vampire diaries reactions!

[lirazel]

+ THE OLD MANSION. OMG FAVORITE NEW SETTING. I know we'll probably never see it again, but I love old things and I love antebellum houses and grand, sweeping staircases and tumbled-down chandeliers and general awesomeness. OMG LOVE.

+ YAY WORLDBUILDING! I always wondered why Katherine didn't do more to ruin Elena's life or actually, you know, try to kill her. But it makes sense if she has to protect her, and I like the idea that there's an even bigger bad out there. There's some real potential here, and I hope the show does right by it.

+ Speaking of Katherine, the part where Damon was like, "Here's exactly what would happen if we opened up that tomb" made me lol, because he was so exactly right. You still act a bit too much with your eyebrows, Ian, but you can deliver a snarky line in wonderful ways.

+ Bela! I liked you more when you had prettier hair and were objectifying Dean Winchester, but it was still nice to see you and hear your crisp accent. I'm sad that Trevor died because I would have liked to see more of his relationship with Rose--the whole family thing was guaranteed to move me.

+ So am I given to understand that Katherine was once a doppelganger to someone else? And then she became a vampire? And now Elena is also a doppelganger? This stuff could get good.

+ I love that this episode had a theme--alone, and the desire to not be. They might have been a bit heavy handed with it, but I liked it.

+ STEFAN AND DAMON. BEING BROTHERLY. MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE OF THAT! Basically: favorite thing ever.

+ Are we supposed to ship Caroline/Tyler now? BECAUSE I SO DO NOT. I SO DO NOT TO THE THOUSANDTH POWER. Even if he wasn't the world's biggest douchecanoe, the way he manhandled her in this episode put me off of him forever. Honestly, I find Damon easier to forgive; when it comes to fiction, at least, I find it easier to forgive the really evil characters than to forgive the merely douchey ones. I need to think on why this is. All I know is that when I got "you should ship this!" vibes off Caroline and Tyler, I just wanted to scream DO NOT WANT! over and over and over again.

+ Speaking of ships. Bonnie/Jeremy. I'm kinda feeling it. Yeah, it's still random, but they're both so pretty. I think if the show handles it right, it could really work and be sweet. Bonnie is always such a badass, and Jeremy's really been growing on me. I loved him this episode, coming up with actual helpful solutions and then his hugging Elena at the end just made me clutch my heart. MORE GILBERT SIBLING LOVE! Also, he got hot out of nowhere. He's starting to resemble his grandfather more, too, I think, though of course Steven McQueen was a legend and lil Jeremy doesn't show any evidence of becoming one himself. Still. Pretty boy. Also, older girl/younger guy never happens except in ways that are presented as unnatural, but it happens in real life and why not? The age difference isn't that big--what, a year or two? I'm totally cool with it. I would like to see them have a conversation about Anna and Jeremy help her understand that vampires don't have to be bad--even if I still think she's smart to distrust Damon. Anyways, more of them talking and getting to know each other. DO RIGHT BY THESE TWO, WRITERS. MAKE THEM AWESOME!

+ And again ships because who am I. WHAT WAS THE DEAL WITH THAT ENDING? I've actually been shipping Stefan/Elena for a while now because they are adorable and also so functional and I like the change, especially for a boy!vampire/girl!human combo. But! The ending! With Damon being selfless! Kinda made me ship it again! Solution? THREESOME. Kidding. Kinda.

+ Did I mention Stefan and Damon being brotherly? I wished I'd gotten to see more of them kicking ass side-by-side together, but the whole, "I guess I just needed my brother" thing just killed me in all of the best ways. OH BOYS. AWESOME BROTHERS.

+ A Lexie mention! *sob* Still mourning that girl.

+ Tyler Lockwood, not only are you boring, you are a douche. Go away. Oz is still a way, way cooler werewolf than you will ever be.

+ The Caroline and Damon interaction was kinda weird. I mean, I kinda expected her to say something to him about how he used to treat her. But at least we got more evidence that Damon still cares about Liz. I really like their relationship. It's such a strange thing. Basically I want more of Damon interacting with Stefan and Alaric and Damon.

+ Oh, yes. Can Alaric please do something this season? Jenna, too? Please? Though I did like the mention of how Alaric loves his weapons. There could be so much fun stuff with Alaric being a weapons junkie. Basically I want him to meet Buffy Summers and they can bond over mutual love of a really good ax.

+ BEST FOR LAST: IT LOOKS LIKE BONNIE MIGHT GET AN ACTUAL ARC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What with all the blood and wearing herself out on magic. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me know if you posted a reaction post--I want to check out y'all's thoughts, too!

Comments

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

LAUREN!! Where have you been all week, you busy working girl? Anyway, I loved this episode. I loved the snark, I loved the moments of heartfelt emotion (I'm looking at YOU, DAMON SALVATORE, YOU BIG SOFTIE!), I was feeling Jeremy/Bonnie, not so much Caroline/Tyler, but it made me laugh. SO GOOD TO SEE BELA! Though yeah, didn't like her hair much. And I'm THRILLED she's hanging around for a few episodes. I'm digging the mythology, and the worldbuilding, and next episode is bound to rock.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I HAVE BEEN BUSY! Working and family stuff and hanging out with the BFF and trying to do NaNoWriMo and yes I am behind already, which doesn't feel great, but hopefully I'll catch up again?

