TVD: 1x07: Haunted
Nov. 17th, 2011 11:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gryfndor_godess1x07: Haunted
-Aw, okay, Tyler gets nice guy points for trying to take care of Vicki.
-I think it's a bit odd that Matt is in school instead of looking for his sister. He has more of a reason to skip than Jeremy.
-The whole exchange in the foyer between Elena and Damon? She is so brave!
Overall Thoughts:
This episode was SO GOOD. I LOVE ELENA. Adlfja;dkf
RIP Vicki. I think the episode did a very poignant, believable job of showing Vicki’s descent into vampiric madness, not only on a character, plot-driven level, but also on a world-building level. I always feel a bit guilty for liking vampire characters when there isn’t a soul/soulless dichotomy that can explain their evilness, but I can buy the hunger of just being turned making you do crazy, terrible things that you wouldn’t do once you had grown accustomed to the transformation. Vicki’s aggression toward Elena and threat to kill her threw me briefly (because there’s a difference between impulsive anger and threatening murder), but with Matt and Elena’s history, I can actually completely buy that Vicki would harbor a hell of a lot of resentment toward our lovely protagonist. It probably just hadn’t come up before because they haven’t had much screen-time together. I can also understand why Vicki would interpret Elena’s protection of Jeremy as an insult about not being good enough for him.
The only thing I didn’t understand was why she wasn’t angrier with Damon for killing her. She was so upset in the last episode about what had been done to her that I would have liked and expected her to take out some of her blood-lust-fueled aggression out on Damon. But other than that, the sad denouement of Vicki’s life and death worked for me. It was bittersweet when she wanted Jeremy to run away with her, believable when she could no longer keep from trying to bite him, and more-or-less understandable when she turned on Elena. Also understandable that Stefan staked her. Her death was visually shocking and gut wrenching with the way she withered and cried tears of blood, and Jeremy’s reaction was heartbreaking (in fact, all of the actors have particularly excelled at scenes of heartbreak; Elena, Vicki, Jeremy, Stefan). Now that I know all of Vicki’s story, I’m much more intrigued by Jeremy seeing her ghost in the S2 finale.
I felt so bad for Matt and Jeremy. Matt’s combination of worry/anger/frustrated helplessness seemed just right. Jeremy’s sobbing at the end in Elena’s arms was so moving and sad. The poor boy has lost almost everyone he loves. If Damon hadn’t mind-wiped him, I wouldn’t blame him if he returned to drugs.
I like how fast the plot is moving and that the mysteries are growing instead of getting stagnant (and that we're getting small answers instead of only more questions). Mrs. Lockwood’s revelations are intriguing, and in addition to it always being great to see Damon thwarted, it was nice characterization to see that his powers aren’t a crutch and he can be successfully manipulative without them, too. I’m less interested in Bonnie’s witch arc, but how great was it when she told Damon to stay away from Caroline? These friends are so fiercely protective of each other, and it’s wonderful.
I also like the technical elements of this episode. The interplay between the crazy Halloween party and Vicki’s “high” at the end was very well done.
ELENA. She didn’t hesitate to take on a crazed vampire when Vicki tried to bite Jeremy. She tries so hard to be what Jeremy needs, even though she knows it’s not enough. She slapped Damon!! She didn’t hide what she thought of him, even though she’s scared of him. She is so great. Her meltdown in the car was very sad, but I’m actually glad it happened. How could anyone witness so much horror and not break down? It’s refreshing to see such a realistic reaction.
I really like that she had Damon mind-wipe Jeremy at the end. I’m not sure it was a good thing to do, but I can completely understand why she did it (and I’m not sure I wouldn’t make the same choice in her position). If I were her I’d be afraid of Jeremy killing himself at this point, so it makes sense that she would make the morally ambiguous decision.
The only Elena-thing I wasn’t satisfied with (in addition to the can’t-live-without-my-feelings-for-you-blah-blah stuff that made me want to roll my eyes) is that she didn’t once bring up killing Damon. And…well, I can fanwank it that she implicitly knows killing him isn't an option because she can’t really ask Stefan to kill his own brother, but considering how much she despises Damon at the moment and that she knows he’s a remorseless, cold-blooded killer, I think it's unrealistic that she doesn’t at least bring up the question of ‘what is Stefan going to do about Damon.’ Surely she sees Damon as a problem that needs to be put down, not put up with. Maybe we’ll get more next episode…
Ooh, almost forgot: I loved the scene between Damon and Elena on the porch when she came to see what was happening with Vicki. Her fear of him is palpable, but she doesn’t back down. You can also see him wanting to kill her at the end after she slaps him and deciding not to, and it’s adlfkajd;flk SO GOOD. Their scenes are the best of the series, IMO.
