A Man. And His Blog.

Season 2, Episode 22 (44)
Date of airing: May 12, 2011 (TheCW)
Watched for review: Jan 21, 2012
Number of review in February/2012: 6/89

This episode felt more like a normal episode than a season finale. No wonder, since the last episode was more of a season finale than a penultimate episode. Now I’m confused, because I don’t know how to see the episode. Because for a season finale, barely anything happened. Well, if you don’t count the new positions of some characters. I think the episode is just functioning as a season finale, because the third season needs a different Jeremy, as well as a more evil Stefan. Otherwise there wouldn’t be anything cool in the season premiere.

It kinda seems the writers did all the preparation for the third season in the second season finale. Which is kinda neat, when you think about it a bit longer. Instead of letting all the open storylines end in a cliffhanger, they were mostly finished and instead new storylines were created, to end them in the cliffhanger: Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Klaus (Joseph Morgan), Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) and his dead girlfriends, the relationship between Elena (Nina Dobrev) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder). The only story being closed could be Katherine’s. Because she seems to be gone for now. And I wouldn’t mind when she stays gone for good. The past couple of episodes, she wasn’t good for anything.

Well, what was actually good? Jeremy’s story seems to be interesting. Now that his existence can be explained with supernatural definitions, he’s finally in the game. I don’t know what to think of the return of both Anna (Malese Jow) and Vicki (Kayla Ewell), but I believe it has something to do with the fact that he was dead – and Anna and Vicki are also dead. Ghost whisperer? Contact with the afterlife? That would give the writers new possibilities to expand the supernatural universe. Vampires, witches, werewolves, hybrids. Now ghosts? Definitely interesting, when the writers go for that route, instead of chickening out on all the deaths happening in the show. Because when characters are dead and return as ghosts back into the story, then it’s just lazy. Dead people should stay dead.

I didn’t think much of Stefan’s new plot though. Great, now he’s evil again. What a shocker. I still don’t know why Klaus sees so much in Stefan, and why he thought the two could be best buddies while killing innocent people and having red wine every now and then. And sorry, but Stefan drinking all the blood, while Klaus was smiling, and Katherine was … what did she actually think during that scene? Well, those scenes weren’t really shocking. I actually didn’t care. I also didn’t care about how Elena and Damon spent their day together. It could have been interesting with Damon on the hunt from Sheriff Forbes (Marguerite MacIntyre), but instead she just shot Jeremy, five minutes later he was alive again, and Forbes and Caroline (Candice Accola) just had a hug with cry-moments. Not really something I’m seeing much into. Instead every little step in that story was used to not just give Elena another kissing moment, but also the happy-hug between Caroline and her mother.

At the end, the episode was disappointing because of this. More a season premiere than a season finale. Or an episode between seasons to prepare all the storylines for the third season. I don’t know if it was the right move though. Because at least I am left with things to think about between seasons I don’t really care about. Stefan mad and bad and on a killing spree? Well, it had to come, after he told Elena his stories about his violent past, and how Elena tried to tell Jenna in the last episode to shut off her emotions. Elena and Damon kissing? I don’t think it’s becoming a viable plot in the third season. After all, it would be ridiculous, when Elena would suddenly start a relationship with Damon, when she hated him for two years. Jeremy seeing dead people? Yeah, interesting, but nothing more. I hope the writers don’t use it for something else than developing Jeremy as a character in the supernatural business. Caroline and mom back to happiness? I don’t think that’s it. 6/10

To be an EMT, you just have to give blood

A little bit of peace for Damon

Season 2, Episode 21 (43)
Date of airing: May 5, 2011 (TheCW)
Watched for review: Jan 21, 2012
Number of review in February/2012: 5/88

And this was not the season finale? All the time I’m thinking why there is one more episode to come this season. I actually had to check if I have missed an episode, because it just feels like it. But no, the writers delivered all the drama in the penultimate episode. But what is going to follow in the actual season finale? After all, there are just two stories left all of a sudden. And those two were created in the last episode and this one. Ending the season one episode earlier – I think only the fourth episode of BUFFY did this once.

Anyway, great episode. I have the feeling it was the best of the show so far. Action, thrill, drama, emotions. And in the meantime loads of death scenes. The clean-up service was wonderful. And when one scene creates shivers done my spine, then this episode must be good. Talking about the scene with Bonnie (Kat Graham) putting her magic on Klaus (Joseph Morgan). Great cinematography in that scene, with all those lightnings, wind and sound effects. It really was a suspenseful scene, and I didn’t want it to end. What a shame that the fight Bonnie vs. Klaus was so short in general, but the rest of the ritual showdown was great.

