![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
butterflyThis was a really good cliffhanger - we had Isobel showing up, we have Bonnie knowing things about how to kill Klaus, we have Matt finding things out.
Things That Thrilled Me:
a. Jeremy/Bonnie. They're so adorable. I like them even more than I liked Matt/Caroline in S1. They are my current fluffy bunny ship (which means that, like M/C of S1, perhaps I will not like them next season. Ha). I'm so glad that they're actually going for this relationship thing and I loved how supportive Jeremy was. Jeremy's relationships have been getting steadily healthier and I approve.
b. ALARIC! He keeps doing things! Love him!
But, interesting thing - we've now had Alaric's relationships with our big three laid out clearly.
Mostly, I find it interesting that he has so much more affection for Damon-Elena than he does for Stefan.
I'm so happy that Alaric wants to tell Jenna the truth. Of course, now Isobel has shown up to throw a spanner in the works, naturally.
c. Everything Katherine, ever. She's so good at messing with people. And it's fascinating to see her trying to crack the puzzle that Damon has become to her - he was all laid out for her, before. He was hers. And now he isn't and she keeps poking at him to see what kind of reaction that she can get. I do think it's... interesting that the show has Katherine talking about how she cares more about Stefan, but Damon is the one that she keeps poking at now.
d. Stefan actually did stuff. Or at least tried to, anyway. I'm... not actually sure that he did anything that was effective in this episode, though. Now that I think about it. Hmm. Let's see... his attempted negotiations didn't do any good. Katherine was the one who came up with the plan to trick Dr. Martin. It was Damon who set Luka on fire. It's Damon who knows the location of the burial grounds. Um. Hmm. Did Stefan accomplish anything in this episode?
e. Loved the girls' night out, mentioned that already, but... oh, I need to talk about the Matt/Caroline stuff in another section. Here, I'll move on to being glad seeing B-C-E actually interacting and being friends and Elena not blowing her friends off to hang with Stefan. Loved how happy they all are for each other and how much they all want each other to be happy. That's friendship.
f. Matt finding out the truth = yes, please. I loved everything about how that reveal went. He was freaked out and he made the wrong connections and it's painful and horrible and it feels honest to Matt's character. His sister is dead because of vampires.
g. Elena and Damon always being on the same page about who not to trust cracks me up. Both of them were suspicious of Uncle-Daddy John (for good reason) and now they're both suspicious of Katherine and her plans. They will probably both also be suspicious of Isobel.
Things That I'm Thinking About:
a. Matt/Caroline has been an iffy relationship for me recently. Like I mentioned above, it was a relationship that I got fluffy bunnies from, at least once Matt got over Elena. But when I rewatched the show, I noticed more and more (and noticed this going into S2 as well)... Matt doesn't respect Caroline. He might love her, but he doesn't respect her. And that's a killer in a relationship. Caroline deserves to be with someone who respects her - who can say nice things about her without adding in something about her faults. So, I'm kinda hoping that Matt finding out the truth does ruin their relationship, because I think it would make sense and because I think Caroline deserves better.
b. Katherine didn't understand why Elena's anger at her didn't go away when Katherine pointed out that she wasn't a threat to Elena's life. Elena has been very clear on one of the main things that she hates about Katherine and worries about - Stefan and Damon getting caught up in her 'web' again. Elena knows exactly how much Katherine hurt the Salvatores and she... she holds grudges based on that. Katherine was screwing around with them for her own enjoyment and Elena does not approve.
c. Truth and the telling of it was something of a theme in this episode. But the sub-theme was - whether you decide to tell the truth or lie, eventually, the truth will find you. Damon, Matt, and Jenna all want to know the truth - and, for all of them, the truth is something that is going to be unpleasant and/or painful. Damon is simply told the truth (Katherine picked Stefan over him again and was willing to see him dead); Matt is told after circumstances force Caroline's hand - though she does still make the choice; and Jenna is going to be confronted with some version of the truth (Isobel isn't dead!dead), and not from the person that she cares about and wanted the truth from.
d. I have some thoughts on the evolution of Damon-Elena, post-Jeremy. Still gathering them together, but they're getting solid.
Things That Thrilled Me:
a. Jeremy/Bonnie. They're so adorable. I like them even more than I liked Matt/Caroline in S1. They are my current fluffy bunny ship (which means that, like M/C of S1, perhaps I will not like them next season. Ha). I'm so glad that they're actually going for this relationship thing and I loved how supportive Jeremy was. Jeremy's relationships have been getting steadily healthier and I approve.
b. ALARIC! He keeps doing things! Love him!
But, interesting thing - we've now had Alaric's relationships with our big three laid out clearly.
1. He and Stefan tolerate each other but aren't really that close (2x12 - "The Descent").
2. Damon is Alaric's friend. For reals (2x15 - "The Dinner Party").
3. Alaric is deeply fond of and respects Elena (2x16 - "The House Guest")
Mostly, I find it interesting that he has so much more affection for Damon-Elena than he does for Stefan.
