jedi_of_urth (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jedi_of_urth) wrote2012-10-04 11:04 pm
jedi_of_urth) wrote2012-10-04 11:04 pm
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100 Reviews: 51
I...didn’t like this one either (shocking I’m sure).
TVD: 3x17: Break on Through
To be more accurate this episode is a huge pile of meh mixed with flashes of anger, that (nearly) ends in one of the biggest punches in the gut ever. Then actually ends with making me angry again just to be consistent with the rest of the episode.
I’m not even sure I have that much to say on it, it’s that meh to me. So let’s do a quick list and call it a night (maybe I can get some writing done, maybe even pull up my 3x17 reaction fic I started after it first aired).
1. Early on Damon and Elena refer to the events on 3x16 as “last night” but then Rebekah refers to the same thing as “the other day” a couple scenes later. So maybe there was a time skip involved here, which I’m not sure makes sense with the way the Bennett storyline runs parallel to it, but in principle I think this show needs to put some down time in to explain how these people aren’t all nuts by this point.
2. Stefan is a giant douchebag this episode, not that that’s anything new, but I need to say it. His scenes with Elena are all about HIM even when he tries to make her think it’s about helping her. It’s entirely about him setting the terms of their relationship now, him being the provider of tidbits of knowledge as he decides to dole them out (I know some people see that as something Stefan’s always done and I don’t completely disagree, but I took less issue with it when he was easing her into understanding the supernatural world than I do now that she’s completely consumed by it), And then he acts all smug because ONCE he managed to not feed on the dying woman in front of his ex-girlfriend, after being blood drunk all day he managed to say no once and apparently he sees that as being cured (judging by the way this plotline goes from here on out).
3. I still bemoan the lack of action kinky vampire threesome action. I believe I was promised kinky vampire threesome action and I wanted it (with these three, or Salvatores and Katherine, or a kinky incestuous Original threeway, or any combination of Stefan/Klaus/Caroline/Rebekah, or...you know a lot of things that don’t involve Elena because the only vampire I like her with is Elijah...and sometimes Caroline but that wouldn’t work as a threesome IMO).
4. Sage continues to be disgusting in her treatment of other women. I get her not liking Rebekah, but her attitude is set up to be that all women are useless. Shut up Sage.
5. That said, Damon I think you’re missing a key thing about Finn/Sage by comparing it to you/Katherine; Finn actually was incapable of doing anything but lying in a coffin for 900 years where Kat left your ass and just let you think she was gone. Now yes Finn did sign up to die within hours of being undaggered so I do see your point about how he doesn’t seem to be carrying much a torch at this point. Damon, your Katherine bitterness is showing...that or you’re an idiot who misses details like that...or both, probably both.
6. But THAT said, WHY THE HELL DOESN’T SAGE STAKE DAMON FOR THREATENING FINN?!?!? If this had been the end of that plot thread I might think he hit a nerve by telling her about Finn’s death wish and Sage was considering her options from here. But she’ll be there next episode without any trace of doubt about her epic love with Finn.
7. The show hasn’t made an issue of it sense like season 1, but I’m sorry, *I* am bothered by Caroline stealing from the blood drive and Stefan’s reckless bloodbag drinking. That blood was given by people who assumed it was going to help people. Like I said last time (or was it the time before, whatever), if the vampires set up a blood trading system with the hospital, human blood for food for vampire blood to be used in healing; or hell, if the vampires had to BUY their food blood, give SOMETHING back, I’d be a lot less bothered. But as is I get very bothered. Hence why I really can’t find Caroline’s B+ joke very funny.
8. Another thing the show has forgotten about since season 1 it seems, becoming a vampire is supposed to be HARD TO HANDLE. And it should be for both the person who turns and the people around them. i.e. I wanted a lot more from Abby’s transition because these days it’s really not portrayed as if being a vampire is that big a deal and it was about time the show remembered it IS. Which is kind of awful when the episode brings up Logan Fell who was turned back when the show actually thought that way.
8.5. This actually puts them between a rock and a hard place with Elena becoming a vamp in my mind. They can either make it manageable and therefore basically retread Caroline’s story, or they make it a big deal and make Elena look weak when everyone else seems able to handle it easily now. Nope, still DO NOT WANT this, no matter how they do it (aside from *maybe* the one sliver of possibility that I know they won’t do because I’d need to see the Triangle destroyed for one).
