Kill or be Killed Vampire Diaries 2.05
Quick Comments on Episode 2.05 a.k.a. This is why I should stay away from lurking in CW discussion threads.....
So, not a mammoth review like last week as I'm tired and have no time to go into depth about anything, sadly. And just a note: as a general rule in these 'reviews' I try take my ardent-shipper goggles off and just enjoy every pairing/potential that's presented to me and celebrate the characters with much squee, and just point out the things that leap out at me, not very comprehensive or anything. As I'm not a robot, I do have biases and they will come out. I reserve the right to have them and also to change them whenever the spirit strikes (is looking at brief Tyler/Bonnie phase last week now vanquished by the power Jyler). Bear with me, please.
Question: is MF still having these communal gatherings? Was this a town picnic? I zoned out of Carol Lockwood's speech so I missed what she said. All I can say is go back to school people.
Okay, quick and dirty, I was knackered last night, hopefully these make sense in the light of day.
Kill or Be Killed
1. I would like Mason/Kat smut this instant. They are my new dark ship, expect some in the future for the dark!pairing meme. Seriously. What's more fun and insane than a sadistic, amoral, manipulative vampire and rough but laid-back, duplicitous but kind of gullible (to believe Kat for anything), charming werewolf? I want it. What can I say, I have a thing for pathetic men being led by the nose by devious women. Did you see that kiss? Good lord, I was wiping the steam off my screen. Rough and tumble sex, in that car, on the floor, against a wall, with lots of scratching and growling. You can't say I'm not specific *cheesy grin*
2. Stefan, Elena, Damon --- Blood-letting has always been sexy but this scene with Stefan and Elena? Guys. Guys. Seriously, it was sexy but also romantic, and emotional, just love -- the love was almost blinding in its intensity, intimacy, and sincerity. I was literally screaming at the computer, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa -- no way!" No joke, my roommate was disturbed by it. I've been warming up to Elena but this episode where again it didn't feel like she vacillated between the two brothers once, where she was so strong and yet vulnerable in different ways, made me love where her character is at the moment even more. Oh, did I mention it was sexy. The kisses (very excellent kissing on this show, I must say), she was kissing him with the taste of her own blood on his tongue --- *wipes fog off glasses*. I need a fic of that now. Perhaps a series of oneshots. It's an interesting metaphor for the relationship, so many ways to read it, and each one compelling, frightening, awesome in its own right (storytelling-wise, character-wise, relationship-wise etc).
I have to be honest, I never though they'd let 'blood-letting' happen with Stefan and Elena. I always assumed it was something they were saving for Damon and Elena to distinguish that relationship, set it apart. But color me happily surprised that they've taken this step with SE, and shown us the depth of their bond. Really, the triangle was never going to be easy, but this really ups the ante.
Stefan and Elena
I wonder where things will go for these two now. The jig is kind of up it seems, I doubt Katherine was fooled for a minute by it. It was interesting that the pretend-argument even went to Damon --- obviously foreshadowing of some sort. Yet it was the very fact that Damon was mentioned that clued Damon in on the fact that the whole fight was charade. Hunh. Think on that.
Loved how protective Elena was of Stefan in that underground former slave quarters (damn, someone needs to write some historical fic on the Lockwoods). That's an important thing for me with this show and this relationship --- these two protect EACH other. It's not Stefan rushing off to be a white knight and leaving Elena to braid her hair and doodle in the parlor. They are BOTH willing, ready, and able to stand for each other, to support, to be there when the other falls; to see each other at their most vulnerable/ugly and not run away or judge. It's a powerful thing. Keep it up, show. Hard times ahead for both of them with this human blood diet, and it's going to test the relationship and maybe even plant the seeds of a rift but we'll have to see.
