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In preparation for the new season of TVD, I decided to rewatch the first season. Here are my thoughts on the first ten episodes:
Pilot
While I still think getting hit by a car is not the best way to hunt, I do appreciate the way the lone person in the road at night technique is what Katherine taught Damon in episode thirteen. I'm not entirely sure it's deliberate, but I think introducing Damon as following Katherine's teachings, even if we don't know that yet, nicely sets-up his arc for the first season.
Jeremy's hair looks a billion times better when it was short.
After the grim, srs brs Bonnie of the final episodes of the season, bubbly, cheeful Bonnie is almost a shock.
It's also kind of sad to imagine Bonnie and Elena and Caroline prior to Elena's parents dying, Bonnie becoming a witch, and Caroline's various abusive and then incredibly boring relationships (I'm going to call moving from Damon to Matt a lateral move). That triumvirate undoubtably used to be a cluster of the popular, pretty cheerleaders (the kind of girls who I would have hated in high school).
Some things from the early part of the season were wise choices to drop (the diaries, namely). However, the writers seem to have forgotten that Damon can call fog and has a pet crow. Those seem like really cool things to play around with (fanficcers, get on that!)
In the first episode, I really enjoyed the Stefan gently but firmly refused Caroline. It was a.) the best way to handle that and b.) really nice to not have someone's blatant affection treated as if no one notices, regardless of how obvious it is.
Night Of The Comet
Goddam, Vicki and Jeremy are adorable together. When Jeremy was interacting with Vicki was the only time I really found him interesting. And I know I'm alone in this, but I just adore Vicki and want to snuggle her. (Her relationship with Matt also feels very real and makes me happy.)
I really enjoy Damon's first meeting with Elena. He plays 'decent brother' very well, and he masterfully sows discord in Stefan and Elena's relationship without breaking character.
I have much affection for Jenna and her struggle to parent Jeremy.
Friday Night Bites
I also have much love for Stefan's history-trivia curb-stomp of Tanner.
Damon and Elena's conversation in the kitchen is one of the places were I can really tell that the writers knew where they were going; it fits in perfectly with what we later learn about Katherine without telling us some of the most interesting facts of the case.
And looking back, it's cool to see that as early as episode three, Damon was giving Elena excellent advice and Elena was getting under his skin without even trying.
Damon's jaw wiggle after Elena slaps him makes me lol.
As does this:
"I guess I could seduce her the old fashioned way. Or I could just... eat her."
Family Ties
Damon snarking on Twilight will never, ever get old.
sidenote on Damon: when I first started watching, one of the reasons I loved Damon and really liked this show was that he was a straight-up bad vampire who did bad things.
And then he gets a redemption arc and I start shipping him with Elena DESPITE him being a total abuser to Caroline. It's mentally uncomfortable.
You're Undead To Me
I love the scene with Elena and Stefan in the kitchen. He is so relaxed and charming - who wouldn't want a nice vampire boyfriend like him? He's behaving very similar to how he acted when he was drinking to take the edge off his blood craving, and it's nice to know he can loosen up without alcohol. (And I'm sure knowing that Damon was locked up helped him relax.) Also, I think one of the reasons that I can get behind Stefan/Elena when all the other Good Vamp/Nice Girl relationships don't work for me is that this is the only one where the two individuals in question spend so much time smiling at each other. They clearly make each other's life better and enjoy each other's company.
Lost Girls
This episode is where the series gets good.
It's tightly written, interesting, and Elena and Stefan both handle the reveal of vampires like adults.
I've lamented Vicki's death before, but one of the reasons that it's a shame she died is that she brought out some interesting things in Damon that didn't really get developed. Like, her persistence, her lack of self-esteem, her impetuousness- I think those are all things Damon would recognize in himself now or himself before he was turned. It's interesting to think about what in Vicki made him decide to turn her (besides boredom).
And that scene where they exchange blood? Ridiculously hot.
"I've been in love. It's painful, boring, and overrated."
Haunted
"Don't listen to him. He walks on a moral plane way out of our eye-line."
I really appreciate that Elena isn't afraid to get physical - whacking Vicki with boards, shoving and slapping Damon. I just wish she was a bit more effective with it.
162 Candles
IN WHICH LEXIE IS AWESOME.
And can I just mention how much I love not just Lexie, but the teasing, platonic male/female friendship she has with Stefan? Because it's fantastic.
And her throttling Damon will never get old. She and Pearl should get together and have a Damon-curbstomping party with a side of lesbain sexing. EXCEPT OH WAIT THEY'RE BOTH DEATH. FUCK YOU FOR THAT, TVD, FUCK YOU KINDLY.
"Sex always works! You'll rock her world so hard with your vamp sex she'll be yours forever."
So says fandom.
And I can't believe when told to 'get ready' for a party, Stefan picked that plaid shirt.
Matt turning on the lights with drunk!Caroline's toes was adorable. *sigh* Like Bonnie, I wish I liked Caroline more than I actually do.
History Repeating
I find the first half of this episode pretty damn slow.
Once we get to the seance with deliciously classic signs of haunting, it picks up a lot, and I enjoyed Emily-in-Bonnie's epic magical pwning much more than I usually like Bonnie.
The Turning Point
I found the banner falling and Bonnie's protestation of innocence adorable. There should be more moments like that.
"I don't side with anyone. You piss me off, I want you dead."
I adored that Elena called Stefan on making decisions for her and that he then knocked it off. That they had sex at this point in the story both made sense and was awesome.
Also, thumbs-up to the writers for breaking for their midseason break with both an emotional and a plot cliff-hanger. I remember being totally *flail* when I first watched this and was going to have to wait a couple months to see what happened next.
