RATING:
Air Date: Thursday, January 5, 2012 8/7c on The CW
Elena and Damon seem to be getting awfully close...
The return of The Vampire Diaries has finally come and I was super excited to see what the writers had in store for us. Only, I’m slightly disappointed there was no major breakthrough in the storyline we were left with last year. Yes, it was great to see the characters again and fall into the world of Mystic Falls, Virginia, but I think “The New Deal” is a filler episode—and not a great one at that. We’re left wondering who’s in the mysterious casket which won’t open and what decisions the teens involved in the supernatural world will make when it comes down to the wire.
Observations and thoughts:
Klaus (Joseph Morgan) really knows how to steal a scene. He’s smooth, charismatic and eeeeevvvviiiiill. But you gotta love him. So he’s back in town to find his missing family members but no one will help him (big surprise there!). Resorting to his old tricks, he threatens, kills and threatens some more. Okay, we get it. How about doing some of the dirty work yourself, Klaus? Why does he use his hybrids (they should be called his minions) to inflict his reign of terror? I think he’s afraid he’s closer to being offed than he’s ever been and doesn’t want to lose his head—pun intended.
Alaric and Damon aren't on the best of terms, but they're getting there.
Damon (Ian Somerhalder) is still my favorite vampire but he has to stop pining after Alaric (Matthew Davis). He’s ruined their bromance and there’s no fixing it. What he should do is focus more on fixing things with Stefan (Paul Wesley) to get him to come back to the world of the living. Stefan is still brooding and lost to his humanity, but there’s something there. He’s slowly finding his way back and needs a little push. I like the time Stefan and Damon spend together—even though Damon ends up stabbing him with a twig, repeatedly—because it shows they care about one another. I think it really took a lot of courage and some selflessness for Stefan to admit why he fumbled Damon’s attempt to kill Klaus. Damon now has new insight into his brother’s motives.
I have to mention how much I love Somerhalder’s acting. He always cracks me up and delivers his lines with panache and flourish no one else matches. “Really? Still?… Witchy spirits aren’t a big fan and they use their ju-ju to screw with my daylight ring.” But please, can he not be slathered in so much makeup? He’s supposed to look young not like he’s going on air to do the morning news.
Elena (Nina Dobrev) doesn’t seem to have fallen back into her damsel-in-distress routine, which I am so glad to see. She hasn’t completely gone into Buffy mode, but she hasn’t forgotten she can be brave and stand up for herself when she needs to. I admit to worrying about her being alone with Klaus. It isn’t smart of her, but she comes out of their little tête-à-tête unscathed. Now, I want to know what she’s going to do about that steamy kiss Damon lays on her. She can’t keep denying the chemistry between them and Damon’s all but revealed his feelings to her. Is she really going to continue holding out for Stefan’s miraculous return from the dark side? I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were her.
These two need to have a serious showdown, like soon.
We need Rebekah (Clair Holt) back for good. I thought for sure Klaus would welcome her back with open arms, yet he keeps her in her peaceful slumber. I wonder if she hears what he says—the finger twitch meant she was waking up—and how she feels about it. Klaus is her brother but he continues to hurt Rebekah at every turn. And this would be the second time he’s staked her (for her own good, of course). She’ll be one pissed Original when she’s finally awakened. Now that’s a reunion I can’t wait to see!
Bonnie (Kat Graham) and Tyler (Michael Trevino) have small parts in this episode, but I can see something major coming in the future for them. Bonnie is still a powerful witch and Tyler is Klaus’ most useful pet since he’s in the inner circle. How will that affect their friendships? How will Tyler get back into the fold since he’s obviously an outsider? I’m kind of pissed at everyone for ganging up on him. It’s not his fault he was sired by Klaus and there’s nothing he can do but roll with it. Maybe if his friends were being more supportive instead of combative, he’d see their side of things. Or not.
Funny line:
Stefan to Elena: “Well, Bonnie sucks at keeping secrets.”
**
While I didn’t find myself on the edge of my seat during “The New Deal” I have tons of questions. I’m not too worried about Jeremy’s (Steven R. McQueen) departure to “Denver” because he won’t be allowed to forget Mystic Falls. Think about it: if it didn’t stick the last time Jeremy was compelled by Damon, why would it this time?
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.
Photo Credit: Bob Mahoney / The CW ©2011 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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