And to the people who continually say that Stefan and Elena's relationship was rushed, had no 'build-up' --- please just stop (i.e. some folks on CW threads). We have had roughly 27 episodes to see this relationship develop; to see these two face challenges; break-up; come back together again; fall in love; support each other; fight; fall and get up again, deepen their bond. If you still refuse to see that this is a well-developed relationship IN ITS OWN RIGHT, then I give up. Every relationship follows a different pattern. We all have preferences based on what we like to see/experience/characters we love and ship together --- but to say that this isn't 'real' or genuine on either of their parts is... Just no. Buy a new refrain as this one has gone past sell-by. Like what you like, love what you love, but it doesn't take much to just give credit where credit's due and acknowledge what the actual text is saying to us./end rant.
I'll just leave you with the words: "It's you and me, Stefan. Always." Is this foreshadowing, is it ironic foreshadowing? Time will tell. Also, please just listen to the lyrics of that song. I'm not a big Kris Allen fan but wow. And this song speaks to SE and maybe even DE, but in this instance so much about the accompaniment of Elena not letting Stefan do this alone, of seeing his 'true face' and not walking way; of showing each other the truth of themselves, the vulnerability and fear both of them are feeling, and how much they need each other right now. It's a scary place where they're at for both of them. I could go on and be even more sappy and florid but I won't. Just beautiful. Well bloody done, show.
Damon and Elena
I also loved her moments with Damon. Honestly, I'm still very much at the stage where the best bits of these two, when they're friends, and when we see that friendship and what it means for both of them resonate most deeply. And this is how I like them best. Their last scene was just well done, the honesty, all of it - well done. They will be friends again, the hate was never really there to begin with and they will get closer. He was so gentle with her, just such a tender moment, and I like how these two see each other in moments like this. It's undeniable, and as much as I hate it when people try to diminish what SE is, I hate it when they do the same for DE.
They are developing this side of the triangle and I have to say, I'm impressed by the pace of it all. I think it can be very hard with DE in this fandom, when you are an active part of the fandom at least, because it often feels like the most passionate fans of relationships are 500 steps ahead of the show. So, it's very jarring when I hear people say how much Elena passionately, irreversibly, all-consumingly loves Damon and vice versa, and yet I feel we've seen no evidence of this YET on the show. The show is taking care to let it unfold gradually, painstakingly; setting the foundations for why they would turn to each other in a given situation; why they're friends; why they might have some sexual tension; why they understand each other uniquely etc. ---- and in the end, for the fans of the pairing, the pay-off will be great. But you have to keep your eyes peeled open enough to see and appreciate every little step along the way because that's what makes the journey and destination so worthwhile. That's just my two cents.
3. Elena --- I think she took a huge step tonight. Last week, during her chat with Caroline and the whole Stefan-always-has-to-stop-himself-from-ripping-your-throat-out-and-drinking-you-dry, she had to face something that I think she's been denying since "Blood Brothers": the very real vampiric nature of her lover. I think with all the chaos, it's easy to try to pretend or hope for 'normal', and I don't think she ever wants Stefan to be normal but sometimes it's just easier to not think of what his being a vampire means in every-day terms, to not think about it explicitly because when they're alone, they probably try to be as 'normal' as possible. To have her, in this episode, offer herself in that way, and then the bit where she runs her hands across his cheek and touches the engorged veins --- fuck me, sideways! Not only was it a metaphor for sex and/or lovemaking, it was also a transcendent moment for the relationship and the levels of honesty and vulnerability they're both showing to each other. I loved it. And I'm digging this relationship right now.
I liked her protectiveness of and honesty with Lil'Gilbert. A short scene but so important for both characters and this viewer appreciated the effort. Her moments with Caroline were wonderful as well-played also. She was straight-up about how she felt about Caroline's betrayal when it all came out, her anger, but she was also empathetic to Caroline's situation. Elena's 'strength' is always a double-edged sword for me. On one hand, I love that she can be so compassionate, strong etc. but on the other, it can get difficult to find a single, convincing flaw in her character (that's acknowledged as such) and that's frustrating. This was one episode where Elena's many positive qualities didn't grate because she wasn't all-strong or all-knowing, she had her moments of weakness, and it was just good to see. I think season 2, in general, is doing a better job with her and she's so much more relatable and interesting. She's a hard one when you have Katherine around to steal the limelight. Elena can easily fade into the background in the face of all these strong personalities. She's mostly holding her own for me, she's got a unique strength of her own that's less flashy than most but still significant, so good stuff.