I was pretty much shocked for a second time, when Jenna (Sara Canning) was indeed a vampire. Maybe I wasn’t in the right mood for last episode’s cliffhanger to get that. But during this episode I figured out by myself how Jenna could be used as a vampire, and how it could affect her motherly relationship with Elena (Nina Dobrev). The most annoying thing about it was that Jenna believed too fast for me that she was a vampire. Not two episodes ago she didn’t know anything. Now she’s a vampire, drinking blood right after her transition, trying to kill, trying to overcome Klaus. And then dying. Sad sad scene, I was almost crying. And the scene really looked like the writers wanted to finish off Jenna. No hope of her coming back, no hope that she might be alive at the end of the episode, because Bonnie cast some spell. No, she is really dead, and I knew it when Klaus staked her. I just expected Klaus would have done more to her than just staking. He ripped out Jules’ (Michaela McManus) heart, but he only stakes Jenna?

Then, Klaus and Elena. That was BUFFY-esque right there, when Elena was being sucked at, and when she supposedly died. Also great acting from Paul Wesley here, and also a great scene in general, when Damon (Ian Somerhalder) came afterwards and put her besides Stefan. A nice little dramatic scene right there, while Bonnie is still trying to kill Klaus. Unfortunately for the predictability, Elijah (Daniel Gillies) had to double-cross everybody again. Not really good, but obviously the writers want to keep the two Originals warm for the next season. And when it’s true what Klaus said (the Originals being alive), then it could be an interesting third season Originals-wise. I don’t wanna know what the writers have planned for future antagonists in the lives of Elena and the Salvatores. But, In have to say that Elijah’s “I’m sorry” to Bonnie was just stupid. Simple cop-out to let Klaus live.

And finally, there was the next morning. Touching letter from John (David Anders), and I was actually almost tearing up. With Elena and Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) having lost all kinds of parents, the dynamic could be changed in the third season. After all, there is still Alaric, and when Jeremy finally starts to kick ass in the whole supernatural business, the relationship between Elena and him could also be changed drastically. Instead of letting him say “I have you”, he could have added “I’ll fight for you until I die” or something, just to make clear that Jeremy will be part of the supernatural storyline in the third season. But when Jeremy would have said that, I would have said “cliché”.

Only Tyler (Michael Trevino) and Caroline’s (Candice Accola) little romance plot didn’t bring anything. Sure, Matt (Zach Roerig) broke up with her now, but the story felt so lost in the whole ritual thing. And when Caroline and Matt were on screen, I was praying to the Gods for this story to end and/or get to business. Maybe it wouldn’t have been wrong to make sure in the last episode that Tyler, Matt and Caroline are okay, and postpone this story to the season finale. It really was the wrong time for Matt to break up with Caroline, and for the writers to tease a hot and steamy love affair between her and Tyler. 9/10

Buffy-esque death scene for Elena

A romantic little plot to waste time. Plus: Tyler without a shirt

Season 2, Episode 20 (42)
Date of airing: Apr 28, 2011 (TheCW)
Watched for review: Jan 20, 2012
Number of review in February/2012: 4/87

And I was thinking this episode would use the time to get the ritual over with and go to another story in the season finale. Instead it ended on some nice little cliffhangers, as well as an open ending, when it comes to the ritual. Even though I’m asking myself some questions about some elements. Like the witch thing. First off, who was Klaus’ (Joseph Morgan) witch in the beginning? I thought it was Greta (Lisa Tucker), but Damon (Ian Somerhalder) said he killed the witch, but a scene later Greta brought Elena (Nina Dobrev) to Jenna (Sara Canning) into the woods. So, who’s the witch Damon was talking about? It can’t be Bonnie. Next: Is Jenna really a vampire now? I kind of can’t believe it, because that cliffhanger was neither shocking nor brutal. It was just confusing. Third: Why was it so damn predictable that Jules (Michaela McManus) would be the werewolf used for the ritual? When I saw her for the first time here, I was instantly thinking that Tyler (Michael Trevino) would have a different story, just to get the way free for Jules being part of the ritual. Otherwise you wouldn’t have written her into the episode (especially since Jules was pretty much forgotten as a recurring guest character already).