9. Um, did I see this time around the Abby might have been messing with Alaric’s herbs? I’d never noticed that before so I might have misinterpreted this time and I don’t know what the point of that would have been, but I thought that’s what I saw.
10. I really don’t have much in the way of thoughts on the A plot (I’ll give A plot to Alaric this time though the should have been kinky vampire threesome plot had about as much screentime). So very quick thoughts (lists in lists, fun):
-Alaric and Meredith have no chemistry
-Alaric and Elena do
-I still find Meredith suspicious in places
-For one her reasons for taking care of Alaric make no sense
-When Elena says “Alaric didn’t write that” about the notes, is that just denial or is it not Alaric’s handwriting? I do think split personalities can have different handwritings so even if that’s the case it doesn’t do anything to let him off the hook (and this ep clearly has him on the hook anyway), but it raises questions.
11. While I completely buy Elena means her “I’m not planning on giving up on either of you” line, I notice she has a lot more passion for helping Ric. And I don’t mean that in an E/A shippy way, I mean it in an anti-S/E way and my ‘Elena’s tired of dealing with Salvatore drama’ way. And Stefan’s pretty much awful in that scene, just for the record.
12. I have mixed feelings on the scene between Caroline and Abby at the end. Because I really don’t give too shakes about Abby, but I’m upset on Bonnie’s behalf both by what happens and that she didn’t get to have an actual scene, but Caroline does such a great job with it and making it about about a dozen different things at the same time. But now I’m kind of just stalling...
13. The end still breaks me for Elena. It’s just...it HURTS ME for her. It’s the only part of the episode that gets a REALLY strong reaction from me and after an episode of so much meh it probably hits me even harder than it should because it lulled me into a false sense of security with the meh then punched me right in the heart by leaving my girl all on her own. I may be a very solitary person myself, but that doesn’t mean I don’t sympathize with this situation A LOT. And the call to Jeremy just adds to the hurt, he’s running off with friends (even if by friends he probably means Kol) and she’s all alone. And this is exactly why she sent him away, because this crap has ruined her life and she wants him to have a chance at something else.
13.5 Even if then I go off and try and write fic with Elena calling up Elijah for company/comfort, because that’s the kind of thing I do.
Next time:
Well, I’d better at least do 3x18, then I can go off and live in fic land if I want.
We’re about caught up, want something at that point?
TVD: 3x17: Break on Through
To be more accurate this episode is a huge pile of meh mixed with flashes of anger, that (nearly) ends in one of the biggest punches in the gut ever. Then actually ends with making me angry again just to be consistent with the rest of the episode.
I’m not even sure I have that much to say on it, it’s that meh to me. So let’s do a quick list and call it a night (maybe I can get some writing done, maybe even pull up my 3x17 reaction fic I started after it first aired).
1. Early on Damon and Elena refer to the events on 3x16 as “last night” but then Rebekah refers to the same thing as “the other day” a couple scenes later. So maybe there was a time skip involved here, which I’m not sure makes sense with the way the Bennett storyline runs parallel to it, but in principle I think this show needs to put some down time in to explain how these people aren’t all nuts by this point.
2. Stefan is a giant douchebag this episode, not that that’s anything new, but I need to say it. His scenes with Elena are all about HIM even when he tries to make her think it’s about helping her. It’s entirely about him setting the terms of their relationship now, him being the provider of tidbits of knowledge as he decides to dole them out (I know some people see that as something Stefan’s always done and I don’t completely disagree, but I took less issue with it when he was easing her into understanding the supernatural world than I do now that she’s completely consumed by it), And then he acts all smug because ONCE he managed to not feed on the dying woman in front of his ex-girlfriend, after being blood drunk all day he managed to say no once and apparently he sees that as being cured (judging by the way this plotline goes from here on out).
3. I still bemoan the lack of action kinky vampire threesome action. I believe I was promised kinky vampire threesome action and I wanted it (with these three, or Salvatores and Katherine, or a kinky incestuous Original threeway, or any combination of Stefan/Klaus/Caroline/Rebekah, or...you know a lot of things that don’t involve Elena because the only vampire I like her with is Elijah...and sometimes Caroline but that wouldn’t work as a threesome IMO).
4. Sage continues to be disgusting in her treatment of other women. I get her not liking Rebekah, but her attitude is set up to be that all women are useless. Shut up Sage.
