Hello dear readers! I was so late with this review that I considered doing a double edition with tonight's new episode, but then I realized that such a review would be longer than the list of reasons I'm sad Nina Dobrev is leaving the show. So I've split it up accordingly. Let's review and discuss The Vampire Diaries 6x20, "I'd Leave My Happy Home for You." For what it's worth, I liked this one a lot better than the previous episode, and found that it moved forward in a more productive and engaging way.
"Damon, if you take that cure, you can never be a vampire, ever again." So we finally got the explanation of how Damon and Elena can both take the cure: if Elena takes it and then Damon feeds on her. Hmm, I didn't think of that. Anyway, while I'm still no fan of this storyline, it was used to somewhat better effect in this episode, mostly succeeding where it probed and questioned the very nature of who Damon is: what would he be as a human? Could he deal with losing all of the aspects of vampirism he loves, and that have come to define him so much as a person (but at least he can keep the leather jacket!)? Does his love for Elena equal his love of being a vampire, or exceed it?
Deciding, despite pretty much everyone's objections to his decision, to become human so that he can stay with Elena (a swoon-worthy show of his love for her that no Delena shipper could resist, despite the other drawbacks of this cure redux), Damon took her to the porch of her old house via vampy fantasy projection, setting the scene for her to take the cure. As we reminisced about all the wonderful memories of the Gilbert house and the gravity of the situation overall, Elena slurped down that cure - and abracadabra, got her memories of loving Damon back! Yup, the twist that had so many fans irritated has been reversed, though this cure plotline is probably just as bad, if not worse, than Elena's memory wipe. Plus, the more flashbacks of Delena bliss that we get to enjoy, the more I feel my emotions being strategically manipulated by the writers in preparation for a doubtless heartbreaking departure for Elena by season's end. Ugh.
Of course, the instant that Elena was all joyful about her regained humanity, someone - Lily, since she's the current threat in town - showed up to attack her. Well, come on Damon and Elena: obviously, someone's always going to be after Elena and being human again comes with those same seasons 1-3 consequences. However, I loved seeing scrappy human Elena back in action, cleverly using the hidden passageway in the Mystic Grill to make her escape. Later, Elena told Damon that she remembers that time when he said being human would be the worst thing ever, prompting me to groan, "come on Elena, that was Season 4!" Yup, now she's second guessing whether he could ever be content as a human, leading us to yet more Delena angst.
"You guys aren't full, are you?" A nice balance to the melancholy of some of the episode's events was the fun of the bachelor and bachlorette parties for Alaric and Jo. Of course, it's not a Mystic Falls party without violent party crashers, soul crushing arguments, and Matt complaining about something. At this point, I basically think Matt should be shipped off to wherever Jeremy is and they can have their own little unaired spin-off. Poor Tyler isn't doing much better, with his will-he-or-won't-he wibble-wobble over his fear of becoming a werewolf again. Typically, Alaric spent his bachelor party more interested in the well-being of his friends, like on-the-precipace-of-a-life-changing-decision Damon, than in his own affairs. However, grumpy little grey cloud Matt reminded Ric of the irresponsibility of introducing an innocent child into a place full of evil, malicious killers - prompting Ric to ponder leaving town. You shut your mouth, Matty. True though your words may be, I'd prefer to keep Alaric around, thank you very much!
Stefan: "What are you doing in my bedroom?"
It's a testament to how little sense the Stefan vs Enzo storyline made that the two can interact so casually and even almost work together towards the same goal now. Sure, they'll probably never be buddies, but deadly, epic enemies? Hardly. In addition to seeing Stefan and Enzo discussing Lily's predicament, I also enjoyed the shocking sight of Damon and Enzo actually interacting! Plus, Stefan's voicemail to Caroline was definitely "utterly adorable," and I can't wait to see what will happen with Caroline the next time we see her.
Stefan's conversations with Lily were revealing of the two admirable sides of his personality: he can be armored in appropriate cynicism and yet hold out a little hope that someone dreadful still has a tiny modicum of good left in her. I like the complexity of Lily's relationships and interactions with her sons, and am also excited to see how the situation will be effected when her chosen family, the Heretics, return from their prison world.
That amazing ending: I was so totally thrilled to see Kai plotting with the Heretics instead of being eaten by them, and on top of that, to see that they are probably all busting loose very soon. Watching the mayhem this gang will bring to Mystic Falls should be crazy fun.
Also, Defan! Who could not get warm fuzzies and aww vibes from the scene of Stefan telling Damon he was hurt to be one of the last to know about the cure? I especially liked Stefan's emphasis that he had to hear it from Enzo. Ouch! I love a good poignant brotherly scene between the Salvatores, and this was a great one.
