Episode 3x16.. My thoughts on it
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:TH">"I guess I just needed my brother"---- Stefan Salvatore to Damon Salvatore...Season 2 Ep 08
"Coz right now.. you're ALL I've got"--- Damon Salvatore to Stefan Salvatore.... Season 3 Episode 16
Well maybe that's who you are now... Love does that Damon it changes Us"--- Andie Starr to Damon Salvatore... Season 2 Episode 13
"Once you fall in love with someone, I don't know if you can ever shake them."---- Matt Donovan to Elena Gilbert.... Season 3 Episode 16
This episode we, in the form of a few simple dialogues, came to a sort of a full circle in some respects. Didn't we? ;)
This episode had A LOT of it's moments... A lot of them..
mso-bidi-language:TH">Flashbacks
The best thing about them is that they are really explanatory and I get to see some awesome visual effect tricks. I mean the fact that except for the town square building with the clock everything else in the Zachariah Salvatore murder scene is a visual trick is REALLY COOL IMHO.
Anywho, Damon had really BAD flashback hair and I did NOT like his make up AT ALL... felt a little too much pale and painted. Stefan's ones however, were good! I like!
mso-bidi-language:TH">Return to presentmso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:TH">.
Elena trying to outrun her problems by um.. literally running.Why am I NOT surprised..she IS the resident DENIAL girl after all.
I am just happy that this episode allowed a key character to call her out on most of her relationship and usual BS, a character who in my opinion is grounded. Caroline pushed her to admit that or to at least acknowledge that she is *attracted* to Damon, Bonnie in a way made her admit that she felt "good" kissing Damon aka the kiss was good, but Matt was the one who can see that she's in LOVE with him.
Btw.. Alaric in Jail and Damon fighting hard to save his buddy as well as re-assuring him... awwh.... My Team BadAss...
The whole Damon/Liz/Alaric friendship threesome was really really cool to watch... it didn't even feel like it was a conversation between a cop and a vampire hater founder, a possible murderer PLUS vampire-hunter and a vampire! Friendship REALLY REALLY knows no boundaries.. I am more than glad it was re-established in this episode.
mso-bidi-language:TH">Damon/Elena
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-language:TH">I am happy that Elena jump into judge-y train and HATE DAMON mode the minute she spotted him. Yes the eye roll indicated that she's pissed at him, and which is normal under the following circumstances.... and the reason for her to be mad, needs not to be justified, but I am happy at least this wasn't held over his head by her.
Damon's uber need to wanna make sure EVERYBODY hates him seems not to be going well, although he is putting up a really compelling case. When Elena said "If you keep pushing people away, you're gonna end up alone"..... the way he looked after that almost felt like he said "That's kinda the plan"
Damon/Stefan
The highlight for me and generally the highlight for today's episode was the
Bond between the Brother's; the paradigm shifts in this shaky relationship.
In Paley Fest, Ian mentioned that in Ep 16 Wesley was rapping his fingers on any surface the entire episode. I thought maybe it was because he felt conflicted playing the wannabe good version of BAD STEFAN. But after watching this I finally realized that, that action was an acting innovation of Wesley through which he was expressing side effect of Stefan's withdrawals. I know Wesley and most people in this show are simply BRILLIANT but these few subtle acting twitches and the way they are perfectly executed SHOWS how attuned to their specific roles each person is. He so aptly and in a modified sense portrayed the symptoms of a borderline addict but it didn't contain the general cliched' ways the addict undergoes withdrawal symptoms as shown in some REALLY bad movies at times. Kudos Paul! ;)
I also Loved that HOW in the disguise of solving murder mysteries Damon was looking out for his brother. This episode PROVED that Lexi and HER WAYS of curing couldn't have been more wrong, it was like telling an obese person to become slim by going on a diet; something that is BOUND to fail miserably!
Gist of it all, the way Damon is so in sync to every flicker of his little brother's withdrawal reactions says more than anything and I guess finally answers the questions or accusations of some people who said that Damon doesn't love Stefan the way Stefan loves him. This whole episode was the burning proof of the fact that Damon regrets/regretted every single act of his in pushing away his ONLY family. Which drove the wedge in between them further, but he didn't care before or masked it very perfectly with indifference, bitterness etc. BUT NOW... I don't know if it's the prevailing circumstances or because he saw what hatred did to the whole family of Originals, he is not willing to let pride or hate or both predominate his relationship with his ONLY family anymore.
Each flicker of emotion on Damon's face while he was reminiscing and when he said those lines expressed the genuine pain and regret he felt for NOT BEING the BIG BROTHER. For not being the brother to Stefan who he looked up to and who he was best friends with. Stefan still IS his baby brother and will always be (always have been). I think at the end of the day both were angry over the same thing with each other, which is IMO, in something like: You're my brother, someone I love more than anyone, how could you break my heart and betray me like that?
