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The Vampire Diaries - I'll Wed You in the Golden Summertime - Review

May 9, 2015

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Well, this episode certainly didn't pull any punches.  All signs seemed to be pointing to imminent disaster as the sweetness of Jo and Alaric's wedding was underlaid with menace due to the machinations of Lily, Kai, and quite probably the Heretics.  With a shocking and gut-wrenching ending, the episode brought us to the kind of world-stopping cliffhanger one looks for in a penultimate hour in the season.  I hope that despite the tragic event at the end of this episode, there is some hope for Jo and even that Elena doesn't have to have an overly sad departure.

The ominous premonitions diaries: starring Bonnie:  The beginning of the episode, with Bonnie's scary dreams about Kai and Lily, was brilliantly done to produce a feeling of uneasiness about everything that was to happen throughout the hour.  Weirdly, Bonnie ended up teaming with Matt to try and take out Lily, which was naturally a doomed attempt seeing as Matt was involved.  Still, I would have liked to have seen more of badass Bonnie in that showdown with...who was that exactly?  It seems like Bonnie keeps getting near mortally wounded lately, and while she slipped away unscathed last week, I wonder if there will be more consequences from this latest incident.
"Goody! More amends! Drinks will help. Strong ones."  I loved everything with Caroline this week.  Seeing her pop up all sunny and smiling again like her old self was a breath of fresh air.  All of her control freak bossiness and witty quips to the gang were on point, and her scenes with Stefan were charming and lovely.  Even though Caroline understandably didn't feel ready to jump into a relationship with Stefan, I'd be surprised if the two did not share a romantic moment or two in the finale.

"I love you, Elena. And I will love you until I take my last breath on this earth."  The Damon and Elena part of the episode had my thoughts swinging back and forth between happiness and annoyance like the world's fastest pendulum.  I really despised the entire part with Stefan showing Damon the supposed doldrums and miseries of his life as a human with (and later without) Elena.  This was too transparently composed to create an air of depression around situations that would most likely never occur.  As if Damon and Elena have gone through all they have during their time together, even to death and back, just to be undone and forced out of love by jobs, paperwork, and suburbia.  

I also didn't care for the bit with Damon seemingly threatening the little boy next door to Stefan's old house after being driven batty by visions of his trumped-up, doomed future.  What was that even about, with the whole "get the keys, we're going to a wedding?"  It was hilarious, however, when he squashed the soccer ball.  Of course, I don't ever want Damon to stop being a dark, sarcastic badass, but that doesn't mean he needs to put kids in harm's way or ridiculously suddenly seem on the brink of lapsing back into his old evil self.  However, the part with Damon seeing the older couple bickering and embracing nearby, and realizing that true love really can withstand aging and humanity was perfect, a stunning turnaround to the previously inane aspects of this segment up until that point.
Damon and Elena at the wedding were also not only thoroughly adorable, but also exceptionally romantic.  His speech to her about his reasons for choosing to take the cure was fantastic, and their inability to keep their hands off each other, running late to the ceremony and making eyes at each other throughout, was sweet.  Even though the preview for next week hints that perhaps Elena dies, there are also several parts indicating she may simply depart for some reason - I hope fervently that the truth is in the latter theory.  Seeing the character grow, evolve, live and love over six years of excellent television doesn't leave me at all pleased at the prospect of her story ending in a possibly pointless but inevitably tragic demise.

