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aruanSo not ready for summer hiatus, but at least "As I Lay Dying" left us with plenty of fodder.
There was little to argue with once this episode got going, and in fairness all the action of the season was wrapped up last week - less Klaus's comment about having plans for Stefan. Maybe all the stuff about Damon's blood being impure was just an excuse not to kill him, because Klaus knew that if he had, he could never get Stefan.
It bothered me at first - Damon has such a highly developed sense of sadistic joie de vivre! - but his attempted suicide made perfect sense. Dying the slow death that robs your sanity like Rose did wasn't a viable alternative. But it wasn't that part of the scene that broke my heart: it was his moment enjoying the sunshine on his face, one of the rare, small ways that he can still feel human.
NUGH Klaus is pretty. That he betrayed Elijah ("I will bring you to them soon enough," hah) wasn't surprising - that he didn't destroy his family was. Why not? To what end? Also, QQ forever, or until Elijah comes back, whichever happens first. That man and his fierce head of hair were an excellent addition to the show.
A little out of character perhaps, given everything (though Isobel made her choice, and Jenna's death really wasn't for Damon's lack of trying), but I loved Alaric's immediate "what do you need," then bringing Damon scotch in the cell. (And the fact that he carries a vervain syringe in his coat pocket, like he has some kind of supernatural allergy.) Then Bonnie conducting the seance to ask the witches' help - Damon's bad guy reputation is so ruined. He's saved the lives of pretty much everyone in Mystic Falls, and now he needs help.
I wonder, was Damon's flashback real? Because then eternity was Damon's choice, and the only thing he could be angry at Stefan for in forcing him to turn was that he didn't want to live without Katherine. Which would explain why Damon had dedicated his eternity to vengeance on Stefan, because even in death Katherine had chosen them both. Though what sort of terrorizing Damon actually accomplished is hard to say, given that Stefan apparently destroyed entire villages when he was on human blood. Kind of annoying that the bad boy edge Damon had has been so thoroughly overshadowed. But this finale really has swapped their roles, hasn't it? Stefan is officially the uncontrollable killer, and Damon is the long-suffering soul who has tried to build a life just as much as Stefan had in Mystic Falls. But does that mean that he deserves his own chance with Elena?
The scenes in Damon's bedroom really demolished every remaining obstacle between them. He renounced Katherine, who he finally acknowledged never really did compel him to do anything because the promise of choosing Damon when the time came was enough. Yes, he more or less handwaved the last 146 years of general badness by saying they all brought him to her, as sorry as he is for everything he's done since then. She forgives him; then in the same breath as acknowledging that she'll always love Stefan, he pushes his luck by telling her he loves her, too.
"You should've met me in 1864. You would've liked me."
"I like you now. Just the way you are."
FFS, my heart.
And then Katherine gives them her blessing, and tells them not to worry about Stefan walking in on them. Which, um, thanks?
The writers certainly did seem to set up all the dominos. However, at least Elena's side of this has been clarified by executive producer Julie Plec: "In that moment, Damon needed her forgiveness and her love, and she needed to give it to him. It was very pure for her." Which is fine, but why the kiss?
To me, in that moment, Damon was probably going to die, Elena was moved by his confession and wanted to make things right - and maybe, just because there would be no repercussions, be honest with herself about her latent desire for him. She and Stefan connect on a very rational level - Damon operates on primal wavelength, complicated by the fact that he is not only overtly sexual, but overtly dangerous. It gives the impression of him being entirely driven by desire, but Elena has irrefutable proof to the contrary now. Her refusal to acknowledge that would strain credulity, given that the entire premise of the show sprang from a woman wearing her face recklessly loving the Salvatore brothers. This show is nothing if not big on history repeating (sorry Stefan, you've been outvoted on that one over and over again) and it would be a waste of a fascinating, if outrageously taboo, exploration of the possibility that a woman can love two men. And while this is probably not Damon and Elena's watershed moment - she's worried for Stefan's safety, Damon is in his debt for saving his life, and does he even want to be with someone who's already told him "it will always be Stefan"? - it forced a tiny bit of sincerity out of both of them, when what they're used to is manipulating each other.
I'm sad to see Katherine go, though I suppose she's served her purpose, tormenting Stefan, manipulating Damon, realizing that she can't walk back into the life she walked away from because they've found a replacement. She won't try to approach Stefan again as long as he's with Klaus, but why bother - the Stefan she loved is gone as long as he allows himself to be the monster she created.
Jeremy can now see dead people? This is the consequence that the witches warned us about? Wonder if it's going to be just vampires, or if this setting up a way to bring their parents into the show? Why are they still here? What do they know? Is Jeremy hallucinating them? Are they stuck on this plane? Someone better justify bringing back the two characters who annoyed me the most on the whole show, s'all I'm saying.
In my fantasy world, Damon and Elena are going road tripping after Klaus and Stefan next season, possibly with Alaric and Caroline in tow. I'd watch the hell out of that. Alas, it probably won't be something quite as indulgent. But maybe someone will write that story.
There was little to argue with once this episode got going, and in fairness all the action of the season was wrapped up last week - less Klaus's comment about having plans for Stefan. Maybe all the stuff about Damon's blood being impure was just an excuse not to kill him, because Klaus knew that if he had, he could never get Stefan.
The scenes in Damon's bedroom really demolished every remaining obstacle between them. He renounced Katherine, who he finally acknowledged never really did compel him to do anything because the promise of choosing Damon when the time came was enough. Yes, he more or less handwaved the last 146 years of general badness by saying they all brought him to her, as sorry as he is for everything he's done since then. She forgives him; then in the same breath as acknowledging that she'll always love Stefan, he pushes his luck by telling her he loves her, too.
"You should've met me in 1864. You would've liked me."
"I like you now. Just the way you are."
FFS, my heart.
And then Katherine gives them her blessing, and tells them not to worry about Stefan walking in on them. Which, um, thanks?
The writers certainly did seem to set up all the dominos. However, at least Elena's side of this has been clarified by executive producer Julie Plec: "In that moment, Damon needed her forgiveness and her love, and she needed to give it to him. It was very pure for her." Which is fine, but why the kiss?
To me, in that moment, Damon was probably going to die, Elena was moved by his confession and wanted to make things right - and maybe, just because there would be no repercussions, be honest with herself about her latent desire for him. She and Stefan connect on a very rational level - Damon operates on primal wavelength, complicated by the fact that he is not only overtly sexual, but overtly dangerous. It gives the impression of him being entirely driven by desire, but Elena has irrefutable proof to the contrary now. Her refusal to acknowledge that would strain credulity, given that the entire premise of the show sprang from a woman wearing her face recklessly loving the Salvatore brothers. This show is nothing if not big on history repeating (sorry Stefan, you've been outvoted on that one over and over again) and it would be a waste of a fascinating, if outrageously taboo, exploration of the possibility that a woman can love two men. And while this is probably not Damon and Elena's watershed moment - she's worried for Stefan's safety, Damon is in his debt for saving his life, and does he even want to be with someone who's already told him "it will always be Stefan"? - it forced a tiny bit of sincerity out of both of them, when what they're used to is manipulating each other.