Other than that, it was a solid episode, which is already normal for THE VAMPIRE DIARIES. But for the show to completely entertain me, it has to take a few steps back from the predictability and “shock values”. Give the stories some time to develop, give the characters some moments to shine. Otherwise this show will be filled with loads of twists in another season. It’s completely fine to fill the stories with twist. But not a whole season.

Elena and Stefan’s (Paul Wesley) day out was okay, though I wondered why the two were thinking Elena would die and become a vampire. It was instantly a fact after Damon’s little blood stint, and nobody was even thinking about fighting Klaus and looking for a way out of the ritual. After all, wasn’t there a reason why Elena brought back Elijah? And now there’s no other way out? Sorry, but I don’t believe that. Instead I believe that the writers looked for a romantic way of getting Elena and Stefan back together and let them have a date for once.

Furthermore, the getting-back-together scenes between Jenna and Alaric (Matthew Davis) were rather boring. Nice that Jenna stays on the good side for now, slowly getting what is happening. But when the writers want me to believe that Jenna will be one of the future hunters, accepting the supernatural, staying with Alaric, then the writers should better do something to make me believe it. Even Alaric was just standing there, most of the time, after Klaus left his body. The only thing he did was inviting Damon to his apartment. And even then, the writers could have done more with the story. Like making Klaus completely believe he’s being backstabbed by Katherine. I still wonder why he didn’t believe that and didn’t just let her burn in the sunlight.

And finally, Tyler’s back. I’m happy. Seemed like he was gone for a year (for me literally, since I did an almost year-long break between season halfs), and he’s getting proper stories now. Hopefully the werewolf mythology stays in the show, especially with Klaus’ background. Would be a shame when it’s gone after Klaus’ mishap during the ritual, and the show is all about vampires (and witches) again. In addition, I loved that Matt (Zach Roerig) is ready for action now. Loved his scene in the woods. Unfortunately, no words were exchanged between him and Caroline (Candice Accola). And since Matt was almost ready to tell Caroline everything, I wonder what will happen between her and her mother in the next two episodes. Caroline’s secret is not a secret anymore. Again. And now that Matt is back into the story… Could be exciting, since it’s still fresh in the series. 6.5/10

Tyler returns and instantly has headaches

Elena looks for a future. Can't find it.

Season 2, Episode 19 (41)
Date of airing: Apr 21, 2011 (TheCW)
Watched for review: Jan 20, 2012
Number of review in February/2012: 3/86

A good episode, even though I was a bit disappointed that Elijah (Daniel Gillies) was so into giving answers, and didn’t even think about playing a double game with Elena (Nina Dobrev). It could have been a better episode, when it would have been clear from the beginning or from the middle of the episode, that Elijah also follows his evil scheme, unknowingly from anybody else, making it an even more dangerous game. But for now, it looks like Elijah is a friend of Elena’s and he will actually go against Klaus.

The flashbacks were okay. I was expecting with Klaus’ (Joseph Morgan) first appearance that there would be some sort of flashbacks. Unfortunately they were a bit boring story-wise. Katherine meets Klaus, they have something of a date, Katherine disappears. That’s it. Not much of a conflict between the brothers then (indeed OMG), and also not much of a story. I will take the flashbacks, because they were necessary to tell Klaus’ storyline. But they could have been better written, and somehow more integrated into the present storyline.

Which was not really my thing. This episode felt like the third-last episode of a season: introduce the bad-ass antagonist, reintroduce the protagonist, who fights the antagonist, and explain some secrets to people who don’t know anything. So, the only good thing coming from it was Jenna (Sara Canning) learning all about the vampires and Elena’s fate. Though I wonder how much Elena told her, and how soon Jenna will be integrated into the bigger plot of the show, especially in the third season (if she survives the second season). At least she knows now, and I was waiting for this, since she stabbed herself almost a season ago. Now that she knows, I hope she has a bit of mistrust against Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder), as well as Elena. It wouldn’t be wrong, when Jenna ends up with Sheriff Forbes in the third season, being part of the human group, being a vampire hunter. Could be interesting, and it would definitely be a story I’d follow.