4. Caroline --- dear god, Candice Accola can make me weep. Last week, I was annoyed with her, I was angry. I understood why she was doing what she was doing but I was disappointed in her. This episode did what it needed to do --- allowed us to see her perspective (please, show, take notes for Bonnie on this, thanks), and the very real fear and conflict that she's been feeling with all this Katherine drama. It was so --- it reminded me of the moment that I really fell for this character when she confesses that she always tries so hard and no one ever picks her back in season 1. This time, we got to see not only how Katherine's threats have been chipping away at her well-being but also the painful rejection by her OWN mother. Ah, I can't blame the Sheriff, prejudice is a difficult thing to let go of if it's all you've known, but that was gut-wrenching to see. SOB!
Her PWNING Mason's ass was awesome. Nothing pleases me more on this show than when we get to see women being fierce and strong. I love it.
5. Salvatores --- Okay, how awesome is the love these brothers have for each other? First, Stefan goes off to cut a deal with Mason, clean up Damon's mess, and straight-up tells him that it's two-against-one, he will ALWAYS have Damon's back, and vice versa. When Damon swallowed the vervain-laced lemonade, Stefan was his nurturing self, I love how physical they can be with each other, Damon did it earlier in the episode with grasping Stefan's shoulders and this time, Stefan was supporting him and did the same to hold Damon back from outright killing Mason in the middle of the town picnic or whatever this was. Then, Damon lying on the ground while the Sheriff interrogates him, and the way he looks at his unconscious brother. Follow that up with the moment a while later when he's telling Stef that he NEEDS to drink human blood, the caring and concern. And then, that last scene with Elena, not pulling any punches, telling her what needs to be said even if she may not want to hear it, knowing what his brother needs. And not a flirty eye in sight. I just LOVE them. This, right here, this is the love story of the show, my favorite one above all others. I need these two to be intact at the end of it, everything else can fall as it must but the brothers must be united. Yep, I said it --- philadelphia for the world!
6. Damon --- is my darling back? Truly, I think something clicked for me in this episode with Damon. We got what I've wanted, he's still cocky, biting, sarcastic, mean as hell, impulsive, ready to kill anyone who pisses him off BUT he's also showing such growth emotionally, and reaching out to people beyond Stefan and Elena, and showing that those bonds, fragile as they may be, mean something to him. This is amazing. We saw the birth pangs in the first few episodes this season, and I expected them and admired that the show was going that way with him even if it was frustrating. We'll continue to see them, but I think he's developing a firmer grasp on himself and rebuilding who he is, and it's cool to see.
How poignant was that, "You're my friend," that he said to the Sheriff, at least twice in this episode? Ian Somerhalder killed it, he was so subtle, just the right balance between the camp and the depth. I am pleased.
7. Stefan --- continues to be compelling. It's amazing that we have episodes where we get to see the sheer awesome of both Salvatore brothers, in their own ways. That opening scene with Elena and their little code was quite fun and sweet, and this pretense must be hard. I expect to see some more fraying at the edges of this relationship. And his mini-showdown with Mason, badass. I love that when Mason broke the truce --- the guy couldn't even wait for a day, punk! --- he was all ready to strike back and take care of business with Damon. I love that he acknowledged that without human blood he is weaker than he needs to be, and that he's going to TRY to develop an immunity to it. Seriously, people, this is one of the things I love about this character is that he always tries, even if it's f-ing hard, if he falls, if he fucks up --- he tries. He knows that he could fail epically at this, that this could blow up in her face but he's still going to try. That's all you can ask for. I think this new struggle with human blood will surface a lot of things about Stefan, it's going to be difficult and painful but he'll grow as a character, and it will just add more layers to him and his relationships, so I'm all for it. I'm glad the show will deal with this head-on.
