100 Reviews: 10
Jun. 26th, 2012 01:07 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
There were reasons why I ended up doing more TVD, not just because I get more review of my Elijah thoughts.
TVD: 2x10: The Sacrifice
This is kind of a weird episode. It feels like there’s a lot going on with how separate the three plots are and yet in the end not a lot has happened. I’d argue the character the most changed by the events is actually Elijah and he’s barely in the episode.
The Caroline and Tyler scenes are probably the most emotional of the episode, and are well written and performed. Throwing Matt in at the end was going a little far to make it obvious that this was starting *another* love triangle on the show, and I wish we’d actually had the chance to explore his character after what happened at the party but this show really likes its love triangles. Aside from that needless drama the scenes between Caroline and Tyler was really nice and logically character driven.
The tomb plot suffers some awkward plotting, but it does fit nicely with the Elena plot. And most of the Jeremy and Bonnie beats worked fine for me (they both want to protect Elena, but also worry about each other) aside from the early bits which were for more love triangle drama. Kat seems to be a little undecided on what she wants to do at this stage but I can handwave that as fitting with her current state of affairs, her plans are pretty much in ruins so she’s figuring out what she wants to do next. And Stefan suffers from the fact that I know very little actually comes from this plot cul-de-sac he jumped into; first time around I suspected it had potential but it really doesn’t amount to much.
This is another time where the Elena plot is particularly interesting to examine in hindsight. But some general thoughts first: I love the Elena and Rose dynamic, they really play off each other well; I kind of like Slater’s girlfriend and it’s hard to pin why; Elijah why you already stalking Elena? And making your witch friend help you stalk the future love of your life, for shame (although probably ultimately good you did).
Here’s where I get on my anti-Elena/Salvatore soapbox. It’s not even that I think Damon is 100% in the wrong here, Elena was making a hasty decision that was likely to have really dire consequences so stopping her from doing it, by any means necessary even, isn’t a move I can condemn him for. *However* what he fails to understand (and *still* does to this day) is that by not listening to her voice when it comes to her own life she feels pushed to make these kind of decisions to try and reclaim control. You’re not listening to her, not considering what matters to her, giving no indication that you heard anything she said when you showed up to save her from herself.
Obviously it’s been longer since I watched season 1, but as I recall in s1 it tended to be Elena and Stefan making plans and then bringing others in as needed. In s2 it has very much shifted to being Stefan and Damon making plans, then telling everyone but Elena, then finally bringing Elena in on their plans (when they do at all, I mean clearly no one called to tell her they were going to confront Katherine that day), which has to only add to Elena’s feelings that they’re not including or listening to her, she’s basically been reduced to love interest rather than partner role. (I could go on a s3 rant here, but I think I’ll save it)
My point in this: Elena is looking to be in charge of her own life and she knows she’s not. Not even when considering Klaus’s role in all this, this is just about her immediate circle hedging her in, prioritizing their desire to keep her safe over her priorities. As I’ve said before, Elena’s martyr tendencies aren’t because she has a death wish, it’s because no one is letting her figure out her own life.
Of course it also interests me that this is coming up *now*, in Elijah episodes. It’s not a factor of their relationship at this point obviously, they don’t really have one yet, but it matters to me that even writing around Elijah pushes Elena into trying to reclaim her own agency (it doesn’t mean she always makes smart decisions with it). The show just treats Elena better when Elijah’s involved, it’s weird.
It’s also a running theme this episode, people putting themselves at risk to protect people who are trying to protect them. People try and keep Jeremy out of the plan, he rebels and goes by himself in order to protect Bonnie who herself is doing it to protect Elena. This whole this is about trying to protect Elena but she’s more concerned with protecting everyone else so ends up on what amounts to a suicide mission to try and do it; resulting in Elijah being the one to actually show up and protect her from Klaus.
But I really do think Elijah is the one changed by the experience (Damon and Elena basically reenact their whole scene over Stefan, who remain emotionally detached by not being seen until Elena leaves rather than actually talking to her). But that’s mostly only evident in hindsight, because at this point Elijah was a huge enigma and it’s next to impossible to guess what’s going on in his head. But looking at it now we have to wonder, what was his game plan at this point? He and Jonas go about stalking Elena, physically and psychically, but if he was at this point still planning to take her away there had to be easier ways. Was he still locked in and heard Elena and Damon’s fight (because I can definitely see that being a turning point for him, but it’s not implied that he did)? What was it that made him decide in the end that he could and should go about it with a lighter touch? I can fanwank that since he already knew they were going to have to be around Mystic Falls (for the sacrifice, and he needed to find a witch burial ground before they got to that point) that he concluded letting the Salvatores tale point was an okay idea, but it doesn’t quite all fit. Basically while I can tell things changed from during this story it’s still hard to work out just what it was (problem with a character that wasn’t intended to have as much depth as he’s since gotten).
More things that I could explore in fic, but what did I actually come out of it with a bunny for? Elijah time travel fic where now-Elijah is back there trying to negotiate Elena into not turning herself over to Klaus (of course he knows how it ends, I never said it was a logical plot bunny). Basically Elijah proving that, no he wouldn’t just sit by and let her doing something that foolish, but he respects her enough to use reason rather than force. Because that’s who they are.
