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The Vampire Diaries - The Day I Tried to Live - Review

Feb 8, 2015

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We've had two almost thoroughly excellent TVD episodes in a row now, and it's an exciting trend I hope will continue.  While my only caveat is the weak and pointless Enzo storyline, when it comes to the main plots of the show, such as Bonnie's intense and admirable struggle, Kai's strange new issues, or the romantic overtones with Stefan and Caroline as well as Damon and Elena, I have zero complaints.  Let's review and discuss!

"I like being a sociopath, ya know? I'm not burned by things like guilt or love."  I was surprised by the quick, almost nonchalant way that the effect of the merge on Kai was explored.  After killing his brother during their merge last week, Kai is now saddled with pesky and persistent urges from Luke's better nature.  Despite his newfound immense power, Kai was practically pacing the floor worrying about what he'd done to his sisters and even feeling bad for Bonnie when Damon described her ordeal.  On the one hand, this humorous and brisk unveiling of Kai's new inner struggle might be poking a few holes in our perception of his threat level.  I can't expect him to go much longer falling prey to feelings like sympathy or guilt, not if he's going to keep being this season's big bad.  On the other hand, however, this turn of events was both unstoppably hilarious in its perverse absurdity and pretty darn helpful, since we really needed the characters to get a new shot at saving Bonnie (without Kai actively working to stop her from being rescued from 1994-land). 
Kai worked out a spell that let him visit Bonnie in the prison world, along with Damon, Elena, and Jeremy, but they appeared as ghostly figures invisible to Bonnie.  That wasn't doing much good, since Bon Bon was drinking The Salvatore's Oldest Bourbon and getting ready to commit suicide (!!).  After a failed first attempt to get through to Bonnie and instill some hope (plus Damon's brainstorm about a magical source in Novia Scotia that could hold the key to Bonnie's freedom), Jeremy was able to go back later right as Bonnie was huddled in the garage with the engine running, seconds from death.  Kat Graham's performance was lovely and heartbreaking as Bonnie recorded a video describing the reasons why she could no longer bear to live in the prison world.  Luckily, she happened to remember that Grams told her to stay strong, which was enough to make her resolve to survive despite her suffering.  But since Bonnie was already weakened by then, she needed an assist rather desperately.  Thank goodness that Jeremy was miraculously able to open the garage door.  In this excruciatingly suspenseful and highly emotional scene, Jeremy probably had his single most useful and significant moment in...well...maybe ever.  While I've always found him a problematic character, it's nice to see Jeremy going out on a high note since he'll soon be off to art school (which still can't happen soon enough for moi...haha).

I will admit that as the end of the episode loomed and Bonnie clearly wasn't getting out this week, again, it was a bit frustrating.  However, seeing her drive off with a new sense of purpose was certainly heartening.

Ms. Cuddles, my favorite minor character on the show.  For real.  Ms. Cuddles is such a wonderful and funny plot device, and never more so than in this episode, where Caroline's feverish attempt to dig up the original version of the bear (buried years ago during a childhood spat with Bonnie) brought her even closer to Stefan.  After all of her turmoil last week, and despite her ongoing sadness over Liz's impending demise, it was delightful to see Caroline get a minute to breathe and come to peace with how she feels.  Plus, the scene out in the woods, with Stefan mocking Caroline as she searched for the lost toy, was my favorite of the "Steroline" interactions we've seen this season.  I loved Stefan's laid-back, careless attitude, put on to push Caroline to confront her true feelings of anger and helplessness, and even to encourage her to take those emotions out on him a little if that's what it would take to make her feel better.  Their silly scuffle and subsequent fall to the ground beside each other felt like a much-deserved respite from all of their woes, and I don't know if we've ever seen Stefan so relaxed and open with another character, which is especially striking after how closed off he started the season.  Also, Caroline's sarcastic quip that maybe picking fights in a bar would be a better way to spend her time, referencing Stefan's behavior earlier in the season, was completely hilarious.  The slow burn of their interactions has gone from feeling slightly sluggish and directionless to quite poignant and charming, and I can't wait to see what happens next with these two.
"So was Kai right about me? By turning into a vampire, I completely changed?"  Even though it sometimes defies belief that the writers can still find elements of the Damon/Elena relationship that haven't recently been completely conversationally overanalyzed in yet another "can we really make this work?" crossroads situation...I still find these two so irresistibly fun to watch together that it doesn't bother me.  This time, some of Kai's random barbed comments prompted Elena to wonder if she would have chosen Damon had she not turned into a vampire.  Damon feels that she never would have picked him over Stefan if she had remained human, but ultimately Elena decided that this question doesn't matter.  After all, everything that happens keeps bringing Elena back to Damon, and that's more meaningful than all the bumps in the road and unknowable variables.  Now that "Delena" have fallen back into bed and blissful romance, I think they might have officially run out of excuses to angst out over each other for the time being.  This is a good thing, since we need them on task to deal with Kai's undoubtable future mischief and any help that Bonnie may still need!

