fangs r us; 3.02; the hybrid
Sep. 24th, 2011 03:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
krickets∞ This season we're starting a new trend. Every time an episode is about to come on, I will get (irrationally?) terrified that it's going to suck. By the end of the episode, the show's awesome quotient will have proven me totally wrong and it will feel like I am going to die of waiting for the next episode to start. Re-commence cycle. And so on.
∞ Someone explain to me why I thought this episode was called The Pack. That's what it should have been called. Or simply "Hybrids." Someone needs to work on these episode titles man. The Birthday. The Hybrid. Your FACE. Etc. We can do better.
∞ Shirtless Matt! *swoon* That is all.
∞ Damn Elena and her fierce independence and her stubborn streak. I will always love this part of her. Never change, Elena.
∞ Tyler having scenes! With people! Matt/Tyler! (I love them so much!) I am pretty sure I started bouncing and clapping when Matt offered to help Tyler with the full moon. I wanted that to happen so bad! And look! Matt still cares. Despite the whole werewolf thing. Despite his suspicions about Caroline. He still loves his best friend! *cuddles them to death* And for my own twisted shipping reasons I was positively giddy about the Elena/Tyler scene. Sure it was all plot, but that coupled with the "gilfriends only" conversation in the last episode is more than I would have thought would happen. I am pleased. (Crap, now I kind of want pre-crash Elena/Matt/Tyler fic. It would be glorious.)
∞ I am still suspicious that the "ghosts" are not Anna and Vicki but simply manifestations of them. Maybe they're demons? The whole idea of pitting them against one another is bothersome to me, especially because I like both of them a lot. I was also sad that Matt couldn't see Vicki. I was SO READY for a reunion. Alas... it was not to be. Someone on my flist suggested some Matt/Ghost!Vicki fic. I am sick, but someone please tell me that there's a fic writer out there who will make it happen? (Please?) I feel like Jeremy needs a better plan than Bing. This obviously isn't working. This is the plotty storyline I was most excited about (because it was so mysterious!) going into the premiere and it's quickly taking a back-burner. I am still excited to see where it goes, but I want more.
∞ Klaus's big master plan is falling apart because of John's little life essence trick thingie. Whoops! I think this might have been one of my favorite parts of this episode: the reveal that Klaus is fucking screwed because Elena remains alive without his knowledge. This gives Stefan even more reason to keep up his end of the bargain, but I just know he's going to lose himself. And I'm not looking forward to "The Sacrifice: Part II." But we'll see how it goes.
∞ Can this show please be that progressive and reveal at some point in this season that these two are totally sleeping together? And simultaneously have it not be a big deal? So what? We create a hybrid super army by day, get a little drunk and knock boots by night, and we kind of hate each other, no biggie.
∞ So... Kat Graham. I am guessing she's just too busy for this show now? I am pretty shocked that she wasn't in either of the first two episodes. (A face on a screen for two seconds doesn't count.) I really enjoy Bonnie and feel like even though the writers used her as their magical elf whenever necessary, she is an important part of the show and it sucks to have her just disappear like that. But at the same time I can't really blame the actress when they put so little effort into developing her character. The fact that we are still confused as to why she's a Bennett witch, but her father's side of the family is clearly not magical, doesn't help matters. It's been three years. I'd peace out too.
∞ Tyler was kick-ass in this episode. I love how he stood up to his mom about her bad-mouthing Caroline at the beginning and I was even more thrilled when he dropped all pretenses the second he realized that Caroline was in trouble. The fact that he revealed himself to her like that without any hesitation says so much. And I was so pleased that they weren't just going to make Carol blinded by her hatred. Even in the beginning when Bill stopped by and she spoke about how she's been there ever since Caroline was born... she hesitated, even before knowing what Tyler was she still said "It's Caroline" and it was obviously something she was struggling with. (Still doesn't make it right, but it makes her more believable and likable.)
∞ The scene with Damon and Elena at the end bugged me for a couple of reasons. Number one, I felt like they were developing their sans-Stefan bond nicely and organically and it was way too soon for that kind of a push. If given about 1 to 2 more episodes, that scene might have flowed naturally. But it didn't. Instead it came across as Damon just acting like a child again and making this effort to get Stefan back all about him. Elena had already said she was happy he was alive and so why did he feel the need to force her to admit that when she had already said it back by the car? (And he shut her down when she did it too!) It was such a sickening power play - the kind of thing that an abuser would do. (But then this is Damon we're talking about and he does have a bit of a track record.) And then on top of that, he acts as though he's only going to go after Stefan to please Elena (when we know it's because he loves his brother) and so in the end she had better be grateful? Ew. No. (And how should she express her gratitude I might ask?) The writers need to open their eyes and realize how fucking gross it sounds when he says shit like this and it doesn't do them any favors. This scene could have been just as emotional and it could have worked for me. I am willing to open up to Damon and Elena but when they put shit like that into his mouth in the way that they did it ruins the entire thing.
