TVD 3x01-3x06
Oct. 22nd, 2011 11:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
semele![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
pellamerethiel told me to write a reaction post. Since there is no way I'm gonna force a fic out of my brain tonight, I might as well do as she says.I have loads of mixed feelings about this season. I don't love it the way I loved early s2 (2x01-2x11 was sheer brilliance, every Friday I was flailing all over lj), but it's not like I don't enjoy it. It's just... it's complicated, ok? ;)
Elena is so awesome I don't even know where to begin. She is painfully naive, but at the same time she manages not to be stupid; she is loyal, and strong, and fierce. Delusional, of course, but I kind of admire her for that, because she makes an honest mistake and is brave enough to stick to it. She doesn't lie to herself, she just acts according to what she knows, and it's not her fault that the viewers know more.
Ripper!Stefan is the ultimate source of mixed feelings. I love it that he is being taken to a dark place, I just wish his dark place was a bit darker. Biting Elena because Klaus compelled him to do so? Not impressed. As a matter of fact, I just refuse to accept that he was compelled. Compulsion can't be a perfect tool that solves every single problem; it has to have its limits. It was designed as feeding strategy, so it's good for simple commands and for removing the feelings human brain tries to deny anyway (if I was bitten by a vampire and then compelled not to be afraid and not to remember, I'm pretty sure my brain would be more than eager to be in denial; compulsion would just push it a bit further). So I'm not buying Klaus compelling Stefan to switch off his humanity; it's just Stefan being too weak to resist. It's Stefan giving up. *head!canon is good*
Damon is, well, Damon. Impulsive, horrible at long-term planning, always a bit ambigious, always the creepy stalker, always the drama queen. He has some sort of a plot twist every other episode, but no surprises when it comes to character development. Which might be a good thing, because there is so much happening around Stefan and Elena.
I'm enjoying Damon/Elena immensely. I love how it's being played as an ultimate temptation; irresistable, yet totally wrong attraction. The only thing spoiling my perfect world is that there is, in fact, TOO MUCH of Damon/Elena. Some scenes are just added as pure eyecandy and have nothing to do with the plot (like the training session in 3x06: seriously, Damon, Elena KNOWS how to stake a vampire; her problem is the lack of physical strenght, not the lack of know-how).
I'm enjoying Stefan/Elena just as much. All Elena's delusions are being broken one by one, and I really hope this is where this show is going. We started with dark!Stefan, and if my suspicions are correct, we're going to end up with dark!Elena. The potential is there, the build-up is there. Writers, please, just don't screw it up!
Katherine is priceless. Stalking Stefan. Trying to seduce Damon. Kidnapping Jeremy. WAVING A MOUSE AT MICHAEL. She is simply magnificent, and I don't get it why people are speculating whether or not she's dead o_O. Since when vampires die from losing some blood?
I loved Caroline/Tyler storyine up to 3x05. In 3x06 there was some sloppy writing (like: Caroline just leaving Tyler alone, when she knows that Rebecca is keeping an eye on him; since when Caroline does things like that?). Also: I'm not buying this whole "siring" thing.
Alaric training Elena wins everything. I'm also glad he didn't forgive Damon so easily.
I'm still a bit bored with the whole Jeremy-Matt-Bonnie-Ghosts storyline. I'm glad it starts to play some role in the main plot, but I'm still not excited about it.
The Michael guy made me curious. A vampire who eats vampire blood? It can get really interesting, especially since we already have the Originals who can compel vampires. And suddenly vampires became... vulnerable, I guess? They can be harmed in the very same way they harm humans. I'm not sure if I really expect that the show would do something awesome with that, but at least it is an interesting fanfic opportunity :).
So, as you see, my biggest complaint right now is that the show isn't as brave as I'd like it to be when it comes to exposing Stefan's dark side. I just hope that Elena repeating that this person who came back is not Stefan is Elena being naive, not the writers being naive. There still is a good chance that this is exactly how things work in this season, so I just choose to focus on The Awesome (see: training!Elena, Damon vs his rugs, creepy Stefan, angry Alaric, KATHERINE. WAVING. A. MOUSE) and wait for the next episodes :D.
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no subject
Date: 2011-10-22 09:19 pm (UTC)(like the training session in 3x06: seriously, Damon, Elena KNOWS how to stake a vampire; her problem is the lack of physical strenght, not the lack of know-how).
As far as I loved Damon in this episode, I wholeheartedly hated this scene. Damon molesting Elena? Thanks, but NO. -__-
But he called her BUFFY!Katherine is priceless. Stalking Stefan. Trying to seduce Damon. Kidnapping Jeremy. WAVING A MOUSE AT MICHAEL. She is simply magnificent, and I don't get it why people are speculating whether or not she's dead o_O. Since when vampires die from losing some blood?
