TVD 4x02, Memorial

[upupa_epops]

I promised real thoughts on this episode, so here it goes ;). I'm terribly late with replying to comments and reading other episode reactions, I know. It's just that school started, real life takes up a lot of time, and when I actually have some internet time, I try to write fic. I'll do my best to be less late, but I'm not sure if I can catch up

Comments

[swirlsofblue]

Oh, things you say just make so much sense. Like part of me has thought they should've just ended Stefan/Elena in 3.22 instead of dragging them through the mud, but you're so right, Elena had to prove she could get them through the rough part. And now it's over, and she's a vampire, and the happy world Stefan and Elena try to create for each other, even though they know it's not real, because they love each other, has to fall apart. I still didn't like the vomit metaphor though, maybe be less obvious show.

Yeah, the visual with Elena drinking from Damon seemed very off for me too, possibly that was done on purpose, because she ends up throwing that up too. Maybe this is the season Elena runs off with Matt, or preferably she runs off with Caroline. Because this:

The Caroline compulsion lesson was brilliant. Let me tell you how much I love that Elena's transition isn't written solely in the triangle context. Caroline gets a say, and she's the best teacher Elena could have. She gives Elena confidence, she stands right beside her in

[upupa_epops]

Elena had to prove she could get them through the rough part

That's a part of her Good Girl persona that she's trying so hard to keep. You choose someone, and then you stick to them even if it kills you. I'm good with the show depicting her act like this, depicting how harmful this is for her in a long run.

I liked the vomit metaphor, but then I generally enjoy disgusting things in art ;).

Okay, you've just given me a thought, maybe the reason Damon looked so worried about Stefan after Mikael fed was because there was an implied sexual nature to it, and it was kind of rape-y. Because would a feeding be that much more severe than a neck snap?IDK, it seemed like Damon was reacting to Mikael being so vicious? Neck-snap is quick and clean, feeding took longer, was more painful, gave Stefan time to be afraid. Besides, when Mikael fed on Katherine, the writers already knew Elena would turn (because they've been planning for it to happen at some point this since the beginning of the series), and they probably also knew that she'd share

[fluffyfrolicker]

BLESS YOU I WAS THINKING THOSE SAME THINGS ABOUT THE 3x05/4x02 PARALEL. like "oh see this scene, i see what you're doing show"

BLESS YOU.

also your thoughts are wonderful and the banner looks as good on you as Elena's pink dress did on her and i swear i am working on your picspam.

[upupa_epops]

Your artwork always looks good on me! \o/ THANK YOU!

I'm glad the parallel wasn't just me :D.

PICSPAM <3333333333

[fluffyfrolicker]

you're a filthy enabler.

[vergoldung]

Your thoughts are so pretty! *pets them

[upupa_epops]

Idk, it's this weird war between narrative enjoyment and over-identification feels.

Same here. I'm loving the story while simultaneously wanting to kill some characters with fire. This is not healthy.

Oh, definitely! But also I think there's some strange metaphor here, of Elena being sexually frustrated and not able to find satisfaction with Stefan. I mean, she vomits when they're trying to have sex, and then proceeds to dry-hump Damon. How else am I supposed to read it?

I hug your Alaric feels.

[youcallitwinter]

FUCK THAT BANNER, I CAN'T DEAL OKAY.

I'm actually enjoying S/E a lot right now? This is the way the world ends: Not with a bang but a whimper.

That Eliot line was the BEST to choose for this scenario, and seriously, I am totally WITH YOU HERE. Because I'm really enjoying them a hell lot too right now; esp near the end when she's weak and vulnerable and he's berating her for drinking from Damon and she just sort of breaks down and he blames it on her periodhormones heightened emotions. Because that one sentence turned this ship so realistic, I can't even. THIS IS THE SORT OF THING GIRLS HEAR FROM THEIR BOYFRIENDS ALL THE TIME. And Stefan was such a magnificent dick, he actually made Elena feel bad about what had happened, even though it's obvious he has no right or high ground after last season; but with them it's literally like last season never happened, except it did and it's starting to slip through the cracks. JUST, MOAR PLZ.

