The Vampire Diaries 3x20 Review
Oct. 9th, 2012 11:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iariaDo Not Go Gentle
I enjoyed it.
Liked
• I pretty much knew that Alaric was going to be killed off (casting info) and felt like I was pretty accepting about it. I doubted even that I would find it super upsetting but when it happened it was heartbreaking.
- "Taking care of you and Jeremy has been - has been the closest I have ever come to the life I always wanted.” omg D: TEARS FOREVER. The hug... sniff. Alaric/Elena we're my favourite Alaric relationship this season and I'm so sad that they're almost gone.
• So much awww over the fact that Damon told Alaric about Rose’s death. Damon sitting with Alaric was a lovely scene.
• I loved the shot of everyone standing outside the crypt.
• Caroline was lovely and awesome as always. I loved her scenes with Elena (friendship yay! and I'm so happy Elena is telling Caroline her secrets again. She's learned from keeping them the last time and that makes me happy); Matt (her worry for him and trying to be a friend is so lovely, I loved their short exchange) and Stefan (I miss their friendship so much! I loved her trying to comfort him and even her encouraging Elena to give him another chance).
• Two Caroline lines really stuck out to me:
To Matt: "And I’m just looking out for you. Because sometimes the people who love her get caught in the crossfire."
To Stefan: "She’ll be fine. Elena always manages to find her way through this stuff."
What I find so fascinating is that on one level these totally come off as criticisms of Elena. She always survives, her loved ones are the ones who suffer. It's certainly not untrue - she has always emerged physically unscathed and her loved ones (and others) do die around her or otherwise suffer a lot. Reading it you can interpret them as condemnations of Elena. Yet Caroline isn't saying it as criticism or a passive-aggressive attack on Elena. She's simply stating facts and there is no negativity, on her part, attached to them. She's being worried, supportive and reassuring. I just find it really interesting.
• I really liked the Elena/Esther discussion/argument. She's not completely wrong in her desire to eradicate vampires though I don't know how right she is either. I loved Jenna being brought up.
- "You may draw comfort that your aunt is not in the place that I was. Though made a vampire she remained pure. And she knows peace. Which is all any of us can hope for." Well, that brings me comfort though I'm a bit sad that it seems to disqualify her ever coming back as a ghost. This also makes me even more curious about the TVD afterlife.
• I loved how affectionate Elena, Matt and Jeremy looked when Caroline was yelling at the boys.
• Everyone looked amazing in their '20s outfits. Rebekah was completely right - '20s was a better choice than the '70s.
• "You are pretty amazing." – Jamie. I liked what we saw of Bonnie/Jamie but mostly I’m just really glad Bonnie has this. A normal guy who seems to sincerely like and appreciate her, and who is good to her. I really hope this doesn't end horribly.
• Stefan and Elena were cute. Almost - nostalgic. And I, mostly, liked him comforting her at the end and pushing her not to repress her emotions.
• "Your blood is a potent binding agent for a witches spell." I want to know more! I've always wanted there to be something more with regards to the doppelgangers and what makes them special than just appearance. I hope this comes up again.
• I liked Stefan wanting to apologise to Bonnie and Elena's uncompromising "Yeah, you should". I hope he does. And I like when he thanked Bonnie for breaking the barrier spell she was unmoved and unforgiving. (Even though I do miss them being friends/friendly.)
• I liked Klaus agreeing to stay and go to the dance for Rebekah.
• I don't think I'm ever going to get tired of Klaus never giving up on trying to get Stefan back. He's that ex who refuses to accept it's over. It's sad and pathetic and also kind of amusing.
Issues
There were three things that really bugged me this episode. The more I think about them the more they bother me.
1) What should have happened when Damon walked out of the crypt was him finding Elena and Stefan standing there waiting for him. That would have been perfect. I don't actually care if Elena then hugged Damon, or Elena and Stefan both hugged him or if they all stood there until Bonnie showed up. It just makes the most sense character-wise to me for them to be there. Alaric was Damon's best friend and both Elena and Stefan should have wanted to be there for him. I just can't believe the show didn't do that. There has been an increasing distance in the Stefan/Damon relationship, and Elena is apparently still trying to push him away but... seriously?
I am honestly seriously disgruntled that it didn't happen this way.