Elena and Elijah were okay. It was mostly flashback-time anyway, and I don’t get why Elijah is so damn friendly and helpful to Elena. But hey, the writers needed this episode to prepare the story. But I also hate that Stefan just took it for granted that Elena drives around Elijah, and is not doing anything to get her out of that. Sure, it gives the writers the opportunity to bring Elena at the front of the story and trust game (the doppelgänger being the leader in the fight against Klaus – poetic), but it didn’t seem logic. Instead, Stefan’s trust for Elena was probably just written in to create tension between him and Damon. Looks like the writers are preparing for the brothers to split again, making it a fight between the inner demons of the brothers. Can be interesting, but when it’s just about the love, affection and respect from Elena, it could be boring, when it takes half a season. Other than that, nice little scene, when Stefan said the words “in love with my girlfriend”. I think it never happened before that Stefan was so clear about Damon’s feelings. “There it is” indeed. Definitely an interesting character plot, as long as it is not overdone and stretched to more than half a season.

Meanwhile there was Alaric-Klaus (Matthew Davis). Still entertaining. What a shame it’s over now, I definitely would have watched that for another episode. But it’s also cool to have Klaus in town for real now. And the little surprise about him being a vampire/werewolf hybrid was interesting at first, but then it bored me. It wasn’t much of a shocker at the end. The season finale can begin anyway. 7.5/10

Elijah is trapped between the entrance and the sun's light

Klaus has arrived with a smile on his face

Season 2, Episode 18 (40)
Date of airing: Apr 14, 2011 (TheCW)
Watched for review: Jan 18, 2012
Number of review in February/2012: 2/85

Another solid episode. But how the hell did I know that Bonnie (Kat Graham) wouldn’t die? Even though I was a bit skeptical during the scene, where she fought Alaric-Klaus (Matthew Davis) and looked at Elena (Nina Dobrev) for the last time, I never thought the writers would kill off Bonnie here. Too “unimportant” this episode felt, too “ridiculous” it would have been for Bonnie’s last appearance. So, when she died, I was just waiting for the moment, when she opened her eyes again. And then she opened her eyes again. But what a surprise this episode would have been, when Bonnie would have died for real. I can understand why the writers chose that path instead of letting Bonnie really die, but at the end, it was just another one of those super-lame fake-outs, as well as another moment, which killed an excellent story. Bonnie being dead so short before the season finale could have created some interesting (emotional) storylines for some of the characters.

Other than that., the rest was solid. I actually liked Alaric as Klaus, and I find it dumb that no one questions where Katherine is. Sure, the gang probably knows Klaus has her, but with Klaus in Mystic Falls, killing Bonnie and hunting down Elena, what is Katherine doing in the meantime? The characters could have at least asked the questions for themselves, especially since it’s not clear for them whether Klaus and Katherine are working on the same team. Anyway, I was quite surprised about myself and Alaric being such a cool Klaus. Despite some of the questionable plot holes – for example, how can Alaric as a possessed human being compel another vampire? There is some inner logic, which doesn’t really fit – I wouldn’t mind when the real Klaus is waiting for his return. And for the answer why the spirit-Klaus needs another body for the action in Mystic Falls.

The 60s setting was boring though. Seems like there are tons of parties for Mystic Falls to attend (at least one in every second episode, lol), and seems like the writers are always using the party scenes for the shit to hit the fan. They could create different settings for all this stuff, it doesn’t always have to happen in the background of a party. Especially since it’s becoming illogical that the gang is always risking their own lives, attending the party, as well as innocent people. Like the three guys who beat up Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen). Caroline (Candice Accola) looked nice though, despite her story not being fired up at the moment. Matt (Zach Roerig) doesn’t really work as a spy for Sheriff Forbes (Marguerite MacIntyre) yet, which is why I hope it won’t take that long for somebody to figure out what’s wrong. And for Matt to finally choose a side. After there are already a lot of good people on Team Elena, it would be great to have Matt on Team Klaus in the third season. Just because it would be awesome to have somebody from the main cast as a villain.

Well, there isn’t much more to say about the episode. Jeremy’s epic “sadness”, because Bonnie could die, and his reasoning for telling Damon (Ian Somerhalder) were understandable, but it shows again that the writers don’t know how to add him in the show. He needs to have something for Team Elena, otherwise he is becoming less and less interesting in the third season. At the moment, Jeremy is Xander, just without the eye and the heart for the Scooby gang, and with less screentime. It’s really time to give him something to fight for, to fight with, and to fight against. At the latest in the season finale. Otherwise Jeremy is on the top of my list of “wanted dead” characters, because he is stealing screentime of worthy storylines.

By the way: Despite all the sparkles flying around, which seemed ridiculous (how many sparkles can fly with only a couple of lights exploding?), the fight scene between Bonnie and Alaric-Klaus was neat. She breaks all his bones, he is just waiting for her to die, and in the meanwhile it gets pretty light. Nice little shooting there, even though over the top near the end. If it would have been Bonnie’s real death scene though, I would have trash-talked it. 7.5/10

Caroline tries to be a Kennedy, but they are no vampires...