Mostly because Damon doesn't step in unless explicitly asked by Elena.Oooh, good point, I never even

[youcallitwinter]

First of all, Elena vomits blood because she can't stomach being The Good Girl... and then she calls the guy who doesn't expect her to be one.

x100000000000000000

The Caroline compulsion lesson was brilliant. Let me tell you how much I love that Elena's transition isn't written solely in the triangle context. Caroline gets a say, and she's the best teacher Elena could have. She gives Elena confidence, she stands right beside her in case something went wrong, and she believes in her. Helps her stand on her own two feet.

AMEN. THIS IS ALL I WANT FROM LIFE, PLEASE GIVE IT TO ME SHOW.

is it just me, or was the S/E library scene a deliberate mirror of the 3x05 D/E scene?

omg, WHAT A WONDERFUL CONNECTION. That literally never crossed my mind, but it's almost exactly set up like the D/E scene and offers a fascinating contrast. That's a really, really good catch right there. Now I can't unsee it!

Also, was it just me, or was Elena on the fence with the whole lantern thing?Lol, I didn't particularly feel like Elena wanted to be there

[upupa_epops]

Now I can't unsee it!

GOOD.

Damon has too much cynicism (along with the idealism, which makes him a truly fascinating character) to ever share grief or open himself up, unless he can kill or compel the other person, but Elena doesn't.

Oh, Elena is definitely capable of sharing her grief, and she needs it sometimes. But I felt like the lanterns were too "loud" for her? Not something she forced herself to do, but something she would've done slightly differently if she could. I'm not sure if Caroline birthday party is a good example here? The birthday party was about the closure for Caroline, and Caroline works better when she can have a proper ceremony. When Elena was doing her own "closure" that episode, she just called Matt. So, I suppose, it's not about not being able to share grief (the way Damon can't), it's about preferring to do it in smaller groups. She's not cynical, she's private.

so Damon leaving was good and Stefan should have left tooOoh, good point. I suppose it would've changed the tone for Elena, made it "private"

[upupa_epops]

The banner is gross, I agree.

Because I'm really enjoying them a hell lot too right now; esp near the end when she's weak and vulnerable and he's berating her for drinking from Damon and she just sort of breaks down and he blames it on her period hormones heightened emotions.

YES! It has nothing to do with the couple they used to be. So dickish and patronizing. I didn't expect the show to go there.

Ian's face esp was like a porn movie all on its own

LOL, yes. Ian, lechery doesn't become you.

I wonder why Damon particularly highlighted the fact that it was personal? Is it because he knows about the ambiguity of Elena's feelings regardless of her ~choice, and that somehow makes it more than a standard experience?

I'm guessing it has to do with their relationship? Blood sharing is sexual for them because they have enough unresolved sexual tension to light a small village, so being so physically close to each other, mixed with Elena's hunger and Damon's teenage feelings, was bound do end up in dry-humping.

Like, I always thought

[mugma]

BLESS THIS POST.

Also, I'm rewatching right now and when Stefan says "Listen, I choked it down for month before I get my stomach to taste" looks like he hasnt't told Elena before. Well I see what you did there, Stefan, but anyway, he should have told her so she would be prepared for this and now she is scared. She looks like she wanted to ask him why he hasn't tell but she just doesn't want to ruin this "sweet" scene for Stefan (Good Girl, yeah). The whole champagne scene is creepy as fuck. Srsly, Stefan?

Also, compare this:
Elena in 1x02:
When you lose someone it stays with you. Always reminding you of how easy it is to get hurt.

Damon in 4x02:

Because in the end, when you lose somebody every candle, every prayer is not gonna make up for the fact that the only thing that you have left is a hole in your life where that somebody that you cared about used to be.
This episode killed me, but in a good way, so I suppose it's fine

[upupa_epops]

The champagne scene was creepy indeed.

Yes, yes, the D/E parallel is stunning! They're all about loss, ugh :(.