"Oh, God. That's a tough act to follow. Here goes. Alaric Saltzman, you are..."  Alaric and Jo's wedding was beautiful, and I think many of us suspected that it might be rudely crashed by a returning Kai, which of course is a good and fun development. - he's a wonderful villain who needed to return in a big splashy way at this juncture. But I hate that Kai brutally attacked Jo by stabbing her in the back and through the stomach, and I think there were many other, better ways that his return to full-on evil could have burst upon Mystic Falls.  I know that this is not a show that likes to let its characters get comfortable or ever let us forget the fragility of mortality, but come on.  Jo and Alaric deserved not only to at least get through their vows, but also to both live to enjoy their married life together.  I also genuinely like Jo and feel she's a good addition to the cast of characters, so here's hoping that she makes it somehow, and that her unborn babies have some kind of witchy power to protect them from Kai's attack (I know, I'm OTT optimistic).  Unquestionably, this Red Wedding/Moldavian Massacre homage was a powerful way to conclude the hour and set up a remarkably suspenseful scenario for the finale. Yet, if killing Jenna was cruel, this was too cruel.  Still, we can't be too surprised that Kai is capable of such horrors, knowing what he did to his family back in the day.  And by the way, how did Kai lose his good, Luke qualities?  Surely the answers await us.

Elsewhere in the episode: Matt and Tyler were getting along again, for no particular reason.  Liv returned and I remembered why she and Tyler were so cute (along with reminiscing of the times when the writers tried to give Tyler something to do).  It would be nice if Tyler's exit from the show involved the two of them being together.  And Jo actually let her father walk her down the aisle after all he's done...wow, were I in Jo's shoes, it would take a lot more than a flimsy apology to make me allow him such an honor!  Also, Stefan wants Damon to stay a vampire because he doesn't want to lose his brother...aww.  Somehow, I highly suspect he's going to get his wish.  It also looks like Lily and the Heretics are working with Kai - how did he end up winning those witchpires over? With so much to explain and a major departure to handle, the finale has a lot of work on its hands.

What did you think of this episode?  Any hopes for what you want to see in the finale?  Share your thoughts in the comments!  And be sure to catch the season finale of The Vampire Diaries, Thursday at 8/7c 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)

34 comments:

  1. for once I really liked the episode. a lot of different character interactions and I did like Human Elena :) Excited to see how this will all play out though :/

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  2. Virginia FontanaMay 9, 2015 at 8:06 PM

    Glad you enjoyed the episode! There was definitely plenty going on. I'm both excited and a little scared to see what happens in the finale.

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  3. Great review as usual!
    1.Our beloved Caroline is back.Steroline confrontation was nice but I'm not feeling anything from the side of Stefan at all.
    2.Damon decided to be a human after all that effort Stefan went through?I should feel happy for him but i don't.I'm pissed.
    3.I
    always knew Alric would never get his happy ending,this is TVD after
    all,so that's out of question.But Jo brutally stabbed in the stomach
    repeatedly by Kai-SERIOUSLY?!?This ain't GoT!
    4.Bonnie has to kill
    both Lily & Kai in a brutal manner-They need to be put down
    ASAP.Chris wood's hotness is not enough for me anymore after what he
    just did.
    4.The wedding was beautifully shot but the ending was painful to watch.
    ONE QUESTION-How did Kai get out and who sent Lily to that address and why?

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  4. Nice review, and I especially share your sentiments with regards the human DE visions.
    I hate the idea of a human Damon from a viewing perspective, however, I am so sick of these characters, mainly Stefan, misunderstanding him and underestimating him, and DE.
    Caroline remained as annoying to me for the most part. Her chirpy, bossy, quippy attitude just irked me somehow, and the reactions of Tyler and Matt to her were so incredibly unrealistic and unbelievable, especially considering Matt's recent epiphanies about vamps in general. I hope now she has seen how easily she has been forgiven by those whom she tortured, ridiculed, and almost killed, she will dial down her judginess.

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  5. It was an OK episode for me but nothing more.
    - Steroline was delayed during the entire episode, just give them 30 seconds in the end where nothing was said.

    - Not really interested in Delena, but i do liked how they handled things, obviously i hope that Damon doesn't become human, but even if that happens it's gonna be interesting to see.
    - I like Bonnie and i hope she completes her revenge on Kai. I still want Stefan and Damon to kill Lily, because cmon these guys really deserve to kill her xD.
    - I don't whether to hate or pity Matt, "i know what we shouldn't do, leaving her in the hands of two people we don't trust", like you are so worthy of trust, and please stop playing around with those sticks, like you actually are capable to kill a centuries old Ripper, idiot.
    - For the rest, never expected the wedding to go smoothly for two reasons: this is TVD, and this was the ep before the finale so things needed to crazy before the end.

