hello my lovelies, are we ready?

[krickets]

→ Been having a rough couple of days. Shitty stuff going down at work. Won't talk about it, except to say that the crazies are out to get me. This is what I get for being an honest person. Maybe I should give it up. This fueled my determination when I later applied for a job in my dream town, but the odds are not exactly in my favor.

→ COMMUNITY. I loved the way this was shot. It was a nice blend of suspense and comedy. Josh Holloway: He's still got it. And if you miss the awesome version of Sawyer, this would definitely give you a quick and much needed fix. Sometimes their stylized eps really work for me, and sometimes they don't. This did. Maybe it's cause I love the western theme? (And because nobody had sex with Chang. Spoiler alert?)

→ THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:

I pretty much loved everyone in this. I feel like I want to save my thoughts for when I have re-watched and can analyze the whole thing, but what the heck, I will go for it.

- First, I actually cried. Something about Jenna's devastated face and knowing what was going to happen and having Elena tell her. I will miss that Sara Canning, you guys. There was definitely something so innocent about her character, and she's been bombarded with so much, and just her face. Sara was wonderful and Jenna was even more wonderful. Right from the start, they had me. She was brave, in the end. She tried to kill the witch and put an end to everything. I'm so sorry it didn't work. I really liked Jenna a lot.

- Elena may have been part of my tearing up. She was so gentle and calm and reassuring and yet terrified and heartbroken at the same time. It truly brought home how ill-equipped Jenna was for the job she took on. But then, who would be? These are not exactly ordinary circumstances. Elena is not exactly a normal girl. And she has remained so strong throughout this entire ordeal. For Stefan, for Jenna. They gave her her moment to break, just a little, last episode, and as ill-timed as it was, it was perfect and necessary. I sometimes can't believe how this character has evolved since season one. She's wonderful. In some ways I hope that the losses she suffered tonight don't harden her, but at the same time, the idea of that being a part of her season three arc is kind of exciting for me.

- Throwing this here: The imagery of those three rings fire was really beautiful.

- Of course Stefan would volunteer in Jenna's place. Of course. I was completely fucking shocked at Damon's reaction to that. Really? Does he care about Stefan that much? I know they have this century-and-a-half-old bond, but that was unexpected. But of course it 100% mirrored Stefan's pledge to find a cure for his brother at the end of the episode. This is just coming off of Damon's monster betrayal. I don't understand these brothers. Stefan is loyal. And apparently Damon at least doesn't want Stefan to die. But the love/hate thing still shocks me. Especially because it's mostly hate. I suppose we can attribute both their new found bond, and their continuing animosity to Elena. The dichotomy is perplexing.

- Also, I'm a little too mad at him for putting his life at risk to praise Stefan for offering himself up to Klaus. (Okay that's a lie, I totally love him for that.) But now I'm just worried what other plans Klaus has for him.

- While I found Jules' 'death bed apology' to be a little bit late, I actually felt sorry for her in the end. Goodness, though, she even dies pretty.

- The sound of Caroline's voice when she asked if Matt thinks her mother is going to try and kill her. Ouch. Heartbreak. I suppose this will be something they will deal with in the next season because I sincerely doubt they will wrap it up next episode. Although you never know what sort of cliffhanger they may have in store for us.

- Is this the end for Matt? Honestly, if this is their way of writing off Zach Roerig I might be a little pissed. Not to be completely heartless, but I would rather he died if that is the case. I loved him in this and the last episode. Despite the grumbling from the peanut gallery, I think he's had a great arc since finding out about Caroline. It's really only been a few episodes and he's gone from shock, to deception, to acceptance, to proving his loyalty and finally to this very real human reaction that he can't deal with this in his life. But I definitely hope that doesn't mean Matt disappears. I loved how open he was with Caroline in this episode, how he genuinely cares for both her and Tyler still, how he called them all friends. It was perfect. He better be coming back.

- Damon's problem is that he needs to think before he acts. Sure, she didn't become a vampire so Elijah's prophecy that she'll never forgive him might not come true. But because of what he did, and because he negated the power of the elixir, her father, who she was just beginning to trust, had to sacrifice his life to save hers. And speaking of that, now that he's gone (and in such a selfless way) I really wish John had been in these last two episodes. It would have been nice to have felt his death a little more harshly.

- When Bonnie magically prevented Alaric and Jeremy from leaving the property, I was so sure somebody was going to knock a candle over and burn the entire antique building to the ground. This was an actual fear I had when watching.

