Life of a TV Addict

Vampire Diaries: Our Town Thoughts

• Stefan is breaking my heart.  We normally hear his internal monologue, but being removed from it—it sells the potentially evil thing so well and yet dammit if Paul Wesley doesn’t play so many layers that you have no doubt he still loves Elena.
• Stefan’s fight with Elena—perfect.  The place of the birth of their relationship is chosen as the place of its death.  And then to throw the one thing he has been so adamant about—keeping Elena’s choice about her humanity paramount—out the window…angst has never been better.  I have no doubt this was also his final desperate attempt to make Elena hate and forget him.
• OH MATT.  This is the Matt I always wanted to see.  Book!Matt who is so freaked out by everything that’s going on that he wants no part in it yet cannot help but help his friends.  (Now if only I got my S1 retcon where Stefan/Matt are BFFs.)
• Matt/Elena—God, I could read unlimited amounts of pre-show with them in it.  And Matt/Caroline.  And just every single member of TVD’s Non-Judgmental (Totally Judgmental) Breakfast Club.
• Go Bonnie for saying what we were all thinking!  This is why I like Bonnie.  She doesn’t coddle anyone.  Although I wish she and Jeremy had had a more touching goodbye or, you know, any scenes dealing with their breakup.
• I’m sorry, I can’t ship Klaus/Caroline.  His “sweet moment” was because HE TRIED TO KILL HER.  Yes, through Tyler, but HE TRIED TO KILL HER.  That is not something that is rectified with jewelry.  Caroline deserves better than to be manipulated by vampires yet again.
• I still am ambivalent on Delena.  I didn’t like Damon kissing her last week (not even because of his relationship with Stefan, but because it’s hella rude to kiss a girl who is still very in love with her ex-boyfriend and shaken to the core emotionally), but I am cautiously optimistic about this arc.  I just really wish it focused more on Damon’s character growth OUTSIDE of Elena—he shouldn’t become a good guy because SHE needs him to be that guy; he should become a good guy because HE wants to be that guy.  And the role reversal with Stefan is a great first step to that story.

A mini-rant on Elena Gilbert

I don’t hate Elena.  I enjoy her most of the time.  I enjoy that she cares for others and is selfless and stubborn and resilient.  I’m not a TVD fan who hates that she’s a “slut” waffling between two brothers—heck, Katherine’s one of my favorite characters and I ship her with more things than are on earth.

But I do dislike Elena when she acts like such a condescending, impulsive know-it-all without any consideration for anyone else.  Why does she always insist on going behind people’s backs to strike deals or reach her own endgame without thinking about others? Why does she think she has the right to tell other people how they should live their lives and constantly judge them when they don’t color inside her lines?

(I’m not even talking about Damon here, although I could be—although he seems to insist on being with women who want him to be something he isn’t.)

Basically, don’t mindrape your brother.  It wasn’t cool the first time, but it was understandable since he was about to have a psychotic break, but to do it a second time?  Seriously?  What right do you have to send him away because his competence at fighting evil upsets you?  You can’t keep mindraping away sadness, especially when you refuse the same treatment yourself.  How does anyone learn if you don’t let them?

I hope Jeremy returns pissed.

(Also, pshew, Jeremy is 16.  And Tom Welling was 14.  Right.)

When I encounter chair in real life

intheseaofthesky:

“A has-been turned trophy husband who married for money.”

How much did I love this episode?  SO MUCH.

I mean, any episode with a Dair kiss is instantly awesome.  But all of the fantasy scenes and snippets of plot and offense taken—it was all amazing.  I kind of wish it had been dragged out over more episodes, but I hope the movie helps do that, a la One Tree Hill where actors audition to be the main characters and hilarity ensues.

I actually wasn’t too peeved with the Blair and Serena backlash, but DUDE, Nate and Rufus’ reactions absolutely slayed me.  It’s in-character for Blair and Serena to make rash decisions about people, but Eric—ahem, Nate—and Rufus have been there for Dan throughout the craziness.  SO MUCH SADNESS.

Although, Chuck is getting better episode by episode.  I still can’t root for him and Blair again, but Chuck/Dan and Chuck/Monkey and Chuck/Happiness?  I SHIP THEM ALL.

THE RETURN OF CHARLIE TROUT

Gossip Girl, sometimes I think I love you.

Other than DAIR PERFECTION, we had SUPER!CONTINUITY with Blair’s bulimia and Charlie Trout.  (It’s always a great surprise to have this show acknowledge things earlier than the teaser.)

Of course, I’m over Nate doing cougars and Monaco royalty scheming pathetically and  Ivy being part of the show.  But come on.

GOD

SHIPS

DAIR.

Not to overuse the phrase, but YOUR ARGUMENT IS INVALID.

New Shows of 2011

So I’ve picked up three shows (semi-)seriously for the Fall 2011 season.  Perhaps more will follow; perhaps I’ll drop these, depending on how the next few episodes play out.  No promises on either side!

Revenge:  My current favorite of the new season.  It’s perfectly sudsy and Amy from Everwood is spot-on with a her sickly-sweet exterior and vindictive interior.  I love watching her take down a new victim in every episode.  Plus, I’m hoping for an epic love triangle between Dude from Roswell/Amy from Everwood/the Rich Son of the HBIC mom. Oh, plus Erik from Gossip GIrl is in it, trying to be straight (…ahem, acting.  With poor-to-moderate results.)

The Secret Circle:  My fangirlish new love.  I turned in initially for magic and Thomas Dekker (mmmm….John Connor….) and it has not disappointed me.  I mean, the acting is a little weak, but it’s the CW, for crying out loud.  I’m not expecting Oscar-winning talent.  The kids are a little interesting (I already hardcore ship Diana/Adam like burning…have I turned into a self-parody who only ships against destined couples?) and actually seem to act like high schoolers, which is refreshing in the 30-year-olds-“in high school” nature of most CW shows.  But the most interesting part?  The parents.  I find myself tuning in to find out their mystery more than whatever HS drama the kids get into.  I do love a good parent storyline (see: Deb/Dan/Karen/Keith from One Tree Hill and Rufus/Lily from Gossip Girl, season 1 only).  Although, can I just say that I don’t want the circle to break off into two love triangles (Diana/Adam/Cassie, Faye/Nick/Melissa)? Unless Faye is secretly crushing on Melissa.  Because then it could get interesting (and lead into a Faye/Diana scorned lovers arc that could be EPIC.)

Ringer: SO MUCH CRACK.  I don’t even have coherent thoughts on the matter.  I’m pretty much just watching it for SMG and Ioan and am hoping Bridget/Andrew do the deed soon (please, he thinks they’re married…how has it not come up yet?).

ALL I WANT IS DAIR AND THE SON OF NEPTUNE. RIGHT NOW.

Is that too much to ask???

(At least SoN will reward my patience.  Gossip Girl will just drag my heart in the dirt and then spit on it and then have Blair give birth to Chuck’s baby on it.)