Vampire Diaries: Oh, Stefan. Oh, honey.

[butterfly]

So, hmm. Bad instincts or blurring lines?

In "The House Guest", Stefan has just spent the night with Elena, it's implied (she's pulling on her shirt). They make out for a few minutes.

Then when he goes downstairs and is confronted with 'Elena', it takes her about five seconds to convince him that he was spending the night and morning sexing up Katherine, enough so that he goes upstairs and chokes Elena.

Again, I understand why Elena was so pissed off in that next scene.

Anyway, that just really hit me when I went to rewatch the episode.

arabian - after rewatching those scenes, I agree with you. They're going somewhere with the Stefan stuff. Just... very slowly.

Comments

[scy]

Yeah and it's something that he and Elena need to address because for him to go RIGHT THERE immediately? Littlest Salvatore, your issues are showing and they are not pretty.

[butterfly]

And it's a stupid reaction, too!

Best case scenario: he is choking Katherine, who it barely hurts because she's tons stronger than him.

Worst case scenario: HE IS CHOKING ELENA.

But I feel a little bad for picking on Stefan in this episode. He kinda gets everything wrong. His 'negotiations' with the witches do no good and when he finally does get around to killing Jonas, turns out that the guy was (possibly) helping Bonnie by giving her back her powers.

[scy]

Yeah, Stefan tries to act like a general sometimes and he just- isn't. He compromises when he shouldn't and often strikes at the wrong time. *frowns* I am not saying that moderation isn't a good idea, but when you're in a war, Damon's mindset is far more reasonable - take out threats, circle the wagons, protect your loved ones. And don't bring in people who want you dead. That is just an unnecessary distraction.

[butterfly]

Yeah, Stefan being all 'we need to try to get Jonas'. No. No, you do not. Jonas was on board with the 'killing Elena' plan. I don't care how good his excuse for it was, it means that you are attempting to bring someone who considers your girlfriend expendable and have them on your team. That's not a good thing!

[arabian]

Yeah, Stefan just needs to stick to making phone calls.

[butterfly]

Hee. He can handle that!

[scy]

Stefan is way better at backing up Damon - he is a beta, not an alpha, and while he can definitely steady Damon when he needs it, Damon is the one who understands that this is a war, and he calls it such. War is not the time to dither or try to PLACATE people. That leads to horrible things.

Yeah, and Elena has been onboard with the 'Elena not surviving' plan, so there is already a huge handicap in that area - they do not need strangers actively campaigning against them.

[butterfly]

Yeah, Stefan makes a much better second than he does a leader. He shouldn't get plans. He should let other people (Damon and/or Elena, preferably) get the plans, and then he should back them up.

[scy]

*nods*

Right, and Damon and Elena will conference on stuff in a way that Damon and Stefan won't because she's earned her place, and Stefan will balk. On the other hand, Bonnie is the one who will make the harder choices the same way Damon will and it's going to be interesting to see how they work together.

[silviakundera]

Another interesting aspect to throw into the mix...

It takes about five seconds because Damon appears to be convinced. Just like Stefan rushes off to the Martins immediately when Damon tells him the witches are attacking (though Stefan can't see any evidence himself).

[butterfly]

Hmmm, interesting point. I mean, I do think that, emotionally, "Damon > Everyone Else" for Stefan, but it could also be that now that he's trusting his brother again, it might be that trust-wise, "Damon > Everyone Else", too.