8. Mason --- anyone else feel like he's going to die? I feel like he's going to die (maybe Tyler will have to kill him....). Poor sod, Katherine seemingly has him wrapped around her finger, we'll have to see. But he's thoroughly enamored of her, and lying to his nephew, getting my bros shot for whatever petty reasons (it doesn't look like Kat sanctioned his nonsense) = Bad move. Never trusted him anyways, and he loses points for not being the nice, circumspect dude I hoped he'd be but I'm intrigued by his storyline and the flashbacks w/Kat. The plot is thickening. And he's still hot *is shallow* so bring it on.
9. Kat. This girl is ruthless. Ruthless. Of course she wasn't going to be spending her off-time writing sonnets to Stefan by moonlight. She has an agenda, she is continually performing for EVERYONE (we thought Damon was good at acting and deceiving, Katherine makes him look like the kid playing a turkey in an annual Thanksgiving Day pageant) and it's foolish to think otherwise. The fall-out will be massive for whatever she has planned. I wonder what she did to poor Caroline, jeez. Maybe she gave her some foul nightmares of things she'd do to Matt, entered her dreams, and probably beat her up some. I want a fic of that.
10. Oh, Sheriff. I feel like she could possibly die at some point towards the end of the season as well. I felt for her too. The horror of seeing this thing with the face of the child you bore is painful. The woman was clearly broken by this. But what's even worse is that she couldn't overcome her prejudice enough to see that Caroline was still there. It's quite disturbing to me that she's going to willingly be compelled to forget, to not see, that she wants to not see. But as they say, truth will out, this isn't over yet. Oh man. It's a sad thing and it's a commentary on so much of real life and how people view the world. Well done, show.
Oh, my goodness, how could I forget!!!? Best until last:
11. Jeremy and Tyler --- I'm putting these two together because they kind of belong together. Like peanut butter and jelly, hot fudge and halibut vanilla ice cream. It breaks my heart that the show isn't going to go slash with these two, their chemistry, and the way their interactions and relationships play out is so romantic. Truly. Jeremy draws sketches of wolves in his free time? Tyler overcomes his dickish personality to reach out and invite him for drinks and women (who are only there as attempts to defuse the awkward love tension and stop him from ripping little Jeremy's clothes off and taking him on his father's teak-wood desk) back at the Lockwood Mansion of Sin and Debauchery and Love. Ah well, I will settle for a partnership and friendship. I'm glad J is trying to be more useful instead of Emo, he's got his ring, and he's finding his purpose and who he is (recall that conversation with Damon in episode 2). I'm glad to see Tyler developing similarly as he becomes more entangled in all of this. His choosing to not be a part of it, to walk away, the self-awareness of that moment when he thought that irritating girl was dead. Just great acting and I'm very much on board with wherever they choose to go here.
Random Note on Gender in TVD
This is something we might be able to write about extensively as the show goes on. There is so much to unpack. Some things that keep leaping out, no depth at all, someone smarter and with more time than I have must write some meta on this. I beg.
-Strong women characters. Strong, complex women characters.
-Strong women made weak and/or slain by men (usually with phallic instrument -- Pearl, Lexi, Anna; or extreme, brutal violence -- Bree; or more metaphorical violence? --Grams)
-Woman as classic Femme Fatale figure -- Katherine. She's literally Medusa, Lilith, Delilah, gosh, every archetype you can think of applies to her. It's fascinating.
-What other archetypes do we see played out on the show? Are they static? Or can different characters move somewhat seamlessly between many?
-Does this show hate women or love them? It's not an easy answer when we see strong women like Pearl or Lexi destroyed and almost always BY men but then we see men fall victim to women (emotionally and literally, in a physical sense, looking at you Damon, Mason, Stefan -- but it happens to others) as well, almost more than the former. We also see different iterations of female strength, it's not just the ability to take a man down, or stand up for yourself, or be independent. And we also see vulnerability, I don't know --- tis complicated, needs some analysis.
Next episode: Bonnie's back. I saw fire, she's gonna be burning shit up. Awesome. And Stefan and Damon are on it. Katherine's wreaking havoc. I can't wait.
