Nice seeing the show remember that it can actually set some unsettling atmosphere when it wants to (as it did with the creepy mood in the first flashback/start of this episode). Even better was seeing just how bad-ass Katherine was. Playing the victim? Biting those two guys? The blood on her chin? I loved it. I couldn't help but laugh at human Damon's goofy hairdo and his prissy self (his attempt to clean the blood off Katherine's chin before kissing her). He was so young, so naive. Interesting that Katherine was involving him in her kills/teaching him how to kill before she made him a vampire.
Damon interrupting Elena and Stefan, post-coitus, was unexpected/hilarious (as were their reactions to him being there on the bed). I got a laugh out of Damon's "Oh, stop being smutty." and "If I see something I haven't seen before, I'll throw a dollar at it." lines. Great scene between the three of them. I liked Stefan reminding Elena not to say anything so quickly after Damon left (due to his vampire super hearing) and the nifty switch from Elena & Stefan fooling around under the sheets to Katherine and Damon doing the same in the past. Turns out Emily was a bit of a perve (hovering there at the door, eyeing Elena & Damon). It was cool seeing Kelly Hu - I've always liked her. Nina Dobrev does such a good job as Katherine. She's totally believable playing this completely different character (and doesn't portray her as simply an 'evil' version of Elena).
Elena's "It's twisted, but...kind of sad." and Stefan's "There's other ways to get what you want. You don't have to kill people. Damon has no regard for human life, he enjoys inflicting pain on others." conversation perfectly summed up Damon as a character and the arguments that have been made about him. People make excuses for his actions, but like Stefan said...there *are* other ways for Damon to get what he wants...but he chooses to kill. People shouldn't forget that.
James Remar (from the show Dexter) as Stefan and Damon's father? Hm, seems somehow appropriate. Okay, Alaric's stake-shooter was pretty kick-ass. Nice way of outing him to Stefan as more than just a "teacher". I like how intense/intimidating and downright scary Stefan can be when he wants to (he's not all brooding and "charm"). Liked hearing more about Isobel (more Mia Kirshner, please!).
Good scene between Stefan, Damon and their father (despite the bad hair). The scene with Damon cooking dinner for Jenna? Also good. Had to laugh at him asking (in reference to Logan), "They ever find him? He still missing?" and Jenna thinking that he's in the Bahamas, working on his tan. Good scene between Alaric and Stefan, as well as Elena and Damon. I especially liked the fake-out that he was compelling her to answer him and his sounding offended that she'd suggest it (though Elena could have sounded a *little* more convincing when she assured Damon he could trust Stefan). Loved seeing Damon and Jeremy playing video games, Damon's "Hot trumps weird." advice to Jeremy (in regards to Anna), then Jenna commenting on Damon's "hotness", only for Elena to inform her aunt that he's an "ass" and Damon's eye-roll at that.
Damon and Anna choking each other and Damon being the first to cave/let go was also good. Interesting twist with Stefan's dad feeding Stefan Vervain (without him knowing) so it would expose Katherine and how he knew Stefan was under her influence (and now we know where Stefan got the idea for slipping Caroline Vervain in her drink to weaken Damon earlier in the season).
That was an awesome scene with Elena and Stefan, when they got found out by Damon. All three actors were great (especially the looks of betrayal/disappointment on Damon's face and regret/shame on Elena's). Things got even more intense when Damon grabbed Elena and threatened to make her his and Stefan's "vampire girlfriend". Well-acted by everyone involved. I prefer it when the show focuses on these three characters.
That was a nifty little gizmo they stuck on Katherine to ensure she didn't bite anyone (the vampire equivalent of the thing Anthony Hopkins always winds up wearing as Hannibal Lecter?).
Well, now we know why Damon's devoted his unlife to making Stefan's hell, but like Elena said...Stefan didn't do anything wrong.
Damn that stupid Vampire Compass for outing Kelly Hu as a vampire and leading to her demise along with Katherine!