Elsewhere in the episode...Liv was so overcome by grief over losing her twin that she set out to kill Kai, even though it would also kill every other coven member, herself included.  Tyler was typically both common sensical and kind of ridiculous as he strived to stop her, but I can understand his reasoning at storming out on her near the end of the episode.  Liv is going to need to find a better way to deal with her pain than that.  Meanwhile, Enzo stalked Sarah at college with Matt in tow, forcing Matt to flirt with and seek help from Sarah so that he could assess her character.  Now that Enzo has discovered Sarah's sweet nature, he is even more determined to enter her life so that he can twist her goodness and destroy her before making her beg to become a vampire, all out of spite towards Stefan (the depth of which has yet to be made believable or understandable).  Ugh.  This storyline is moving slowly and unsurely.  The one silver lining that I see here is that Sarah actually is rather likable, and it could prove intriguing to see her square off against Enzo in a battle of wits and morality.  Plus, if there's any chance this could unearth a little of Enzo's nearly-unfindable capacity for good and humanity, I'd be on board for exploring that.  

What did you think of this episode?  Share your thoughts in the comments!  And don't forget to catch an all new The Vampire Diaries, Thursday at 8/9c on The CW.



About the Author - Virginia Mae Fontana
Virginia is happy to be reviewing The Vampire Diaries and Beauty and the Beast for Spoiler TV. She enjoys obsessing over films and pop music - in addition to tv shows, of course! You can find her blog, SugarRushed, at http://virginiamaeblog.blogspot.com/ and her Twitter handle is @VMaeFontana
Recent Reviews (All Reviews)


49 comments:

  1. Such a depressing episode on all accounts-
    1.Bonnie-Definitely the
    MVP of this episode & rightfully so.Kat graham nailed it,it was so
    painful to watch her attempting to take her own life.I'm glad she didn't
    give in & decided to find her way out of that hellhole.
    2.Delena-I'm
    glad they finally addressed the issue of elena's complete shift of
    personality change but again like last episode they ruined all that with
    an unnecessary hook-up or was it make-up.I've lost interest at this
    point.However,i loved that damon was the one who found a way out for
    Bonnie.Bamon forever,delena was so season 4/5.TBH,at this point in the
    series,i think elena doesn't deserve any of the salvatore brothers.
    3.Kai-Although
    i loved chris wood's performance this episode,i'm still pissed that the
    writers are trying their level best to redeem the guy.The only saving
    grace of this lame & predictable attempt-acting chops of the guy
    & kai's one-liners.They are absolute gold.I cheered when he said
    that dialogue-Think of Elena in reverse.I'll always love you for that
    line only.
    4.Liver(Liv-Tyler)-The idea of them as a couple was
    somewhat just settling in and tyler again proved for the 100th time that
    he will be the stupidest and worst character of this
    series,yes,probably more than enzo & that's saying a lot.Dude-You
    chose the exact same thing you're accusing liv of.You went to avenge
    your mother's death and chose revenge instead of caroline's love,and now
    you're lecturing liv how she tried to do the wrong thing by avenging
    her twin brother.Are you freakin' serious!!GTFOOH.When are we getting
    rid of this useless character again?!?
    5.Enzo-Sarah-Matt-This
    storyline is completely unnecessary and pointless.How about some
    backstory of enzo?BTW,how come enzo only had one scene in this entire
    season with damon and none with alaric when he's claiming to be his best
    friend?You have got to be kidding me writers!At this point,i even feel
    bad for matt whose hunter storyline went nowhere.As for enzo-dude,i love
    you but you need to get off this show.You've worn out your welcome long
    ago & it's showing every episode.
    6.Steroline-Sweet,cute and genuine.I like it,for now.Next episode will be hard for them.
    7.Jeremy-I'm
    so glad he is getting off this show for good.But i'm glad he did get to
    see bon bon one last time before he went away,he needed that
    closure.Now,please don't come back,EVER!
    ONE CONFUSION-When jeremy
    was with bonnie inside the garage-How did he manage to press the button
    to open the garage door?I thought kai's magic only allowed bodily
    transportation,nothing more.Even if kai's magic was strong enough to do
    this,why wasn't jer successful to open the door with the initial
    attempt?
    Overall average episode,looking forward to seeing liz next
    episode.Her death will be painful to watch.And we need bonnie here in
    mystic falls ASAP.