So, not a mammoth review like last week as I'm tired and have no time to go into depth about anything, sadly. And just a note: as a general rule in these 'reviews' I try take my ardent-shipper goggles off and just enjoy every pairing/potential that's presented to me and celebrate the characters with much squee, and just point out the things that leap out at me, not very comprehensive or anything. As I'm not a robot, I do have biases and they will come out. I reserve the right to have them and also to change them whenever the spirit strikes (is looking at brief Tyler/Bonnie phase last week now vanquished by the power Jyler). Bear with me, please.
Question: is MF still having these communal gatherings? Was this a town picnic? I zoned out of Carol Lockwood's speech so I missed what she said. All I can say is go back to school people.
Okay, quick and dirty, I was knackered last night, hopefully these make sense in the light of day.
Kill or Be Killed
1. I would like Mason/Kat smut this instant. They are my new dark ship, expect some in the future for the dark!pairing meme. Seriously. What's more fun and insane than a sadistic, amoral, manipulative vampire and rough but laid-back, duplicitous but kind of gullible (to believe Kat for anything), charming werewolf? I want it. What can I say, I have a thing for pathetic men being led by the nose by devious women. Did you see that kiss? Good lord, I was wiping the steam off my screen. Rough and tumble sex, in that car, on the floor, against a wall, with lots of scratching and growling. You can't say I'm not specific *cheesy grin*
2. Stefan, Elena, Damon --- Blood-letting has always been sexy but this scene with Stefan and Elena? Guys. Guys. Seriously, it was sexy but also romantic, and emotional, just love -- the love was almost blinding in its intensity, intimacy, and sincerity. I was literally screaming at the computer, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa -- no way!" No joke, my roommate was disturbed by it. I've been warming up to Elena but this episode where again it didn't feel like she vacillated between the two brothers once, where she was so strong and yet vulnerable in different ways, made me love where her character is at the moment even more. Oh, did I mention it was sexy. The kisses (very excellent kissing on this show, I must say), she was kissing him with the taste of her own blood on his tongue --- *wipes fog off glasses*. I need a fic of that now. Perhaps a series of oneshots. It's an interesting metaphor for the relationship, so many ways to read it, and each one compelling, frightening, awesome in its own right (storytelling-wise, character-wise, relationship-wise etc).
I have to be honest, I never though they'd let 'blood-letting' happen with Stefan and Elena. I always assumed it was something they were saving for Damon and Elena to distinguish that relationship, set it apart. But color me happily surprised that they've taken this step with SE, and shown us the depth of their bond. Really, the triangle was never going to be easy, but this really ups the ante.
Stefan and Elena
I wonder where things will go for these two now. The jig is kind of up it seems, I doubt Katherine was fooled for a minute by it. It was interesting that the pretend-argument even went to Damon --- obviously foreshadowing of some sort. Yet it was the very fact that Damon was mentioned that clued Damon in on the fact that the whole fight was charade. Hunh. Think on that.
Loved how protective Elena was of Stefan in that underground former slave quarters (damn, someone needs to write some historical fic on the Lockwoods). That's an important thing for me with this show and this relationship --- these two protect EACH other. It's not Stefan rushing off to be a white knight and leaving Elena to braid her hair and doodle in the parlor. They are BOTH willing, ready, and able to stand for each other, to support, to be there when the other falls; to see each other at their most vulnerable/ugly and not run away or judge. It's a powerful thing. Keep it up, show. Hard times ahead for both of them with this human blood diet, and it's going to test the relationship and maybe even plant the seeds of a rift but we'll have to see.
