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The Vampire Diaries - Episode 3.07 - Ghost World - Review

Oct 28, 2011

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"Besides, there's gonna be people here tonight. Which means there's gonna be lots to eat." —Stefan 

Here were the two main problems with tonight's episode of The Vampire Diaries: (1) Anna is now, presumably, gone forever from the show. Jeremy could technically still see Anna, but she made a gesture to establish that he should stop thinking about her altogether. And (2) where the hell is Katherine!? After last week's ending where Katherine fell into Mikael's coffin as he fed on her, I though they were definitely going to reassure us that she's completely fine and healthy and alive! Last week, I wrote that I couldn't forgive this show if they killed off Katherine, also known as their best character. I also wrote about how lack of death on TV shows sort of makes scenes pointless at times, but that doesn't matter to me more than Katherine being alive does. I won't appreciate it if Katherine is truly kaput — and I suppose you can argue that since we didn't see her ghost, she's completely fine — but I do appreciate the show is at least tinkering and taunting us with the idea for a while. …

Read the rest of my review here!
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19 comments:

  1. prpleightOctober 28, 2011 at 6:44 AM

    Thanks for posting that.  I don't *completely* agree with your views but it was a good review.  Thanks!

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  2. Michael ColladoOctober 28, 2011 at 6:57 AM

    Then, please, share. The best part about writing reviews is discussing everyone's different views!

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  3. adduhlayOctober 28, 2011 at 7:11 AM

    I agree, episode should have ended with the necklace, the caveman writings were a bit bleh, kind of took away from the 'omg the necklace' feeling. Also just wondering, did we ever learn about Damon's raven? I know this question is 2 seasons late but I was randomly just thinking about this. If anyone knows or remembers anything please do let me know!

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  4. Jomar LopezOctober 28, 2011 at 7:20 AM

    I'm not entirely sure, but I'm willing to bet that they removed the raven and the fog from the show because it was...corny. I can just imagine the writers being embarrassed by that.

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  5. Jomar LopezOctober 28, 2011 at 7:33 AM

    Awesome review, as always. One thing though: When did Lexi compel Stefan? I was absolutely, without a doubt confused by that scene, but never thought compulsion was involved. I'm not saying you're wrong, because it almost makes sense (would explain Stefan hallucinating), but how would compulsion be probable in this circumstance? Besides the fact that Lexi is a ghost and we're not entirely sure if they still retain their abilities, how can a vampire who is not an original compel another vampire? I really found that scene intriguing though; She gave Stefan a gaze and all of a sudden he's going through some sort of frenzy.

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  6. DarqueModeOctober 28, 2011 at 7:44 AM

    Not just because Jasmine Guy made me realize what a great actress she is again (and how bad Kat Graham is by comparison), but I really miss Grandma Bennett. She was only on a short while but what a waste of a good actress.

    I guess some may defend Bonnie for being upset at Jeremy but frankly I cannot. IF anyone's dead first love popped up after dying I think I could understand a make out session! XD That's one of those things you need to just look at as a one-time deal and move on. But then again.... they do love their melodrama on TVD so Bonnie got be hurt and pout during rescuing the town. Even going s far as to NOT answer the phone because Jeremy was calling. 

    There's just no chemistry between Bonnie and Jeremy anyway  and after seeing Anna with him it just made me angry Anna was gone and we are left with the inevitable Bonnie and Jeremy rekindling. Sigh....

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  7. prpleightOctober 28, 2011 at 8:05 AM

    Yes sir.  :-)

    I thought the ep was a mighty fun use of the ghosts.  I thought they got all of the mileage out of the ghosts that they needed to.  They weren't there for chills they were there to move the arc and character stories along.  They tied stuff up, revealed new information, injected jeopardies and complications.  For me that was all good.

    I loved the spell to reveal them all, just in time for Elena to see Jeremy kissing Anna.  I liked the way they ended the Anna/Jeremy story.  It was much more satisfying than the abrupt ending in season one.   I didn't have a problem with Mason's attack on Damon followed by his working with him to uncover yet another secret buried in Mystic Falls.  