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  2. As for enzo-I think there are two ways this storyline can go-1.Enzo tries to corrupt her but she makes him see the good aspects of life and turns him soft & good.He realizes the absurdity of his revengenda against stefan and comes clean to damon about sarah.Stefan forgives him eventually and he becomes part of the team in a way.OR,2.Enzo tries to corrupt her,eventually falling for her in the process but his paranoia and petty jealousy towards stefan eventually screws up this brief relationship.Stefan gets wind of his actions via matt and he confronts him.A violent encounter throws enzo into a raging fit and he ends up killing sarah,but not before feeding her some blood of his so that stefan can witness her transitioning into a vampire.Damon eventually knows about enzo's misdeed & sarah-he kills enzo seeing no other way to make this right in the season finale.
    Option 2 is much more likely IMO.
    As for the jeremy loophole,the only explanation i made up for myself is that someone needs to feel emotionally very strongly motivated to able to touch things in this type of scenario.Watching bonnie attempting suicide triggered that intense emotional power hich helped him overcome the barrier.

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  3. While I did enjoy this episode quite a bit, I can't argue that the TVD writers can seem quite crazy at times! :)

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  4. it was a good episode and finally they remember bonnie and is because it was her birthday i am sure next episode they will forget her i am hoping that in the future episodes when she come back when they try to use her for her magic she will say no

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  5. They did skip too many episodes without dealing with Bonnie's situation. They all owe her so much for all the million times she has helped them. We'll see if she gets any more help from the gang to come home, it took them long enough!

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  6. they did take them long and am really tired about the writers keep killing her and bringing her back for the past seasons ether keep her dead or don't kill her and the 1994 storyline got really boring now that i dont care

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  7. Anyone else get the feeling that it's going to be Damon to actually kill Enzo? I dont think it will happen this season (but Im assuming there is only one season more after this), but I think next it will. As stated above , they havnt shared a scene yet. For close friends thats pretty well.. wtf. Im not sure Damon gives a crap about Sarah with the whole Enzo thing either.

    They have effectively neutered Kai.

    One final thing in regards to the Gemini Coven. People point to Vampires being psychopathic killers and bloodsuckers and they are. Vampires in this show have been depicted most of the time in the 'evil' light.

    Witches however are starting to come a close second, as defenders of Nature the show has really taken them off reservation. The show is also trying to get us to view the fact that one coven in Particular has lots of twins and then they 'fight' it out to lead the Coven. Thats.. Bonkers. If you were in that Coven you would

    A) Find a different Coven
    B) Leave

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  8. Haven't seen the pics for next week with Stefan and Caroline yet. Sounds cute! I like your point about Elena becoming more of a woman instead of a child after turning. I agree and think it made her deal with feelings she'd been trying to run from when she had her human inhibitions.

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  9. Lol, if I was in the Gemini coven I would dedicate my life to escaping it. I know it's hard, look at poor Jo, but there's no way that living in that kind of a terrorized environment would appeal to anyone sane. The evil witches on the show also scare me more than the evil vamps, as there's more of a twisted, psychological, cruel aspect to their violence.

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  10. LOL!What happened to keeping it short?