This could have been a sparkly goodbye for Bonnie

Season 2, Episode 17 (39)
Date of airing: Apr 7, 2011 (TheCW)
Watched for review: Jan 18, 2012
Number of review in February/2012: 1/84

A pretty solid episode, despite all the wasted time to kill off Isobel (Mia Kirshner), as well as getting Klaus into the show. It could have been done in a much shorter time, and without laying out false twists. Like Isobel playing or not playing the Salvatore brothers and Elena (Nina Dobrev). That was a twist, which didn’t need to be in the episode, because it was obvious as hell that Isobel wouldn’t help out Elena and the brothers at all. At least her little lesbian-looking hug with Katherine looked like as if the writers seriously wanted to reveal that twist early enough, to not waste the rest of the episode with a question mark. But at the end, I was so expecting that Isobel would play an even bigger double game, even though she was compelled to do. Boring. When you watch THE VAMPIRE DIARIES long enough, you’ll smell the twists and turns.

But hey, it was surprising that Isobel burns to death. Surprising little shocker scene, and I’m quite happy. Though Elena should have shown a couple of tears to make believe she just lost her mother. I know she hates her and she was a vampire and stuff, but she was Elena’s mother, god dammit. And it doesn’t help the case, when John (David Anders) mentioned all the stuff during Elena’s birth, that Isobel’s heart was broken, that Isobel loved her and blah blah blah. Seems like the writers weren’t able to give Elena a couple of emotions here, which is why John had to give her some. Other than that: Elena wants to trust John? When this comes, something is always around the corner. I don’t trust John no more. Okay, I never have to begin with.

The story was okay. A bit thin, and only preparing for Isobel’s kill-off. Somehow nothing happened, when it comes to the moonstone, Klaus and the danger surrounding Elena, because it was all a master scheme again. Isobel lying, kidnapping, sometimes telling the truth, and in the middle a pretty pissed off Katherine, who is going to deal with Klaus. That’s basically it. Not even the brothers had something to do, let alone Elena, to stop what’s happening. They were just standing there, witnessing the events happening in the background of everything.

This is why the sub plots had to save the episode, and they were successful doing so. Finally Matt (Zach Roerig) gets attention from the writers. Liked his story, and I hope he’s gonna be involved in the third season. Maybe against the vampires, maybe for them. A first step was done at the end, when he surprisingly told Sheriff Forbes (Marguerite MacIntyre) everything. I didn’t expect for her to find out again that her daughter is a vampire. But now she did, it makes for an interesting season finish: What is she going to do against Caroline (Candice Accola), and how is Matt gonna be involved in it. Is he just gonna be a spy between the vampires and the hunters? Or is he going to be a game-changer in the scheme between the undead and living?

Also, the background of Vicky’s death being revisited is nice. What a shame I’m already spoiled by it, but I would have never thought in the first place that Vicky’s story returns. Though it seems logical. Matt finding out about the vampires, and of course he thinks about his sister here. Even if it’s the only character story for Matt in the rest of the season. So, while I liked Matt’s story, I didn’t like Jenna’s. First, she only had like ten seconds of screentime, and second, she’s just running away? Lame. Simple, clichéd way of the writers to bring her out of the picture while Klaus is returning. And I actually expected for him to return for real. Not in Alaric’s (Matthew Davis) body, but for real. Killing someone in the process. Like Elijah, who ripped out two hearts, just to show how evil he is.

Bonnie’s (Kat Graham) witch-power collection was okay. I liked she is the secret weapon of the brothers now, but I didn’t like it took almost the whole episode for the characters (and writers) to realize that the powers might kill her at the end. Of course Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) goes nuts, and of course Bonnie wants to bring a sacrifice to save her friends. But that is a typical play of all the dangers within the story, and I already know the writers won’t play that card. 7/10

Team Damon is fit for the challenge

Isobel is burning hot

I’m still surprised how much is happening in this show. Elijah dead, the Martins want to resurrect him, girls night out, Katherine confusing everybody, Matt leaning the truth, Alaric about to tell the truth, and in the mix there’s lots of action, a couple of dead guys, an angry father, and still somewhat of a love story. And the episode was only 41 minutes short. That’s how you use your time with telling stories, thrilling the audience and developing the series arc.