    (Aside: cudos to the writers for having Caroline refer to Jasmine guy's character as Miss Sheila.  Very real Southernism.  You do NOT call your elders by their first name without permission and when they give you permission...Mr. or Miss. precedes it.  :-) 

    Back to Mason.  Just because his unfinished business was to do right by Tyler doesn't mean he couldn't take a jab at Damon when he had the chance.  He's not redeemed yet.  :-)  And really, who'd pass up the opportunity.  It didn't feel odd or out of character to me.

    I like the parallel you draw between the damage caused by Walter bringing Peter through and Bonnie rescuing Jeremy.  I like the way they kept the plot element from becoming an albatross by using the consequences to ensure it's a one off event.  I'm not sure I see the potential story you see but I hope you're right about that one.

    As I recall the basic explanation of witches they're more about balance than revenge.  The restrictions on werewolves and vampires was brought about as a way to keep their power balanced.  Keeping Klaus from become a hybrid was a quest for balance.  And everything flowing from there a determined quest to keep him from knocking nature out of balance.  Killing Elena was the back up plan...and a genius one at that IMHO.  My interpretation of her attempts to murder Elena is that she is doing what Bonnie had to do in this ep.  She left a loop hole that Klaus slipped through.  She's trying to clean it up.  I keep thinking that somewhere down the line Bonnie will be tasked with trying to figure out how to restore that balance (if only to save Elena's life.)

    I didn't quite know how to read what Lexi was doing that caused his hand to wither either.  I expected her to open Stefan's wrists and bleed him out.  In theory I like the idea of forcing another emotion out of Stefan as a way to get him to restore his humanity.  But can he?  He was compelled to shut it off....it it possible for him to turn it back on?  The way that was played....Lexi's word didn't read to me as fact.  It came across as wishful thinking.  But then again Caroline's father did prove that a person does have some control in the end.  (Okay,  I only just remembered the bit about Caroline's father as I was typing so.  I take it back.  It could be possible for Stefan to fight the compulsion. )

    I also agree with you about the ending of the ep.  I think it would have been just fine to have Damon and Ric visit the cave at the top of next ep.  

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  8. prpleightOctober 28, 2011 at 8:10 AM

    I have a vague memory of a show runner interview that said pretty much that...it just wasn't workable from an extended production standpoint.

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  9. prpleightOctober 28, 2011 at 8:19 AM

    I totally see it.  :-D

    Hurt feelings and logic don't always go hand in hand.  Bonnie was the first person to point out that she was having issues because Jeremy never got to tie up those relationships.  Both girls died on him...and pretty near the beginning of those relationships.  But knowing that would legitimately make you wonder if his feelings for you are as real or....just getting by.  She could be thinking that if his feelings for Anna are that strong....what does that leave her?

    Basically,  yes, the logic dictates that because Jeremy's emotional situation makes perfect sense.  It makes perfect sense for Bonnie to be hurt and feel as though Jeremy chose Anna over her.  She doesn't know that Anna left; that they said good bye.  From the information Bonnie had, it appears as though...Jeremy came back, not because he wants her but because he can't have Anna so he'll take the consolation prize;  Bonnie.

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  10. DarqueModeOctober 28, 2011 at 8:39 AM

    Being hurt makes sense....  not working through it and slapping him when he tries to talk to you? Not so much. Being pouty and not answering his call during a ghost fiasco that she herself caused? Again, not so much.

    When an entire town is counting on you to save them (whether they know it or not), it is not the time to not answer phone calls for melodramatic personal reasons. Plus the slapping him was just overly dramatic in general. He manned up and came to her to apologize and explain. Listening was the least she could do in my opinion. Not forgive him necessarily, but it was an extreme circumstance. 

    To just react like she did is petulant. 
    So I guess you're right in that sense... it was completely in her character to do it....

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  11. moonvampOctober 28, 2011 at 12:13 PM

    Oh my goodness.  Your right what happened to Katherine.  Sadly tho...I didn't even realize she wasn't on the show until I started reading your article.  What does that say about me?  

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  12. jensenfan1978October 28, 2011 at 3:40 PM

    The views were interesting.

