaking open an entire new conglomeration of questions.
The episode opens with a flashback to 1864, with Katherine in the woods preying on a pair of poor carriage drivers. And who happens to be her accomplice in the act? None other than our own Damon, mortal, and appearing extremely different than how we see him on the show today. He appears uncomfortable and a bit terrified by witnessing Katherine kill. I think in this scene especially, it became apparent to the audience why Katherine never felt the urge to compel Damon (which was revealed in the show's ninth episode) like she did Stefan. It was obvious that at the time, Damon was much more vulnerable than Stefan in general, to which Katherine wielded that to her advantage. Katherine viewed Damon as merely a toy, she was never genuinely in love with him. She used him, and basically (in some sick way) used his naivete and innocence to her advantage to morph him into her protege. Most of this manipulation helped form the much more calculating personality of Damon's that we see today, and to view the origin of that was a treat to watch.
After being given a taste of the past, we are confronted with the conflict of the present, does Damon trust Stefan and Elena when they say they are willing to help him open the tomb to get Katherine back? Of course, the audience knows that Stefan and Elena's intentions are in no way honest, they do not want that tomb open. Elena can't help but wonder whether or not Damon can see through their facade, and defends him for a moment to Stefan. Saying that she believes that everything Damon has been done has been motivated by love, which is rather sad. Now, I didn't expect anything resembling Elena standing up for Damon until they were much closer either at the end of this season, or in the next one. But, Nina sold it. And it worked, and it was poignant. However, Stefan is quick to shoot down Elena's thoughts of sympathy, telling her that now matter what Damon promises, people will die. I think it is safe to say that my eyes rolled all the way to the back of my head.
Of course, one of the tools needed to defeat Damon requires engaging in a race of 'Who Will Get the Journal First?' Stefan sets out to do so and in the process, is nearly staked by Mr. Badass Hey that's the guy from Legally Blond!Alraric as he comes up on him Van Helsing style. What transpires is Stefan getting a photocopy of the journal (The original was stolen by Anna) whilst simultaneously discovering that it was none other than Damon that killed Alaric's (I don't think she is really dead) wife. Stefan informs Alaric that is he is looking for revenge, he is basically fucked. So, he tells him he'll help him. Jigga what?! Wasn't it you, Stefan, that told Elena whenever you tried to let Damon in in the past he is the one who screwed you over? Yet, here is Damon, ready and willing to trust you, putting his guard down for an instant, and you have the knife poised and ready to stab him in the back? First with the journal and now with Alaric? Remind me again why I despise you.
Cut to, what I considered upon first sight, a rather random scene between Damon and Jenna. I think it just went to show another reason why every man envies Ian Somerhalder: He has chemistry with everyone. It's a gift. I was watching his scene with Jenna and was like, "WTF this is random. Wait... I feel like shipping them." And then I'm all, "No! It's just because Ian even has sexual chemistry with inanimate objects."
And then we have the scene in the kitchen between Damon and Elena. First of all, I just have to say, OUR OTP OWNS KITCHENS. IT'S THEIR THING. The conversation that follows, spurred by a bump between the two initiated by Damon, who clearly has no regard for personal space, centers around him asking Elena if Stefan's newfound sense of brotherhood is "real". (Hence drawing a parallel with Elena's "This whole nice act, is any of it real?" from episode 11 and bringing the two full circle.) Elena, having been convinced by Stefan's previous pep talk, lies. And Damon, allowing Elena to be the first person that he has allowed himself within these past 100 years to trust, takes a gamble and allows himself to believe her. Needless to say, the audience already knows that this is bound to lead to some very ugly and tragic repercussions.
I also love how Damon looked exactly like he was part of the family. It was rather adorable and hilarious at the same time. Him playing video games with Jeremy and cooking, it just seemed like almost second nature. I just thought it went to show how compatible Elena and Damon might be in the future when coupled together. I think other's recognized it too, with some going of half-cocked that if Damon and Elena were ever actually put together, he would go soft.
Um .... WHAT?! If people even paid attention to the character, they would not think Damon would go soft if him and Elena began a relationship. I think, if anything, Damon is much more dangerous when he is emotionally attached to someone. That is apparent because of Katherine. He's still so in love with her, after 100 plus years, look what has happened to everyone that has got in his way. If anything, he was much more soft and innocent before he met her. Only after he got violently attached to her, was it that he became much more dangerous. I could definitely see that with Elena. He goes out of his way to protect those he cares about, even if it means pushing, or completely tearing open, a moral envelope.
That's why I always see Damon as a misunderstood tragic hero than a villain, honestly. He only has the best intentions. As far as killing humans goes, it's just Damon accepting who he is, because he knows that if he spent the rest of eternity moping, it's not going to do him any good and he's not going to get anywhere. It's baggage that he does not wish to accept or carry on his shoulders.
