THE VAMPIRE DIARIES: Family Ties - Give Me My Remote : Give Me My Remote

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES: Family Ties

October 2, 2009 by  

Man, you guys, I REALLY enjoyed last night’s episode. A lot happened, but it was focused, which I liked. And there were parts that were seriously, SERIOUSLY funny. And cool. Shall we … sink our teeth in? (Sorry, I had to.)

I was hooked on this episode before we even got to the title card. It was fun to start the show without a kill of the week, and instead go for Stefan having a nightmare about Elena. And I love how that transitioned straight into brotherly bitchiness.

Damon KILLED me this week (no pun intended, although you know I’ll never apologize if it is). I am usually not into the super pretty boys, which he undoubtedly is, but I’m also a sucker for villains, as we’ve discussed. Every time the camera panned between Stefan and Damon, I couldn’t decide who I had a bigger crush on, so way to go, casting department! It’s a good problem to have. Anyway, Stefan throwing the knife at Damon was pretty great, but the real pay off there was when Damon jabbed it between Stefan’s ribs, telling him, “Dude, this shirt is a [blah blah designercakes]. Dick move.” Hee! I love those two.

The first part was loaded with Damon goodness as he watched Caroline picking out a dress for the founders’ party. I love how she’s so strong-willed and sassy with him, but then he finally gets irritated and gets in her head to get his way. They have such a great dynamic—not as a functional couple, obviously, but a real treat for the viewer. Like when he finally made her invite him to the party, and he just turned back to his book, and was like, “Not if you’re wearing that dress.” Hilarious!

And speaking of hilarious, that’s a perfect segue into Damon reading Twilight. GENIUS. Of all the characters on this show to pick that one up, he is THE ONE you would want to see do it. Loved the complaining about Edward being whipped (Damon would hate that) and the sparkling (“I live in the real world, where vampires burn up if they go in the sun,” and, “I have a ring. It’s complicated.”), and saying how he missed Anne Rice and how she really got it right, which I’m thinking may provide some insight into the mythology (and I have GOT to get my hands on a paperback of “Interview With the Vampire”—I am too into vampires and it gets referenced way too often for me to put that off any longer—we really need a TV book club, no?).

Since we’re already on the subject of Damon and Caroline, we might as well just finish talking about them now. I kind of love those two. That scene where she asked him if he was going to kill her and he was all sweetly, “Mmmmhmmm, but not yet,” was just great, and then at the end when she made him so, so angry and he got his temper under control, I thought it was yet another great moment of acting from Ian Somerhalder. He’s really good at portraying a lot of really complex emotions and I think in the hands of another actor, Damon would me much flatter. I know he tried to kill Caroline, but I did like that it seemed to be more out of self-preservation than actual anger. And I like that Caroline seems to know that he’s a vampire, although I’m not sure if she only knows when she’s under his spell or if she knows all the time—I can’t really tell. But I was glad Damon wasn’t able to finish the job. Those two need to be paired up for a good long time.

The other couples, although a little less thrilling for me and than Damon and Caroline, were also pretty good this week. Stefan and Elena had that hot makeout session before Stefan vamped out, which makes me wonder if we’ll get to see TEENAGE VAMPIRE SEX! if (and I assume “when”) Elena finds out about him. And I bet it will be The Hot. Was anyone else expecting someone to walk in on them? I totally was, except oh wait! This show doesn’t believe in adults! (Although that turned out to be less true this week, but we’ll get to that.)

Things finally quit being all sunshine and roses for Elena and Stefan when they got into their first fight. Well, Elena got into a fight, Stefan wasn’t really participating, which, can I just say, is something that I haaaaaate. Someone who won’t fight with me is cause for a break-up. Just saying. But anyway, she was bugged by him being so secretive all the time, thanks in part to both Bonnie and Damon planting some seeds of doubt in her mind. She stomps off to the bathroom and sees Caroline, and notices the bite marks on her, and go gives Damon one of her Big! Threatening! Lectures! that Jeremy has become so familiar with. She then heads off to Stefan to tell him he was right about Damon and then freaks out at him AGAIN when she realizes that he knew Damon was up to something pretty horrible.

I mean, on the one hand, I’m glad that they aren’t just still making googly eyes at each other, because really, how long can you keep doing that? I mean, I guess you can do it for AWHILE, if you have things to occupy your time together, if you know what I mean. And they don’t, because whenever they make out, one of them gets veiny bloodlust eyes. So it puts a damper on things.

They were really cute at the party, though—I loved when he had one more dance for her (even though it ended in fighting), and did anyone else love Elena’s Bump-It? It kind of inspired me that I might need my own. Although I wonder if combing my hair over a steel wool pad would give the same general effect, but for cheaper and more convenient. Hmmm. Oh, and while I’m being shallow, Elena’s boobs were CRAZY in that dress. In the good way.