So, Elijah is dead. But since the dagger can be easily removed from his body, it’s only a question of time when he’s up and running again. It’s interesting how the writers keep a character dead in this series, but explain easily why he could return to the living as soon as somebody gets the dagger out of his body. And I really hope somebody will get it out soon, because I quite liked the backstabbing chemistry between Elena and Elijah in the last episode, and it would mean a lot to the story, when Elijah goes for a little revenge, after Elena literally backstabbed him. Anyway, the Martins were first to try to resurrect Elijah, and the scene in the basement was strong. Thrilling, atmospheric, and totally cool. It had a moment of Katherine (Nina Dobrev) being the good guy, because she doesn’t want Elijah to be a living nightmare, and it was kick-ass of Damon (Ian Somerhalder) to fire the basement up, eventually killing Luka (Bryton James) and raging Jonas (Randy J. Goodwin). Another great thing about the episode was that Jonas didn’t wait long to get his revenge. Luka died, and as soon as he stopped puffing, Jonas went out to kill Elena. And since we’re still in the same episode, Jonas dies as well, but not before giving a little present to Bonnie (Katerina Graham)…

That was just one damn plot in this episode. One plot, probably taking not even full 30 minutes, and all this stuff happened. I’d wish for some of the mystery TV writers to take a look at this show to see how it’s done. Anyway… The episode was great, and not just because of this pace. But I was asking myself a couple of questions throughout the entertaining hour. The first one was if Elena and/or Damon and Stefan (Paul Wesley) never had the idea for a code word or a code sign to differentiate Elena from Katherine. Even though I liked the opening scene because of its awesomeness and how Katherine is spinning around everybody’s heads (including mine), it would be logical for them to differentiate Elena from Katherine through a hand sign or whatever. The second question is why Katherine doesn’t know the site of the witch massacre. She probably lived in the time back then, but Stefan and Damon find out, because they read it in a book. Only Katherine doesn’t know, even though she should – logically speaking. The third question: Since Caroline (Candice Accola) told Matt (Zach Roerig) the truth (or better: he kinda found out by himself by getting himself hurt), and Alaric (Matthew Davis) is about to tell Jenna (Sara Canning) the truth, how much time before all shit is blowing up and everybody knows? Six episodes until the season finale, and there might be a chance that more people know about the vampires, witches and werewolves, and more lives could be at stake. It would probably be genius, if Jenna gets some attention in the next season (or maybe even already in the next episodes, when Alaric really tells her the truth), after she was only an unimportant side character with relationship issues. She needs to be in danger, like her knife stunt ages ago.

Other than that, the girls night out was actually cute. I loved Caroline’s singing stint on the stage, and I realized I’m starting to like the Caroline/Matt coupling. Especially now, after Matt got some more screentime, and knows about Caroline. Only Bonnie and Jeremy’s (Steven R. McQueen) little tête-à-tête could deserve a bit more time, but I’ll take the excuses here, since Bonnie had to tell Elena first. The only thing is: I don’t really get the relationship yet. Jeremy is still the younger brother in my eyes, and Bonnie the Willow-type witch, who could kick your inner brains to death, when she has her days. It’s like David and Goliath, with Goliath being a woman, and the two being in love. 8/10

Stefan goes for Katherine's throat. Or is it Elena?

Matt doesn't know if to believe

Wow. Is Elijah (Daniel Gillies) really dead now? Or are the writers planning for somebody to hit his “grave”, pull out the dagger, and let Elijah have his revenge plan? It must suck for an original to be backstabbed literally and figuratively in just one episode. And with Elijah’s death (which can’t be called that way, since he can show up at any time again), the writers made the way free for Klaus. And the stories for the season finale – the last third is coming up.

So, I might say that this was the best episode of the series so far. Even though it started as a flashback episode, Stefan’s (Paul Wesley) story of his evil times became unimportant really fast and was at the end just a story for Stefan to have some character development. And for the producers to bring back Lexi (Arielle Kebbel), whom I really miss, after Damon (Ian Somerhalder) killed her. I wouldn’t mind for another flashback episode to arrive, with Lexi in it, since the chemistry between Stefan, Damon and Lexi – the vampire friends, who really were friends – was really good. Fortunately the episode wasn’t just a flashback thing, and instead went on to prepare the title giving dinner party, so that Damon can kill Elijah. I never would have expected the writers to cool down Elijah for now. And it happened two times in this episode. First I was WTF, when Alaric (Matthew Davis) and not Damon stabbed Elijah during the most “interesting” part of the dinner party (Elijah somewhat becoming acquainted with the guests, even kinda friendly), then I was WTF, when Elijah was still alive, because the dagger was removed from his body. And then the whole awesomeness began all over again, when Elijah and Elena (Nina Dobrev) had their confrontation. Beginning with Elena stabbing herself (WTF), getting the word from Elijah, and then motherfucking stabbing him with the dagger, so he stays dead. Seriously, how kick-ass was that? And how awesome? My eyes popped out of my head. Holy shit. I don’t want to be Elijah in that situation. Stabbed a couple of minutes ago, giving his word to Elena and then being stabbed again. Holy fucking shit.