The reason I'm an OT3 shipper is because in the first two seasons it didn't really feel like a love triangle. It was complicated and there were three very strong relationships that felt organic. Now however the show is laying it on thick - that Elena has to choose, that the boys as rivals is more important than them as brothers - to the point of sacrificing characterisation and relationships. Not only the above moment but also ones like only Stefan rescuing a tortured Damon and then Damon randomly heading off to see Alaric apparently simply so Stefan/Elena can have a moment. It annoys me. I don't love the direction the show has moved with the three of them.
2) I was really irritated that after leaving the crypt Elena moved to stand with the Salvatore's instead of with her brother - who was on the completely opposite side of the screen. I’m choosing to blame the director here because – seriously?! The Gilbert siblings lose yet another parental figure and Elena, over-protective big sister, doesn't immediately go to her grieving brother’s side? I don’t buy it! The director could have easily had her join the Salvatore's and stay in character by sticking to Jeremy's side simply by having Jeremy standing by the Salvatore's. This really irritates me. In the same vein - Jeremy heading off with Matt and Elena going to clean out Alaric's office alone also bugged me.
3) I really don’t understand Alaric’s desire to die alone or why everyone just accepted that. They should have stayed anyway - or Elena, Jeremy, Damon and Meredith should have stayed. They should have all been sitting beside him as he died.
Other issues:
• I really wish that the last few episodes had a couple scenes here and there showing Damon and Alaric back to being BFFs or rebuilding their previous closeness because it's been missing pretty much since Damon killed Alaric (again) in a fit of temper. If they'd be back to their season 2 level of closeness, which I didn't feel like they were, their final scene would have had more poignancy I feel.
• I can't believe how nonchalant Damon was about killing Alaric. No talk about saving him but straight to the killing him talk. I realise he's repressing emotions but still! See: the above point.
• Elena was certainly a part of Stefan's 'recovery' - she refused to give up on him, the wickery bridge incident is what pushed him to stop drinking human blood - but he's seemingly saying him choosing to feel emotions again was all about Elena which is just not true. I haven't seen the first part of the season in almost a year but I'm pretty sure that Katherine was involved too and that a large part of why he began feeling again was because of his love for Damon.
• I don't understand Esther's motive when she was going to force two 'innocent' humans to kill each other. She implied they were trying to help her children but they were pretty clear that they were trying to rescue Elena. She could have taken them out in a non-fatal way and I just don't see her racking up 'human' deaths in her effort to correct her wrong. Not when they don't serve a purpose anyway unlike her shenanigans with Alaric. It bothered me.
• I found it a little weird that Meredith basically tells Damon that Alaric really doesn't want to be alone... and then leaves. What?
• "I should have never have let him dance with you." - Tyler I'm eye-rolling again. Tyler should stop talking as if Caroline can't damn well make her own decisions.
Other
• Poor Bonnie. I don't think for a moment she's dead but, god, her life sucks sometimes. Possessed and then used as a portable drink to force a friend into becoming a vampire. She seriously just needs to up and move to like France or something.
• Caroline cheerleading for Stefan makes complete sense to me. Damon abused her and she has every right to be angry about that for ever and never want him to date someone she cares about. Meanwhile Stefan was the person who helped her after she was turned into a vampire and was her friend.
• "One way or the other she’s pretty much spoken for." - Caroline re: Elena I'm torn. On one hand, I love OT3, and I don't think Matt ever stands a chance and Caroline warning him off worked for me. Plus it's not untrue that romantically Elena has her plate full. On the other hand, "spoken for" what? Unlikely I'm sure but she can just as easily throw up her hands and choose herself. Because it's her choice. So I weirdly find myself wavering between liking the line and being irritated.
• “Well he already has a brother. Not to be territorial or anything.” - Damon Please! Be territorial! I love Damon being territorial.
• I’m on Bonnie’s side with regards to the Salvatore's, she has every right to be pissed off forever for a number of reasons, but I really wonder what would she have rather they did? Let Elena die? Kill Abby? Certainly there were choices but of those I think they settled on the best one available.
• Esther 'nurtured' Alaric every time he died momentarily – was she whispering hate of vampires in his ear? Did she speak to Samantha Gilbert, or Jeremy? And why was the focus of the first two so exclusively on humans/council members when killing? Wouldn't targeting vampires make more sense?
• "I desire a world where you and your loved ones won't suffer at the hands of vampires." - Esther Except of course that Elena's loved ones include vampires which Esther knows.
• I was honestly expecting Elena to throw herself between Matt and Jeremy and am kind of surprised that she didn't even try anything like that.
