Vampire Diaries – “Brave New World” – review

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I may have watched this episode after a few drinks so forgive me if I missed something major, but…it seemed like there wasn’t a whole lot that happened in this week, in terms of distinct action.  I don’t mean that in a bad way—I actually loved that the show has established enough that it can take in-depth looks at narrow sets of events.  That was what the scope and pacing of this episode felt like to me.

So Caroline has obviously come back as a vampire.  She seemed to take it pretty well in stride—I wonder if that had to do with her starting to remember all the things Damon had made her forget, so that it was sort of immediately obvious to her that this was real?  I love that she remembers what Damon did to her and can go from being his victim to his equal.  Or at least someone he can’t push around and manipulate anymore.  Because he treated her pretty badly when he first came to town.

I thought Elena’s attitude toward the idea of vampire Caroline was a telling statement on what everyone has always believed Caroline to be, either because she has played that role or because she herself hasn’t expected any better of herself.  Basically, that “she of all people” would not make it as a vampire—I’m assuming they all think she’s too flighty and shallow to handle the cravings and keep herself under control.  But I have faith in Caroline; I think she will prove to be stronger and smarter than any of them expect.  Except perhaps Matt…he seems like he might have come around to understanding her on a fairly deep level, enough to not be surprised if she manages to keep her shit together when Damon, Stefan, and even Elena expect her not to be able to.  Also, her scene with Matt at the very end, where she managed to control it because of her feelings for him—is this an implication that she is going to end up on the plotline that Elena had in the third and fourth books of the series?  Because Elena certainly leaned on Matt again at first…hm.  I think that would be an interesting twist, and part of me hopes they do that.  (I certainly prefer it to be Caroline’s storyline than Elena’s!!!)  Whatever the case, I do think the ending scene was meant to show that she can and will control herself.

Bonnie’s getting mad at Damon for Caroline becoming a vampire was out of place.  Displacement of guilt, perhaps?  He had only given Caroline blood because Bonnie told him to, and if he hadn’t then Katherine would simply have killed Caroline.  (Or did she know Caroline had Damon’s blood, and that was why she killed her?)  Really Damon had nothing to do with it—that was Bonnie and Katherine. 

On the other major plot point brought up, Tyler’s uncle showed that he is both stronger than human, if not quite as strong as a vampire, and that he has the same weird eye flashes that Tyler’s eye did right after his collapse at the wheel from the vampire-torturing-frequency broadcast.  And he’s looking for a moonstone…getting obvious yet what the Lockwood legacy is?  (I ask out of genuine curiosity—I know what it is from the books so I have no idea how subtle or how obvious it is to those who haven’t.)  I wonder if Tyler’s carrying the stone around will inadvertently trigger his heritage genes? 

Also, how hilarious was Damon’s “werewolves aren’t real” speech, given that he himself is a vampire and he has known several witches over the years—both of them supernatural beings that “don’t exist” to humans?  It’s a fine line to walk, though, with supernatural inclusions in series like this…on the one hand, the argument I just gave allows for an infinite number of additions under “if this why not that” logic, but the truth is that sometimes it can go too far and become either incredible to believe they all remained hidden or that they all exist without knowing about each other or that they all simply exist on the same planet, period (cough True Blood cough).  So Vampire Diaries better not go all supernatural menagerie on me.  I will be pissed.  I need at least one of my vampire shows to stay within the bounds of “yes that still makes sense”-itude.

Did Jeremy and Damon actually bond over having fathers who hated vampires and wanting to be their own men who made up their own minds about it?   Jeremy seems to be relating to all the broken males this season:  first Tyler, then Damon…I wonder if Alaric will be next as they commiserate about losing their lovers to vampirism?  Lol.

I thought the ending between Elena and Stefan was very sweet, and Stefan’s reasons for it so very apt.  If all these crazy things are happening because he’s in her life, they have to make a point not to forget to just live sometimes, too, and remember why they’re together.  Truth.  Also, a good reminder that their relationship is at the heart of the series.  Although I would also like to point out that this show has (thus far, anyway) done a much better job than True Blood ever did of transitioning the main love story to a side point and replacing it with interesting and cohesive other stories. 

So what I’m saying is, this was another good episode, and Season 2 is off with flying colors.

One Comment

1. 

   Anna

   September 19, 2010 at 11:39 pm

   But the ratings haven’t been that great…and I think with the amazing finale last year, I expected a lot more than what happened.

   Reply