TVD 3x20: Sorry to spoil your seven minutes in heaven...with the rest of the episode.

[dante_kent]

Hmm. Let's see. I don't really know what to say about this episode. My mind keeps swinging between fury, righteous anger, and total indifference. After the glory of 3x19 last week in all its 10k monstrosity-inducing, flail-worthy excellence, I always knew 3x20 was going to be a letdown. I also knew that it was going to be a rough episode for me in

Comments

[arabian]

I was devastated about the episode at first (re: my first write-up), but after some sleep and more thinking, I'm okay with it. Even the Caroline part. I went into more length in my second write-up, but essentially with Caroline, two things

[dante_kent]

I'm impressed you've been able to manage your Caroline rage. I must confess I'm not similarly able to reason myself into a calmer state. I agree with everything you've said, but the episode still showed such a dismal lack of self-awareness that I can't let it go. I HOPE you're right and that the show understands how unhealthy all of this is and is making that the point. But until I know for a fact that the show is on the same page, I remain nervous.

Finally, her pushing so hard now? I totally read as her projecting HER situation (Stefan = Tyler, Damon = Klaus) onto Elena

Interesting. I hadn't thought of that.

They fell completely back into their unhealthy patterns of pretense and delusion in their little safety bubble. And it's not good.

I agree completely. But there IS a precedent for huge S/E issues getting ignored and swept under the rug forever, and I just have no faith in this show's understanding of S/E as a ship. But I hope you're right!

[badboy_fangirl]

I am so ridiculously attached to Rebekah that I was even dismayed when her body got stabbed. Leave my girl alone! I was indignant on her behalf.
Beks never gets to go to the DANCES! It's her one wish, and it never happens. Maybe next season, Matty can take her to a dance, for realz!

I'll be back with more comments, later, I'm sure, but I have to run for now.

[dante_kent]

Beks never gets to go to the DANCES! It's her one wish, and it never happens.

THIS WAS THE SADDEST PART! Seriously, someone just let this girl go to a dance. (Plus, being an Original, she could probably survive a Mystic Falls High School dance relatively unscathed! Reason enough, I say.)

[wheatear]

But I just checked my flist, and apparently EVERYONE is so angry about this episode.

lol yep. I was surprised by the degree of rage. But everything you say about Caroline and Stefan/Elena I was also raging about.

[dante_kent]

I can't say I was surprised that people were frustrated with the episode. But checking into my friends page and seeing the sheer amount of RAGE posted took me aback despite myself. And made me feel a lot better, because if everyone else was so angry, I could just sit back (with popcorn) and let them talk it out.

But yes, everything Caroline or S/E related was the actual worst. I am counting on tonight's episode being better. Here's hoping I don't find a furious flist tomorrow.

[wheatear]

I will be mad only if any of the Originals die. That's all I want from the show now: let the Originals live.

[xthe_originalx]

The writers are making it really hard not to have ship wars throughout the show. But I think most of your opinion is valid and I agree with a good amount of it :3 you're not the only one frustrated with Caroline.

[dante_kent]

I'm staying clear of ship wars, to be honest. My frustration with S/E has nothing to do with my status as a D/E shipper and all to do with their lack of a cohesive narrative arc. I wish the show would stop juggling between D/E and S/E and just focus on the individual storylines to make sure they flow.

I'm glad you agree with some of my ramblings. I promise I'm not usually this enraged. ;)

[xthe_originalx]

I definitely agree about that. Thats why personally i enjoyed the originals in the beginning as they started with the storyline. The S/E, D/E stuff is somewhat frustrating.

[ever_neutral]

And what is that painting, even? Angry impressionism?

LMFAO. Bless.

But I can find RebeKlaus anywhere, because even if Klaus fails the test, he still acquiesces to almost-Rebekah's request to go to a high school dance, just because she wants to go. That's love, man.

RIGHT? I puked rainbows. Klaus/Rebekah will always be the OTP.

and Damon just goes, "Lovely." My mind goes into a frenzy of overidentification, because 'lovely' is one of my most overused words, and sometimes Damon and I are just exactly the same person.

I love you both.

Let's just get one thing out of the way. Damon was golden in this episode, because Damon is pretty much always golden. He was one of the only things about this episode that didn't once make me roll my eyes or sigh in resignation or dismay at one point or another.

CO-FUCKING-SIGNED. The beacon of light in a mountain of shit tbh.

But they keep putting in little moments of Caroline/Matt, and I do not like it. Caroline has that beat when she looks all impressed and vaguely dreamy that Matt

[ever_neutral]

Elena calls Stefan to ask him to a fucking high school dance, of all things, and when the camera cuts to her, she's sitting right by this photo of her, Bonnie, and Caroline, the frame boldly emblazoned with "MEMORIES."

I totally missed this during my rage blackout. Good point. Makes me feel marginally better about Elena's role in all this.

I got all indignant when she asked so hesitantly if he had a sec to talk to her. It made me feel so keenly the power imbalance between them - she's anxious asking him for something, because she's so used to him calling all the shots. She doesn't feel like she has the right to demand anything of him, not even a phone call.

You're not being insensitive. The emotional power imbalance between Stefan and Elena has been grossing me out all season. Even now, Elena believes she ~owes~ Stefan a second chance. I just. I cannot deal.

And here's a bit of perhaps unwarranted harshness to the younger Salvatore, but did anyone else think he looked super smug after she asked him to the dance?No, he did.

[ever_neutral]

what is he, the driver at Downton Abbey? I'm cool with it). But dude, is he STILL bussing tables at this thing? He's in charge of the ice or something? LOL FOREVER. Poor Matt.

Dying.

Because, fair? Stefan is not even remotely fair right now! He's playing her, and she's buying it without question. Just. I can't. It is fucking CANON that Stefan has an agenda. He needs to get back with Elena to make his quest for redemption worthwhile.

MOTHERFUCKING PREACH. I just. I CANNOT EVEN BELIEVE THAT JULIE P. IS GIVING INTERVIEWS SAYING EXACTLY THE SAME THING ABOUT THEIR ABUSIVE BOYFRIEND LEAD. WHAT. WHAT. I literally can't.

Also, how was it completely untouched despite the fact that countless students must have been walking through it? Where did they find that much salt? Why does my mind insist on applying actual logic to vampire shows?

I feel your pain. Seriously, nobody else found this salt line weird? Whatever.

"A normal guy wouldn't have said yes to a date with me." "Yeah, that's true." WHAT? NO! Was this supposed to be cute?

[ever_neutral]

I don't think Elena making a choice WILL break them. Or maybe that's just my Brothership heart talking. But I feel like there's this understanding between these boys that Elena is temporary.

You are correct. That moment was so lame to me because - IT'S NOT AN ISSUE! The contrived drama and ~suspense is contrived and tiresome.

I think she's the only character on this show who seems to be holding Stefan equally accountable to Damon in terms of his misdeeds

Ugh, BUT WHY ISN'T SHE ALLOWED TO ANEURYSM STEFAN? I will not be halfway satisfied until that happens.

Did Damon roll his eyes at the dramatic of it all, or are the candles from his secret stash?

Both.

"I don't have anyone anymore." "You have me." Just. Does she, Stefan? I know Stefan will love her forever, I know that. I don't doubt the strength or truth of his love at all. But he is not stable. She didn't have him all season, and not always for good reasons. In fact, for half the season he actively refused to be there for her, just because he couldn't cope with it. So