I wish this icon were pertinent less often.

[meganbmoore]

It’s easy to catch up with your shows when they’ve all been on hiatus! And…are apparently only coming back for two episodes each.

Undercovers remains mostly episodic and absolutely adorable. I mean, I think I even liked Leo and Holt in this episode. I may not have much to say about it, but I’m really going to miss it when it’s officially gone.

Nikita had a very strong comeback episode, overall. I’m so very happy that they’re finally doing things with Jaden now. Though I…I wonder if the writers are actually intending for her to be as likable and sympathetic as she comes across? Because everyone I know who talks about Nikita is all “Whee! Jaden! Will Jaden and Alex finally become frenemies?” (And have been from, like, the first episode.) but I’m worried that the writers see her more as an antagonist.

And on the more spoilery front…Noah Bean’s character is supposed to be Nikita’s new love interest? Really? He’s so…so…there’s nothing actually wrong with him, but he’s almost traumatizing All-American Whitebread. I mean, for fans who want to shipp Nikita with someone, I’m sure most were satisfied with the ambiguously subtexty staring over gun barrels and Nikita snarking at Michael? If not, then they also have Nikita and Owen bonding over their mutual hate for Percy/Division and shooting things together. But 3 is kinda…overkill. Especially for someone still dealing with her last boyfriend’s death. (Said boyfriend having been killed by newest sidekick while she was partly responsible for the death of her other sidekick’s parents…and they really want to add another love interest in?)

That said, things may be awesome for the midseason finale.


Then there’s Vampire Diaries, which…there were some really good parts, and then one major part that kind of…seriously killed the episode. And may I say that I’m seriously disturbed by how the fans are squeeing over Damon repeatedly threatening Elena with physical violence, telling her she doesn’t get to make her own decisions, and then actually using physical force against her? Because I am.


I mean, I genuinely thought that the bit in the previews wasn’t going to be as bad in context? But no, it was worse. And I…I really want to believe that the writers actually know what they’re doing with Damon’s self-righteousness this season, and the way he keeps thinking that his actions are just? But I’m not sure.

But! Elena and Rose snaky and going off together! I wanted so much more of that! (And I…I…a part of me actually hopes Rose doesn’t show up again? Because if she doesn’t then, like Isabel, she showed up, did her thing, and went off to do her own thing independent of Elena and the Salvatores, but I’m worried she’ll be killed off if she comes back.) And Elijah…might be getting interesting? And the Twilight snark! I’ve missed that.

And Tyler/Caroline/Matt! I…uhm…I feel they’res something wrong with an episode where Matt “I Am The Walking Personification Of Nice Guy And Like To Whine About All These Annoying Women In My Life Not Being Exactly The Way I Want Them To Be” Donovan and Tyler “I Am An Alpha Male Chauvinist With Date Rape Tendencies, But I Really Am Working On That” Lockwood come across better than any of the other men. (Granted, Stefan and Alaric didn’t get to do much…) But the Caroline/Tyler bonding scenes are really just…indefinably awesome, and I love that Caroline finally talked to someone about having to figure out what was happening to her, and expressed her feelings about killing that guy.

I…don’t know how I feel about Bonnie channeling Luka without his permission? I really doubt she realized it was going to hurt him as badly as it hurt her, but it was still…very uncomfortable, in terms of consent. But then, he confirmed that he was only bonding with her under orders, so I feel less bad about it. But then there was the thing with Jeremy and…he’s been annoying me a lot less this season, and after the first 2 episodes, was more boring than anything else? But then he did the “I am a man and you are a woman and I like you so you are required to like me back” thing and ugh. But Bonnie! Go call your cousin!

Then Alaric! And Jenna wearing Alaric’s shirt! And Alaric trying to hide his near-nakedness with a bowl of cereal! And Elena being all “this is more than I ever wanted to see of my co-conspirator/history teacher/biologically mother’s extremely estranged husband/aunt’s boyfriend!”

And Stefan in the tomb! OMG! Like, I suspecct that was actually Katerine's goal the whole time? That look on her face!

But the Damon stuff, just…..uuuuugggghhhhhh. I sincerely hope that the second half of the season will have him back to actually being treated like a villain.

Comments

[meganbmoore]

Oh, you mean like when Plec talks about how Caroline is "out of control" and Damon "won't put up with that" as he's clearly acquired more self-control in the last 150 years than she did in a few weeks (She has it. He doesn't.) or when she says Damon was "self-less" at the end of 2.8. I know I always think of self-lessness when a man breaks into the bedroom of a woman who's scared of him (a room she has traumatic memories of him in, at that) mindrapes her so she won't kick him out, tells her she's a prize that goes to the best vampire, then makes her forget it?

Though, when she isn't talking about Damon, it isn't that bad. She just feels the need to pat herself on the back for the brilliance in glorifying a misogynistic rapist, murderer and abuser.

Elena also included him in the list of people she cares about, which also doesn't bode well.

I kinda wanted to ship Rose/Elena too for a few moments. Mostly I liked that we had someone who wasn't obsessed with protecting Elena, though at least this season the women have superpowers, too.

[bigbrasskey]

or when she says Damon was "self-less" at the end of 2.8

Oh my dear flagrant flying what

I've mostly heard her in context of talking about Damon - or rather, of people saying what the fuck about her opinions concerning Damon and Caroline.

(My twelve year old brother has been watching season one with my mother and I and he solemnly announced that if he had one wish in the world, it would be for Damon to be killed off.)

Yes, I feel like this show has a history of excusing Damon by having his victims tout permissive or forgiving attitudes, and the show would be very different if the women he hurt were allowed to react in proportionate ways. (Or even, my god, retaliate without dying!)

Oh, yes. I'm all for protecting Elena, but variety is good. Their relationship is unorthodox compared to what's usually allowed for women on TV, and deliciously so. And the tension in their relationship - allies, potential respect, Elena's promise evening out the ground against Rose's greater knowledge and strength - was really enjoyable to watch. (I have to admit, I loved the moment where Rose gave Elena the little wave when Elena first saw her in the Salvatore house.)

[havocthecat]

You know, I am SO GLAD that I don't generally follow what the PTB of a series say until it's been vetted by people I trust, because I need to avoid everything Julie Plec says, like, ever. EVER.

[meganbmoore]

To hear Julie Plec talk, you'd think the only point of the series was Jeremy growing up and Damon's redemption, which is supposedly well underway. OTOH, you can read Ian Somerhalder all you want. He's particularly supportive of Elena and Bonnie hating Damon forever and ever.

[havocthecat]

*gags* Wow, LJ Smith must be beating her head against her keyboard A WHOLE LOT after hearing Julie Plec talk.

I'll have to look up one of Ian Somerhalder's interviews. I'm not used to the guys getting it, but it's so nice when it happens.

[meganbmoore]

Mind you, he still has what we'd consider an idealized view of Damon, he's just much more realistic about "They should hate him! Elena shouldn't/won't be with him!" than most actors would be.