Air Date: Thursday, October 11, 2012 8/7c on The CW
RATING:
“I had to choose and I picked you.” – Elena
The Vampire Diaries was absolutely the most anticipated returning series on my must watch list. So did the long awaited return live up to all the hype? Kind of. I expected more action and excitement in the premiere, and wasn’t surprised by anything. That was a big letdown. Knowing how things will turn out doesn’t always make for an entertaining viewing experience. I would have liked to have seen the usual suspects acting out of character and doing something unexpected for shock value. But for what it was, “Growing Pains” was OK.
Observations and thoughts:
Is Elena (Nina Dobrev) being stubborn or is she reacting like anyone else would? “I don’t wanna be; I can’t be a vampire!” Why fight the inevitable? I seriously doubt any of them have looked at the big picture—if Elena’s no longer human, how will Klaus (Joseph Morgan) continue making hybrids? And why is Stefan (Paul Wesley) playing the hero again? Oh yes, because he listened and didn’t save Elena’s life like he wanted to. I’m so over this boring relationship. Shake things up a bit and have Elena be single. I know that’s not ideal, but it would make for a few interesting episodes.
Chant all you want Bonnie, you can’t undo what you’ve done.
Damon (Ian Somerhalder) becomes more complex with each episode. Comparing him to Stefan no longer crosses my mind. There’s something about Damon that comes naturally to him—he doesn’t pull any punches and puts himself out there without thinking twice. Not only is he straightforward in his thinking, he isn’t afraid to tell you how he feels, whether it’s good or bad. I really wanted things to work out between him and Elena even though she doesn’t deserve him. I want Damon to be happy because he deserves love just like everyone else. But we don’t always get what we want.
The effects used to show Elena coping with her “transition” were a nice touch to “Growing Pains.” Not only do the viewers feel like they are a part of what Elena is experiencing, but they get the understanding of what every vampire must have gone through—heightened senses, sunlight sensitivity, and foods that no longer appeal to the appetite. What a great way to make an episode interactive.
The Tyler (Michael Trevino) as Klaus thing wasn’t working for me. There’s something Morgan has that Trevino doesn’t, besides the accent. I think the problem is Trevino has played the jerk before—Klaus is so much more than that—and he’s having difficulty finding the mannerisms to embody the “original” bad boy. Klaus in another body doesn’t work because the charisma and joie de vivre aren’t there when Morgan isn’t on screen. Thank goodness we don’t have to go an entire season with this body switching nonsense!
Stefan has his dropped the bad boy routine, but has he gone back to his brooding ways?
“I couldn’t do it. It didn’t work.” Well, Bonnie (Kat Graham), I wasn’t expecting your newfound witchery to work. See, if Bonnie got her way, we wouldn’t get to see Elena the baby vamp. That makes for a much more exciting season than if Elena got to escape her fate. I appreciate the writers taking the next step and going that extra mile to give viewers something new to obsess over this season. Plus, I like that Bonnie is being taught a lesson. She’s been dabbling in things she knows nothing about without any consequences. Well that’s certainly changed, hasn’t it?
I’m not sure I get why Klaus has gone all anti-family on Rebekah (Claire Holt). She has stuck by him through thick and thin and he knows this, so why does he suddenly throw it all away? I don’t get the change in his demeanor. It’s not typical of him nor does it fit his character, but it should make for an interesting family reunion. Who else is waiting for Elijah (Daniel Gillies) to come back? *raises hand*
Memorable lines:
Elena: “If it had been you at the bridge last night, and not Stefan—”
Damon: “I would have saved you, with no question.”
**
Damon to Elena: “The first night that we met’s [sic] not all that you remember.”
**
Another confrontation between Damon and Elena is in order. Let’s get to the bottom of those unrequited feelings, shall we? Elena might be dead, but she isn’t blind. Here’s to an exciting episode next week when we see Elena slip into her new life like a pro.
Tune in to The Vampire Diaries Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW. For more on the show, visit http://www.cwtv.com/shows/the-vampire-diaries.
LIKE The Vampire Diaries on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thevampirediaries.
Follow The Vampire Diaries cast on Twitter: @ninadobrev, @iansomerhalder, @josephmorgan, @katgraham, @paulwesley, @michaeltrevino, @candaceaccola, @claireholt.
Photo Credit: Bob Mahoney/The CW ©2012 The CW Network. All Rights Reserved.
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