- Speaking of Jeremy, his best scene was with Elena at the end. He was kind of useless in this episode. Sorry Jer-Bear. Alaric was only mostly useless. But at least he got to break bad news to people. Which is... something.

- I realize that Bonnie was summoning the power of a hundred dead witches, but that other witch was so much more laid back in her spell casting. Bonnie, take notes. The sobbing and screaming and crying has got to stop.

- Elijah, Elijah, Elijah. Please tell me that after they resurrect their "kin" that they all turn on Klaus and chop him into teeny tiny pieces and put them into separate lock boxes and freeze them in the center of separate icebergs. (This might be a total buffy rip-off, but still.) And just to clarify, this is not me wanting Klaus to die, this is me wanting Elijah to redeem himself. And freeze-wrapping his brother's body parts is clearly the only way to do it.

- Caroline and Tyler. Well aren't you cute? I like that Tyler laughs at Caroline's ridiculous over simplifications. "Not all friendships are perfect." Right. On so many levels. I'm so glad he made it through and that these two obviously have a journey to go on next year together -- and the idea of the two of them mourning the loss of Matt together, albeit in different ways, is really sweet. I was hoping for a conversation between the boys, I won't lie. But this was good too. (I'm holding out for next season, and maybe Tyler, his BFF, will be the one to bring Matt back into the fold.)

- Do we think (after Damon survives the uncurable werewolf bite) that Klaus is going to come back to seek revenge on Damon for killing his "dance partner?" She was pretty, although evil. *shrug*

- Gosh Elena looked so heartbroken in the end. She's been through a lot. And she looked really pretty in her funeral dress. (Wow, shallow.)

- I feel like I must be leaving something out. But all I can say is... I'm not really looking forward to next week. I'll spare those of you who don't watch the promos the details. That'll be for another post or something.

- ETA: This is what I left out. Damon for all of his faults, gave us a beautiful moment tonight when he picked up Elena's body, and laid it next to Stefan's. That was lovely.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

Comments

[theladyscribe]

I am super-excited about Community. I'll have to wait until it hits hulu to watch it (ahh, the joys of having no tv), but I have seriously been waiting for this episode since I first heard about it. CANNOT WAIT!!!

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Check your PMs. You'll love the ep!

[blighted-star.livejournal.com]

I really can't process all that's happened. You have an amazing, thoughtful post and I can't answer it.

But I will say - I will forever love Uncle Daddy John Sark. I will rewatch every episode and love him.

[hepburnesque.livejournal.com]

Are you free Saturday afternoon? We need to get sushi and hang out! <3

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Haha, yeah I feel like it's just one big boring re-cap, lol. But there are a few thoughts sprinkled throughout.

Yes. I really wanted him to live. I also think, one thing I didn't like about the ep was how he died, out in the sunshine, on his feet like that. I kind of wanted him to crawl into some dark corner of that house and be hyperventilating, waiting to die all on his own. And then for the camera to come back to him later, after it happened. Actually seeing him collapse was not as effective as I think they think it was lol.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

My parents are going to the lake but I think I might be staying here. I'll let you know.

[blighted-star.livejournal.com]

I really expected John to live. I had a feeling Jenna wouldn't make it, so I thought John would become the guardian. But now Elena & Jer are alone. Who will watch them? Alaric?

IDK if I could see John as the type to hyperventilate, though? He always came across as strong to me, and I guess he went out as a hero. It's sad that Elena didn't get to have a meaningful conversation with him, though.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I guess I just meant "breathing hard" either from fear or actual physical pain, we would never really know. We could imagine both.

Alaric seems like a logical choice given his known relationship with Jenna, but I wonder if maybe they will just skip over the tiny detail or have Elena and Jeremy emancipated or something. There could be compulsion involved? I mean, Elena owns two homes now, lol. She could be emancipated.

[far-to-nowhere.livejournal.com]

"(And because nobody had sex with Chang. Spoiler alert?)"

Always a deal breaker between good episode and "No. Just no."

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Hahaha. Yes. That'll do it.

[daybreak777.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

Stay honest, dude. We need people like you out there! I'll send good energy out there for you and your application.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[akzseinga.livejournal.com]

I was completely fucking shocked at Damon's reaction to that. Really? Does he care about Stefan that much?