LOL, as Katherine would die of something so lame! Please. Katherine Pierce, ♥ so much! And I'm also so interested in The Curious Case of Michael The Vampire Vampire Slayer. ;DDD
So, as you see, my biggest complaint right now is that the show isn't as brave as I'd like it to be when it comes to exposing Stefan's dark side.
And I was surprised that they even got there - maybe because it's not a cable tv show, where everything would be possible, Stefan used to be loved (not sure?) by fans and he and Elena were almost a perfect combination - so yeah, showing that he went from this to the darkness he used to embrace many years before was pretty brave for me (at least as far as it goes for non-cable tv ;))
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Date: 2011-10-22 09:34 pm (UTC)The training session was just a pure example of Too Much Innuendo :(.
Stefan was loved and Stefan was hated, there is a regular war ;). I'm a bit dissapointed about the show not being brave enough, because 2x22 made it clear enough that s3 Stefan is not going to be sunshine and daisies. So I really had high expectations, and I don't want him to be a victim. I want this show to be brave about Stefan. If you're interested, I have more thoughts about s3 Stefan, Damon and Elena here (http://upupa-epops.livejournal.com/102023.html).
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Date: 2011-10-22 09:53 pm (UTC)I pritty much liked whole post :P But I observe that my interest in the show is declining.
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Date: 2011-10-22 10:01 pm (UTC)But I observe that my interest in the show is declining.
There are people who keep enabling me, so, while I don't like the show as much as I liked it last year, I'm much more into fandom than I was back then :D. Which is a good thing, I guess. It keeps my brain cells active ;).
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Date: 2011-10-22 09:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-22 10:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-23 02:14 am (UTC)It was designed as feeding strategy, so it's good for simple commands and for removing the feelings human brain tries to deny anyway (if I was bitten by a vampire and then compelled not to be afraid and not to remember, I'm pretty sure my brain would be more than eager to be in denial; compulsion would just push it a bit further).
YES. THIS. And WORD to all your Stefan thoughts. It was Stefan ceding control to Klaus because it was easy. That's the reading I'm sticking with.
I loved how he spent half of the last episode cleaning up and worrying about OMG PERSIAN RUGS
My favourite thing about him, ngl.
The only thing spoiling my perfect world is that there is, in fact, TOO MUCH of Damon/Elena. Some scenes are just added as pure eyecandy and have nothing to do with the plot
HAHA WHAT ARE YOU TALKING; THAT WAS TOTALLY RELEVANT TO THE PLOT. LMAO. OK srsly though, I don't disagree too much. It's pandering. I get it. The central conflict/ship this season is Stefan/Elena (way more so than last season). They're driving the plot. Thus, the writers are throwing bones to the D/E audience who
falselybelieve that their patience will be rewarded. It's v. rude, but also hilarious. IDK, I'm pretty chill.We started with dark!Stefan, and if my suspicions are correct, we're going to end up with dark!Elena. The potential is there, the build-up is there.
THISTHISTHIS.
She is simply magnificent, and I don't get it why people are speculating whether or not she's dead o_O. Since when vampires die from losing some blood?
Yeah, I… don't get what people are thinking here. LAWL.
I'm kinda bored with the ghost storyline too. Except for Anna.
I just hope that Elena repeating that this person who came back is not Stefan is Elena being naive, not the writers being naive.
SO SAY WE ALL.
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Date: 2011-10-23 08:26 am (UTC)falselybelieve that their patience will be rewarded. It's v. rude, but also hilarious.Do you know if D/E audience is buying it? I was kind of avoiding them all to avoid the expected Elena bashing (I'm not sure why would they hate her for 3x06, but I'm sure some people can think of a reason), but now you made me curios. So if I start reading things like that again, and
I bite someoneit frustrates me again, I'm going to blame you ;).God, your icon is perfection. I'm totally browsing the author's journal to see if there are more of those.
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Date: 2011-10-23 11:20 am (UTC)I'm totally browsing the author's journal to see if there are more of those.
I heartily approve of this plan.
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Date: 2011-10-23 11:25 am (UTC)Yeah, endgame. Like hell. What are they gonna do, read the newspaper together and play footsie under the rubble?
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Date: 2011-10-23 11:42 am (UTC)What are they gonna do, read the newspaper together and play footsie under the rubble?
HEE. I SEE WHAT YOU DO THERE.
Yeah, no, seriously though. I'm having a conversation with another friend right now, and she brought up the same question: How the fuck would a Damon/Elena relationship even WORK? How would they spend their time? What would they talk about? (Their entire r/ship right now is about Stefan.) They're clearly close friends, but their friendship isn't really about the sheer joy of spending time together (not that they DON'T, but they rarely have time for that). It's about mutual NEED. I don't think "happiness" will ever be something Damon and Elena do well.