But, since they're guys, they decide to hide the pain and butt heads instead!..... :/
I have to say that these little facial expressions that Ian Somerhalder performed SO PERFECTLY, said more than the dialogues ever could, about the love and pain Damon feels for his brother and for the fact of abandoning him and leaving him all alone and unprotected. It is already a much established fact that Somerhalder is a terrific actor, but I think in matters of acting brotherly emotions, he TOTALLY beat his own high score in this episode.
Matt/Elena
NOW THAT'S FRIENDSHIP!
The only person who can make ME run a marathon the first thing in the morning has to be my sister or my best friend.
Poor Matty, although he got her attention with the Bonnie issue (clever I must say ; ) ...... and this way we get to know why there won't be any Bonnie or Caroline before the next hiatus) she was ultimately going to make him run again.
So I guess that is going to be the baseline of Matt and Elena's relationship now, he is going to be the HUMAN of the show... kinda like the author of a novel watching and estimating and understanding EACH character and when the time comes he can call a spade a spade in a very non-brash and toned down/explained way.
Anywho.... Can I FINALLY DO THE ZUMBA DANCE?.. on how Elena uttered the E-X-A-C-T words or emotions regarding her and Stefan's relationship that we all (the sensible people of this fandom, who still has their head in this in it's axis... not gloating.. JUST pointing out) have been saying all throughout this almost 3 year journey. I mean she ALL but just OUT LOUD and openly that the main component of her and Stefan's relationship was the fact that it was "safe".... that he wouldn't just poof away from her life leaving her in intense pain and loss... like what her parent's death did to her and Jeremy.
Matt: I just don’t get it - your thing with them.
Elena: I know it doesn’t make sense. But in the beginning, after my parents died, there was something about being with Stefan. I felt safe.
Matt: Safe? Elena he’s a vampire.
Elena: I know believe me just saying it out loud sound's crazy, but it's like I knew that he would never..stop loving me... like he would never...
Matt: .. What?
Elena: .. die... like he would never die...
Matt: ... Like your parents did?
Elena: *nods in agreement*
Matt: *chuckles* ... And Damon?
Elena##:
##: Notice her expression when she talks about Damon.... Pensive, thoughtful, like she REALLY is AWARE of whatever she is saying.
Matt: Once you fall in love with someone I don’t know if you can actually shake them.
The fact that her relationship with Damon isn't JUST friendship, or a fluke or a fatal attraction... it is something far more normal, real and meaningful than her relationship with Stefan, was fished out by EVERYBODY and THIR DOGS.. but Matty, so subtly and honestly described it... that he took the cake.. :) ... Perfect.. even Elena got a bit wide eyes and changed the subject..
Oh denial girl, when will you change?!
Btw, Elena/Alaric hug was so warm and cute so daddy/daughter like, but I hear it was made out to be something sexual... and Julie is blaming Matt Davis and his fanfictions for it. ;D
Alaric and His ring- The Serial Killers of Mystic Falls
Starting off I have a theory on it that I want to share. These rings were made and charmed by Emily- a witch and then these were handed to Jonathan Gilbert, who was a founder.The ring was a gift a boon which helped protect the humans form supernatural attack, a witches spell... and as we know by now there a for every spell done by a witch there is an equal and opposite spell.
Now the Founders were responsible for horribly massacring the witches although all they ever did was help the humans and protect them, but in return they were mercilessly murders... So what if the boon form the witches became a curse?
I mean it has been established and re-established that the witches and their powers acts in ever so mysterious ways. And, since the killings are limited to ONLY the Founder families, and the murders performed by a person who is ALSO a Founder OR a bearer of this ring.. what if the magic in the ring acts as a curse on the person who wears it (and dies and comes back alive frequently), making them paranoid? Witches and their magic is all about keeping the balance of nature intact, so what if this is a method to do JUST that.. I mean What's dead should Stay Dead... whenever a single person gets the power to cheat death it shakes the normal equilibrium, so maybe it was the witches way to ensure that although the ring bearer gains an upper hand, but the magic in the ring conversely makes them susceptible to teeter over the edge and slowly come to a point where they become the worst enemies of themselves and their OWN kind... OR maybe the turning the ring bearer into a serial killer is a form of witch-y revenge protocol.... a twisted way to gain JUSTICE for the betrayal and cruelty performed by the Founders.
But then why NOW? Why didn't the people who wore these rings before turned into maniacal serial killers? John, Grayson, Jeremy, Isobel.... what stopped them? Or is this thing is exclusive to Alaric, because of something IN HIS HISTORY?