-Aw, okay, Tyler gets nice guy points for trying to take care of Vicki.
-I think it's a bit odd that Matt is in school instead of looking for his sister. He has more of a reason to skip than Jeremy.
-The whole exchange in the foyer between Elena and Damon? She is so brave!
Overall Thoughts:
This episode was SO GOOD. I LOVE ELENA. Adlfja;dkf
RIP Vicki. I think the episode did a very poignant, believable job of showing Vicki’s descent into vampiric madness, not only on a character, plot-driven level, but also on a world-building level. I always feel a bit guilty for liking vampire characters when there isn’t a soul/soulless dichotomy that can explain their evilness, but I can buy the hunger of just being turned making you do crazy, terrible things that you wouldn’t do once you had grown accustomed to the transformation. Vicki’s aggression toward Elena and threat to kill her threw me briefly (because there’s a difference between impulsive anger and threatening murder), but with Matt and Elena’s history, I can actually completely buy that Vicki would harbor a hell of a lot of resentment toward our lovely protagonist. It probably just hadn’t come up before because they haven’t had much screen-time together. I can also understand why Vicki would interpret Elena’s protection of Jeremy as an insult about not being good enough for him.
The only thing I didn’t understand was why she wasn’t angrier with Damon for killing her. She was so upset in the last episode about what had been done to her that I would have liked and expected her to take out some of her blood-lust-fueled aggression out on Damon. But other than that, the sad denouement of Vicki’s life and death worked for me. It was bittersweet when she wanted Jeremy to run away with her, believable when she could no longer keep from trying to bite him, and more-or-less understandable when she turned on Elena. Also understandable that Stefan staked her. Her death was visually shocking and gut wrenching with the way she withered and cried tears of blood, and Jeremy’s reaction was heartbreaking (in fact, all of the actors have particularly excelled at scenes of heartbreak; Elena, Vicki, Jeremy, Stefan). Now that I know all of Vicki’s story, I’m much more intrigued by Jeremy seeing her ghost in the S2 finale.
I felt so bad for Matt and Jeremy. Matt’s combination of worry/anger/frustrated helplessness seemed just right. Jeremy’s sobbing at the end in Elena’s arms was so moving and sad. The poor boy has lost almost everyone he loves. If Damon hadn’t mind-wiped him, I wouldn’t blame him if he returned to drugs.
I like how fast the plot is moving and that the mysteries are growing instead of getting stagnant (and that we're getting small answers instead of only more questions). Mrs. Lockwood’s revelations are intriguing, and in addition to it always being great to see Damon thwarted, it was nice characterization to see that his powers aren’t a crutch and he can be successfully manipulative without them, too. I’m less interested in Bonnie’s witch arc, but how great was it when she told Damon to stay away from Caroline? These friends are so fiercely protective of each other, and it’s wonderful.
I also like the technical elements of this episode. The interplay between the crazy Halloween party and Vicki’s “high” at the end was very well done.
ELENA. She didn’t hesitate to take on a crazed vampire when Vicki tried to bite Jeremy. She tries so hard to be what Jeremy needs, even though she knows it’s not enough. She slapped Damon!! She didn’t hide what she thought of him, even though she’s scared of him. She is so great. Her meltdown in the car was very sad, but I’m actually glad it happened. How could anyone witness so much horror and not break down? It’s refreshing to see such a realistic reaction.
I really like that she had Damon mind-wipe Jeremy at the end. I’m not sure it was a good thing to do, but I can completely understand why she did it (and I’m not sure I wouldn’t make the same choice in her position). If I were her I’d be afraid of Jeremy killing himself at this point, so it makes sense that she would make the morally ambiguous decision.