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  6. this episode was just another proof that Steroline will always be a slow burn!!! But guys this not a soap opera! we don't have much time left after season 7 we might not get another:( So for that exact reason we have to graduate from a slow burn to a full blown relationship!!! If you want Steroline to even continue writers!?

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  7. I feel Stefan's affection for Caroline more when he isn't around her. I mean it feels a bit plastic sometimes. But I hope whatever happens with Elena will makebC realize they have no time to spare, anymore.
    Alaric's vows were perfect, still I think at least Jo survived. Doubt he would be in the S manor and work around Elena if Jo was dead.
    Those questions U ask are a mystery which should hopefully be revealed in the finale.

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  8. Virginia FontanaMay 9, 2015 at 9:53 PM

    Thanks! Agree completely regarding Damon and Elena. I found Matt and Tyler to be artificially pleasant in this episode for the most part, like anytime there's a big event these two are just made to drop their issues and act happy. They are just chess pieces for the writers at this point, with no real purpose.

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  9. Virginia FontanaMay 9, 2015 at 9:56 PM

    Thanks! Steroline still feels a tad forced to me, or maybe they are just progressing it so slowly, it's hard to feel much from it sometimes. I couldn't stand poor Jo getting stabbed like that; I agree, it's one thing when it's an expected level of violence like GOT but a bit much on TVD. Kai's hotness has officially been ruined for me, meh. I theorized that Kai and Lily and the Heretics were all working together somehow; since he's back, they are probably back too and maybe one of them or Kai sent her the address. Why, I have no clue!

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  10. We do know from episode 20 that The Heretics were feeding from Kai but being as charming & powerful he is,he turned the situation around while remaining there and became their leader.Kai probably sent Lily to the docks coz The Heretics probably now wants to kill Lily coz she has been now replaced by Kai as their Mentor/Leader unknown to Lily.
    If you notice carefully,When Bonnie woke up,there was blood around her head,he probably used astral projection to choke them to unconciousness & fetch Bonnie's blood & use the 1903 ascendent to get out.What you you think?

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  11. Makes sense to me! It's interesting how they left so many questions unanswered in this episode, so there's a lot for the finale to fill in.

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  12. Matt is seriously getting on my nerves these past couple of episodes.His character is even worse than Tyler right now :-(

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  13. 1.How did Kai get out?
    2.What was kai doing back in the prison world all this time after the team left him there?
    3.Who will kill Kai?
    4.When kai dies,what happens to the rest of the Gemini Coven?
    5.Will Jo/Thw Twins survive that stabbing?
    6.Will Alaric get his happy ending?
    7.What will be Elena's fate?
    8.Will damon take the cure or remain vampire?
    9.Will Steroline make a move finally?
    10.Will Lily die?If yes,killed by whom.If no,What happens to her?
    11.Will Enzo become a part of the team dynamic anytime soon?
    12.What type of revenge Kai has in store for Bonnie?
    13.How will Tyler exit the series?
    14.Will there be any time jump at the end?
    15.Jeremy is returning in this episode.In what context?
    16.What will be the cliffhanger this season?
    GOD LUCK SOLVING ALL THESE IN 42 MINS!

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  14. Yea, you know at least this ep i tolerated Tyler, not Matt xD.

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  15. Same here and i hate Tyler the most.How did that happen?!?

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  16. Well said regarding Matt, like after all this time suddenly he and Bonnie can't trust the Salvatores, and who told him he's a vampire hunter all of a sudden? Pathetic. I knew the wedding wasn't going to go smoothly, but ouch! That ending was horrifying.

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  17. I agree...it's hard enough for me to buy them as a couple after all those years of platonic friendship and how much I loved Klaroline...I need a little more to draw me in than all of this stalling.

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  18. Lol, exactly! They should have done a 2-hour finale. I think it's going to feel a little rushed, but it should be incredibly action-packed as well, which is a good thing.