Yup! Much love for the episode! It wasn't so intense that it overwhelmed me, but there were lots and lots of little things I love. MORE! I LOVE THIS SHOW!

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking Victorian gothic fantasy thoughts for you to get you going on NaNoWriMo! I'll see a picture of Juliet Landau in a corset and go "Oh, Lauren's doing Victorian stuff for NaNo! Like that!" So I'll reblog anything pretty and Victorian for you on tumblr if that will help!

[ever-neutral.livejournal.com]

Ha, I knew you were gonna be freaking out about possible Caroline/Tyler. No sympathy for Tyler at all, eh? I find him pretty sympathetic, what with the being completely manipulated into turning through absolutely no fault of his own. I raised my eyebrows at the aggression towards Caroline; though he did apologize for it, and is clearly pretty terrified in general, so I take no issue with them being friends from this point on. They can both obviously do with more friends. (Of course, I found Tyler sympathetic before this point, so clearly I have a higher douche-bag tolerance than you. ;))

DAAAAMONNNN!!! That boy makes me want to cry cry cry. Ian? Perfect, flawless, and stunning. I haven't been minding Stefan/Elena lately, but they still don't interest me very much; they have been surprisingly adorable and functional, but... those things aren't really incentive for me to ship something (because duh who am I). I still feel like D/E are more emotionally true, probably because it's not primarily founded on romance? The way I see it, Damon fell in love with Elena because she's his first friend in... ever. And it kills me that he believes he doesn't even deserve that. DEAR BOY. BREAK MY HEART SOME MORE.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I do find him slightly sympathetic and I don't mind them being friends, I'm just so terrified that they'll go there ship-wise that it made me want to scream. I think also the actor doesn't appeal to me? That always plays a role.

Ha! Of course you don't ship the functional/adore ones!

The way I see it, Damon fell in love with Elena because she's his first friend in... ever. And it kills me that he believes he doesn't even deserve that.

Agreed! I do love that! And if Damon/Elena happen, which I assume they will, even if Stefan/Elena is endgame, I want it to be an outgrowth of them being BFFs. I just think that would be unexpected.

[ever-neutral.livejournal.com]

I actually don't think there's much cause to worry about Tyler/Caroline actually happening any time soon - neither of them has shown any hint of romantic attraction to each other at all. It's possible something will grow further down the track, but I really doubt they'd just ditch Caroline's feelings for Matt (and his feelings for her) just like that.

[next_to_normal]

Yeah, I think the show has always made it clear that Tyler's aggression is a Bad Thing - even before he became a werewolf, Mason was telling him he needed to control his anger. And of course, losing control is what leads to him getting cursed. So it's not like "hey, he tosses girls around, but it's okay, they can still hook up." Tyler recognizes that this is something he needs to learn how to control - and I suspect Caroline is going to be the one to help him do that.

I thought Tyler was a huge douchenozzle in season 1, but this - his vulnerability in being thrown into this strange new situation all alone - is the first thing that actually made me care about him. I think he'll be a better person for it.

OMG DAMON/ELENA BREAK MY HEART. THAT SCENE OMG.

[ever-neutral.livejournal.com]

Word. Also, since Tyler's Anger Issues stem from having an unsatisfactory support system, Caroline's support and understanding can only be a good thing.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. Can Alaric please do something this season? Jenna, too? Please? Though I did like the mention of how Alaric loves his weapons. There could be so much fun stuff with Alaric being a weapons junkie.

I have it on good authority "looks shifty" that Alaric will have more screen time soon.

Did I mention Stefan and Damon being brotherly? I wished I'd gotten to see more of them kicking ass side-by-side together, but the whole, "I guess I just needed my brother" thing just killed me in all of the best ways. OH BOYS. AWESOME BROTHERS.


Nods. I suspect there will indeed be lots more kicking ass side by side because... the Originals are coming to get Elena "rubs hands together".

Let's just hope that the CW doesn't give the show a huge pause other than Thanksgiving night "wibbles".

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Yay! More Alaric!

I am definitely looking forward to more kicking ass side-by-side! Woot!

Oh, I know! I can't handle them putting all of this on pause for very long!

[jamalov29.livejournal.com]

I loved the episode a lot. The brothers scene were great - I like how their relation took another turn.

You still act a bit too much with your eyebrows, Ian, but you can deliver a snarky line in wonderful ways. Hee! :D True.
I like him very ,very much still. He grew on me from the start and now I can safely say he's my favourite character - especially with the ending with Elena. ::swoons::

I don't think we will get Caroline/Tyler. He was insufferable in season 1 and he 's starting to improve but still very much in the douche department indeed. I suspect his new werewolf state will change him for the best.

I have a few reactions to share , I hope to post them later in the day.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I actually think Caroline might be my favorite character? I really loved Damon in S1, but I haven't felt like he's gotten a lot of moments to shine this season. So these last two episodes have rekinled my love, and I'm glad.