And to the people who continually say that Stefan and Elena's relationship was rushed, had no 'build-up' --- please just stop (i.e. some folks on CW threads). We have had roughly 27 episodes to see this relationship develop; to see these two face challenges; break-up; come back together again; fall in love; support each other; fight; fall and get up again, deepen their bond. If you still refuse to see that this is a well-developed relationship IN ITS OWN RIGHT, then I give up. Every relationship follows a different pattern. We all have preferences based on what we like to see/experience/characters we love and ship together --- but to say that this isn't 'real' or genuine on either of their parts is... Just no. Buy a new refrain as this one has gone past sell-by. Like what you like, love what you love, but it doesn't take much to just give credit where credit's due and acknowledge what the actual text is saying to us./end rant.
I'll just leave you with the words: "It's you and me, Stefan. Always." Is this foreshadowing, is it ironic foreshadowing? Time will tell. Also, please just listen to the lyrics of that song. I'm not a big Kris Allen fan but wow. And this song speaks to SE and maybe even DE, but in this instance so much about the accompaniment of Elena not letting Stefan do this alone, of seeing his 'true face' and not walking way; of showing each other the truth of themselves, the vulnerability and fear both of them are feeling, and how much they need each other right now. It's a scary place where they're at for both of them. I could go on and be even more sappy and florid but I won't. Just beautiful. Well bloody done, show.
Damon and Elena
I also loved her moments with Damon. Honestly, I'm still very much at the stage where the best bits of these two, when they're friends, and when we see that friendship and what it means for both of them resonate most deeply. And this is how I like them best. Their last scene was just well done, the honesty, all of it - well done. They will be friends again, the hate was never really there to begin with and they will get closer. He was so gentle with her, just such a tender moment, and I like how these two see each other in moments like this. It's undeniable, and as much as I hate it when people try to diminish what SE is, I hate it when they do the same for DE.
They are developing this side of the triangle and I have to say, I'm impressed by the pace of it all. I think it can be very hard with DE in this fandom, when you are an active part of the fandom at least, because it often feels like the most passionate fans of relationships are 500 steps ahead of the show. So, it's very jarring when I hear people say how much Elena passionately, irreversibly, all-consumingly loves Damon and vice versa, and yet I feel we've seen no evidence of this YET on the show. The show is taking care to let it unfold gradually, painstakingly; setting the foundations for why they would turn to each other in a given situation; why they're friends; why they might have some sexual tension; why they understand each other uniquely etc. ---- and in the end, for the fans of the pairing, the pay-off will be great. But you have to keep your eyes peeled open enough to see and appreciate every little step along the way because that's what makes the journey and destination so worthwhile. That's just my two cents.
3. Elena --- I think she took a huge step tonight. Last week, during her chat with Caroline and the whole Stefan-always-has-to-stop-himself-from-ripping-your-throat-out-and-drinking-you-dry, she had to face something that I think she's been denying since "Blood Brothers": the very real vampiric nature of her lover. I think with all the chaos, it's easy to try to pretend or hope for 'normal', and I don't think she ever wants Stefan to be normal but sometimes it's just easier to not think of what his being a vampire means in every-day terms, to not think about it explicitly because when they're alone, they probably try to be as 'normal' as possible. To have her, in this episode, offer herself in that way, and then the bit where she runs her hands across his cheek and touches the engorged veins --- fuck me, sideways! Not only was it a metaphor for sex and/or lovemaking, it was also a transcendent moment for the relationship and the levels of honesty and vulnerability they're both showing to each other. I loved it. And I'm digging this relationship right now.
I liked her protectiveness of and honesty with Lil'Gilbert. A short scene but so important for both characters and this viewer appreciated the effort. Her moments with Caroline were wonderful as well-played also. She was straight-up about how she felt about Caroline's betrayal when it all came out, her anger, but she was also empathetic to Caroline's situation. Elena's 'strength' is always a double-edged sword for me. On one hand, I love that she can be so compassionate, strong etc. but on the other, it can get difficult to find a single, convincing flaw in her character (that's acknowledged as such) and that's frustrating. This was one episode where Elena's many positive qualities didn't grate because she wasn't all-strong or all-knowing, she had her moments of weakness, and it was just good to see. I think season 2, in general, is doing a better job with her and she's so much more relatable and interesting. She's a hard one when you have Katherine around to steal the limelight. Elena can easily fade into the background in the face of all these strong personalities. She's mostly holding her own for me, she's got a unique strength of her own that's less flashy than most but still significant, so good stuff.