I enjoyed it.
Liked
• I pretty much knew that Alaric was going to be killed off (casting info) and felt like I was pretty accepting about it. I doubted even that I would find it super upsetting but when it happened it was heartbreaking.
- "Taking care of you and Jeremy has been - has been the closest I have ever come to the life I always wanted.” omg D: TEARS FOREVER. The hug... sniff. Alaric/Elena we're my favourite Alaric relationship this season and I'm so sad that they're almost gone.
• So much awww over the fact that Damon told Alaric about Rose’s death. Damon sitting with Alaric was a lovely scene.
• I loved the shot of everyone standing outside the crypt.
• Caroline was lovely and awesome as always. I loved her scenes with Elena (friendship yay! and I'm so happy Elena is telling Caroline her secrets again. She's learned from keeping them the last time and that makes me happy); Matt (her worry for him and trying to be a friend is so lovely, I loved their short exchange) and Stefan (I miss their friendship so much! I loved her trying to comfort him and even her encouraging Elena to give him another chance).
• Two Caroline lines really stuck out to me:
To Matt: "And I’m just looking out for you. Because sometimes the people who love her get caught in the crossfire."
To Stefan: "She’ll be fine. Elena always manages to find her way through this stuff."
What I find so fascinating is that on one level these totally come off as criticisms of Elena. She always survives, her loved ones are the ones who suffer. It's certainly not untrue - she has always emerged physically unscathed and her loved ones (and others) do die around her or otherwise suffer a lot. Reading it you can interpret them as condemnations of Elena. Yet Caroline isn't saying it as criticism or a passive-aggressive attack on Elena. She's simply stating facts and there is no negativity, on her part, attached to them. She's being worried, supportive and reassuring. I just find it really interesting.
• I really liked the Elena/Esther discussion/argument. She's not completely wrong in her desire to eradicate vampires though I don't know how right she is either. I loved Jenna being brought up.
- "You may draw comfort that your aunt is not in the place that I was. Though made a vampire she remained pure. And she knows peace. Which is all any of us can hope for." Well, that brings me comfort though I'm a bit sad that it seems to disqualify her ever coming back as a ghost. This also makes me even more curious about the TVD afterlife.
• I loved how affectionate Elena, Matt and Jeremy looked when Caroline was yelling at the boys.
• Everyone looked amazing in their '20s outfits. Rebekah was completely right - '20s was a better choice than the '70s.
• "You are pretty amazing." – Jamie. I liked what we saw of Bonnie/Jamie but mostly I’m just really glad Bonnie has this. A normal guy who seems to sincerely like and appreciate her, and who is good to her. I really hope this doesn't end horribly.
• Stefan and Elena were cute. Almost - nostalgic. And I, mostly, liked him comforting her at the end and pushing her not to repress her emotions.
• "Your blood is a potent binding agent for a witches spell." I want to know more! I've always wanted there to be something more with regards to the doppelgangers and what makes them special than just appearance. I hope this comes up again.
• I liked Stefan wanting to apologise to Bonnie and Elena's uncompromising "Yeah, you should". I hope he does. And I like when he thanked Bonnie for breaking the barrier spell she was unmoved and unforgiving. (Even though I do miss them being friends/friendly.)
• I liked Klaus agreeing to stay and go to the dance for Rebekah.
• I don't think I'm ever going to get tired of Klaus never giving up on trying to get Stefan back. He's that ex who refuses to accept it's over. It's sad and pathetic and also kind of amusing.
Issues
There were three things that really bugged me this episode. The more I think about them the more they bother me.
1) What should have happened when Damon walked out of the crypt was him finding Elena and Stefan standing there waiting for him. That would have been perfect. I don't actually care if Elena then hugged Damon, or Elena and Stefan both hugged him or if they all stood there until Bonnie showed up. It just makes the most sense character-wise to me for them to be there. Alaric was Damon's best friend and both Elena and Stefan should have wanted to be there for him. I just can't believe the show didn't do that. There has been an increasing distance in the Stefan/Damon relationship, and Elena is apparently still trying to push him away but... seriously?
I am honestly seriously disgruntled that it didn't happen this way.