I don't think we will get Caroline/Tyler. He was insufferable in season 1 and he 's starting to improve but still very much in the douche department indeed.

That's a relief!

Yay for more reactions!

[queenofdenile.livejournal.com]

I didn't get shippy vibes off of Tyler and Caroline. I thought their scenes were pretty electric together, but I saw them as having more of a Stefan-Lexi relationship. I'm a big fan of seeing them as friends. But I don't want them together.

Bonnie/Jeremy is surprisingly adorable, even though I've been wanting Bonnie/Damon.

That last scene was killer - marvelously acted and Damon being selfless for once. But unlike you, I am not conflicted at all about my ship. :) I love that Damon loves Elena, but I love that she doesn't love him back. The last thing I want is to see Elena turn into Bella and have her mope and whine and wring her hands over which person she likes better, and having her become That Girl who comes between two brothers. I would lose a lot of respect for her if she fell in love with the guy who tried to kill her brother - he's done enough good since then to make her want to be friends again, but I just can't see that. Besides, they've built up Stefan and Elena so well as a loving couple that's actually functional. They talk about things and respect each other as people. They would have to make Stefan into a completely out-of-character awful douche to make a breakup between them believable.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I think them being friends would be great. Tyler's always disliked Caroline, so the idea of him growing beyond that is really appealing.

I think the reason I started wgetting scared about the shippy vibes is because I was a bit spoiled because of tumblr. I saw too much people saying stuff about "Tyler/Caroline" and it terrified me!

I love that Damon loves Elena, but I love that she doesn't love him back. The last thing I want is to see Elena turn into Bella and have her mope and whine and wring her hands over which person she likes better, and having her become That Girl who comes between two brothers.

At this point, I totally agree. And I would lose respect for her if she fell for him immediately, but not if it takes a while and he really shows how much he's changed. If they get together, what I want to see is it growing from them being BFFs.

I do love her being functional with Stefan. But Stefan's made some questionable moral choices lately (as has Damon, obviously), so I could see him going further down that road and Elena saying, "I can't do this till you get back on track." I think they're endgame, but I'm sure they won't be together completely all through the show. I mean, this is TV, after all. *sigh*

"I kill the messenger. Do you know why? Because it sends a message."

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I think the reason I started wgetting scared about the shippy vibes is because I was a bit spoiled because of tumblr. I saw too much people saying stuff about "Tyler/Caroline" and it terrified me!

Not to be the bearer of bad news or anything, but in the books they're a couple.

[queenofdenile.livejournal.com]

I could buy Stefan and Elena drifting apart if Stefan continues to make questionable moral choices. Definitely. But if Damon/Elena is only possible if Stefan becomes a jerk, then that's not something I want to see.

In my opinion, Damon would have to become a completely different character for me to buy Elena falling for him. Right now, he's become a person who cares about humans that are his friends (most notably Elena and Liz), but he still views humans in general as expendable. I can't see Elena ever wanting to be with him while he has that view of the world, and I don't want Damon to become too good because he won't be as fun. It's irreconcilable to me. I understand the appeal of Damon/Elena (even though I think she has better chemistry with Stefan), and I definitely understand wanting to see a messed-up complicated relationship. But I am very firmly Team Elena and my love for the character supercedes love for any particular 'ship, and I just think she's better off with Stefan.

[next_to_normal]

I just posted my reaction post here.

[mollivanders.livejournal.com]

So am I given to understand that Katherine was once a doppelganger to someone else? And then she became a vampire? And now Elena is also a doppelganger? This stuff could get good.

This has to be my favorite part of the episode. A woman's story that has nothing to do with a man? But with another woman? Bechdel Test Part II? :D And the same with Bonnie. I'm glad to see them expanding on the womens' back stories/future stories as the season progresses.

Alaric needs to have a plot :) I see him more as a Giles character with his love of weapons, though not nearly as cool.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Oz is still a way, way cooler werewolf than you will ever be.

Well, that just goes without saying.

[zombie_boogie.livejournal.com]

I do not care for Caroline/Tyler. Not one bit. I thought their scenes together were great, but Caroline deserves better than that douchenozzle. I know what you mean regarding plain old douchey vs. evil or morally ambiguous characters. Maybe it's because the latter are usually given more character depth and because the former are the type of guys you come across far too often in real life.

TEAM THREESOME. I prefer D/E because they're just more compelling to me, but I do like S/E's sweet functionality and the brotherly love. The ships wars in this fandom are frustrating because I LOVE EVERYONE IN THIS BAR. Just be one big dysfunctional vampire family kthnx? And give Damon all of the hugs (and an ass-kicking every now and then because more people need to call him on his shit. Amazing complex character is complex and amazing). I wouldn't mind if D/E got together eventually (obviously), but the show has to earn that. At this point in the narrative it wouldn't make sense. They should repair their friendship first.

BONNIE! Please don't kill her show. Please please please please. People on my friends list are convinced she's doomed because of her magical nosebleeds and her status as Jeremy's love interest. But no! She's awesome and integral to the group!

In conclusion: DAMON'S FACE.