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  11. LMFAO! That was short. LOL Hahahahaha

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  12. EXACTLY! About Elena, I swear I can talk about that for awhile. (But I won't. Haha)

    These are the pics. Don't worry they're not spoliery in the least bit.

    http://sterolinefans.tumblr.com/post/110388453193/screencaps-from-a-stay-preview-clip

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  13. Look at these pics (not for Steroline, for Stefan) and tell me if your crush for him came back??? I suggest scrolling down to the third picture...It's actually sexy. (and i've never given Stefan a compliment on his looks in the entire series. Cute, sure, but sexy? Never).

    http://sterolinefans.tumblr.com/post/110388453193/screencaps-from-a-stay-preview-clip

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  14. and considering each Witch they introduce is more powerful than the one before. Its a bizarre escalation of powah.

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  15. Im nore sure they know what to do with her should she return. Her link to a romantic storyline went with Jeremy, they would never pair her with Tyler or Matt (and Im actually trying to remember how many times she has shared scenes with either of those 2.... it must be single digits).

    Obviously she is going to want payback on Kai. Cept Kai now is 'better' or something. This show has a way of making a character make another character feel bad for attacking 'the misunderstood' bad guy.

    Damon appears to have planned ahead (I kinda miss that part of the character.. it rarely shows up nowadays) with the pointers to power source from a previous season)

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  16. This is def my fav version of stefan. SOOO fun to watch. Also shannon - did u see the new promo pics of stefan and caroline in the cabin ????? SWOOOOOOONNN !!! Stefan is soooooooo hot in those pics !!! gaaaah !! I died many deaths looking at those pics !

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  17. oops did not see this comment !! teehehehe i guess u did see the pics :D :D

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  18. huh ? What show you watching ?

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  19. thx shannon for the link finally an active page about steroline...

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  20. LOL, yes ma'am. I did. And I have to stare at them, then the promo shots of them. Lol Helps me smile every time. It's the only thing keeping me sane through the week. I'm dying for a webclip. ANY webclip will do.

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  21. when did Damon reference "Ghost"?

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  22. I last found stefan sexy in season 1 episode 10(Turning point) when he had those Six-pack abs & wasn't afraid to flaunt them unlike current days where everytime a shirtless scene of stefan comes up,he's blushing more than a newly-wed bride.
    As for as stefan,i really feel nothing for him.He's just there for me.Caroline,on the other hand-is a ray of sunshine for me.I love the girl.She's one of my major motivations for watching this show till date besides bonnie.
    As for steroline-I'll like them as a romantic couple only if i lose my current memory like Elena,otherwise not a chance in this lifetime.LOL!

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  23. I only knew 1 page it wasn't active often ....

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  24. Enzo wants to destroy Stefan;s happiness. he wasn't to destroy the people stefan loves the most. . . . U think if he falls in love with Sarah and decides he won't hurt her, his option 2 might be to kill Caroline (to exact his revenge against stefan)? ? ?

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  25. i was just thinking - INSTEAD of Kai using all his power to send Elena, Damon and Jeremy as 'ghosts' to 1994, they should have asked him send the damn teddy bear ! ! ! !

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  26. LOL !! I hear you. If you are born a twin in this psycho coven, u need to haul ass outa there - maybe fake your death, do some identity theft, move to a different continent and hope to God they don't find you and make you merge with your twin ! ! !

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  27. Nope,his obsession started with the very fact that caroline chose stefan and not him.That's why he outed caroline in the first place in front of stefan that she secretly loves him.He secretly craves caroline's admiration which she has for stefan.He loves her quite too much to hurt her.That's how i see it TBH.

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  28. Very nice review, I agree with most of it, especially about Kai's hilarity and Ms Cuddles. All the characters seemed to be in an emotional overdrive while at the same being unaffected by how insane their lives are. It was very amusing.

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  29. That was a fun episode - I enjoyed Delana Scenes and Kai. I found it quite clever not redeem Kai but have him act differently for a change. I am sure Luke's influence will wear off soon, and Kai will be back being a plain sociopath in no time. Manipulative Damon is always one of my favorite's _ so I had to laugh a lot during this Kai- Damon and Elena scenes. Also the whiskey bottle throwing down the chimney had a nice touch.