The rest of the episode was good, but clearly lose importance against the dinner party. That Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) and Bonnie (Katerina Graham) had a “date” of some sorts was nice. That Jonas (Randy J. Goodwin) came over with the intention of killing everybody, who bring Luka into danger was good too, and even Bonnie losing her powers was a nice twist – it just wasn’t as big of a shocker as Alaric killing Elijah, followed by Elena killing Elijah. In addition, Bonnie kinda lost her stream in these past episodes, only being a witch not wanting to help her friends, because she doesn’t want to be part of the whole vampire/werewolf mess, but still helping them anyway. Now that she lost her powers, she is definitely in the war between Elijah(‘s gang) and the Mystic Falls vampires. I wonder when the werewolves are coming back in, who were missing this time.

Furthermore, it was nice that the relationship between Alaric and Jenna (Sara Canning) got some development. Jenna needs more screentime and to be more important in the series, and Alaric should finally release all secrets (just for Jenna to learn what the town is all about). And I kinda like John’s (David Anders) little psycho game, though for now, I don’t find it interesting that Alaric lost his ring to John.

And finally Katherine: Thanks to Elijah in a hiatus of life now, she is back. And she really wants to help Damon? No, I don’t believe her. Something’s already up, and I believe the writers have something in their heads for her to get/kill/betray/whatever. I can’t think of any reason she should help Damon, and therefore helping Elena, when she always wanted to break the curse of the moonstone.

Okay, maybe it wasn’t really the best episode ever, but the dinner party made the episode a highlight in the series’ run so far. Please continue that way. 8.5/10

Jeremy loves the wall more than he loves Bonnie

What is Elijah thinking right now?

The episode could have been retitled in “The One, Where Elena Has A Lot of Moments”. After the previous strong episode, I wasn’t expecting much from this one, but I didn’t expect that the writers were almost about to repeat the torture sequences from last episode. Again a vampire gets tortured, again the whole situation disappears with an unsuspected appearance of a supporting character, who has more secrets than Barack Obama.

The episode wasn’t really as surprising and thrilling, as the writers want me to believe. When Alaric (Matthew Davis) was killed by Stevie (Erik Stocklin), I wasn’t even shocked. First I was surprised that the writers killed Alaric in such an unfashioned manner, just to remember that he still wears the ring, and just to see five minutes later that he is in fact wearing the ring. So, somehow the “death” scene of Alaric’s went by me completely. Even more, I was waiting for him to stand up, when Stevie and Jules (Michaela McManus) were torturing Damon (Ian Somerhalder), just so he can kick some werewolf ass, but then I remembered again that Alaric is not a fighter – so he slept through the whole story, and was basically useless as Matt in the complete second season so far.

I especially can’t understand why the werewolf gang didn’t listen to Jonas’ “threat” from last episode. Either the writers have forgotten it, or they just wanted him to say something cool, but that the gang attacked Damon again was just foolish – right after they’ve lost some of their own. So, there was no tragic, no grief, instead Stevie was talking all about the moonstone to bring Tyler (Michael Trevino) into the light, and the next plan was given life. I don’t even know if the gang knew what to do during the ritual, and if they had all the information needed. They knew about the doppelgänger (not that Elena was the doppelgänger though) and about the moonstone in general – but was that all they knew? And they wanted to make the sacrifice out of this information? Muhaha…

Anyway, I didn’t really like this story. But it gave Tyler enough reason to think all of it over again and see that he was been lied to the whole time. Now that he knows he is going to kill Elena (Nina Dobrev), when he allies with Jules and follows her plans, he finally makes his own choice. And stays with… Jules. Urgh. I just hope there is something big coming in the next episodes, because I can’t really understand Tyler’s choice of staying with Jules. But his last moments in Mystic Falls were touching: letting Stefan (Paul Wesley) save Elena, talking to Matt (Zach Roerig) (and suddenly make him go on the series’ radar again), saying goodbye to his mom with a letter, and saying goodbye to Caroline (Candice Accola) without saying goodbye. It almost felt like a series’ exit for him, so I really hope something is coming.

