my boyfriend's back and there's gonna be trouble
I don't have a television in my place, and I didn't feel like waiting until tomorrow, so I timed tonight's workout precisely so I could be on the treadmill glued to one of the little personal televisions my Spoiled Brat Sports Club has. Leave it to me to turn even my healthy hobbies into Serial Killer Fan Club time.
- AAAAH, and the episode decided to throw down by serenading my heart with a Damon/Klaus confrontation. ("Back off, you just spent the last six months boning my brother! Wait, so this isn't a date?")
- I love how as soon as Katherine let Stefan off his leash, he decided his master plan was to go to the very first place Klaus would look for him so he could hide out in a safehouse that hates vampires. And, we all know Damon got the mind-grapes generally, but seriously, is he trying to get himself killed? But, yes, I really think he is on some level. His claim that "Klaus took everything" from him strikes me as one of his efforts to externalize stuff, because of course Klaus can't take Damon away from him, at the very least. What Klaus took was Stefan's illusion of a normal life, that was starting to become real for him. What he took was Stefan's self-construct and agency and ability to make that choice.
- The scenes between Damon and Stefan were some of my favorites we've seen for a while. They're both totally reveling in this us-against-the-world thing. Stefan leaves Katherine out of the whole bit; Damon agrees to leave Elena out of it (as if that's possible). And OH GOD, STOP SAVING ME! MY HEAAAAAAAAAART.
- AND OMG Bonnie! I love that this is shaping up to be at least as much about her vendetta against Klaus as anyone else's. She put her life on the line twice to try to take him down; Stefan and Damon are really looking to lash out at someone, but Bonnie wants him dead and understands what that means.
- Mmmm, obviously my fluff-shipper little heart loves that they used Damon's blood to cure Ric, but they really should've bled the guard dog vampire while he was out rather than hung around waiting so Ric could be in agonizing pain if not mortal danger for a while.
- I'm ambivalent on the mind-wiping Jeremy. Because, ew. It's a little odd that they didn't give us five seconds of dialogue of trying to talk him into leaving, at least. But on the other hand, the previous mind-wipe was explicitly evoked. They know it's fucked up.
- And it means that Elena played her only card when she gave up Rebekah for Jeremy's safety, and then sent Jeremy away, and so she gave up their only weapon for nothing at all. ("WHY IN THE GOD DAMN SHITTING FUCK AM I THE BRAINS OF THIS OPERATION, HOW ARE WE NOT ALL DEADER THAN DEAD?" -Damon Salvatore)
- TYLERRRRRRRRRRRR, my poor baby. (Apropos of nothing, I would like to point out that though the character is a teenager, the actor is 26 years old and therefore lusting is in no way morally reprehensible.) Of course he's not a particularly reliable narrator about the sire thing, but the dialogue explains why he feels influenced while also telling us that he's responsible for his actions. OH, PUPPY.
- And oh, Damon, whether or not to feel guilt or even to admit to feeling guilt isn't even the question any more. Not that I expect or particularly want him to stay in this relatively stable space forever, but it's leaps and bounds that he can not only be there at all, but take it for granted. I'm staying away from the kiss itself because I'm still suffused with not caring about Damon/Elena romantically.