The only Elena-thing I wasn’t satisfied with (in addition to the can’t-live-without-my-feelings-for-you-blah-blah stuff that made me want to roll my eyes) is that she didn’t once bring up killing Damon. And…well, I can fanwank it that she implicitly knows killing him isn't an option because she can’t really ask Stefan to kill his own brother, but considering how much she despises Damon at the moment and that she knows he’s a remorseless, cold-blooded killer, I think it's unrealistic that she doesn’t at least bring up the question of ‘what is Stefan going to do about Damon.’ Surely she sees Damon as a problem that needs to be put down, not put up with. Maybe we’ll get more next episode…
Ooh, almost forgot: I loved the scene between Damon and Elena on the porch when she came to see what was happening with Vicki. Her fear of him is palpable, but she doesn’t back down. You can also see him wanting to kill her at the end after she slaps him and deciding not to, and it’s adlfkajd;flk SO GOOD. Their scenes are the best of the series, IMO.
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no subject
Date: 2011-11-18 04:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-18 07:42 pm (UTC)I think Twilight, sad to say, was the first vampire fiction I was introduced to, and I did more-or-less enjoy the first book, before the others came out and I realized how batshit crazy Meyer is, but BtVS was certainly the first fiction where I liked the vampire protags in and of themselves and they felt like real vampires.
I'm curious about/looking forward to finding out how Damon got to be the way he is, because I want to like him, but I just don't see how I can without the soul dichotomy, if he's really just an amoral serial killer (which is not to say that I'm not entertained by him or that I don't like him as a character because I do, a lot; I just don't feel like I can wish happiness for him, etc.).
no subject
Date: 2011-11-18 04:59 am (UTC)Amen to your Elena thoughts. Her allowing Damon to mind-wipe Jeremy is SO INTERESTING.
Really, I don't think it ever occurs to Elena that killing Damon is what they should do. Not because of anything to do with Damon, but because Elena's never like that. She's not a heroine trying to save the world/fighting against evil (like Bonnie). Moreover, she's now romantically involved with a vampire. It'd be unreasonable for her to take a position of moral superiority like that? Not saying that's necessarily the right approach, but it is her approach. IDK, this becomes clearer later on.
You can also see him wanting to kill her at the end after she slaps him and deciding not to, and it’s adlfkajd;flk SO GOOD. Their scenes are the best of the series, IMO.
THAT SCENE. Full disclosure: It's the first time I got any sort of shippy pangs re: Damon/Elena at all. So. freaking. good. I always go back and forth between the Ian-Paul and Ian-Nina duos in trying to decide which produces the best acting. IT'S TOUGH.
no subject
Date: 2011-11-18 08:00 pm (UTC)I guess? I mean, he said he did it because he was bored, but I can buy he didn't think it would hurt her in the long run. I'd think his insouciance would clue Vicki in that he wasn't trying to help her out of the goodness of his heart, but maybe we would have gotten a stronger reaction if she'd lived longer.
I don't see it as trying to save the world, though (I mean it could be, but there are other equally valid reasons, too). If I were her, I'd be concerned about Damon turning on me or Jeremy or hurting Caroline again. She's clearly proactive about protecting those she loves, as this episode showed, and I think that would be more than sufficient motivation for her to voice concerns about Damon. I can't believe I'm saying this, but a Voiceover of Doom might actually come in handy here because even if she didn't feel comfortable talking to Stefan about it, I really do think the thoughts should occur to her (even if she immediately dismissed them because she doesn't think it's their right to kill him, which I could believe).
Yeah, but Stefan is "vegetarian," and she's not friends with Damon yet, so I think her moral ground is still pretty firm. Starting to shake but not badly enough that it would be hypocritical of her to want Damon dead.
I already want a montage of nothing but their clips. I'm sure there's something of the sort on YouTube.
no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 03:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-19 04:10 am (UTC)Oh, I expect that! :D It would probably be boring if it didn't.
If we get characterization later down the road that retroactively explains her reactions (or lack thereof) here, I'll probably be satisfied. I just find her understated reaction odd at the moment given how proactive and protective she's been thus far. :)
no subject
Date: 2011-11-18 05:51 am (UTC)You are so right. Yes. They're my favorite thing about the show right now.
I've been reading your reviews but haven't had much to say; I've been watching marathon-style and so can't really remember much about specific episodes. I'm enjoying the reviews, though!
no subject
Date: 2011-11-18 07:45 pm (UTC)