I was so worked up about that last scene last night, but I've kinda moved to a place of finding it interesting now. Which doesn't excuse the shock of how sensationally the Damon/Elena sex was framed.
And I'm so with you regarding Caroline. I just posted similar thoughts on Marta's journal.
Yeah, I agree. I mean, I don't have the investment in the triangle that I would get emotional ups or downs from the scene. And so it was just this gross rape culture narrative coming up for the ~drama. I mean, I think the idea of "how much psychological influence does Damon have, as the one person in her new life that she trusts?" which could have some very interesting resonance with the Bonnie-Shane and Caroline-Stefan arcs, but this is, ugh.
(the problem with the sire-bonding theory is that it's already been confirmed as existing; like apparently Elena magically believes what Damon believes. LIKE, IDEK WHAT THAT MEANS. So if Damon said something it may not affect her, but if Damon ~believes something, it...does. I DON'T KNOW, IT'S THE MOST RIDIC THING I'VE HEARD.)
/spoiler
But I like how calm your review is; I would like this episode a lot more that way, although I'm just trying to block it out mostly. Technically I think your theories are the least rage-inducing and most coherent but that's it, I NEED theory to make it less rage-inducing and more coherent, because the moment I stop doing it myself, this show becomes a mess.
LOL, TOTALLY AGREED ON KLAUS. What was also awesome was basically Tyler framing the whole thing and going "bullshit" even though Caroline was probably a little impressed because she believes in goodness in people and everything, lol
the problem with the sire-bonding theory is that it's already been confirmed as existing; like apparently Elena magically believes what Damon believes. LIKE, IDEK WHAT THAT MEANS. So if Damon said something it may not affect her, but if Damon ~believes something, it...does. I DON'T KNOW, IT'S THE MOST RIDIC THING I'VE HEARD.
oh, WHAT EVEN.
What was also awesome was basically Tyler framing the whole thing and going "bullshit"
Tyler Improves Everything, it's true! And I love the use of HIM to call out Klaus's bullshit.
I think what fandom often fails to take into account when parsing Caroline's reactions (understandably, since the show doesn't do anything to help us) is the extent to which she's influenced by how LITTLE anyone helped her or cared when she was being abused by Damon. I think that really warps her perception of everything, especially she is the kind of person who tries so hard to interpret everything positively, if only to protect herself from the harshness of the truth.
I really, really like this. I think it's because no one helped her that Caroline has internalized all her feelings about how she was treated in season 1 and now projects this positive attitude that dismisses her mistreatment.
I just don't buy that the Mark is "making" him do any of these things, it's letting him act on subconscious impulses and desires that have been buried for a long time.
Yeah. I think it's similar to vampirism in this 'verse, in that someone gets the supernatural ability to act on a few of their uglier desires and it all comes pouring out. I'm a lot more sympathetic to the hunters, though, as I generally am when people strike back against their victimizers.
It makes me have thinky thoughts about 90s feminism when girly-girl stuff was (IMO) discouraged more than it is now. But I'm not sure if the show wants me to see her that way or to think she's super-cool for being "above" all that tiara crap?
Yeah, I don't really think it's either endorsed or condemned, just a recognition that a lot of girls don't recognize themselves in the Miss Mystic Falls contestants.
I love that the show explicitly seems to be hinting at Bonnie being easily manipulated by Shane because of her current emotional state and lack of support system, etc.And that
( ... )
It seemed to me like Caroline and Stefan were looking for an excuse to reject Elena as they’re seeing her now, without revising their opinion of Elena herself, and it’s easiest for them to blame her bond with Damon.
I enjoy this reading very much and find it very consistent. I shall be adopting this bit of fanwank as my own.
It’s much easier for her to think that ~only bad Damon who is bad does these things, than to think too hard about what “these things” are.
I like this for Caroline, who is the sort of person who likes to put things into neat little boxes with neat little labels - and Damon is Bad while Stefan is Good. I would love to see this fallacy laid out starkly for her, to have all of those illusions stripped away. She's never going to age, but that doesn't mean that she can't grow up.
And damn, Professor Shane is just behind EVERYTHING here. He’s insinuated himself into a position of trust with the Council, not unlike the way Damon did at first. He is confident in Bonnie’s dependence on him.I actually sort of think
( ... )
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And I'm so with you regarding Caroline. I just posted similar thoughts on Marta's journal.
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(the problem with the sire-bonding theory is that it's already been confirmed as existing; like apparently Elena magically believes what Damon believes. LIKE, IDEK WHAT THAT MEANS. So if Damon said something it may not affect her, but if Damon ~believes something, it...does. I DON'T KNOW, IT'S THE MOST RIDIC THING I'VE HEARD.)
/spoiler
But I like how calm your review is; I would like this episode a lot more that way, although I'm just trying to block it out mostly. Technically I think your theories are the least rage-inducing and most coherent but that's it, I NEED theory to make it less rage-inducing and more coherent, because the moment I stop doing it myself, this show becomes a mess.
LOL, TOTALLY AGREED ON KLAUS. What was also awesome was basically Tyler framing the whole thing and going "bullshit" even though Caroline was probably a little impressed because she believes in goodness in people and everything, lol
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oh, WHAT EVEN.
What was also awesome was basically Tyler framing the whole thing and going "bullshit"
Tyler Improves Everything, it's true! And I love the use of HIM to call out Klaus's bullshit.
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
I really, really like this. I think it's because no one helped her that Caroline has internalized all her feelings about how she was treated in season 1 and now projects this positive attitude that dismisses her mistreatment.
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Yeah. I think it's similar to vampirism in this 'verse, in that someone gets the supernatural ability to act on a few of their uglier desires and it all comes pouring out. I'm a lot more sympathetic to the hunters, though, as I generally am when people strike back against their victimizers.
It makes me have thinky thoughts about 90s feminism when girly-girl stuff was (IMO) discouraged more than it is now. But I'm not sure if the show wants me to see her that way or to think she's super-cool for being "above" all that tiara crap?
Yeah, I don't really think it's either endorsed or condemned, just a recognition that a lot of girls don't recognize themselves in the Miss Mystic Falls contestants.
I love that the show explicitly seems to be hinting at Bonnie being easily manipulated by Shane because of her current emotional state and lack of support system, etc.And that ( ... )
Reply
I enjoy this reading very much and find it very consistent. I shall be adopting this bit of fanwank as my own.
It’s much easier for her to think that ~only bad Damon who is bad does these things, than to think too hard about what “these things” are.
I like this for Caroline, who is the sort of person who likes to put things into neat little boxes with neat little labels - and Damon is Bad while Stefan is Good. I would love to see this fallacy laid out starkly for her, to have all of those illusions stripped away. She's never going to age, but that doesn't mean that she can't grow up.
And damn, Professor Shane is just behind EVERYTHING here. He’s insinuated himself into a position of trust with the Council, not unlike the way Damon did at first. He is confident in Bonnie’s dependence on him.I actually sort of think ( ... )
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At this point in the series, a "mastermind" is far more interesting than a "killer."
oooooh, yes. I completely believe Shane has a long game in mind, and I really like that.
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Excellent life choice, if you ask me. ;)
I completely believe Shane has a long game in mind, and I really like that.
I agree completely. I'm looking forward to watching everything unravel.
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