And finally, for all of our young teenagers in love, we have Vickie Donovan, who seriously, I love more each episode. I felt really bad for her with Tyler being such an ass at her job, and then for him making her avoid his parents. Who wants to be THAT girl, that your guy is so obviously ashamed of? And seriously, I still can’t believe that Vickie wants to go out with that douche after the whole attempted rape in the woods thing, but she’s clearly effed up so I suppose stranger things have happened. I was glad when she bailed on Tyler though. I sort of believed him that he actually likes her, but I’m sure his mom makes his life difficult. That mom was DELICIOUS. More of her please. (And it looks like I’ll get my wish!)

Vickie headed on over to Jeremy’s where she pretty much proceeded to pick him, and it was so sweet—two messed up kids finding each other, and you don’t even get the feeling that it’s doomed to end badly (although it probably is, if it’s anything like real life). Jeremy was much better for me this time—more just sad, than anything, and I think that’s really relatable. He’s lost his parents, AND he’s a young teenage guy, which is rough, and his dream girl is hanging out with AN ATTEMPTED RAPIST (I cannot stress this enough—that is gross). I like the more subtle Jeremy.

I mentioned to Billy that Jeremy is Steve McQueen’s grandson, and asked if he knew who that was. He was like, “Um, hello, of course,” because apparently it’s required as a dude that you know who Steve McQueen is and think he’s awesome. I’ve heard of him and his awesomeness many times, but I wouldn’t be able to pick him out of a crowd, and furthermore, I didn’t recognize the title of one single movie of his that Billy rattled off to me. But based on young Steve R. McQueen here, I totally believe that he is very hot and very cool.

So finally, our most shocking development this week—there are actual ADULTS in Mystic Falls! WTF, right? And confession time, I’ve gotten so used to there NOT being adults and just putting it out of my mind, that when Aunt Jenna ran into her old newscaster boyfriend, I was like, “Seriously? We’re giving her a storyline now?” But the truth is, it didn’t take long before I was hooked. When he was following her around, and she was telling him to piss off, and he was like, “You’re exactly the same,” and she said, “Actually, I’m a lot meaner now,” I just identified so much and really fell in love with her. And when he was begging her for a second chance to prove his loyalty, I was like, NO! It never ends up well! Run! I thought she might actually go for it, but then she brought up the person that he presumably cheated on her with, and I was like, “Go girl!” So now I guess I’m aboard the Aunt Jenna love train. I’m getting so old, you guys.

But the real genius of all of this was that it ties into the actual vampire plot and doesn’t just exist to take up airtime. Apparently, the adults we were introduced to at the party, INCLUDING Tyler’s mom, who I LOVE, are in some sort of vampire protection circle of trust (I don’t really know what you’d call it), and they need a bunch of heirlooms passed down through the generations, including a pocketwatch that was left with Jeremy and which scummy newscaster ex vows to find. I LOVE the introduction of this plot, and speaking of heirlooms, I also can’t wait to see what on earth that little jewel was that Damon fished out and that Caroline ended up with, and how that plays out.

I can’t believe we’re only four episodes into this season, because I’m already so invested in the characters, including the side characters, and the story is both getting set up and moving along nicely. I thought this episode was a good balance of having plenty going on, but remaining focused and not having an overwhelming amount of things happening. And it’s just building up nicely.

How about you guys? What are your thoughts on Damon and Caroline, on Stefan and Elena fighting, on Bonnie lighting candles with her mind, and on actual grown-ups having an actual presence on this show? And how about Zach’s vervain garden? Hash it all out in the comments!

SB has many interests, including photography, her pets, entertainment, traveling and writing. She does have a day job, but that mostly amounts to her being a sarcastic young woman with a lot of time on her hands, which is why she appreciates the opportunity to recap.

Comments

8 Responses to “THE VAMPIRE DIARIES: Family Ties”

  1. JB on October 2nd, 2009 1:23 pm

    http://twitter.com/robpralgo/status/4536854904

    Poor Rob Pralgo. Both he and I wish he got more facetime on-air. But this is sorta of the pilot for the adults where they are all introduced quickly and hopefully get a storyline or two later on. The only way for side character to last is if he/she/it gets its own storyline rather then one-liners or monologues.

  2. Kimber on October 2nd, 2009 11:18 pm

    This WAS a good episode! I agree that the first scene really hooked me, with the nightmare and the freakiness. It was just plain awesome, and kind of scary too. Fabulous! I really enjoyed the ep, probably my favourite one so far. We were let in a few new aspects of the story, like the magical ring, the pendant that Elena was given by Stefan (never knew it was what protected her from Damon’s hypnotic powers … or did I miss that earlier in the series?), and of course the fact that there real, live ADULTS in the town! Seriously! And some of them are in the vampire protection agency? Cool, but uh-oh big time!