Back to the other timeline being explored, we discover that why Stefan did not exactly help with Katherine's death and her capture, he inadvertently played a hand in it. The entire scene seemed rather anti-climatic to me, despite being juxtaposed with the horrific images of the vampires being gaged and restrained with metal contraptions. Because, honestly, I don't see Damon despising Stefan for eternity just for the mistake of putting his faith in their father, even if it lead Katherine to her death. I saw it as more of a cop-out of Kevin Williamson not being able to go there with Stefan's character. After all, he can never do ANYTHING WRONG. *insert sarcasm here*
Last but not least, we get to the real meat of the episode, where Damon, upon catching Stefan and Elena red-handed picking up the spellbook, discovers that they have both deceived him and betrayed him. Hence, the ugly and tragic repercussions that have been building up since Elena's lie to Damon in the kitchen. After telling Stefan that he cold not believe for having trusted him for even a second, Damon turns his attention to Elena, telling her, through tears as his voice breaks that she "had him fooled." Elena, looking a hella guilty, can't look Damon in the eye, and bends her face towards the ground.
Damon trusted Elena, he put his faith in her. He allowed himself to be vulnerable for just one moment, with one person, and it came back to slap him in the face. She betrayed him in the worst way. And, I think Elena clearly recognized the magnitude of what that meant.
What follows, which is Damon's attempt of getting the journal from Stefan by forcing Elena to feed on his blood, some consider to be a violent act directed at both Elena and Stefan. If you think that, you are totally missing the point. That scene in the woods, with the action of Damon having Elena feed of his blood, was not even about her. It was about getting the book from Stefan. His walls were back up, and he was ready to do whatever was necessary to get what he wanted. He emotionally shut down. Only after Stefan put the book at his feet, could you see the clear weight of what Damon had just done on his face. He knew that everything that he had built with Elena, he had just lost. That is why he let her go so gently. I honestly believe he felt terrible.
Basically, Damon gets the spell book and Elena goes back home to get dosed up on Motrin only to be abducted. CLIFFHANGER! So, until next week, my thoughts about the characters after this episode:
Stefan = POSER.
Elena = Guilty Liar.
Damon = My T.V. Boyfriend.
Damon thinks personal space = FAIL.
FIN.
Hello, Damon show. I don't think it is a mystery to anyone why, when I say that The Vampire Diaries newest venture that they put out this week entitled "Children of the Damned" was the strongest episode to have aired yet, and considering the history constructed around the show and it's mythology so far, a milestone. Also, the entire 45 minutes was completely centered around Damon and his evolution as a character, hence why I thoroughly enjoyed the episode so much.
First, all the information we were given before the episode ever aired was enough to make any fan risk going into a seizure due to pure excitement. We were finally going to finally see Katherine's death? Check. Seeing Damon and Katherine sexytime? Check. A more innocent and naive Damon? Check. Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder looking ridiculously attractive in lush period costumes while exuding the most blatant and smoking sexual chemistry ever? Check, check, and check! We were also getting Dexter's dad playing Papa Salvatore. If all of that already didn't set the bar high enough, making me wonder if the writer's would ever be able to cater to my expectations, they did. And then some. First of all, "Children of the Damned", while answering some needling mysteries, takes all of your pre-conceived notions of these characters and turns them on their heads while breaking open an entire new conglomeration of questions.
The episode opens with a flashback to 1864, with Katherine in the woods preying on a pair of poor carriage drivers. And who happens to be her accomplice in the act? None other than our own Damon, mortal, and appearing extremely different than how we see him on the show today. He appears uncomfortable and a bit terrified by witnessing Katherine kill. I think in this scene especially, it became apparent to the audience why Katherine never felt the urge to compel Damon (which was revealed in the show's ninth episode) like she did Stefan. It was obvious that at the time, Damon was much more vulnerable than Stefan in general, to which Katherine wielded that to her advantage. Katherine viewed Damon as merely a toy, she was never genuinely in love with him. She used him, and basically (in some sick way) used his naivete and innocence to her advantage to morph him into her protege. Most of this manipulation helped form the much more calculating personality of Damon's that we see today, and to view the origin of that was a treat to watch.
After being given a taste of the past, we are confronted with the conflict of the present, does Damon trust Stefan and Elena when they say they are willing to help him open the tomb to get Katherine back? Of course, the audience knows that Stefan and Elena's intentions are in no way honest, they do not want that tomb open. Elena can't help but wonder whether or not Damon can see through their facade, and defends him for a moment to Stefan. Saying that she believes that everything Damon has been done has been motivated by love, which is rather sad. Now, I didn't expect anything resembling Elena standing up for Damon until they were much closer either at the end of this season, or in the next one. But, Nina sold it. And it worked, and it was poignant. However, Stefan is quick to shoot down Elena's thoughts of sympathy, telling her that now matter what Damon promises, people will die. I think it is safe to say that my eyes rolled all the way to the back of my head.