Pilot
While I still think getting hit by a car is not the best way to hunt, I do appreciate the way the lone person in the road at night technique is what Katherine taught Damon in episode thirteen. I'm not entirely sure it's deliberate, but I think introducing Damon as following Katherine's teachings, even if we don't know that yet, nicely sets-up his arc for the first season.
Jeremy's hair looks a billion times better when it was short.
After the grim, srs brs Bonnie of the final episodes of the season, bubbly, cheeful Bonnie is almost a shock.
It's also kind of sad to imagine Bonnie and Elena and Caroline prior to Elena's parents dying, Bonnie becoming a witch, and Caroline's various abusive and then incredibly boring relationships (I'm going to call moving from Damon to Matt a lateral move). That triumvirate undoubtably used to be a cluster of the popular, pretty cheerleaders (the kind of girls who I would have hated in high school).
Some things from the early part of the season were wise choices to drop (the diaries, namely). However, the writers seem to have forgotten that Damon can call fog and has a pet crow. Those seem like really cool things to play around with (fanficcers, get on that!)
In the first episode, I really enjoyed the Stefan gently but firmly refused Caroline. It was a.) the best way to handle that and b.) really nice to not have someone's blatant affection treated as if no one notices, regardless of how obvious it is.
Night Of The Comet
Goddam, Vicki and Jeremy are adorable together. When Jeremy was interacting with Vicki was the only time I really found him interesting. And I know I'm alone in this, but I just adore Vicki and want to snuggle her. (Her relationship with Matt also feels very real and makes me happy.)
I really enjoy Damon's first meeting with Elena. He plays 'decent brother' very well, and he masterfully sows discord in Stefan and Elena's relationship without breaking character.
I have much affection for Jenna and her struggle to parent Jeremy.
Friday Night Bites
I also have much love for Stefan's history-trivia curb-stomp of Tanner.
Damon and Elena's conversation in the kitchen is one of the places were I can really tell that the writers knew where they were going; it fits in perfectly with what we later learn about Katherine without telling us some of the most interesting facts of the case.
And looking back, it's cool to see that as early as episode three, Damon was giving Elena excellent advice and Elena was getting under his skin without even trying.
Damon's jaw wiggle after Elena slaps him makes me lol.
As does this:
"I guess I could seduce her the old fashioned way. Or I could just... eat her."
Family Ties
Damon snarking on Twilight will never, ever get old.
sidenote on Damon: when I first started watching, one of the reasons I loved Damon and really liked this show was that he was a straight-up bad vampire who did bad things.
And then he gets a redemption arc and I start shipping him with Elena DESPITE him being a total abuser to Caroline. It's mentally uncomfortable.
You're Undead To Me
I love the scene with Elena and Stefan in the kitchen. He is so relaxed and charming - who wouldn't want a nice vampire boyfriend like him? He's behaving very similar to how he acted when he was drinking to take the edge off his blood craving, and it's nice to know he can loosen up without alcohol. (And I'm sure knowing that Damon was locked up helped him relax.) Also, I think one of the reasons that I can get behind Stefan/Elena when all the other Good Vamp/Nice Girl relationships don't work for me is that this is the only one where the two individuals in question spend so much time smiling at each other. They clearly make each other's life better and enjoy each other's company.
Lost Girls
This episode is where the series gets good.
It's tightly written, interesting, and Elena and Stefan both handle the reveal of vampires like adults.
I've lamented Vicki's death before, but one of the reasons that it's a shame she died is that she brought out some interesting things in Damon that didn't really get developed. Like, her persistence, her lack of self-esteem, her impetuousness- I think those are all things Damon would recognize in himself now or himself before he was turned. It's interesting to think about what in Vicki made him decide to turn her (besides boredom).
And that scene where they exchange blood? Ridiculously hot.
"I've been in love. It's painful, boring, and overrated."
Haunted
"Don't listen to him. He walks on a moral plane way out of our eye-line."
I really appreciate that Elena isn't afraid to get physical - whacking Vicki with boards, shoving and slapping Damon. I just wish she was a bit more effective with it.
162 Candles
IN WHICH LEXIE IS AWESOME.
And can I just mention how much I love not just Lexie, but the teasing, platonic male/female friendship she has with Stefan? Because it's fantastic.
And her throttling Damon will never get old. She and Pearl should get together and have a Damon-curbstomping party with a side of lesbain sexing. EXCEPT OH WAIT THEY'RE BOTH DEATH. FUCK YOU FOR THAT, TVD, FUCK YOU KINDLY.
"Sex always works! You'll rock her world so hard with your vamp sex she'll be yours forever."
So says fandom.
And I can't believe when told to 'get ready' for a party, Stefan picked that plaid shirt.
Matt turning on the lights with drunk!Caroline's toes was adorable. *sigh* Like Bonnie, I wish I liked Caroline more than I actually do.
History Repeating
I find the first half of this episode pretty damn slow.
Once we get to the seance with deliciously classic signs of haunting, it picks up a lot, and I enjoyed Emily-in-Bonnie's epic magical pwning much more than I usually like Bonnie.
The Turning Point
I found the banner falling and Bonnie's protestation of innocence adorable. There should be more moments like that.
"I don't side with anyone. You piss me off, I want you dead."
I adored that Elena called Stefan on making decisions for her and that he then knocked it off. That they had sex at this point in the story both made sense and was awesome.
Also, thumbs-up to the writers for breaking for their midseason break with both an emotional and a plot cliff-hanger. I remember being totally *flail* when I first watched this and was going to have to wait a couple months to see what happened next.
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