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  13. Michael ColladoOctober 28, 2011 at 6:04 PM

    Right. I was completely confused at that and, unfortunately, didn't really explain by confusion at all. I have no idea what that scene was about and I'm actually shocked that they didn't explain it at all. I'm even disappointed that Elena wouldn't ask what was happening. :/ Will they ever explain this? Do ghosts have magical powers, too? I don't know.

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  14. Michael ColladoOctober 28, 2011 at 6:14 PM

    What I mean about not having gotten all the mileage out of the ghosts is that since it was technically close to Halloween, I think they could have ruffled a few more feathers. There was just one bad ghost (and his entourage) and Mason was causing trouble but not in a fun way. I think they could have had a bit more fun with it.

    I guess I just see a bigger potential because I'd rather there be consequences to the hole in the fabric of both dimensions/planes than just you die and you can just be here as a ghost. That has more gravitas to me than just then sticking around when they die.

    About Elena and the balance of power: maybe they'll kill her off the show!!! :p

    Yeah, I don't understand the Lexi scene in the slightest. What was she doing?

    And the episode wasted that necklace scene with the cave writings that made no sense to anyone.

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  15. Jomar LopezOctober 28, 2011 at 6:45 PM

    RIGHT? I was looking at Elena, waiting for her to comment on it.

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  16. prpleightOctober 28, 2011 at 9:07 PM

    Well, the character *is* a teenager... pouty, petulant, unreasonable, and just plain dumb are frequent hallmarks.  That said...I completely agree with you.  Once she was convinced that this was a problem of her making and her responsibility to clean up she should have put on her big girl panties and answered the phone.  I'm with you on the slap too. :-) 

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  17. prpleightOctober 28, 2011 at 9:17 PM

    "What I mean about not having gotten all the mileage out of the ghosts is that since it was technically close to Halloween, I think they could have ruffled a few more feathers."

    This reminds me of something I was complaining about to my cousins the first ep back.  I realize that the show has quite a bit of story going on and they're barely justifying paying the guy who plays Matt, but it's feeling like they've made the town council impotent.  (I think it was the first ep back when Ric argued that he should be allowed on the council.) In previous seasons we've seen that the sheriff's dept has officers in the know...and the council (or sub-council I hope. :-)  is filled with members of the founding families that are in the know....but suddenly NO ONE sees anything?

    I think what you're suggesting would have gone a long way to regaining the feeling that the supernatural stories exist in the complete world of Mystic Falls.  It's easy to buy Stefan's kills going un-recognized in Chicago..but he had 5 girls in the house last ep...You won't get me to believe the Sheriff wouldn't do something.  It's one thing to protect the daughter who isn't killing...and is trying to protect the town.. It's completely different to get me to guy that she's going to sit back and allow innocents to be killed without even yelling at Damon.

    Wait, I wandered from my point a little....  I think what you're suggesting could have been done with non-dialog scenes and would have gone a long way to remind us that it's not just the founding families in danger or affected by the supernatural goings on. And, you're right, it would have taken the ep up a notch.

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  18. DarqueModeOctober 28, 2011 at 9:24 PM

    I'm with you on one level....

    It felt like the rip between the underworld and Mystic Falls would result in most people seeing their loved ones and one gang of once or twice dead grunge music fans in flannel causing traffic jams. XD

    Ok I know there was a man strung up by his neck parts, but the one death compared to various loved ones returning seemed like a barely scary concept unless you imagined how bad it could get on your own.

    It was such a short apocalypse it barely felt like it was to be taken seriously..

    I think the necklace not being destroyed could have been a good (maybe better) cliffhanger too, but I did not mind seeing the ancient rune names of the Originals revealed. It could have been a good cliffhanger too, but it did lack the build up that the necklace had story wise.. Oh well, I'm more excited to find out about the Originals than the pendant.

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  19. Tiffany AndersonOctober 29, 2011 at 1:51 AM

    Okay, it wasn't compulsion, I don't know what they call it, but I think it is along the lines of how Katherine messed with Stefan dreams back in seasons 1 & 2. I Don't think they ever fully explained it but it has something to do with not protecting your mind. But I always thought was because he wasn't drinking human blood and was weaker and along the lines of why he couldn't use compulsion correctly. IDK if vampires (that aren't Originals) can glamour other vampires in TVD mythos but that sure seemed like that's what it could be to me. Just my two cents.

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