Next time:
At this point I’m watching 2x11 next, I’m not waiting very long to watch that one
After that I’m open to suggestions (and added to the possibles list)
TVD: 2x10: The Sacrifice
This is kind of a weird episode. It feels like there’s a lot going on with how separate the three plots are and yet in the end not a lot has happened. I’d argue the character the most changed by the events is actually Elijah and he’s barely in the episode.
The Caroline and Tyler scenes are probably the most emotional of the episode, and are well written and performed. Throwing Matt in at the end was going a little far to make it obvious that this was starting *another* love triangle on the show, and I wish we’d actually had the chance to explore his character after what happened at the party but this show really likes its love triangles. Aside from that needless drama the scenes between Caroline and Tyler was really nice and logically character driven.
The tomb plot suffers some awkward plotting, but it does fit nicely with the Elena plot. And most of the Jeremy and Bonnie beats worked fine for me (they both want to protect Elena, but also worry about each other) aside from the early bits which were for more love triangle drama. Kat seems to be a little undecided on what she wants to do at this stage but I can handwave that as fitting with her current state of affairs, her plans are pretty much in ruins so she’s figuring out what she wants to do next. And Stefan suffers from the fact that I know very little actually comes from this plot cul-de-sac he jumped into; first time around I suspected it had potential but it really doesn’t amount to much.
This is another time where the Elena plot is particularly interesting to examine in hindsight. But some general thoughts first: I love the Elena and Rose dynamic, they really play off each other well; I kind of like Slater’s girlfriend and it’s hard to pin why; Elijah why you already stalking Elena? And making your witch friend help you stalk the future love of your life, for shame (although probably ultimately good you did).
Here’s where I get on my anti-Elena/Salvatore soapbox. It’s not even that I think Damon is 100% in the wrong here, Elena was making a hasty decision that was likely to have really dire consequences so stopping her from doing it, by any means necessary even, isn’t a move I can condemn him for. *However* what he fails to understand (and *still* does to this day) is that by not listening to her voice when it comes to her own life she feels pushed to make these kind of decisions to try and reclaim control. You’re not listening to her, not considering what matters to her, giving no indication that you heard anything she said when you showed up to save her from herself.
Obviously it’s been longer since I watched season 1, but as I recall in s1 it tended to be Elena and Stefan making plans and then bringing others in as needed. In s2 it has very much shifted to being Stefan and Damon making plans, then telling everyone but Elena, then finally bringing Elena in on their plans (when they do at all, I mean clearly no one called to tell her they were going to confront Katherine that day), which has to only add to Elena’s feelings that they’re not including or listening to her, she’s basically been reduced to love interest rather than partner role. (I could go on a s3 rant here, but I think I’ll save it)
My point in this: Elena is looking to be in charge of her own life and she knows she’s not. Not even when considering Klaus’s role in all this, this is just about her immediate circle hedging her in, prioritizing their desire to keep her safe over her priorities. As I’ve said before, Elena’s martyr tendencies aren’t because she has a death wish, it’s because no one is letting her figure out her own life.
Of course it also interests me that this is coming up *now*, in Elijah episodes. It’s not a factor of their relationship at this point obviously, they don’t really have one yet, but it matters to me that even writing around Elijah pushes Elena into trying to reclaim her own agency (it doesn’t mean she always makes smart decisions with it). The show just treats Elena better when Elijah’s involved, it’s weird.
It’s also a running theme this episode, people putting themselves at risk to protect people who are trying to protect them. People try and keep Jeremy out of the plan, he rebels and goes by himself in order to protect Bonnie who herself is doing it to protect Elena. This whole this is about trying to protect Elena but she’s more concerned with protecting everyone else so ends up on what amounts to a suicide mission to try and do it; resulting in Elijah being the one to actually show up and protect her from Klaus.
But I really do think Elijah is the one changed by the experience (Damon and Elena basically reenact their whole scene over Stefan, who remain emotionally detached by not being seen until Elena leaves rather than actually talking to her). But that’s mostly only evident in hindsight, because at this point Elijah was a huge enigma and it’s next to impossible to guess what’s going on in his head. But looking at it now we have to wonder, what was his game plan at this point? He and Jonas go about stalking Elena, physically and psychically, but if he was at this point still planning to take her away there had to be easier ways. Was he still locked in and heard Elena and Damon’s fight (because I can definitely see that being a turning point for him, but it’s not implied that he did)? What was it that made him decide in the end that he could and should go about it with a lighter touch? I can fanwank that since he already knew they were going to have to be around Mystic Falls (for the sacrifice, and he needed to find a witch burial ground before they got to that point) that he concluded letting the Salvatores tale point was an okay idea, but it doesn’t quite all fit. Basically while I can tell things changed from during this story it’s still hard to work out just what it was (problem with a character that wasn’t intended to have as much depth as he’s since gotten).
More things that I could explore in fic, but what did I actually come out of it with a bunny for? Elijah time travel fic where now-Elijah is back there trying to negotiate Elena into not turning herself over to Klaus (of course he knows how it ends, I never said it was a logical plot bunny). Basically Elijah proving that, no he wouldn’t just sit by and let her doing something that foolish, but he respects her enough to use reason rather than force. Because that’s who they are.
Next time:
At this point I’m watching 2x11 next, I’m not waiting very long to watch that one
After that I’m open to suggestions (and added to the possibles list)