The Vampire Diaries – “Welcome to Paradise” Review. There's Always Room for Jell-O (Shots)!

Season 6, Episode 3

Air Date: Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 8/7c on The CW

RATING: ★★★★★

“Here that, Damon? That’s what hope sounds like.” – Bonnie Bennett

I’m sensing a theme here with the song titles doubling as episode titles. Not sure what point The Vampire Diaries (TVD) is trying to make as I’m not getting the connection. But, whatever. Paradise is lost on our two faves surviving the other side. I’m wary of the “magic is the key” to everything supposition. Isn’t the use of magic what got Bonnie (Kat Graham) into the trouble she’s in now? I don’t see how magic is a good thing. There are those who abuse it, those who use it for petty tricks, and of course, creating supernatural creatures.

Runaway

This ship shall not sail!

What exactly is Stefan (Paul Wesley) running from? He’s not grieving, yet dodges his friends and is losing himself in work. I can’t reconcile his feeling with his actions. “…I can leave this place and start all over again.” What we’re seeing so far this season isn’t the typical Stefan. This new Stefan isn’t in emo mode; he appears to be fine. Now this turning over a new leaf might be a ruse but I don’t understand it. What is the writers’ endgame here? Does Stefan have to stay strong to keep from thinking about Damon (Ian Somerhalder)? Has he failed his brother and now needs to be punished? I don’t remember Stefan being this selfless. Although, I’m not sure I can actually call him that. Stefan is a good guy. He takes care of his friends, loves his brother (with conditions, cause we’re talking about Damon here), and doesn’t want to let go of the love of his life.

Random Thoughts:

Everything on the other side mirrors what is in the living world. I don’t think I realized this before. I guess it makes sense considering when Bonnie acted as the anchor, and existed on both sides. But does this mean she can hurt people on the other side? How is that really possible?

Enzo (Michael Malarkey) is my favorite character this season. He’s completely taken over for Damon in the witty dialogue department. Not only that, I love his accent. Speaking of Enzo’s accent, where are all the other British vampires? Oh, right … in New Orleans. Time for a cross-over episode!

Bit of an awkward moment.

Underlying tensions turn Caroline (Candice Accola) into a rage machine. She’s upset with everyone for drifting but can’t do anything about it. The cheerless cheerleader is depressing. I’m not buying her unrequited feelings either. I know I’m not crazy here because Caroline was totally into Klaus (Joseph Morgan) not that long ago. When in the hell did she have time to develop something romantic for Stefan? And eww! You don’t want your best friend’s ex.

Matt (Zach Roerig) has an eye opening moment. Finally, the wool is lifted from his eyes. I hate to call him a meathead but for all his weight lifting and staying fit, he sure isn’t using his brain much. Do you think he’ll start paying more attention to who’s being recruited to join Tripp’s (Colin Ferguson) little vampire hunting group? No? Yeah, me either. But I do think Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) will get the kick in the ass he needs to do something. He’ll either join the group, or infiltrate their network to put a stop to their hunting. After all, Jeremy is/was a Hunter.

Funny and Memorable Lines:

Elena to Caroline: “That is a conversation to be had over Jell-O shots.”

Way to go, Elena (Nina Dobrev). That’s what college is all about since you never go to class anymore.

Luke: “You’re doing that thing again.”

Liv: “What thing?”

Luke: “Ah, that thing where you’re a bitch because you like somebody. It’s pretty transparent.”

So, the twins know more about each other than I realized. Way to get into Liv’s (Penelope Mitchell) personal biz, Luke (Chris Brochu).

Damon to Bonnie: “First of all, don’t nickname; that’s my thing.”

Bickering like a married couple leads to bad situations. I know Bonnie and Damon are both in love with different people but they sure aren’t acting like it.

Caroline: “I thought I told Enzo to go more get ice.”

Partygoer: “Did you do it in that tone, ‘cause I think I know why he didn’t.”

I love this short interaction. It made me chuckle.

Enzo: “Good news, Caroline. I thwarted a vampire hunter; bad news, Stefan has become a vampire hunter.”

Words I never thought I’d hear muttered about Stefan.

Final Thoughts:

Guess no one wanted Jell-O?

Although “Welcome to Paradise” answers a few questions, it doesn’t satisfy my appetite for the TVD of old. I don’t care about the two new characters introduced; I don’t care that the soundtrack for the other side is stuck in the ‘90s; and I don’t care about the twists which aren’t really twists. The writers used to shock us with revelations and events. Now, I sit watching, waiting for something amazing to happen. Better luck next week. Leave me a comment in the section below or hit me up on Twitter @ellemoe to tell me what you thought of “Welcome to Paradise.”

Tune in to The Vampire Diaries, Thursdays at 8/7c, only on The CW. For more on the show, visit the official site.

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Elle

Writer, mother, realist, cloud lover, daydreamer, dessert enthusiast, sweet tea addict, perfectionist, and lover of life and Christ, but not in that order. http://www.fanfiction.net/~vikingloverelle