Of course, one of the tools needed to defeat Damon requires engaging in a race of 'Who Will Get the Journal First?' Stefan sets out to do so and in the process, is nearly staked by Mr. Badass Hey that's the guy from Legally Blond!Alraric as he comes up on him Van Helsing style. What transpires is Stefan getting a photocopy of the journal (The original was stolen by Anna) whilst simultaneously discovering that it was none other than Damon that killed Alaric's (I don't think she is really dead) wife. Stefan informs Alaric that is he is looking for revenge, he is basically fucked. So, he tells him he'll help him. Jigga what?! Wasn't it you, Stefan, that told Elena whenever you tried to let Damon in in the past he is the one who screwed you over? Yet, here is Damon, ready and willing to trust you, putting his guard down for an instant, and you have the knife poised and ready to stab him in the back? First with the journal and now with Alaric? Remind me again why I despise you.
Cut to, what I considered upon first sight, a rather random scene between Damon and Jenna. I think it just went to show another reason why every man envies Ian Somerhalder: He has chemistry with everyone. It's a gift. I was watching his scene with Jenna and was like, "WTF this is random. Wait... I feel like shipping them." And then I'm all, "No! It's just because Ian even has sexual chemistry with inanimate objects."
And then we have the scene in the kitchen between Damon and Elena. First of all, I just have to say, OUR OTP OWNS KITCHENS. IT'S THEIR THING. The conversation that follows, spurred by a bump between the two initiated by Damon, who clearly has no regard for personal space, centers around him asking Elena if Stefan's newfound sense of brotherhood is "real". (Hence drawing a parallel with Elena's "This whole nice act, is any of it real?" from episode 11 and bringing the two full circle.) Elena, having been convinced by Stefan's previous pep talk, lies. And Damon, allowing Elena to be the first person that he has allowed himself within these past 100 years to trust, takes a gamble and allows himself to believe her. Needless to say, the audience already knows that this is bound to lead to some very ugly and tragic repercussions.
I also love how Damon looked exactly like he was part of the family. It was rather adorable and hilarious at the same time. Him playing video games with Jeremy and cooking, it just seemed like almost second nature. I just thought it went to show how compatible Elena and Damon might be in the future when coupled together. I think other's recognized it too, with some going of half-cocked that if Damon and Elena were ever actually put together, he would go soft.
Um .... WHAT?! If people even paid attention to the character, they would not think Damon would go soft if him and Elena began a relationship. I think, if anything, Damon is much more dangerous when he is emotionally attached to someone. That is apparent because of Katherine. He's still so in love with her, after 100 plus years, look what has happened to everyone that has got in his way. If anything, he was much more soft and innocent before he met her. Only after he got violently attached to her, was it that he became much more dangerous. I could definitely see that with Elena. He goes out of his way to protect those he cares about, even if it means pushing, or completely tearing open, a moral envelope.
That's why I always see Damon as a misunderstood tragic hero than a villain, honestly. He only has the best intentions. As far as killing humans goes, it's just Damon accepting who he is, because he knows that if he spent the rest of eternity moping, it's not going to do him any good and he's not going to get anywhere. It's baggage that he does not wish to accept or carry on his shoulders.
Back to the other timeline being explored, we discover that why Stefan did not exactly help with Katherine's death and her capture, he inadvertently played a hand in it. The entire scene seemed rather anti-climatic to me, despite being juxtaposed with the horrific images of the vampires being gaged and restrained with metal contraptions. Because, honestly, I don't see Damon despising Stefan for eternity just for the mistake of putting his faith in their father, even if it lead Katherine to her death. I saw it as more of a cop-out of Kevin Williamson not being able to go there with Stefan's character. After all, he can never do ANYTHING WRONG. *insert sarcasm here*
Last but not least, we get to the real meat of the episode, where Damon, upon catching Stefan and Elena red-handed picking up the spellbook, discovers that they have both deceived him and betrayed him. Hence, the ugly and tragic repercussions that have been building up since Elena's lie to Damon in the kitchen. After telling Stefan that he cold not believe for having trusted him for even a second, Damon turns his attention to Elena, telling her, through tears as his voice breaks that she "had him fooled." Elena, looking a hella guilty, can't look Damon in the eye, and bends her face towards the ground.
Damon trusted Elena, he put his faith in her. He allowed himself to be vulnerable for just one moment, with one person, and it came back to slap him in the face. She betrayed him in the worst way. And, I think Elena clearly recognized the magnitude of what that meant.
What follows, which is Damon's attempt of getting the journal from Stefan by forcing Elena to feed on his blood, some consider to be a violent act directed at both Elena and Stefan. If you think that, you are totally missing the point. That scene in the woods, with the action of Damon having Elena feed of his blood, was not even about her. It was about getting the book from Stefan. His walls were back up, and he was ready to do whatever was necessary to get what he wanted. He emotionally shut down. Only after Stefan put the book at his feet, could you see the clear weight of what Damon had just done on his face. He knew that everything that he had built with Elena, he had just lost. That is why he let her go so gently. I honestly believe he felt terrible.
Basically, Damon gets the spell book and Elena goes back home to get dosed up on Motrin only to be abducted. CLIFFHANGER! So, until next week, my thoughts about the characters after this episode:
Stefan = POSER.
Elena = Guilty Liar.
Damon = My T.V. Boyfriend.
Damon thinks personal space = FAIL.
FIN.