This was a great episode. I loved it just like I loved the previous flashback episode we got earlier in the season. These episodes really go a long way towards explaining things and seem to make everything feel all the more "epic". And that's how it's done indeed. Excellent job, show/writers! Here's hoping you can maintain this level of awesomeness for the remainder of the season.
Damon interrupting Elena and Stefan, post-coitus, was unexpected/hilarious (as were their reactions to him being there on the bed). I got a laugh out of Damon's "Oh, stop being smutty." and "If I see something I haven't seen before, I'll throw a dollar at it." lines. Great scene between the three of them. I liked Stefan reminding Elena not to say anything so quickly after Damon left (due to his vampire super hearing) and the nifty switch from Elena & Stefan fooling around under the sheets to Katherine and Damon doing the same in the past. Turns out Emily was a bit of a perve (hovering there at the door, eyeing Elena & Damon). It was cool seeing Kelly Hu - I've always liked her. Nina Dobrev does such a good job as Katherine. She's totally believable playing this completely different character (and doesn't portray her as simply an 'evil' version of Elena).
Elena's "It's twisted, but...kind of sad." and Stefan's "There's other ways to get what you want. You don't have to kill people. Damon has no regard for human life, he enjoys inflicting pain on others." conversation perfectly summed up Damon as a character and the arguments that have been made about him. People make excuses for his actions, but like Stefan said...there *are* other ways for Damon to get what he wants...but he chooses to kill. People shouldn't forget that.
James Remar (from the show Dexter) as Stefan and Damon's father? Hm, seems somehow appropriate. Okay, Alaric's stake-shooter was pretty kick-ass. Nice way of outing him to Stefan as more than just a "teacher". I like how intense/intimidating and downright scary Stefan can be when he wants to (he's not all brooding and "charm"). Liked hearing more about Isobel (more Mia Kirshner, please!).
Good scene between Stefan, Damon and their father (despite the bad hair). The scene with Damon cooking dinner for Jenna? Also good. Had to laugh at him asking (in reference to Logan), "They ever find him? He still missing?" and Jenna thinking that he's in the Bahamas, working on his tan. Good scene between Alaric and Stefan, as well as Elena and Damon. I especially liked the fake-out that he was compelling her to answer him and his sounding offended that she'd suggest it (though Elena could have sounded a *little* more convincing when she assured Damon he could trust Stefan). Loved seeing Damon and Jeremy playing video games, Damon's "Hot trumps weird." advice to Jeremy (in regards to Anna), then Jenna commenting on Damon's "hotness", only for Elena to inform her aunt that he's an "ass" and Damon's eye-roll at that.
Damon and Anna choking each other and Damon being the first to cave/let go was also good. Interesting twist with Stefan's dad feeding Stefan Vervain (without him knowing) so it would expose Katherine and how he knew Stefan was under her influence (and now we know where Stefan got the idea for slipping Caroline Vervain in her drink to weaken Damon earlier in the season).
That was an awesome scene with Elena and Stefan, when they got found out by Damon. All three actors were great (especially the looks of betrayal/disappointment on Damon's face and regret/shame on Elena's). Things got even more intense when Damon grabbed Elena and threatened to make her his and Stefan's "vampire girlfriend". Well-acted by everyone involved. I prefer it when the show focuses on these three characters.
That was a nifty little gizmo they stuck on Katherine to ensure she didn't bite anyone (the vampire equivalent of the thing Anthony Hopkins always winds up wearing as Hannibal Lecter?).
Well, now we know why Damon's devoted his unlife to making Stefan's hell, but like Elena said...Stefan didn't do anything wrong.
Damn that stupid Vampire Compass for outing Kelly Hu as a vampire and leading to her demise along with Katherine!
This was a great episode. I loved it just like I loved the previous flashback episode we got earlier in the season. These episodes really go a long way towards explaining things and seem to make everything feel all the more "epic". And that's how it's done indeed. Excellent job, show/writers! Here's hoping you can maintain this level of awesomeness for the remainder of the season.
