"The Sun Also Rises"
May. 13th, 2011 02:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
aruanI'm a little shellshocked, in the way that one is when bad things happen, but not surprised? The entire Klaus storyline has had an inevitability about it since it began. He's ancient, all powerful, can't be killed until he's weakened at the end of a ritual that demands Elena's death. It's all been very clear, and everyone who's tried to game the process has died for it.
Katherine told Damon at the beginning of the episode that she always ends up with the upper hand because she doesn't let love get in the way. Bitten by a werewolf for his trouble trying to stop the sacrifice of a woman who doesn't love him back, Damon certainly can't argue with that logic.
So, let's pause to consider an intriguing proposition: what will Damon do with his final days? The answer, as it would be for anyone, is everything he's ever wanted to do - except Damon hasn't had to go without what he wants since circa 146 years ago, and I'm subtracting the unrequited loves of his life because they've both been resolved to a manageable status quo. Just, mind the dead bodies you had to step over to get there.
And what happens now? If you look at Damon as the prodigal son, then his return to Mystic Falls, and all the ways in which that has made him acknowledge his humanity, would be squandered only to have him die to a reminder that he'll never be human again. Also, the mere existence of vampires proves that there is nothing redeeming about death in itself - otherwise you wouldn't come back from it to deal with your unresolved issues FOREVER. But I guess someone just had to get their inner drama queen out with his walk into the sunset, disappearing among the headstones.
With Elijah and Klaus, we've come full circle with the brother-against-brother theme, it's time to hug without beating each other on the back the whole time to prove you're still men. So "As I Lay Dying" should be about the Salvatore brothers, maybe an apology to Stefan for making his life hell, since Stefan's already apologized about forcing Damon to turn so they could be together for eternity.
We've had our witchy deus ex machina, with John making the sacrifice that he didn't or couldn't when Elena was born, that had a bit of dignity to it at least. There's already been a lot of sacrifice this season, paid with the blood of almost every new character they've introduced: Jules, Mason, trailer!wolf; Isobel, Trevor, Rose, Slater; the Martin witches, Greta. But who's going to save Damon?
Odds and ends:
Even when the choice was between vanquishing ultimate evil and family, Elijah chose family. All these wayward sons and their daddy issues. This series needs a father figure.
I love that no one takes Damon seriously anymore when he makes threats about killing them - John just barges in, ignoring his "bite to eat" comment.
So does Alaric have a permanent roommate now, or does Klaus's compunction stop working at a certain distance?
Ugh, have I mentioned Alaric deserves better? So does Jeremy, who's down two girlfriends and four family members since this all began. What he should do is get his GED and leave his weird-shit-magnet town, change his name, grow out his hair and find a job on a beach somewhere, spend his spare time surfing and painting the rest, and be the reclusive artist who doesn't go to his own shows while everyone stands in front of his 15-foot canvases of beautiful women who are always dead and wonders why.
Katherine told Damon at the beginning of the episode that she always ends up with the upper hand because she doesn't let love get in the way. Bitten by a werewolf for his trouble trying to stop the sacrifice of a woman who doesn't love him back, Damon certainly can't argue with that logic.
So, let's pause to consider an intriguing proposition: what will Damon do with his final days? The answer, as it would be for anyone, is everything he's ever wanted to do - except Damon hasn't had to go without what he wants since circa 146 years ago, and I'm subtracting the unrequited loves of his life because they've both been resolved to a manageable status quo. Just, mind the dead bodies you had to step over to get there.
And what happens now? If you look at Damon as the prodigal son, then his return to Mystic Falls, and all the ways in which that has made him acknowledge his humanity, would be squandered only to have him die to a reminder that he'll never be human again. Also, the mere existence of vampires proves that there is nothing redeeming about death in itself - otherwise you wouldn't come back from it to deal with your unresolved issues FOREVER. But I guess someone just had to get their inner drama queen out with his walk into the sunset, disappearing among the headstones.
With Elijah and Klaus, we've come full circle with the brother-against-brother theme, it's time to hug without beating each other on the back the whole time to prove you're still men. So "As I Lay Dying" should be about the Salvatore brothers, maybe an apology to Stefan for making his life hell, since Stefan's already apologized about forcing Damon to turn so they could be together for eternity.
We've had our witchy deus ex machina, with John making the sacrifice that he didn't or couldn't when Elena was born, that had a bit of dignity to it at least. There's already been a lot of sacrifice this season, paid with the blood of almost every new character they've introduced: Jules, Mason, trailer!wolf; Isobel, Trevor, Rose, Slater; the Martin witches, Greta. But who's going to save Damon?
Odds and ends:
Ugh, have I mentioned Alaric deserves better? So does Jeremy, who's down two girlfriends and four family members since this all began. What he should do is get his GED and leave his weird-shit-magnet town, change his name, grow out his hair and find a job on a beach somewhere, spend his spare time surfing and painting the rest, and be the reclusive artist who doesn't go to his own shows while everyone stands in front of his 15-foot canvases of beautiful women who are always dead and wonders why.