5. That said, Damon I think you’re missing a key thing about Finn/Sage by comparing it to you/Katherine; Finn actually was incapable of doing anything but lying in a coffin for 900 years where Kat left your ass and just let you think she was gone. Now yes Finn did sign up to die within hours of being undaggered so I do see your point about how he doesn’t seem to be carrying much a torch at this point. Damon, your Katherine bitterness is showing...that or you’re an idiot who misses details like that...or both, probably both.
6. But THAT said, WHY THE HELL DOESN’T SAGE STAKE DAMON FOR THREATENING FINN?!?!? If this had been the end of that plot thread I might think he hit a nerve by telling her about Finn’s death wish and Sage was considering her options from here. But she’ll be there next episode without any trace of doubt about her epic love with Finn.
7. The show hasn’t made an issue of it sense like season 1, but I’m sorry, *I* am bothered by Caroline stealing from the blood drive and Stefan’s reckless bloodbag drinking. That blood was given by people who assumed it was going to help people. Like I said last time (or was it the time before, whatever), if the vampires set up a blood trading system with the hospital, human blood for food for vampire blood to be used in healing; or hell, if the vampires had to BUY their food blood, give SOMETHING back, I’d be a lot less bothered. But as is I get very bothered. Hence why I really can’t find Caroline’s B+ joke very funny.
8. Another thing the show has forgotten about since season 1 it seems, becoming a vampire is supposed to be HARD TO HANDLE. And it should be for both the person who turns and the people around them. i.e. I wanted a lot more from Abby’s transition because these days it’s really not portrayed as if being a vampire is that big a deal and it was about time the show remembered it IS. Which is kind of awful when the episode brings up Logan Fell who was turned back when the show actually thought that way.
8.5. This actually puts them between a rock and a hard place with Elena becoming a vamp in my mind. They can either make it manageable and therefore basically retread Caroline’s story, or they make it a big deal and make Elena look weak when everyone else seems able to handle it easily now. Nope, still DO NOT WANT this, no matter how they do it (aside from *maybe* the one sliver of possibility that I know they won’t do because I’d need to see the Triangle destroyed for one).
9. Um, did I see this time around the Abby might have been messing with Alaric’s herbs? I’d never noticed that before so I might have misinterpreted this time and I don’t know what the point of that would have been, but I thought that’s what I saw.
10. I really don’t have much in the way of thoughts on the A plot (I’ll give A plot to Alaric this time though the should have been kinky vampire threesome plot had about as much screentime). So very quick thoughts (lists in lists, fun):
-Alaric and Meredith have no chemistry
-Alaric and Elena do
-I still find Meredith suspicious in places
-For one her reasons for taking care of Alaric make no sense
-When Elena says “Alaric didn’t write that” about the notes, is that just denial or is it not Alaric’s handwriting? I do think split personalities can have different handwritings so even if that’s the case it doesn’t do anything to let him off the hook (and this ep clearly has him on the hook anyway), but it raises questions.
11. While I completely buy Elena means her “I’m not planning on giving up on either of you” line, I notice she has a lot more passion for helping Ric. And I don’t mean that in an E/A shippy way, I mean it in an anti-S/E way and my ‘Elena’s tired of dealing with Salvatore drama’ way. And Stefan’s pretty much awful in that scene, just for the record.
12. I have mixed feelings on the scene between Caroline and Abby at the end. Because I really don’t give too shakes about Abby, but I’m upset on Bonnie’s behalf both by what happens and that she didn’t get to have an actual scene, but Caroline does such a great job with it and making it about about a dozen different things at the same time. But now I’m kind of just stalling...
13. The end still breaks me for Elena. It’s just...it HURTS ME for her. It’s the only part of the episode that gets a REALLY strong reaction from me and after an episode of so much meh it probably hits me even harder than it should because it lulled me into a false sense of security with the meh then punched me right in the heart by leaving my girl all on her own. I may be a very solitary person myself, but that doesn’t mean I don’t sympathize with this situation A LOT. And the call to Jeremy just adds to the hurt, he’s running off with friends (even if by friends he probably means Kol) and she’s all alone. And this is exactly why she sent him away, because this crap has ruined her life and she wants him to have a chance at something else.
13.5 Even if then I go off and try and write fic with Elena calling up Elijah for company/comfort, because that’s the kind of thing I do.
Next time:
Well, I’d better at least do 3x18, then I can go off and live in fic land if I want.
We’re about caught up, want something at that point?