    Steroline is progressing and as I am not invested in those characters I thought is was well done. Actually Caroline is one of mine least favorite characters, her storyline this season at least creeps her from being pestering everybody else.


    Bonnie was great, this is her season to shine and she delivers more that anybody else I think. If Mrs. Cuddles gets to be a character of the show, I think Damon's car deserves the same status. Over all the season that car has been in great scenes, my favorite one in this episode when Bonnie drove in it away - just pure awesomeness :-)

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  30. Wow. U should look again.

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  31. Sucks teeth. That's not really a "man crush" when it was 6 years ago. When you said that I thought you meant in recent seasons. I wouldn't have bothered showing you the pics.

    Paul I like. (But I've always been a Damon/Ian girl).

    Steroline - I didn't ask you all that. Lol already know you don't like them. But you gave them a compliment. That's good enough for me and THAT won't be erased from my memory. (Just the negativity will. Not just from you but in general). ; )

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  32. Your memory sucks. You ask way too many questions. Lol

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  33. Ooh! Looks good.

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  34. Agreed about Damon's car! Loved the ending :)

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  35. Thanks! Good description of the current feel of the show. I think the characters' lovable quirkiness makes up for a few of the show's flaws.

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  36. Good point! But would it be a Ms. Cuddles ghost? Lol!

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  37. I can't believe i'm saying this-i really like damon's character this season,much more than stefan.Although i don't get the hype,i've always considered ian pretty hot.

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  38. Then we're in the same boat. B/c i've never liked Stefan. lol i've always hated him, it was til idk after season 3, 4, that i found him tolerable..SOMETIMES. And when he had his moments, i'd give him cred. I'm liking him this season. and i might've started to like him just last season, idr. Always been a Damon girl, always will be a Damon girl, and i find Ian very sexy (way before TVD started). But now i feel he talks too much! And it bugs me.

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  39. (waves fist in the air liking your comment)

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  40. What possible reason could u have for hating stefan in the earlier seasons?I mean,the guy was practically was a saint for a vampire.I get that many would find his character dull,even boring but hate is a strong word.Can you elaborate,for me please.I'm curious.
    As for ian,i do agree he talks way too much and doesn't let anyone speak in joint interviews of the cast,it's really rude & annoying!

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  41. Ha! Yeah nice try. I'm not opening that can of worms. I'd never shut up. I've done enough arguing throughout the years. But like i said, i don't hate him now. So Just go with it. As for Ian, idt he "never let's people talk through interviews" Over the years he's become like the "spokes person" for the group. So he just talks b/c they expect him to. Then he just goes on and on. (which i do find annoying. Just keep it short and sweet and move on to the next question).

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  42. But he shouldn't expect them to do that.When one show relies too much on just one single actor,that's not a healthy sign for any show.No wonder all this ian/damon obsession of the creatives ruined this brilliant show!

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  43. They don't "expect him to" They want him to. They rarely like talking in interviews. One on one sure, but when it's grouping, they want Ian to talk. B/c well, like I said he talks the most, whereas, they really aren't in the mood to. Has nothing to do with the show. It's the cast. That's the best way I can explain it to you. That's how it's been for a long time. It's a deal they kept to, years back.

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  44. Well,it is what it is.But i really hope ian moves out of the franchise after season 6/7.Until he's out for good,no one in the cast will ever get any decent storyline.It won't happen but i can wish.

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  45. Well I really think season 7 is the last. And we still need all 3 to sign, so yea. = /

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  46. I hope they announce it as final one in the upfronts.

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  47. We shall see. I wouldn't mind them ending it with seven seasons. In fact, I prefer they do.

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  48. I don't see the point of Enzo. I don't see why he is doing what he's doing. I don't see why he's been allowed to live for so long by other characters even though they have had so many opportunities to eliminate him. It's really frustrating to see. The only way this can satisfyingly end for me is with Stephan (or Matt, or literally anyone in the world) killing Enzo. I don't think I will be happy with any other outcome, because letting this dude live will only cause more problems and complications, and there is no reason to let him live, which is a pity because looking back to the time when he was introduced, there are some really interesting directions they could have taken this character, but instead they reduced him to being a discount Damon.

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