And it's not as if I couldn't understand the sentiment. Like I said, given a few episodes the question of "What happens when Stefan comes back? Are you just going to forget this thing between us?" etc., could be a totally legitimate one. But this was too soon to be warranted.
∞ So I have a confession to make: I liked Alaric in this episode. Partially. I think things between he and I went downhill when it was revealed that he had Damon following them the whole time. That just felt like more of the same. I loved him blaming himself for Damon being out there, and not letting Elena do that herself, and I enjoyed their conversation in the car. I am not sure how I feel about him moving back into the Gilbert's though. It kind of makes what happened in the episode last week feel sort of cheap and fake. They should have allowed more time to pass. But I did like his little "Do you know what you're doing there?" to Elena, so we'll see how it goes. (And no, I don't ship it. Not even a little.)
Just some clarification on my Alaric "issues." I feel like his character has been kind of stuck in the same place for a while. And his romance with Jenna fizzled out pretty quickly in terms of how interesting it was or had the potential to be. I think the beginning of season two is where I just kind of started feeling like they weren't using him properly and that his character was being squandered. I feel like both Jenna and John were more real/interesting as characters. Especially John. And I did kind of resent that both of them died and he stuck around. (I know that is going to offend some people.) And his dynamic with Damon might just be the thing about Alaric that I understand the least. I get that they are supposed to be friends, and that's important for Damon's character and I am okay with that. However, I still don't really understand how there is no real challenge in their dynamic. Alaric pretty much just goes along with whatever Damon says and is his right-hand guy. The only time he didn't really, was when Damon was dying and that hardly counts. I don't understand why every other dynamic on the show has some give-and-take but this one doesn't seem to, and when it does it's quickly dismissed. The relationships between Bonnie, Caroline, and Elena are a good example. Friends you love but that you also hold accountable/don't always get along with/who tell you the truth even when you don't want to hear it, etc. So the lack of that in their friendship makes it come across as a little empty to me. Especially considering their very sordid history. All that said, with this episode it feels like the writers are starting to take notice and are doing something about it. So I give them an A for effort.
∞ I enjoyed Stefan's shirt in this episode. He does things to me.
∞ Caroline Forbes. And her face. And her voice. Couldn't have ended this episode in a better way. I was out of my seat. I am beyond excited for this.
∞ Someone explain to me why I thought this episode was called The Pack. That's what it should have been called. Or simply "Hybrids." Someone needs to work on these episode titles man. The Birthday. The Hybrid. Your FACE. Etc. We can do better.
∞ Shirtless Matt! *swoon* That is all.
∞ Damn Elena and her fierce independence and her stubborn streak. I will always love this part of her. Never change, Elena.
∞ Tyler having scenes! With people! Matt/Tyler! (I love them so much!) I am pretty sure I started bouncing and clapping when Matt offered to help Tyler with the full moon. I wanted that to happen so bad! And look! Matt still cares. Despite the whole werewolf thing. Despite his suspicions about Caroline. He still loves his best friend! *cuddles them to death* And for my own twisted shipping reasons I was positively giddy about the Elena/Tyler scene. Sure it was all plot, but that coupled with the "gilfriends only" conversation in the last episode is more than I would have thought would happen. I am pleased. (Crap, now I kind of want pre-crash Elena/Matt/Tyler fic. It would be glorious.)
∞ I am still suspicious that the "ghosts" are not Anna and Vicki but simply manifestations of them. Maybe they're demons? The whole idea of pitting them against one another is bothersome to me, especially because I like both of them a lot. I was also sad that Matt couldn't see Vicki. I was SO READY for a reunion. Alas... it was not to be. Someone on my flist suggested some Matt/Ghost!Vicki fic. I am sick, but someone please tell me that there's a fic writer out there who will make it happen? (Please?) I feel like Jeremy needs a better plan than Bing. This obviously isn't working. This is the plotty storyline I was most excited about (because it was so mysterious!) going into the premiere and it's quickly taking a back-burner. I am still excited to see where it goes, but I want more.
∞ Klaus's big master plan is falling apart because of John's little life essence trick thingie. Whoops! I think this might have been one of my favorite parts of this episode: the reveal that Klaus is fucking screwed because Elena remains alive without his knowledge. This gives Stefan even more reason to keep up his end of the bargain, but I just know he's going to lose himself. And I'm not looking forward to "The Sacrifice: Part II." But we'll see how it goes.