4. Caroline --- dear god, Candice Accola can make me weep. Last week, I was annoyed with her, I was angry. I understood why she was doing what she was doing but I was disappointed in her. This episode did what it needed to do --- allowed us to see her perspective (please, show, take notes for Bonnie on this, thanks), and the very real fear and conflict that she's been feeling with all this Katherine drama. It was so --- it reminded me of the moment that I really fell for this character when she confesses that she always tries so hard and no one ever picks her back in season 1. This time, we got to see not only how Katherine's threats have been chipping away at her well-being but also the painful rejection by her OWN mother. Ah, I can't blame the Sheriff, prejudice is a difficult thing to let go of if it's all you've known, but that was gut-wrenching to see. SOB!
Her PWNING Mason's ass was awesome. Nothing pleases me more on this show than when we get to see women being fierce and strong. I love it.
5. Salvatores --- Okay, how awesome is the love these brothers have for each other? First, Stefan goes off to cut a deal with Mason, clean up Damon's mess, and straight-up tells him that it's two-against-one, he will ALWAYS have Damon's back, and vice versa. When Damon swallowed the vervain-laced lemonade, Stefan was his nurturing self, I love how physical they can be with each other, Damon did it earlier in the episode with grasping Stefan's shoulders and this time, Stefan was supporting him and did the same to hold Damon back from outright killing Mason in the middle of the town picnic or whatever this was. Then, Damon lying on the ground while the Sheriff interrogates him, and the way he looks at his unconscious brother. Follow that up with the moment a while later when he's telling Stef that he NEEDS to drink human blood, the caring and concern. And then, that last scene with Elena, not pulling any punches, telling her what needs to be said even if she may not want to hear it, knowing what his brother needs. And not a flirty eye in sight. I just LOVE them. This, right here, this is the love story of the show, my favorite one above all others. I need these two to be intact at the end of it, everything else can fall as it must but the brothers must be united. Yep, I said it --- philadelphia for the world!
6. Damon --- is my darling back? Truly, I think something clicked for me in this episode with Damon. We got what I've wanted, he's still cocky, biting, sarcastic, mean as hell, impulsive, ready to kill anyone who pisses him off BUT he's also showing such growth emotionally, and reaching out to people beyond Stefan and Elena, and showing that those bonds, fragile as they may be, mean something to him. This is amazing. We saw the birth pangs in the first few episodes this season, and I expected them and admired that the show was going that way with him even if it was frustrating. We'll continue to see them, but I think he's developing a firmer grasp on himself and rebuilding who he is, and it's cool to see.
How poignant was that, "You're my friend," that he said to the Sheriff, at least twice in this episode? Ian Somerhalder killed it, he was so subtle, just the right balance between the camp and the depth. I am pleased.
7. Stefan --- continues to be compelling. It's amazing that we have episodes where we get to see the sheer awesome of both Salvatore brothers, in their own ways. That opening scene with Elena and their little code was quite fun and sweet, and this pretense must be hard. I expect to see some more fraying at the edges of this relationship. And his mini-showdown with Mason, badass. I love that when Mason broke the truce --- the guy couldn't even wait for a day, punk! --- he was all ready to strike back and take care of business with Damon. I love that he acknowledged that without human blood he is weaker than he needs to be, and that he's going to TRY to develop an immunity to it. Seriously, people, this is one of the things I love about this character is that he always tries, even if it's f-ing hard, if he falls, if he fucks up --- he tries. He knows that he could fail epically at this, that this could blow up in her face but he's still going to try. That's all you can ask for. I think this new struggle with human blood will surface a lot of things about Stefan, it's going to be difficult and painful but he'll grow as a character, and it will just add more layers to him and his relationships, so I'm all for it. I'm glad the show will deal with this head-on.