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  19. Exactly.When did he start hating the Salvatore brothers?

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  20. You're spot on about the Moldavian Massacre part as it seems clear that Julie Plec and his band of writers were watching Dynasty to find a peg for them to write a good wedding disaster. lol

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  21. Hahaha, it just put me in mind of it, I can't deny! More so the Red Wedding on Game of Thrones, but that shot of everything going into total chaos as the glass shattered was Dynasty-tastic.

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  22. I hope Jo and Lily will stay next year. And even Olivia.
    I wanted Kai too but after what he did, he's soo dead.

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  23. maybe being dumped in another Prison World took away Luke's sanity?

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  24. have we ever seen a scene like what Kai did to his twin in Vampire Diaries before?

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  25. If you're talking about stabbing people in the back it's happened too many times on TVD for me to count, but the circumstances surrounding what Kai did were worse than anything else I can recall off the top of my head. Are you trying to nudge my memory or just asking me?

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  26. Thank you, and you bring up some awesome points, I like your analysis of the scene with the little boy; I prefer this interpretation and think the scene was just a little too vague. But then I adored the look on Damon's face when he saw that older couple still in love! Great point about Bonnie and the walls she has built up around her. I'd like to see her happy and for a lot more of the fun, heartwarming Bamon friendship we got earlier in season 6. The ending and Jo's stabbing was by far the worst and most sickening act of violence I feel the show has done. I was actually mad when I finished watching, but I made myself stop and reason out that they did need a massive shocker, and that we don't know yet exactly what happens to Jo and the babies. I really hope they make it somehow!

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  27. Those are great suggestions! Never thought about astral projection. Probably how he opened the cell too. There was duct tape around bonnies wrist to stop the blood as well, but I dont think that affection will save him after killing those babies. Poor Jo and Ric.
    Witchpires roaming Mystic.. whoa nelly.

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  28. I think he's more against vampires in general.

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  29. I just want him gone.He's so annoying.Urgh!

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  30. Great review of this episode...The things i like about about the episode: bad ass bonnie, tyler and matt getting along, The cute old couple arguing and making up, how beautiful jo looked in her wedding dress. and how happy alaric was for about 5 secs before it went h-e-l-l lol...now for the bad: I'm so OVER this forced steroline moments that keep being shoved in our face every week...I feel it on caroline side but with stefan it seems like he likes her but not on the level im use to seeing from stefan...we have seen stefan in love especially seasons 1-3 and this doesn't feel "epic" to me..feels like something to try for a few episodes and then moving on. I hate that we didnt actually get a real wedding and that we are still lost on how this vampwitch thing works...and speaking of Kai---he is suppose to have a battle of a conscious now that he has merged with Luke...I didnt see it AT ALL. honestly i really could of gone with out the delena scenes...I just don't like them together anymore...Im sad to see Nina leaving but I will not miss elena...if anything im still begging for Katherine to pop up somehow..


    Rumor patrol: i have heard a few rumors that the actress Alexandra Chando (she did abcfamily "The Lying game") is in talks for being the new lead actress on TVD...i love the idea since she auditioned for Elena a few years back...I can totally see her being Katherine reincarnated ...she has versatility just like Nina when it came to play multiple characters..do anyone know if this rumor is true...and what do you think about my prediction if it is true??

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  31. Thanks! Very interesting rumor about Alexandra Chando...I liked her in what I saw of The Lying Game. True, I would love to see Katherine again and The Originals has shown that they can recast certain roles successfully, but Nina was so iconic as Katherine that it's hard for me to see someone else inhabiting the role. I think it's better if they don't have a new female lead and just give Caroline and Bonnie more to do, since we already have an interest and attachment with them and it's too late in the series (for me, anyway) to invest in a new lead.

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  32. For some reason I just loved when Stefan walked in on Caroline and Jo & says to Caroline - "I don't want to tell you how to run this wedding But..." It just made be laugh.

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  33. I loved it too! A perfect return for Caroline.

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