Stefan’s and Elena’s weekend out was nice at first, and when they discovered the hidden room, I was instantly thinking that Elena’s adoptive parents had a bit of a bigger secret hidden – as if they were total vampire hunters or something. Unfortunately, the episode didn’t tell me much, and the writers relied on Elena’s background story and the thing with the journal. It would be nice for some revelation to come. Now that Elena is in the middle of all this mess, and everybody knows about her future sacrifice to Elijah (Daniel Gillies) (nice twist, btw), it would be more shocking for her to learn even more about her heritage, and especially her family.

And Bonnie (Katerina Graham) and Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen)? Well, they finally kissed. It took them long, and I wasn’t really moved by it. I still think that they have a bit of an awkward chemistry together, and I don’t know if a new love-story in the series is helping along the story, especially the developments for Jeremy (who barely had anything to do this season) and Bonnie (who seems to be a witch-only at the moment). Nonetheless the episode was alright. Maybe even solid. But not as strong as the last one. 6.5/10

Confessions in a car #1: Elena has "moments"

Confessions in a car #2: Tyler wants no more lies

Well, if that wasn’t the 24-version of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, plus some relationship-toned storylines, then I don’t know. Caroline (Candice Accola) being tortured by werewolves, the confrontation in the woods, and the good ol’ drama with all the characters… This series is about to become even more stellar than NIKITA is. I totally loved this episode!

And not just because of the little torture thing in the RV. I would have wished that this story is getting longer – I was surprised that it was over after 15 minutes, and that the rest of the episode was rather dealing with the “John (David Anders) vs. everybody”-conflict, and the question whether he is the good guy, helping Elena (Nina Dobrev) and her friends, because he wants to be a father; or maybe he is the evil guy, just so that the writers have a monstrous twist in their hands for the season finale. And though the last ten minutes were focusing on John wanting to try to be a father for Elena, and wanting to be part of the family (a shame that Elena still doesn’t trust him – understandable, but I want to see some development here), the 15 minutes before the last act were just completely awesome as fuck. Caroline “kidnapped” with a shot in the head by Brady (Stephen Amell) - shocker alert! Caroline being shot numerous times in her little cage, in addition to getting watered with blessed O2 (or was it just verveine?) – brutally awesome! Or just even Caroline being shot, so that Stefan (Paul Wesley) on the other line of the phone gets a life signal from her – holy shit! Not to mention the confrontation, where Damon (Ian Somerhalder) rips somebody’s heart out, while that somebody is jumping on him, together with him and Stefan neck-breaking the shit out of the werewolf gang – hell yeah! And what did I love the situation, where Caroline had Jules’ (Michaela McManus) gun at her head, where Damon was about to get stabbed, and where Stefan had no chance of fighting back anymore … This was the situation, where the series could just end right here, right now. Which is why I didn’t like Jonas’ (Randy J. Goodwin) appearance all of a sudden, saving Damon’s and Stefan’s ass in the last second – that was too much of a clichéd twist at the end, though he had to explain again that it was all about Elijah’s promise to Elena. But since the witches in town are still on the side of the vampires, the fight could be getting interesting.

I couldn’t do anything with the relationship stuff though. It was great to mention that Caroline and Matt (Zach Roerig, I have the feeling he’s gonna be a dead guy before or at the season finale) still have a thing going on, and I actually still like the Tyler (Michael Trevino)/Caroline coupling, secretly shipping for them for the rest of the season. But the episode was focusing much on the conflict, rather than some development in some relationships. I’ll mention John and Elena as well, who are doing and talking about the same things, when he left. She doesn’t trust him, Damon wants to kill him, but he wants to help. Okay, fine, but again, there wasn’t much time left for this part of the story. Same thing goes with Jeremy (wow, he’s getting screentime, I’m impressed) and Bonnie… The teasing of the two finally getting together continues, shown was practically nothing.

But hey, I still loved the episode. Just not the “cliffhanger” of Damon and Andie Star (a porn name) (Dawn Olivieri) going ‘at it’ in the bath tub. Does he see it as having sex, when he’s biting and sucking blood? She kinda looked happy… 8.5/10

Shot in the cage: a nightmare for every vampire

Damon and his snack in the bath tub