∞ Can this show please be that progressive and reveal at some point in this season that these two are totally sleeping together? And simultaneously have it not be a big deal? So what? We create a hybrid super army by day, get a little drunk and knock boots by night, and we kind of hate each other, no biggie.
∞ So... Kat Graham. I am guessing she's just too busy for this show now? I am pretty shocked that she wasn't in either of the first two episodes. (A face on a screen for two seconds doesn't count.) I really enjoy Bonnie and feel like even though the writers used her as their magical elf whenever necessary, she is an important part of the show and it sucks to have her just disappear like that. But at the same time I can't really blame the actress when they put so little effort into developing her character. The fact that we are still confused as to why she's a Bennett witch, but her father's side of the family is clearly not magical, doesn't help matters. It's been three years. I'd peace out too.
∞ Tyler was kick-ass in this episode. I love how he stood up to his mom about her bad-mouthing Caroline at the beginning and I was even more thrilled when he dropped all pretenses the second he realized that Caroline was in trouble. The fact that he revealed himself to her like that without any hesitation says so much. And I was so pleased that they weren't just going to make Carol blinded by her hatred. Even in the beginning when Bill stopped by and she spoke about how she's been there ever since Caroline was born... she hesitated, even before knowing what Tyler was she still said "It's Caroline" and it was obviously something she was struggling with. (Still doesn't make it right, but it makes her more believable and likable.)
∞ The scene with Damon and Elena at the end bugged me for a couple of reasons. Number one, I felt like they were developing their sans-Stefan bond nicely and organically and it was way too soon for that kind of a push. If given about 1 to 2 more episodes, that scene might have flowed naturally. But it didn't. Instead it came across as Damon just acting like a child again and making this effort to get Stefan back all about him. Elena had already said she was happy he was alive and so why did he feel the need to force her to admit that when she had already said it back by the car? (And he shut her down when she did it too!) It was such a sickening power play - the kind of thing that an abuser would do. (But then this is Damon we're talking about and he does have a bit of a track record.) And then on top of that, he acts as though he's only going to go after Stefan to please Elena (when we know it's because he loves his brother) and so in the end she had better be grateful? Ew. No. (And how should she express her gratitude I might ask?) The writers need to open their eyes and realize how fucking gross it sounds when he says shit like this and it doesn't do them any favors. This scene could have been just as emotional and it could have worked for me. I am willing to open up to Damon and Elena but when they put shit like that into his mouth in the way that they did it ruins the entire thing.
And it's not as if I couldn't understand the sentiment. Like I said, given a few episodes the question of "What happens when Stefan comes back? Are you just going to forget this thing between us?" etc., could be a totally legitimate one. But this was too soon to be warranted.
∞ So I have a confession to make: I liked Alaric in this episode. Partially. I think things between he and I went downhill when it was revealed that he had Damon following them the whole time. That just felt like more of the same. I loved him blaming himself for Damon being out there, and not letting Elena do that herself, and I enjoyed their conversation in the car. I am not sure how I feel about him moving back into the Gilbert's though. It kind of makes what happened in the episode last week feel sort of cheap and fake. They should have allowed more time to pass. But I did like his little "Do you know what you're doing there?" to Elena, so we'll see how it goes. (And no, I don't ship it. Not even a little.)
Just some clarification on my Alaric "issues." I feel like his character has been kind of stuck in the same place for a while. And his romance with Jenna fizzled out pretty quickly in terms of how interesting it was or had the potential to be. I think the beginning of season two is where I just kind of started feeling like they weren't using him properly and that his character was being squandered. I feel like both Jenna and John were more real/interesting as characters. Especially John. And I did kind of resent that both of them died and he stuck around. (I know that is going to offend some people.) And his dynamic with Damon might just be the thing about Alaric that I understand the least. I get that they are supposed to be friends, and that's important for Damon's character and I am okay with that. However, I still don't really understand how there is no real challenge in their dynamic. Alaric pretty much just goes along with whatever Damon says and is his right-hand guy. The only time he didn't really, was when Damon was dying and that hardly counts. I don't understand why every other dynamic on the show has some give-and-take but this one doesn't seem to, and when it does it's quickly dismissed. The relationships between Bonnie, Caroline, and Elena are a good example. Friends you love but that you also hold accountable/don't always get along with/who tell you the truth even when you don't want to hear it, etc. So the lack of that in their friendship makes it come across as a little empty to me. Especially considering their very sordid history. All that said, with this episode it feels like the writers are starting to take notice and are doing something about it. So I give them an A for effort.
∞ I enjoyed Stefan's shirt in this episode. He does things to me.
∞ Caroline Forbes. And her face. And her voice. Couldn't have ended this episode in a better way. I was out of my seat. I am beyond excited for this.