Air Date: Thursday, May 10, 2012 8/7c on The CW
RATING:
“Have I told you lately how much I appreciate you not being the stupidest brother on earth?” – Damon Salvatore
Jenna and the Gilbert parents come back for an important reason.
When has The Vampire Diaries not been about brothers and the decisions they make when it comes to their siblings? While I don’t know who has the smartest brother in Mystic Falls, I can say any brother who’s willing to do whatever he can to save his sister’s life is alright in my book. So what does “The Departed” tell us about those who have departed? It tells us that all is not always as it seems.
Observations and thoughts:
Elijah (Daniel Gillies) comes back and you could have knocked me over with a feather. Just when I think he’s said goodbye to Mystic Falls for good, he comes back in a flawless suit looking like the dashing long lost lover. Mystery or trouble always surrounds him so you know his reappearance carries an important purpose. So how did he find out they had Klaus (Joseph Morgan) tucked into a box somewhere?
Again, after yet another traumatic experience and suffering bodily harm, Elena (Nina Dobrev) is on her feet walking around with a little “help” from a friend. Just what is going on with her? She’s so resilient! (Yes, I’m being sarcastic). Her resilience is the key to why she’s able to be up and about not long after having a “cerebral hemorrhage.” Is that what causes Elena’s flashbacks too? I didn’t understand why she was revisiting her sophomore year in dreams until Damon (Ian Somerhalder) shows up in one of them. But here’s the thing, were they his memories Elena’s? After all, he compels her to forget she’s seen him. This one scene opens up a huge can of WTF for me because it means more to Damon and Elena than Elena will ever know.
How can you say no to this man? What is wrong with Elena?
“It’s not right what I’m doing to them either. I have to let one of them go.” So of course you know which one of the Salvatore brothers she’s referring to, don’t you? I think I’ve known all along who held her heart, but I like to live in denial when I can and hope that what I want to happen will eventually come to fruition. “I love him, Damon.” We know, Elena. We know. *YAWN* But what if she were to remember she met Damon first? Would it change how she feels about her relationship with Stefan (Paul Wesley)? Will that make her want to reconsider her choice? At least the dreaded love triangle is no more. She’s made a choice. Now let’s see if she sticks with it.
“When her life is over, mine will be too.” Alaric (Matthew Davis) is taking his expiration date rather well, don’t you think? Besides being the ultimate badass vampire killer, he’s smart. Why does everyone continue to count him out? Didn’t they think he was smart enough to figure out what they were planning? He’s been working side by side with Elena and Damon for quite a while now. He’s been on the inside track to their thinking process. But so much for all that. Why does it take Rebekah’s (Claire Holt) smart thinking to rid them of their vampire killing menace? I kept asking myself “why they didn’t just get Bonnie (Kat Graham) to stop Elena’s heart in order to kill Alaric?” That might have been too easy.
How freaky was it to see Klaus open his eyes in his mummified condition? But the man can rock a set of chains, can’t he?
Caroline (Candice Accola) breaks my heart as she must face the inevitable once again. Accola had me close to tears when her character visits Tyler (Michael Trevino) after Klaus’ untimely demise. Yet another story of star-crossed lovers who can’t seem to find any luck. I’d much rather watch these two than Elena and Stefan any day. Caroline and Tyler have so much passion and chemistry between them. And now maybe we’ll get to see how the couple would fare in the world, just the way Klaus wanted *wink, wink*. Klaus is a sneaky little bastard, isn’t he?
I wonder how much trouble a vampire hunter's ghost can cause...
Stefan takes the Damon route and kisses Elena passionately before saying, “Just in case there is no later.” When did Stefan throw off the broody, emo attitude? At least he’s not sitting in a corner looking sad and mopey. The ‘take charge’ Stefan is palatable and a bit closer to the Stefan I actually like. Emo Stefan appears to be banished back to the dark side. Elena just might be the thing he needs to pull him out of his funk for good.
Vampires entered Elena’s life after her plunge off the bridge years ago, which took her parents’ lives and almost took hers. The symmetry and return to the beginning is writing well done. Not only does Elena experience similar situations in that life changing moment, she gets to make a decision which comes full circle, paying homage to her father’s final sacrifice. I’ll admit to getting a little teary-eyed as I watched the scene unfold when Alaric finally bites it but I’m so tired of all the great characters getting killed off. He’s wreaked havoc, taken out a formidable foe and in the end found redemption. I’m going to miss him more now than before. And how the hell do vampires become ghosts anyway? No, seriously. I want to know.
Memorable lines:
Damon to Bonnie about Elena’s decision making: “You know what else is her call? Everything… bad… ever.”
**
Matt (Zach Roerig): “This isn’t how our lives are supposed to be, Elena.”
**
The Vampire Diaries knows how to end a season. This finale is off the damn chain! The surprising visitors in flashbacks and in person, deaths (what happened to Matt?) and rebirth (been waiting for this all season) threw me for a loop. I cannot believe half the things I saw and can’t wait for next season. Not only will it be amazing, it will be epic. Epic, I tell ya!
For more on The Vampire Diaries, visit http://www.cwtv.com/shows/the-vampire-diaries.
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Photo Credit: Blake Tyers/The CW ©2012 The CW Network. All Rights Reserved.
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