Writer: Brian Young
Grade: A
There were so many things brewing before the break that I expected some of it to be dragged out for another couple of episodes. Like Elena finding out that Alaric was her birth mother’s husband, Damon finding out Isobel was Elena’s mom, Elena finding out that Damon killed her mother, various people finding out that Isobel is a vampire, etc. How many other shows do you watch where they dole out information tiny piece by tiny piece, and you’re left twiddling your thumbs for several episodes waiting for character X to find out about Y plot point? So refreshing that this show isn’t like that.
I think it’s important to note that just because Damon said that Isobel wasn’t happy with Alaric doesn’t make it true. The scene where Isobel gave Alaric the ring seemed at odds with Damon’s description of Isobel (though I also think we’re meant to assume she already knew she’d be leaving him at that point), and I think that’s because Damon wanted Alaric to hurt like he was hurting. He projected his own feelings about Katherine onto Alaric and Isobel. I’m sure there’s some truth to what he said—maybe they are “kindred spirits”—but he was also twisting things to cause Alaric pain.
We also don’t know the whole story. Maybe Damon is conveniently forgetting that he compelled Isobel to sleep with him, for example. Not that I’m making excuses for her or will be shocked if she did indeed sleep with Damon of her own free will, but a) Damon is not exactly the most reliable narrator, especially considering the way he was projecting his own hurt about Katherine onto Alaric and Isobel’s relationship, and b) just because she slept with someone else doesn’t mean she didn’t love or want Alaric.
And I could be wrong, but I got the feeling that Damon didn’t even know Isobel particularly well, which is part of why it was so easy and convenient for him to paint her as a nasty tart to Alaric. I just have a feeling that she may have misrepresented herself to Damon, partaken in a bit of bad girl role-playing, whatever, in order to use him to get what she wanted. I’m not sure I buy that Damon knew the “real” Isobel.
It does seem that Isobel was responsible for compelling some random guy into murdering her high school best friend before stepping in front of a truck, not to mention leaving her adorable husband in favor of being vamped and neglecting her daughter for 17 years. Still… I’m withholding judgment until we see Isobel’s side of the story. And as deluded as Damon is in thinking that Katherine might still care for him, I do agree that it can’t be a coincidence that Katherine’s descendent sought out Katherine’s former lover and asked him to turn her.
I also think that Damon screwing Isobel puts a stop to any Elena/Damon shenanigans down the road. Her sleeping with Stefan, who boinked her ancestor over 100 years ago, is bad enough. I cannot imagine Elena having sex with, or even making out with, someone who banged her birth mother. Ewwwww.
I was somewhat scared they were actually going to kill Alaric, because it wouldn’t be the first time they killed off a likable character, but it just seemed like a such nonsensical move—Matt Davis is cute in a non-throwaway capacity, and Alaric has potential for interesting relationships with multiple main characters—that I clung to my teeny little shred of hope anyway. Thank you, show, for not killing the pretty blonde man!
The only thing I didn’t enjoy about this episode was the fact that Grams’ funeral took place off-screen. I love the show’s breakneck pacing most of the time, but I’m kind of hoping they slow down soon so that some of the other character relationships can get some breathing room, especially Elena/Bonnie and Alaric/Elena. They need to do something with Jeremy, too, because I feel like he’s kind of drifting and not attached to anyone or anything, even though we know he was starting to research vampires.
Other Stuff
-This new Harper fella has both great bone structure and excellent manners. I approve.
-Thank you, TPTB, for shirtless Matt.
- I keep expecting Stefan to act jealous when he finds Elena in such close proximity to Damon, because it’s just… standard practice on most shows, but he always keeps his cool. It’s awesome that he respects and trusts Elena enough to not get irrationally jealous every time she hugs Damon or shows concern for him.
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