Your thoughts are so interesting, and some of them are SO relevant to what happens later this season and also in season 4. I don't know if I should comment really, as I don't want to spoil anything!
For me it was really interesting to read your thoughts as you obviously like Stefan a lot more than I do and Damon less than I do. It made me think, and it's great to encounter stuff like this because it shows my own bias. But I also wonder if this is retrospect talking. I remember that by the end of season 2 I actually genuinely felt for Stefan (and I didn't dislike him up to season 3). I really think they mess up his storyline in season 3, so I am very curious as to your thoughts from this point out. For me, the "switch" thing really was when the season changed for me and I became a little more disappointed each time.
You know, I never really pondered if Damon shouldn't be happy to have his brother drinking human blood again. I feel he would be happy if Stefan did, but he was never one to cheer on ripper!Stefan, and I feel that is the difference here.
Your ideas about agency are SO to the point, especially if combined with the morality dilemma in the case of Stefan at this point. Amy and I have discussed this repeatedly, and I feel that the show started to really struggle with the idea of having vampires in their show, who "by nature" kill people, and the idea of loving them/making them sympathetic. I think this is where the repeated idea of loss of agency comes in, through the use of compulsion/the switch/whatever is happening to Tyler, etcetera. Unfortunately, the show doesn't exactly seem to recognise that by taking away some of the free will/choices of people, they are taking away some of the gratification of watching such a show. I like my characters to be held accountable for things, and I feel that the show sometimes uses supernatural compulsion-like stuff to not have to have characters face consequences of their actions. But this might also be retrospect talking again, as choice is going to be a huge theme in season 3. This show is so conflicting on the messages it sends. It's as if sometimes, the only choices/responsibilities/etcetera that really matter are if it concerns Elena (and even then not always), which is so scewed.
Your remark on aging women and them dying is so poignant. I had to think of Jenna, and how almost every parental figure has been killed by now (uncle John, Isobel, etcetera). The shows treatment of women and especially, yes, black witches, is so incredibly problematic. That's why I loved Caroline and Katharine in s2/3, because at least they seem to balance it out somewhat. But what about Bonnie? I feel she never receives her due to even make a semblance of balance on their treatment of black witches.
I am the odd one out in that I never really liked Tyler much. I have started to come around to him lately, but as for his relationship with Caroline.. I always felt it was a little too fast. Not as in: "oh my, they are quick to jump in bed together!" Just that I wish I had seen more build-up. I think this might have been another fan service thing in that they felt they had to rush it to keep viewers, perhaps? I became more of a Forwood shipper towards the end of season 3 though. Curious how your feelings will develop.
I'm also curiuous how your thoughts will be about the "main triangle" thing during this season. Season 3 for me was the season I wanted Elena single/without brothers.
And I agree, I really like Bonnie and Jeremy!
Um, what more? I agree that the ep 3/4 storyline of torture etc read like a subtext on being gay and if it involves a choice, and the whole debate and definitely the treatment of some societal groups of that question. I do wonder if it's a positive thing in the end though, as in: they seem to reflect that this torture is a bad thing, but by equaling vampire nature with gay in subtext, and having some characters voice the "vampirism is unnatural and/or less good than being human" idea I wonder if they aren't accidentally sending a different message at one point or other? I mean, Elena has been pretty clear that she never wants to be a vampire. Stefan does his utmost to deny his vampire nature, and he is always painted as the good brother (though I agree with Amy that both brothers are grey, but the imagery seems to stick even throughout season 3).. I don't know. But this show is really good at giving little suggestions and then not really playing things out or discussing the things in the details that I want to be voiced. My biggest frustration with this show might be that it constantly undermines its own potential, because of "faster plot!"
no subject
For me it was really interesting to read your thoughts as you obviously like Stefan a lot more than I do and Damon less than I do. It made me think, and it's great to encounter stuff like this because it shows my own bias. But I also wonder if this is retrospect talking. I remember that by the end of season 2 I actually genuinely felt for Stefan (and I didn't dislike him up to season 3). I really think they mess up his storyline in season 3, so I am very curious as to your thoughts from this point out. For me, the "switch" thing really was when the season changed for me and I became a little more disappointed each time.
You know, I never really pondered if Damon shouldn't be happy to have his brother drinking human blood again. I feel he would be happy if Stefan did, but he was never one to cheer on ripper!Stefan, and I feel that is the difference here.
Your ideas about agency are SO to the point, especially if combined with the morality dilemma in the case of Stefan at this point. Amy and I have discussed this repeatedly, and I feel that the show started to really struggle with the idea of having vampires in their show, who "by nature" kill people, and the idea of loving them/making them sympathetic. I think this is where the repeated idea of loss of agency comes in, through the use of compulsion/the switch/whatever is happening to Tyler, etcetera. Unfortunately, the show doesn't exactly seem to recognise that by taking away some of the free will/choices of people, they are taking away some of the gratification of watching such a show. I like my characters to be held accountable for things, and I feel that the show sometimes uses supernatural compulsion-like stuff to not have to have characters face consequences of their actions. But this might also be retrospect talking again, as choice is going to be a huge theme in season 3. This show is so conflicting on the messages it sends. It's as if sometimes, the only choices/responsibilities/etcetera that really matter are if it concerns Elena (and even then not always), which is so scewed.
Your remark on aging women and them dying is so poignant. I had to think of Jenna, and how almost every parental figure has been killed by now (uncle John, Isobel, etcetera). The shows treatment of women and especially, yes, black witches, is so incredibly problematic. That's why I loved Caroline and Katharine in s2/3, because at least they seem to balance it out somewhat. But what about Bonnie? I feel she never receives her due to even make a semblance of balance on their treatment of black witches.
I am the odd one out in that I never really liked Tyler much. I have started to come around to him lately, but as for his relationship with Caroline.. I always felt it was a little too fast. Not as in: "oh my, they are quick to jump in bed together!" Just that I wish I had seen more build-up. I think this might have been another fan service thing in that they felt they had to rush it to keep viewers, perhaps? I became more of a Forwood shipper towards the end of season 3 though. Curious how your feelings will develop.
I'm also curiuous how your thoughts will be about the "main triangle" thing during this season. Season 3 for me was the season I wanted Elena single/without brothers.
And I agree, I really like Bonnie and Jeremy!
Um, what more? I agree that the ep 3/4 storyline of torture etc read like a subtext on being gay and if it involves a choice, and the whole debate and definitely the treatment of some societal groups of that question. I do wonder if it's a positive thing in the end though, as in: they seem to reflect that this torture is a bad thing, but by equaling vampire nature with gay in subtext, and having some characters voice the "vampirism is unnatural and/or less good than being human" idea I wonder if they aren't accidentally sending a different message at one point or other? I mean, Elena has been pretty clear that she never wants to be a vampire. Stefan does his utmost to deny his vampire nature, and he is always painted as the good brother (though I agree with Amy that both brothers are grey, but the imagery seems to stick even throughout season 3).. I don't know. But this show is really good at giving little suggestions and then not really playing things out or discussing the things in the details that I want to be voiced. My biggest frustration with this show might be that it constantly undermines its own potential, because of "faster plot!"
Anyway, looking forward to your next post!
Iris