I'm so happy that Alaric wants to tell Jenna the truth. Of course, now Isobel has shown up to throw a spanner in the works, naturally.
c. Everything Katherine, ever. She's so good at messing with people. And it's fascinating to see her trying to crack the puzzle that Damon has become to her - he was all laid out for her, before. He was hers. And now he isn't and she keeps poking at him to see what kind of reaction that she can get. I do think it's... interesting that the show has Katherine talking about how she cares more about Stefan, but Damon is the one that she keeps poking at now.
d. Stefan actually did stuff. Or at least tried to, anyway. I'm... not actually sure that he did anything that was effective in this episode, though. Now that I think about it. Hmm. Let's see... his attempted negotiations didn't do any good. Katherine was the one who came up with the plan to trick Dr. Martin. It was Damon who set Luka on fire. It's Damon who knows the location of the burial grounds. Um. Hmm. Did Stefan accomplish anything in this episode?
e. Loved the girls' night out, mentioned that already, but... oh, I need to talk about the Matt/Caroline stuff in another section. Here, I'll move on to being glad seeing B-C-E actually interacting and being friends and Elena not blowing her friends off to hang with Stefan. Loved how happy they all are for each other and how much they all want each other to be happy. That's friendship.
f. Matt finding out the truth = yes, please. I loved everything about how that reveal went. He was freaked out and he made the wrong connections and it's painful and horrible and it feels honest to Matt's character. His sister is dead because of vampires.
g. Elena and Damon always being on the same page about who not to trust cracks me up. Both of them were suspicious of Uncle-Daddy John (for good reason) and now they're both suspicious of Katherine and her plans. They will probably both also be suspicious of Isobel.
Things That I'm Thinking About:
a. Matt/Caroline has been an iffy relationship for me recently. Like I mentioned above, it was a relationship that I got fluffy bunnies from, at least once Matt got over Elena. But when I rewatched the show, I noticed more and more (and noticed this going into S2 as well)... Matt doesn't respect Caroline. He might love her, but he doesn't respect her. And that's a killer in a relationship. Caroline deserves to be with someone who respects her - who can say nice things about her without adding in something about her faults. So, I'm kinda hoping that Matt finding out the truth does ruin their relationship, because I think it would make sense and because I think Caroline deserves better.
b. Katherine didn't understand why Elena's anger at her didn't go away when Katherine pointed out that she wasn't a threat to Elena's life. Elena has been very clear on one of the main things that she hates about Katherine and worries about - Stefan and Damon getting caught up in her 'web' again. Elena knows exactly how much Katherine hurt the Salvatores and she... she holds grudges based on that. Katherine was screwing around with them for her own enjoyment and Elena does not approve.
c. Truth and the telling of it was something of a theme in this episode. But the sub-theme was - whether you decide to tell the truth or lie, eventually, the truth will find you. Damon, Matt, and Jenna all want to know the truth - and, for all of them, the truth is something that is going to be unpleasant and/or painful. Damon is simply told the truth (Katherine picked Stefan over him again and was willing to see him dead); Matt is told after circumstances force Caroline's hand - though she does still make the choice; and Jenna is going to be confronted with some version of the truth (Isobel isn't dead!dead), and not from the person that she cares about and wanted the truth from.
d. I have some thoughts on the evolution of Damon-Elena, post-Jeremy. Still gathering them together, but they're getting solid.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-25 02:48 pm (UTC)I do wonder given she is talking about how much she prefers Stefan and yet keeps coming back to Damon. Both Salvatores aren't easy puzzles to solve anymore.
I also think it's funny the way that Alaric relates to each of the brothers and Elena - because one would assume that it would be Stefan that would have this guy for a friend.
But Damon doesn't pretend or sugar coat things or AVOID them - like Stefan and Alaric likes knowing that he isn't dealing with somebody who is in denial. Damon will tell you he is a vampire and hey, deal with it.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-26 01:59 am (UTC)He knows that the truth is probably going to hurt, but he takes it on the chin anyway. She's so not used to Damon being all stoic around her.
I do wonder given she is talking about how much she prefers Stefan and yet keeps coming back to Damon. Both Salvatores aren't easy puzzles to solve anymore.
Stefan seems to be more willing to work with (and even trust) people he hates than Damon is, though, so maybe that's why Stefan isn't as much of a priority.
I also think it's funny the way that Alaric relates to each of the brothers and Elena - because one would assume that it would be Stefan that would have this guy for a friend.
But Damon doesn't pretend or sugar coat things or AVOID them - like Stefan and Alaric likes knowing that he isn't dealing with somebody who is in denial. Damon will tell you he is a vampire and hey, deal with it.
Yeah. Alaric's whole character thing is that he wanted to know the truth about Isobel. He set out trying to figure out the truth. Stefan and the truth aren't very good friends, while Damon has mostly been honest with Alaric (and I'm glad that Ric did stand up and say - "hey, we're friend. Don't lie to me") and they work really well together.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-26 02:50 am (UTC)Stefan is more apt to make peace with people if possible, even if it's not going to work out while Damon says 'if they MIGHT hurt us, kill them first.'
I think it's terrific that because they both want the truth they were able to reach an understanding pretty quickly. Damon tells the truth, it hurts, but it helps Alaric with some of his Isobel-issues and they go from there. And yes, they really DO work well together and Alaric settles in nicely as Damon's beta.