I wasn't surprised at all. I think that the "I hate you, Stefan" act is just that - an act. Salvatore brothers really do care about each other and even if sometimes, as Stefan said, they want to kill each other it's because they're angry and the rage is like 1000x more powerful with vampires than it is with humans. And family is always (?) the one thing that makes you most angry. I don't think they hate each other. Stefan always forgives Damon all the shit things he's doing and Damon won't let anybody kill or hurt Stefan. So, they hurt each other but they do care and need and they're somehow... webbed?

So, anyhow, it wasn't surprising to me at all. I expected nothing else :)

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I don't know, earlier in the day Damon almost killed Stefan by shoving that barrel-sized stake right through him. So yeah, I am shocked that Damon reacted so outwardly emotionally to Stefan's decision.

However, I read a show re-cap this morning, where the author posited that Damon was not only thinking of Stefan, but Elena. [Who at that point, was going to turn into a vampire, without Stefan or Damon, who's been bitten, at her side.] Which makes more sense to me. Not the idea that he cares for his brother. But that he would express it in such an obvious, emotional manner.

[caffeinified.livejournal.com]

Community cracked me up last night. Looking forward to part two of the ep.

I've only seen season one cause I came in late to the show, but I'm scared to watch season two of VD. Everyone is so grr at it lately!

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Well if it helps, I'm not "grr" at all. Only at Damon but I'm always "grr" at him, especially in season one. (And on days that end in Y.)

[holycitygirl.livejournal.com]

We need to have a phone convo soon. I don't think I can sum up ALL of my feelings in print.

A big WORD to most of this though. I didn't really expect to care that Jenna died [maybe because I saw it coming, maybe because I never really connected with that character]. I did though. I cared because Elena did. She broke my heart - telling Jenna to turn it off, telling her it was okay to block out the fear and everything else.

I actually ADORED John's quiet death. I felt it was more powerful than anything drawn out could of been. Just a snap of the fingers - one minute he's there and now he's gone.

I'm hoping that Elijah's other siblings are badass and worth it. All I'm saying. ;) Although - it is kind of nice to keep one bad guy. Instead of being like Buffy and having to introduce a new one every year.

Question. Where is Katherine? That's what I would like to know. Is she going to be stuck in that apartment because Klaus isn't dead and he compelled her to stay there before she started on the vervain?

The only thing I think we really disagree on is the Stefan/Damon bond. I don't think it's more hate than love. On either part. I don't think it ever has been. They doth protest too much. And Stefan can't be the perfect angel everyone accepts him to be if he doesn't want his brother to live and find redemption. I think what he said to Elijah is one hundred percent true. He could never kill Damon. Damon ISN'T Klaus. To me, Klaus is the perfect example of evil and selfishness. He only EVER cares about himself and everyone else is just a means to an end/plaything/victim. Damon tries really hard to be that way, but even in his worst moments - he barely pulls it off. All his hate is motivated by love - spurned love [Katherine], unrequited love [Elena], vengeful love [Stefan].

And I know I'm a Damon forgiver [I still contend I'm better than the rest of the Damon forgivers because my forgiveness isn't motivated by the incredible urge to jump Ian's bones], so maybe it doesn't count for much - but I loved everything he did in this episode. Yes - he is rash and thoughtless and he hurts people who don't deserve to be hurt - but that doesn't mean he's not capable of the opposite. The struggle makes the man. And this show, more often than not.

Seriously - can we admit that? How entertaining would any of this be without a foil to Stefan's goodie goodie role. The whole thing would be a bunch of writing in diaries about a sweet little epic love. I would barf and campaign that they change the name of the show to the Human/Vampire/Werewolf Love Triangle Show.

Speaking of - I kind of liked Tyler on this ep. Don't even know why. The Caroline couch exchange was so sweet and ridic. [And I really don't even know if I believe he ever put on pants under that blanket]. I totally forgive my boy for tapping out [temporarily - obviously - he BETTER not go anywhere]. I continue to want to move to Mystic Falls and hug him - all day every day. I can't wait for more of all of that on Season 3.

Okay - maybe that was close to all of my thoughts in print.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Oh I'm sure I can elicit more from you, we'll have that convo, no worries.

Regarding Katherine, I'm pretty sure she's stuck unless somebody pulls some kind of vampire mojo (or maybe Bonnie can get her out?) I was so sure the girl was going to die this season, but no. She remains. Not that I wanted her to die but I wouldn't have been too heartbroken -- and I do feel bad for poor Nina Dobrev. (And there are so many characters!)