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Date: 2011-10-23 11:54 am (UTC)Sorry, couldn't resist XD. I know that you frown when you see Spike/Damon comparisons, but for me the connection is unquestionable. It's like BtVS established some sort of vampire tv genre, and TVD, at least in the very beginning, fits into this genre. So Damon starts out as a Spike-like figure, even though he is a different person, and, eventually, gets a very different story. Which is a good thing. Why would I need Spike 2.0, if I can have the original one? But I can't help making some sort of comparison :).
And here is one of the differences: while I can imagine Spike and Buffy having some sort of relationship in post-Chosen universe, I honestly do not see a way for Damon/Elena as an established couple. What you said: HOW would it even work?
Is this conversation on lj? Can I see it?
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Date: 2011-10-23 12:11 pm (UTC)And here is one of the differences: while I can imagine Spike and Buffy having some sort of relationship in post-Chosen universe, I honestly do not see a way for Damon/Elena as an established couple.
THIS. Though, to be fair, the reason I can see B/S working in the long-term is because they both changed A LOT in the process of their canon r/ship. It's possible Damon and Elena could do the same, i.e. they didn't start out totally compatible, but their separate journeys make them right for each other. That's the only sort of endgame for them I can buy.
The conversation is on LJ (it's with
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Date: 2011-10-23 12:34 pm (UTC)B/S have something they can work on together. Buffy has created an army, and Spike honestly has no better thing to do than to join this army. And he is an excellent soldier: resourceful, experienced, and good at following orders. He would be, like, Buffy's most loyal officer, and romantic/sexual relationship is just something additional. Primarily it's about the mission, about some sort of weird friendship, and, finally, after years of pushing each other around, about loads of respect. *has head!canon*
Can you think of an example of acceptable D/E endgame? Because I see your point, but I have some trouble imagining the details.
Now, this is inspiring. I have a ficathon going on right now on
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Date: 2011-10-23 01:54 pm (UTC)Can you think of an example of acceptable D/E endgame?
You mean in fic? Um. The only one I can think of is this Big Bang fic that I linked you to recently. The idea is that they're both so damaged that they can only be any good for each other. IT'S PERFECT AND CHOKED ME UP. /emotions
you're giving me plotbunnies, when my brain is dry and dying. I'm more than grateful :D.
hee, you are v. welcome.
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Date: 2011-10-23 02:09 pm (UTC)It's a bit tricky with Damon, because right now he is moody, unpredictable and unwilling to accept anybody's lead, but when he was human, he used to be a definition of bottom. I do believe he pushed most of it out of his personality, but I wonder how much is left.
Another difference between Spike and Damon is that Spike spent most of his un-life in a stable relationship, while Damon spent his fantasizing about one. Spike is used to being with someone, Damon has no idea how those things actually work.
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Date: 2011-10-23 11:06 pm (UTC)Yeah, fair point. Though, it's hard to tell. He was VERY submissive with Katherine, but not with his father? And he left the Confederacy, which supports the idea that he despises authority figures. That doesn't necessarily make him a natural alpha, but it might explain HOW he became one--in response to being stifled from more powerful people. But if he's in a relationship with someone he trusts, he's probably more flexible. (Then again, he hasn't been in an equal relationship for over a century LOLOL.)
Damon has no idea how those things actually work.
Word. He's only committed to things he can't have. That's the only thing we know for sure.
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Date: 2011-10-23 11:29 pm (UTC)Has he ever been in an equal relationship?
What bugs me is that Damon has never been openly rebelious the way Spike is. Perhaps what happened to Damon was actually similar to what happened to Anna? He was left alone, he had to make do. He got used to the fact that the only person he needs to take into account was himself, and that's why he takes it badly when someone is trying to demand any sort of obedience? And, at the same time, he strongly associates love with submission, so, while he sometimes snaps at Elena (see: 3x04), his first instinct is actually to obey her?
I have the feeling that Doctor Freud would be happy to see me right now...
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Date: 2011-10-24 09:12 am (UTC)Oh yeah, that. LOL. IDK why I forget that part. But I kind of feel like he wouldn't have been so eager to leave if he didn't already have a distaste for it.
Has he ever been in an equal relationship?
LOL NO. Possibly with Bree. But typically, he walked out on her. 'Cause he couldn't handle it, probably.
Perhaps what happened to Damon was actually similar to what happened to Anna? He was left alone, he had to make do. He got used to the fact that the only person he needs to take into account was himself, and that's why he takes it badly when someone is trying to demand any sort of obedience?
Sounds right to me. :) IDK, I do think of Damon as a rebel, though? He's very irreverent. But I agree that his form of rebellion is mainly a protective/defensive mechanism--that his "natural" instinct is to do whatever Elena wants, but the identity he's purposefully constructed for himself (as a person who is Special because he is Alone) often clashes with that instinct. Because he's afraid of disappointing her, because he's afraid of being hurt, because he's afraid he doesn't know who he is if he isn't Alone.