The fact of Alaric being the serial killer was called out waaaay before by badboy_fangirl and also by a friend Jennifer Conner... and it even sorta turned out the way it was speculated...so kudos to them.
Random additions:
I don't really trust Meredith.. although she did have a point with Elena, she trusts people almost too easily... and she is a 18 year old who "dates vampires" ...notice the plurality of the word vampire ... jeez.. even the newest member in the town understands Elena's equation with BOTH of them, except for the girl herself.. tsk tsk.. so much denial, I am surprised Elena didn't turn out to be the killer, given the amount of materials she chooses to buffer out and simple ignore, it could have been very well be her killing people and dying or more properly forgetting IT ALL.... because it never happened.... Right ? J/K btw.... ;)
But yeah Meredith DOES have a point... for a normal girl to have this much dysfunctionalit-y around her... she can't REALLY be sure as to who is causing WHAT now can she? All the more proofs for her to trust less and less people, even IF they are the closest to her.... in this town ANYTHING can go down... ANYTHING!
Anywho..about still not trusting Meredith.. I mean what is seriously her role in ALL this? She flies in and suddenly knows EVERYTHING about EVERYONE? She even have portfolios filled with all sorts of info's.. what is she FBI?... last I checked she was the resident doctor of the town's hospital, wasn't she? Okay I understand her former reaction to Alaric charging on her (which was either cleverly subtracted to create suspense or intentionally kept out to introduce an even more shocking twist) .. but then ALL of a sudden she is performing illegal acts for the same guy .. what changed?
Damon/Rebekah/Stefan Moments:
Bratty little Rebekah... I think at one point Damon even called her Blondie-Bex LOL!
I mean, she is clearlt attracted to Damon, notice her expressions when Damon enters the Grill, smirks and waves at her... not REALLY anger or glare is it now? ; )
I REALLY REALLY enjoyed these moments.... Plus these few moments reflected EXACTLY HOW self righteous and Judg-y Stefan was.. I think Stefan's judg-y moves and decisions rivals some of the VERY BESTS of Bonnie and the entire witch clan.
How hilarious is it that, clearly when HE is the Ripper and the uncontrollable one, he blames and lectures Damon and chastises him for his (Damon's) life's actions, because he thinks each time he trots the path of animal blood, he is suddenly SO MUCH better, and ALL that he has done is right now so small compared to what Damon has done or is doing....
In response to this I HAVE to quote Rebekah: "Oooff Judgey!!"
Moreover.... he HAS to blame Damon for everything... EVERYTHING... even for the fact that he lost his control and ripped his victims apart.... Seriously?!
Right now... all those self righteous moments of Stefan in season 1 and EXACTLY why Damon used to call his attitudes "holier-than-thou" is making SO much more sense.
Sage:
""A Woman Isn't JUST for food..she's for Pleasure"
Well... she looked and felt EVERY bit TRASHY and BAD ASS as she was made out to be. She seemed like a much controlled, much much much modified and excelled version of Vickie Donovan..... But you know what?I loved that woman.. she looked bad ASS!! yet so calm and practiced and in control...
She managed to coax the "spoken for" (Heeee :P ) Damon Salvatore into having fun.... I thought she was really cool!
I practice the punches that Sage throws on the boxer in the ring, as shown in promos, everyday when I work out.. :P
I don't know... the thing looks so FUN!!!
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Anywho like I said... this episode had its moments and it was an HONESTLY BAD-ASS episode.
Episode 17... my only problem with it is the possibility of a threesome or something like that and maybe some voyeurism as was indicated in the promo, but then promos are usually deceitful.. so I don't really know what to feel...
I don't know if I should like ALL that sex and 3some that's about to go down.. Honestly I don't like it very much... :/ ..and it's not because I LOVE Damon or Delena... it's a personal thing.. too much sex (or even the indication of going down of those things), isn't actually REALLY beautiful.... and it becomes a little too graphic or skewered for my taste... and I could just switch onto those if I wanted to see those. I don't mind Damon having sex with however many women he wants ....but it's the whole 3some menage thing, that I would totally be COOL with had it been season 1 when I was just fascinated by him and having just a girl crush on him... BUT NOW.... Now I am completely invested and absorbed by this character and I frequently put myself in his and Elena's shoes to understand their POV's.... I just... the OVER SEXING UP OF IT ALL.... isn't a welcome thought for me at the moment..... but then that's JUST what I think.
Although by the time it airs I might be okay with it, like I was MUCH MORE THAN OKAY AND HAPPY about Damon/Rebekah .. Hope so :/