I guess there's no real question of whether or not Damon cares for Stefan. The question is how he shows it. Which, just a few hours prior to this, he showed by shoving a giant piece of furniture through Stefan's chest. My shock was more that he reacted physically and emotionally to the news. My expectation would be for him to say something snarky like "That idiot! He's going to get himself killed for JENNA?" [And we could all probably at least sorta agree what behind that snark, there was love/concern for his brother.]

But what we got was something very different and something unexpected I think. I read a re-cap this morning and the recapper suggested that Damon may have not only been reacting to Stefan, but also the fact that Elena would soon be a newly turned vampire, and both Stefan and Damon would be dead and completely useless to her in this new world she'd be living in. I don't necessarily disagree with that.

For me, Damon's a work in progress. Okay sometimes less heavy on the "progress" portion of that. [Or a lot less heavy.] He's not redeemed. [Yet?] He doesn't put others before himself. Like Bonnie does. Like Elena does. Like Stefan does. Like Jenna and John did in this episode. Without question. Without wondering what they will get out of it. If he had known Tyler would bite him, that he was far enough into his transformation for it to matter, do you think he would have put himself between Tyler and Matt and Caroline? I can't believe that he's really at that point yet. [Unless he was doing it in order to protect Elena's friends -- for her, not for them.] He says "it should have been me" instead of Jenna. But that has far less to do with Jenna than it does Elena. Katherine said "I didn't let love get in the way." She chose herself. And if Damon had a choice between himself and Jenna, if you take out his feelings for Elena, he would choose himself every time. [At the current juncture.]

Maybe this brush with mortality will change that? Who knows.

Him asking for forgiveness, I get that. I don't think his remorse lies in feeling like he's done something horrible to Elena. I think it has more to do with the idea that Elena may never forgive him.

But what you said the other day about "why be good if you don't get anything out of it?" Loving Elena is a start. Caring for her. But there is way too much wrong with the idea that Elena should reward Damon with romantic love (or even just sex) every time Damon does something nice. In fact, I think the only way Elena would ever or could ever love Damon for realsies, is if his change for the better is one that has little to do with her and a lot more to do with himself. Now, I'm not saying I want them to neuter him, and you know how I would love to see him take on a "big bad" role for a while, but hopefully they eventually manage to give him this big epic turnaround that frankly, Ian Somerhalder deserves, haha. (Just, somebody please do something about the eyes. Can we do a letter-writing campaign?)

One of the things that I love is that Stefan believes in Damon's power to change. Even when he doesn't deserve it. This is a guy, who was going to starve him and keep him mummified for a couple hundred years or so and then "re-evaluate." And now he's encouraging him to live, to make human ties, to be a better person. (Vowing to find a cure for something uncurable.) And don't get me wrong, I don't think that Damon deserves all of that most of the time. But the fact that Stefan sees it in him is kind of nice. I would like to see it myself some day.


Also YAY! For liking Tyler. I am pleased. That's all.

[later-tuesday.livejournal.com]

Alaric can't exactly go home-Katherine is still confined to his house. I bet he'll end up staying with Elena and Jeremy.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I.. am not sure how I feel about that actually.

[holycitygirl.livejournal.com]

See I think the basic disagreement we are having transcends TVD. We are really talking about human nature here and whether or not we think that nature is inherently good or mostly self-serving. I don't think that it is inherently good. Bonnie puts people [some people] first because she takes pride in being noble [like her grandmother]. She's done questionable things - the same as everybody on this show. She Elena puts people first because she's a martyr [and maybe has a little of a death wish/guilt over surviving the fatal car crash that killed her parents/being the doppleganger that is putting everyone in danger]. Stefan puts other people first because he's making up for the terrible things he did when he was first turned/because he doesn't want to be like his brother/it helps him sleep at night. John - maybe I'd give you that John did something selfless, but - again, it was out of guilt and this spontaneous love for the daughter he decided pretty late in life he was going to do something to help. Nothing is selfless. Everybody gets something out of being good. Why can't Damon? What, he's supposed to be the one guy in the world that just does it to do it?

What I'm saying is - I don't think there is anything wrong with Damon helping Caroline and Tyler to help/curry favor with Elena. [Although I don't think there was thought there. I think he jumped in to save her without thinking at all. And that that instinct is more telling than conscious decision making ever could be]. I don't that doing the right thing for the wrong reason matters in the grand scheme of things. I'm nice to my brother's girlfriend because she's my brother's girlfriend. Because I love him, not because I love her. I can't stand the girl and think she's going to muck up my niece's life, but I'm nice to her so my brother doesn't hate me. Does that negate all my niceness? Do you think she would rather I be honest and mean? No.