8. Mason --- anyone else feel like he's going to die? I feel like he's going to die (maybe Tyler will have to kill him....). Poor sod, Katherine seemingly has him wrapped around her finger, we'll have to see. But he's thoroughly enamored of her, and lying to his nephew, getting my bros shot for whatever petty reasons (it doesn't look like Kat sanctioned his nonsense) = Bad move. Never trusted him anyways, and he loses points for not being the nice, circumspect dude I hoped he'd be but I'm intrigued by his storyline and the flashbacks w/Kat. The plot is thickening. And he's still hot *is shallow* so bring it on.
9. Kat. This girl is ruthless. Ruthless. Of course she wasn't going to be spending her off-time writing sonnets to Stefan by moonlight. She has an agenda, she is continually performing for EVERYONE (we thought Damon was good at acting and deceiving, Katherine makes him look like the kid playing a turkey in an annual Thanksgiving Day pageant) and it's foolish to think otherwise. The fall-out will be massive for whatever she has planned. I wonder what she did to poor Caroline, jeez. Maybe she gave her some foul nightmares of things she'd do to Matt, entered her dreams, and probably beat her up some. I want a fic of that.
10. Oh, Sheriff. I feel like she could possibly die at some point towards the end of the season as well. I felt for her too. The horror of seeing this thing with the face of the child you bore is painful. The woman was clearly broken by this. But what's even worse is that she couldn't overcome her prejudice enough to see that Caroline was still there. It's quite disturbing to me that she's going to willingly be compelled to forget, to not see, that she wants to not see. But as they say, truth will out, this isn't over yet. Oh man. It's a sad thing and it's a commentary on so much of real life and how people view the world. Well done, show.
Oh, my goodness, how could I forget!!!? Best until last:
11. Jeremy and Tyler --- I'm putting these two together because they kind of belong together. Like peanut butter and jelly, hot fudge and halibut vanilla ice cream. It breaks my heart that the show isn't going to go slash with these two, their chemistry, and the way their interactions and relationships play out is so romantic. Truly. Jeremy draws sketches of wolves in his free time? Tyler overcomes his dickish personality to reach out and invite him for drinks and women (who are only there as attempts to defuse the awkward love tension and stop him from ripping little Jeremy's clothes off and taking him on his father's teak-wood desk) back at the Lockwood Mansion of Sin and Debauchery and Love. Ah well, I will settle for a partnership and friendship. I'm glad J is trying to be more useful instead of Emo, he's got his ring, and he's finding his purpose and who he is (recall that conversation with Damon in episode 2). I'm glad to see Tyler developing similarly as he becomes more entangled in all of this. His choosing to not be a part of it, to walk away, the self-awareness of that moment when he thought that irritating girl was dead. Just great acting and I'm very much on board with wherever they choose to go here.
Random Note on Gender in TVD
This is something we might be able to write about extensively as the show goes on. There is so much to unpack. Some things that keep leaping out, no depth at all, someone smarter and with more time than I have must write some meta on this. I beg.
-Strong women characters. Strong, complex women characters.
-Strong women made weak and/or slain by men (usually with phallic instrument -- Pearl, Lexi, Anna; or extreme, brutal violence -- Bree; or more metaphorical violence? --Grams)
-Woman as classic Femme Fatale figure -- Katherine. She's literally Medusa, Lilith, Delilah, gosh, every archetype you can think of applies to her. It's fascinating.
-What other archetypes do we see played out on the show? Are they static? Or can different characters move somewhat seamlessly between many?
-Does this show hate women or love them? It's not an easy answer when we see strong women like Pearl or Lexi destroyed and almost always BY men but then we see men fall victim to women (emotionally and literally, in a physical sense, looking at you Damon, Mason, Stefan -- but it happens to others) as well, almost more than the former. We also see different iterations of female strength, it's not just the ability to take a man down, or stand up for yourself, or be independent. And we also see vulnerability, I don't know --- tis complicated, needs some analysis.
Next episode: Bonnie's back. I saw fire, she's gonna be burning shit up. Awesome. And Stefan and Damon are on it. Katherine's wreaking havoc. I can't wait.