(S01E02) Two episodes in and I'm totally on board with the bad-ass Damon love. People, he is so evil! And he looks like Rob Lowe. What is not to love? The second episode of Vampire Diaries was way more watchable than the pilot, mainly because we don't have to suffer through so much boring character exposition. This really freed up the writers to get creative with Damon and Stefan, which was a great boost. And aside from some scenery chewing at the end, a very well paced and exciting episode.
We start the second episode of the season by picking up where we left of last, with a drugged up Vicki in the hospital having flashbacks of a vampire attack, and her brother Matt by her side. I really like the relationship these two have, though, it, uh, seems a little too close. If you know what I mean. Both Kayla Ewell and Zach Roerig are doing a decent job as Vicki and Matt, but their chemistry seems too flirty.
While Matt and Vicki are dealing with her trauma, Stefan and Elena are busy making eyes at each other in class. The two dance around their feelings for one another through the episode, debating whether or not they should date. This is all fine and good, but Paul Wesley is still creepy as Stefan. Though, he does a nice job of being just a bit out of place with the other high school kids that it's in character, but his brooding stone-faced look is getting old already. It'll be nice to see another side of this character as the series progresses.
Right now, the only character that really has me excited is Damon. The show just gets an extra spark whenever Ian Somerhalder appears on screen. He's so unambiguously evil it's fun to watch someone completely embrace their Id and not struggle with pesky things like right and wrong. Damon's really the catalyst that will turn things around in Mystic Falls, making Vampire Diaries more than another soapy teen drama. Not only does he have zero qualms about his blood-sucking ways, but he's brilliant at toying with and torturing humans.
Like I said last week, the Damon and Stefan back story will be enjoyable to see unfold. It's clear the two hate each other, but for reasons we don't know yet. And, as suspected, Katherine is Stefan's long lost love, but apparently Damon had something to do with that ending as well.
I'm also curious as to what Mr. Tanner's story is. He and Aunt Jenna had a pretty tense parent-teacher conference, but I wonder if he's not hiding something. He seems like the only responsible adult in this town, but still a bit shady.
Despite the better pacing of this episode and great fright factor, the final act between Stefan and Elena drags the whole episode down. It's all very shades of Smallville, when the two love interests have a tender moment together at night. Nina Dobrev does well showing Elena's emotional sensitivity, but she's way way to mature for a high school kid. Her lines really don't fit her age. Also, I hope they end that "Dear Diary" conceit at the end. So far, I'm not really on board with their epic true love story line. Are we really supposed to be rooting for these two when they come together so soon?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-18-2009 @ 2:30PM
Sharon said...
I find the show to be a total yawn fest. I wanted to like it, but the writing is so juvenile, which might seem appropriate since they are in high school, but it's worse than high school writing. The lead Paul Wesley is do boring I wonder if he's even awake half the time. I guess he's trying to be brooding, but he's boring. Elena does seem way more mature than her friends and that does affect the story a lot. Her chemistry with Stefan is non existent. She has more passion in scenes with her brother. Not that kind of passion, but at least she's alive, but with Stefan it's like she to can barely stay awake. That's not some super romance, that's yawnville. Now that they've had that first kiss after a couple boring conversations, what's left? Nothing. Watching Damon not kill people now? Because he's not going to kill the main cast, so he will lose his edge very soon because he'll be all talk and no action. To make things worse Stefan isn't any more likeable in scenes with Damon. He's just so dull. While the story has moderate possibilities, the cast and writing is killing it.
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10-14-2009 @ 6:24PM
Grace said...
Honestly you people just complain.......come on......vampires don't even exists...... so if they want to put vampires in the sun whatever........is myth anyways.....duh....
9-18-2009 @ 2:35PM
MCW said...
I have similar complaints... I highly doubt I can make it through even 1 season of this, if all it's going to be is Damon asking Stefan "What are you up to?" and "What game are you playing?". Because that's all I've seen so far out of them.
I also wish I could like the show more... I'm not impressed thus far. Seems to be typical CW stuff.
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9-18-2009 @ 2:36PM
MCW said...
*Stefan asking Damon
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9-18-2009 @ 3:05PM
lauren said...
I agree. It's all very typical of this type of concept. I'm trying to like it because I can see some potential and I love boone. I hope they go further into the storyline of elena's friend with witchcraft in her history. Right now they need to spice things up and give a new take on the vampire love storyline.
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9-19-2009 @ 11:41AM
Diana said...
Am I the only one disturbed by the way female characters are treated in this show? This may be the aspiring Buffy-scholar in me talking but take Vicky for instance. Last episode, she was mauled.
This episode she was brain-washed, terrorized, kidnapped, almost thrown off the building, re-brain-washed, re-terrorized, and then Stefan throws her to the ground to have a badass moment with his bro'.
And at the end of the episode, Damon sinks his teeth into ANOTHER girl. How can a predominantly female fandom stand for this crap and even say that Damon is the best character on the show.
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9-19-2009 @ 6:00AM
Xina said...
IF this follows the books, don't worry about the way girls are treated, as things will get crazy here pretty soon.
I HOPE that this series follows the books, if so you are in for some big surprises as to what the real deal with the two brothers are.
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9-20-2009 @ 4:41AM
Owloo said...
Vampires don't go for this feminist crap would be my guess and calm down girl its only a fictional Tv show
P.s. VAMPIRES AREN'T REAL EITHER ;)
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9-25-2009 @ 2:11AM
Vlyde Dracula said...
OK!!!! since when can vampires be out during the day!!!!!!!!!!!! they are not vampires if they can go out during the day.. Twatlight and this stupid teenie bopper vampires diaries with actors in their late 20's playing high school students come on.. LAME .. they are old as mmm not to mention real vampires would burn in the sun not play football to get laid.. Stupid Show!! anyone that likes this show are idiots.. show should be called daypire daires... If you want a real vampire show watch True blood. Least it follows what real vampires are.. not some sell out to get high school vampires.. come on you think if you live forever you would want to be stuck in high school??? hell no.. high school sucked for 90% of us normal people.. again Lame show but ya hot girls.. couldn't get anyone to watch it without high girls to get guys to watch and hot guy guys to get girls to watch.. come on MAKE A BETTER SHOW AND WRITE A BETTER BOOK anbd follow the true myth!!.. LAME!! They dont make them like the used to LOST BOYS!!!
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10-05-2009 @ 7:51AM
Kate said...
Just out of curiosity... =/
How can you have a TRUE myth? It's fantasy...
10-01-2009 @ 9:24PM
aRandom said...
I was sooooo incredibly bored with the first episode, I couldn't stand it!!! It was a whole bunch of scenes of them staring at each other, I mean seriously!! We get it, they seem to like each other!!! The guy who plays Stefan... eh. Im kinda bored with him. He's plain, where's the pizzaz?! Elena. Eh. Maybe its because its Nina (I'm not that big of a fan of hers), she alright, but I think they could've cast someone better- she doesnt seem to spice up the show either... Now Damon, yess~ Thats when the show started getting interesting. Now there's a person who can bring some life to the show and make you feel the evil! (Yes, feel the evil.) Feel free to disagree, but I'm very picky about actors- I was so upset with the twilight movie cast too.
Maybe I should just read the book before I get any of my hopes about this show broken (they're already cracked), have any recommendations, feel free~.
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10-05-2009 @ 12:01AM
Kate said...
There are books?? What are they called? Maybye that will be better...
MAYBE..
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