    So sorry to hear you’re still having trouble deciding between the brothers! I’m all for the evil of Damon, and those eyes? When he was working the vampy magic with Caroline? Yum!

    Ooh … a TV book club? Sign me up! I read the first Twilight book last week (I’m behind the times, I know! But TVD made me finally do it!), followed by a viewing of the first movie too, and I have the second book waiting on my night table as we speak. I’m waiting to get my hands on a copy of TVD books next, and am also pawing through The Witches of Eastwick. I’ll admit, I’m a book nerd, AND a TV nerd, so when those two worlds collide? Love it!

    For the record, I have NO idea who Steve McQueen is! Should I? When I think of that name, I think, “isn’t that the name of the mouse that House had, back when he was trying to win back Sela Ward?”. LOL, gotta love TV.

  3. Give Me My Remote on October 2nd, 2009 11:32 pm

    Agreed that the crew that we saw together at the end will forever be known as The VPA? The Vampire Protection Agency.

    I remember sitting up front at Comic Con during the panel for ‘The Fallen’ (I think that was the name of it) starring Paul (Stefan). I remember at the time how how he was…yeah, that hasn’t changed. Ironically enough I wasn’t there for ‘The Fallen’, but rather in the room early to get a good seat for the ‘Moonlight’ panel. Vamps, vamp everywhere you turn.

  4. Jane on October 3rd, 2009 1:51 am

    I like that Elena is not in a blind passion and gives a valid reason, “Trust is earned” to Stefan. I hope Stefan spills the truth soon otherwise there is just gonna be a lot of brooding and whining.

  5. anon on October 5th, 2009 3:09 pm

    The Caroline/Damon storyline is one reason I return every week to this show. I was yelling “Noooo!” at my TV when Damon attempted to kill her. So I was very happy when he did not succeed. Go Stefan with all your glorious wisdom. By the way, wouldn’t Damon destroy the entire indoor vervain garden while he’s trapped in the room with it? People–are you trying to destroy him or help him destroy you?

  6. SB on October 5th, 2009 5:51 pm

    Hey peeps! I was gone all weekend so I’m super pumped to come back and chat it up. 🙂

    You know, the vervain garden is an interesting question, but I don’t think it has to be live to weaken him (since they tried to put it in the drink and it obviously can’t be live if it’s in Elena’s necklace). I’m not sure in that case how he really COULD destroy it without theoretically taking himself out too, but I’ve got to wonder what Stefan’s end game is for Damon because if you’re just going to lock him in there forever, it would be more humane to kill him. And I don’t see Stefan doing that.

    I’m sort of wondering if this whole vervain thing is going to be like Kryptonite on Smallville and I just really hope not. They were so damn inconsistent with the Kryptonite, and it weaked Clark whatever amount was appropriate to serve their purpose and it drove me NUTS.

  7. Becky on October 6th, 2009 2:35 pm

    I finally caught up with this episode. I don’t have room on my DVR so I have to catch up wtih it at work on the Internet. I’m sorry, but at the very beginning after Damon stabbed Stefan and he Stefan pulled the knife out and then lifted his shirt to look at his wound heal itself – HEAT FLASH! I think I might have made a sound – and I know I had to fan myself. 🙂

    I thought this was a fast paced good episode. I did think he was spiking her drink, though. At first, I was like, surely he’s not trying to spike the dude’s drink again, and then, he had that little smirk and I was like ohhhhhhhhhhhh,

    The only thing I’m not liking is the witch girl. I mean, I like her and all that is fine, but every episode it’s like “oh is that a witch thing” or “my grandmother is crazy she said i’m a witch” It’s like they have to say it for us every episode to remind us that ol girl is a witch. I’m a little tired of that. It always seems forced.

    I don’t get the locking him up in a room. What does it do? Stefan was standing right there with it and it was like nothing. i didn’t get the feeling that he was uncomfortable. I dont’ know.

    Thanks for the recap. it was awesome. You’re WTF about the adults had me laughing out loud – which according to my co worker is a sure sign that I am not doing work 🙂

  8. SB on October 6th, 2009 2:55 pm

    Hahahaha, Becky! I’m so excited to make someone else laugh at their desk because it happens to me ALL the time!

    Alright, here’s my fanwank on the vervain room, although it seems reasonable–I think when Stefan pushed Damon in there, Damon was still weak from drinking the vervain via Caroline, so maybe it did affect Stefan a little bit, but nothing compared to Damon having it actually in his system.

    Oh, and I’m so with you on Bonnie. I hope she gets more interesting because it’s getting old. (Like me, and my Aunt Jenna love. :))