I'm glad I decided to stop watching full episodes after 4x8. The spoilers and small clips I watched (of 4x9) were bad enough. Setting aside my feminist sensibilities has always been a viewing requirement for this show but I'm shocked at how the writers find new and interesting ways to disgust me.
Vamp!Elena...had so much potential. I don't know why I thought the writers would finally allow Elena to channel a little bit of her earlier party girl. That was clearly my hopeful (i.e., delusional) side doing the thinking. Giving Elena more physical resources (increased strength, agility etc.) could've been a way to empower her. Instead, we get more triangle tripe. What's worse, it's not even *real* triangle tripe. Just like Ripper!Stefan...Vamp!Elena can't be held accountable. The writers won't allow Elena to own her actions. Actually...it's more like they won't own *their* actions. They want to keep toying with the Delena shippers without every really threatening the Stelena relationship. They'd rather turn their heroine into a mindless sex doll than acknowledge that Elena is capable of loving both men. From now on, I'm not watching any episode that doesn't include Daniel Gillies.
re: Caroline's opinion I've never had a problem with Caroline expressing her (richly deserved) opinion on Damon. She has every reason in the world to loathe him. That being said, her opinion on romantic suitability (for Elena) shouldn't be based on which Salvatore she personally prefers. Superficially, Stefan is a nicer guy. He acts contrite (in all the right places). That doesn't mean he's a good boyfriend. Exactly how many people does your friend's guy have to slaughter before you start questioning his value as boyfriend material? I don't blame Elena for disregarding Caroline's opinion...it's too biased to be taken seriously. Caroline has always seemed a little too invested in the Stelena relationship. It's always seemed like Caroline is trying to live/love Stefan vicariously. Maybe I'm just sick of hearing words like 'epic' applied to juvenile (consistently abusive) teeny-bopper relationships. There's nothing epic or even lasting about Stelena or Delena.
nowhere to go but up
Vamp!Elena...had so much potential. I don't know why I thought the writers would finally allow Elena to channel a little bit of her earlier party girl. That was clearly my hopeful (i.e., delusional) side doing the thinking. Giving Elena more physical resources (increased strength, agility etc.) could've been a way to empower her. Instead, we get more triangle tripe. What's worse, it's not even *real* triangle tripe. Just like Ripper!Stefan...Vamp!Elena can't be held accountable. The writers won't allow Elena to own her actions. Actually...it's more like they won't own *their* actions. They want to keep toying with the Delena shippers without every really threatening the Stelena relationship. They'd rather turn their heroine into a mindless sex doll than acknowledge that Elena is capable of loving both men. From now on, I'm not watching any episode that doesn't include Daniel Gillies.
re: Caroline's opinion
I've never had a problem with Caroline expressing her (richly deserved) opinion on Damon. She has every reason in the world to loathe him. That being said, her opinion on romantic suitability (for Elena) shouldn't be based on which Salvatore she personally prefers. Superficially, Stefan is a nicer guy. He acts contrite (in all the right places). That doesn't mean he's a good boyfriend. Exactly how many people does your friend's guy have to slaughter before you start questioning his value as boyfriend material? I don't blame Elena for disregarding Caroline's opinion...it's too biased to be taken seriously. Caroline has always seemed a little too invested in the Stelena relationship. It's always seemed like Caroline is trying to live/love Stefan vicariously. Maybe I'm just sick of hearing words like 'epic' applied to juvenile (consistently abusive) teeny-bopper relationships. There's nothing epic or even lasting about Stelena or Delena.