The reason I'm an OT3 shipper is because in the first two seasons it didn't really feel like a love triangle. It was complicated and there were three very strong relationships that felt organic. Now however the show is laying it on thick - that Elena has to choose, that the boys as rivals is more important than them as brothers - to the point of sacrificing characterisation and relationships. Not only the above moment but also ones like only Stefan rescuing a tortured Damon and then Damon randomly heading off to see Alaric apparently simply so Stefan/Elena can have a moment. It annoys me. I don't love the direction the show has moved with the three of them.
2) I was really irritated that after leaving the crypt Elena moved to stand with the Salvatore's instead of with her brother - who was on the completely opposite side of the screen. I’m choosing to blame the director here because – seriously?! The Gilbert siblings lose yet another parental figure and Elena, over-protective big sister, doesn't immediately go to her grieving brother’s side? I don’t buy it! The director could have easily had her join the Salvatore's and stay in character by sticking to Jeremy's side simply by having Jeremy standing by the Salvatore's. This really irritates me. In the same vein - Jeremy heading off with Matt and Elena going to clean out Alaric's office alone also bugged me.
3) I really don’t understand Alaric’s desire to die alone or why everyone just accepted that. They should have stayed anyway - or Elena, Jeremy, Damon and Meredith should have stayed. They should have all been sitting beside him as he died.
Other issues:
• I really wish that the last few episodes had a couple scenes here and there showing Damon and Alaric back to being BFFs or rebuilding their previous closeness because it's been missing pretty much since Damon killed Alaric (again) in a fit of temper. If they'd be back to their season 2 level of closeness, which I didn't feel like they were, their final scene would have had more poignancy I feel.
• I can't believe how nonchalant Damon was about killing Alaric. No talk about saving him but straight to the killing him talk. I realise he's repressing emotions but still! See: the above point.
• Elena was certainly a part of Stefan's 'recovery' - she refused to give up on him, the wickery bridge incident is what pushed him to stop drinking human blood - but he's seemingly saying him choosing to feel emotions again was all about Elena which is just not true. I haven't seen the first part of the season in almost a year but I'm pretty sure that Katherine was involved too and that a large part of why he began feeling again was because of his love for Damon.
• I don't understand Esther's motive when she was going to force two 'innocent' humans to kill each other. She implied they were trying to help her children but they were pretty clear that they were trying to rescue Elena. She could have taken them out in a non-fatal way and I just don't see her racking up 'human' deaths in her effort to correct her wrong. Not when they don't serve a purpose anyway unlike her shenanigans with Alaric. It bothered me.
• I found it a little weird that Meredith basically tells Damon that Alaric really doesn't want to be alone... and then leaves. What?
• "I should have never have let him dance with you." - Tyler I'm eye-rolling again. Tyler should stop talking as if Caroline can't damn well make her own decisions.
Other
• Poor Bonnie. I don't think for a moment she's dead but, god, her life sucks sometimes. Possessed and then used as a portable drink to force a friend into becoming a vampire. She seriously just needs to up and move to like France or something.
• Caroline cheerleading for Stefan makes complete sense to me. Damon abused her and she has every right to be angry about that for ever and never want him to date someone she cares about. Meanwhile Stefan was the person who helped her after she was turned into a vampire and was her friend.
• "One way or the other she’s pretty much spoken for." - Caroline re: Elena I'm torn. On one hand, I love OT3, and I don't think Matt ever stands a chance and Caroline warning him off worked for me. Plus it's not untrue that romantically Elena has her plate full. On the other hand, "spoken for" what? Unlikely I'm sure but she can just as easily throw up her hands and choose herself. Because it's her choice. So I weirdly find myself wavering between liking the line and being irritated.
• “Well he already has a brother. Not to be territorial or anything.” - Damon Please! Be territorial! I love Damon being territorial.
• I’m on Bonnie’s side with regards to the Salvatore's, she has every right to be pissed off forever for a number of reasons, but I really wonder what would she have rather they did? Let Elena die? Kill Abby? Certainly there were choices but of those I think they settled on the best one available.
• Esther 'nurtured' Alaric every time he died momentarily – was she whispering hate of vampires in his ear? Did she speak to Samantha Gilbert, or Jeremy? And why was the focus of the first two so exclusively on humans/council members when killing? Wouldn't targeting vampires make more sense?
• "I desire a world where you and your loved ones won't suffer at the hands of vampires." - Esther Except of course that Elena's loved ones include vampires which Esther knows.
• I was honestly expecting Elena to throw herself between Matt and Jeremy and am kind of surprised that she didn't even try anything like that.