I still think a little love and maybe a daily hug would help Damon. And yes - the last hug he got resulted in him force feeding Elena blood - but I don't think that means he's heartless. I think that bad decision proves he has one. If we are willing to forgive Stefan for taking the decision out of Damon's hands then we have to do the same for Damon. He "of all people" shouldn't have - but he "of all people" did - because he was finally in the same position. He didn't want to live without her - he couldn't handle the thought of being in a world she wasn't in. The same as Stefan all those years ago. It was wrong, but it was not done out of hate.

I'm not saying he is redeemed or anywhere close to being anything like Stefan. I'm kind of arguing that he doesn't have to be. He is what he is. A fucked up guy. If Elena's friendship/respect [not sexual favors or romantic love - although, I do think Elena leads him on from time to time] is what it takes to make him stop killing and using people - then I'm okay with that.

I think that Stefan and Elena have a lot in common. They both feel empathy easily. They both want to forgive. That is why they love Damon, and why - ultimately - Damon loves them. I think they are both going to do everything they can for him on the next episode and I LOVE THAT ABOUT THEM. I think that Damon can and will deserve it one day.

[ozmissage.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the job! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.

I'm still reeling over the fact that TVD made me cry. This show and I have come a long way. As powerful as Jenna's death was, it was John's that left me sobbing. The letter completely did me in.

Honestly, the idea that there's another ep to go is terrifying. There was more than enough death and mayhem in this one, I'm nervous to see what they have planned for these poor people next.

Community on the other hand, was a joy to watch! Josh was very old school Sawyer-esque last night. It was awesome. :D

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Riddle me this, pessimist.

Why did Damon help Rose to be at peace when he put her out of her misery? What did he get out of it? I would argue that he got nothing out of it. In fact, the whole thing pissed him off so much that he went and killed poor Jessica. He didn't love Rose, that much we know. (He loves Elena.) And yet he cared for her. And he didn't want her to suffer, so for no reason at all that benefitted him, he conjured up this peaceful and blissfully ignorant facade so that she could die happy, as the person she was before becoming a vampire.

That is the most genuine moment of compassionate humanity I think we've seen this entire series from Damon. And I don't think he got one thing out of it.

I think you don't take it far enough, Stefan is good because it helps him sleep better at night. But why does it make him sleep better? Because he's doing the "right" thing, but why does he want to do the right thing?

Because it makes him feel good? To go to heaven? To have friends? To win Elena's love? No. I am pretty sure that none of those things factor into it in the end. I think it goes to something deeper. I think it's something inherent. I will always believe that.

And you can argue that same thing for Damon letting Rose die peacefully. Why? You could say maybe he did it so he wouldn't feel like he was killing her in cold blood, out of guilt. But that absolutely doesn't make sense for Damon -- he would know why he was doing it, know that it was necessary to kill her out of mercy. [And while we're on the subject, why even do that?] Damon helped Rose because she needed him. Because she was suffering and he wanted to give her something good before she died -- to take away her pain. His reward for that is that she died and he was miserable. And nobody even knows it happened except for him.

And just thinking about the most recent ep, why did he lay Elena's body next to Stefan's? Even though I am pretty cynical about his character, I can't see how or why that act could be considered selfish.

I think the difference in how we think is that I don't necessarily think a consequence or reward for being good, is the same thing as the motivation for that behavior. And I definitely don't think that motivations are singular, but I do think that there can be truly selfless "deciding factors."

If you say that Damon is justified because he's acting selfishly, but so does everyone in every situation then in my opinion we're just letting him off too easily -- and generally speaking over-simplifying the "sins" he has committed against others for personal gain/lashing out/turning it off/turning it up/etc. In the end I want to see him redeemed, and I want to see it done in a believable way.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)

I know! I know! This show! What even? How?

I have a feeling that, despite the bloodbath in this episode, next episode might be a breather. I mean, sure, Damon's sick and we may well get a cliffhanger yet. But killing more people? I can't imagine it. I think they'll spare us, and them.

Or at least I hope! Watch me have to eat my words!

[favoritexrecord.livejournal.com]

The look on Jenna's face killed me. It made her death so much sadder.