Haha oh man, the show so needs to give us flashbacks of the boys' mother.
I bet she looks like the Petrovas.no subject
Date: 2011-10-24 10:19 am (UTC)I bet she looks like the Petrovas.My Freud likes your Freud.
I have nothing intelligent to add. Damon, boy, you can hide nothing, our magnificent brains will figure out everything that's going on in this dysfunctional head of yours ;).
Purposefully constructed identity! Now I love him even more. I have a thing for purposefully constructed identities. Also: he is Special because he is Alone, he is so megalomaniac ♥!
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Date: 2011-10-23 04:32 pm (UTC)We started with dark!Stefan, and if my suspicions are correct, we're going to end up with dark!Elena. The potential is there, the build-up is there.
Yes. I really hope the show goes in this direction.
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Date: 2011-10-23 04:55 pm (UTC)All your thoughts are basically my thoughts. Especially about Stefan, but I do think he has been compelled... which is the issue I have with that storyline. I can't see it as Stefan being too weak; that doesn't make sense to me.
I just talked myself into it, because it helps me write. But I'm aware of the fact that the show will snap me out of this delusion, and rather sooner than later :(.
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Date: 2011-10-23 04:59 pm (UTC)I'm not really sure where they're going to go with Stefan. I feel like they're mixing up two issues (blood addiction vs compulsion), and the compulsion thing just messes it up.
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Date: 2011-10-23 05:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-23 07:15 pm (UTC)I just hope that Elena repeating that this person who came back is not Stefan is Elena being naive, not the writers being naive.
I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS A LOT lol. I started off being okay with the compulsion angle and then getting irritated in 3x06 because I want more from Stefan than just being this smirking asshole without any feelings. Buuut I think how I'm squaring it in my mind is that this is Stefan. This is a part of Stefan that exists - THAT ALWAYS WILL EXIST/ALWAYS HAS EXISTED - and that Stefan has always done his best to hide and deny. Stefan, as we knew him in S1 and S2, did his best to repress this side of himself and to ground his identity in the idea of being the "good" brother - good brother, good boyfriend, good friend etc. And he was ALWAYS particularly careful about trying to hide his more "vampire" nature from Elena ("I don't want you to know that this side of me exists" etc.). My HOPE is that the point of this compulsion arc is to make both Stefan and Elena face up to the fact that this side of him exists and that killing Klaus/ending the compulsion is NOT going to magically make it go away. Though hopefully it will give Stefan back the choice of what he does with it.
Also I love when you and [Bad username or site: ever_neutral / @ livejournal.com] talk D/E. TELL ME MORE TELL ME MORE. :D
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Date: 2011-10-23 07:50 pm (UTC)I'm a terrible shipper and I've always been, but TVD is doing something with my brain, and suddenly I start, like, CARING ABOUT SHIPS? Also, I get defensive about my favorite characters. Like, I really get ANGRY when someone says something mean about Elena. What is wrong with me??? I am not this person!!!
Stefan always had a mean side (I love it when he blackmails John in 2x01, he is so cold and cruel!), and now it's being unleashed. I do have my issues with the whole compulsion thing, but I'm simply choosing to focus on the good things for as long as I can.
My HOPE is that the point of this compulsion arc is to make both Stefan and Elena face up to the fact that this side of him exists and that killing Klaus/ending the compulsion is NOT going to magically make it go away.
Last episode Damon said that killing Klaus will not solve their Stefan problem, and this is the hope I'm holding on to.
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Date: 2011-10-23 11:57 pm (UTC)The only thing spoiling my perfect world is that there is, in fact, TOO MUCH of Damon/Elena.
Hahaha, I can't say I mind all the D/E, which is weird because usually I hate it when writers tease the shippers like that, knowing they're not going to give them what they want (*cough*JOSS). Maybe because I just ship everyone on this show so I don't particularly care who ends up with who? Haha, IDK. It mostly just makes me giggle to think there are fans who think D/E is ~romantic.
It did strike me as very unsubtle lately, but then again, when have these two EVER been subtle?
Also: I'm not buying this whole "siring" thing.
Yeah. I don't see why they had to bring that into the mythology. Why not just say that Rebekah compelled him? Although... that raises an interesting question. Can hybrids be compelled by Originals?
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Date: 2011-10-24 12:11 am (UTC)Don't get me wrong, I like that there is so much of clearly SEXUAL tension between Damon and Elena (not romance, not love, not affection, but physical attraction!). I just didn't like this particular scene, because the plot didn't even try enough to give it even the lamest excuse ;).
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Date: 2011-10-24 03:30 pm (UTC)YES!!! Exactly!! *grumbles*