What did you think of this episode? We already know Elena's leaving town / the show, but will Alaric and Jo follow suit? Other ideas about what is in store (or what you want to see!) in the last couple of episodes in Season 6? Share your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to catch an all-new The Vampire Diaries, tonight, Thursday at 8/7c on The CW.
Wouldn't Damon die right away if he took the cure like Katherine did? If so, wouldn't that be a HUGE continuity error?
ReplyDeleteI know, that's a really important question! We've discussed it a few times in my review comments, and I take it from other fans that perhaps Silas sucking the cure out of Katherine was what made her age like that and it wouldn't effect Damon that way. Otherwise, major continuity error!
ReplyDeleteHadn't thought about that! Would make sense but then again, continuity has not been on thier side with regards to some of the Delana drama. One thing I won't miss in S7 lol
ReplyDeleteNo.Katherine only dies coz Silas sucked the cure out of her bllod thereby removing the effect of cure.After that,she started aging rapidly and died of extreme old age.If someone sucks the cure out of Damon,then and then only,he'll die coz then he will be 25+164 years old.It was clearly explained in the episode itself.
ReplyDeleteDamon clearly said it in the episode to Alaric-As long as no one sucks it(Cure) out of me,i'll be fine.You did you miss it?!?
ReplyDeleteAhh, I probably noted that clearly when I watched the episode, but that was last week. Thanks for reminding us! :)
ReplyDeleteAny time.I rewatch every episode like 10 times anyway.LOL!
ReplyDeleteAh, did miss that actually! Was increadbly ill that day so wasn't paying as much attention as I normally do during the mythology heavy eps.
ReplyDeleteNo problem.Always happy to help.
ReplyDeleteGreat review as usual.
ReplyDelete1.Too much Delena for my taste,although i did like how Elena tried to
talk some sense into Damon.He better not take that cure.Another good
thing,Elena's memories are back-Thank god!
2.The party was kind of
lame TBH.We've seen better in other shows.One good thing out of
it-Dalaric & Denzo in one episode-Oh,my!
3.Can someone please kill both Matt & Tyler now?They're so useless & waste of screen time.Urgh!
4.Stefan-Lily stuff was kinda sad & tragic to watch.
5.Bonnie
was badass until the end,you know until she almost got killed.Thanks
for that blood,damon.That fella is always ready to help.
6.How is Kai even hotter than before?Welcome back dude!can't wait to see how you break out of that prison next episode.
7.I missed caroline although this time her absence was justified unlike last time.
8.I liked that Jo mentioned why wasn't Liv the Maid of Honor-Good continuity.
9.Everyone called it ages ago-Jo having twins.
Best dialogue-Brothers from the same mother.LOL!
Kai just keeps getting hotter. I know Chris Wood is going to be on Cordon, and I'm going to miss him on TVD - what a great character!
ReplyDeletedid you miss that psychotic smile? LOL Luke's personality is DEFINITELY out of him
ReplyDeleteMaybe the Heretics siphoned Luke's character trait out of him.LOL!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Damon is always ready to help by giving people his blood. There have been mixed results with that:
ReplyDeleteHe forced his blood on Elena - twice - once to make Stefan give him the grimoire or else he'd snap her neck and start the conversion to vampire process, and once so if that if Klaus killed her at least she could come back as a vampire. After Elena and Stefan got so furious at him he admitted he didn't think - shocker! - and was afraid she WOULD die and come back as a vampire.
Then he gave it to Caroline to save her life after the car accident in the Season 1 finale. Unfortunately, or fortunately, Katherine killed her and she became our very own Vampire Barbie.
Now he's given his blood to Bonnie to save HER life. Let's hope Lily doesn't carry a grudge after she gets her "family" back or goodbye witch, hello vampire. Then Bonnie would want the Cure because she wouldn't be down with being a vampire.
Don't mind me, I'm killing time until 8 p.m. Oooh, it's time to go!
Been on Hold Since Start of S4, so Damon takes the cure?
ReplyDeleteThat psychotic smile made me way too happy! Lol
ReplyDeleteGood points! Bonnie becoming a vampire or even a witchpire would be a major game-changer. I'm still behind, have to watch last night's episode today!
ReplyDeleteWell, he intends to take the cure, over the objections of all of his friends. However, as of 6X20, he hadn't taken the cure yet.
ReplyDeletei c, well it would be stupid if he does. I'm Sry But love is not something to loose Immortality over, its the reverse.- haha
ReplyDelete