TVD Season 1 Episode 2
Get ready for an epic journey
Synopsis:
While Mystic Falls gets ready for a festival, Vicki is recovering in hospital from the attack. Stefan visits in order to make sure she does not remember what happened to her, but his attempt to use his powers on her is cut short. Mr Tanner makes Aunt Jenna feel that she is failing as a parent to the Gilbert siblings, and Elena goes to talk to Stefan - but finds his brother Damon instead.
Elena goes to the Salvatore house to talk to Stefan, but finds Damon there instead, who reveals surprising information about Stefan's past. Vicki begins to remember the attack.
Thoughts:
We are finally in Covington to film! The sets are SO different but it is so nice to see the Mystic Falls we know and love again!
Well, we start off with Damon back on the warpath by killing those 2 campers. We also see that he is still controlling the fog (which I am tracking how long that lasts in a different post) He really wants to stay committed to his promise to Stefan to make his life miserable.
On to a more positive note, I love how we see more into Elena's healing journey from her parents death. Even if it has only been less than 24 hours since her last diary entry where she thinks she will never be okay again. It truly is reflective of teenagers and how a boy can change all of that. On a deeper note, the writers do a fantastic job here of establishing why Elena feels so connected to Stefan since he is who helps her through her grief. The start of her relationship with Stefan and starting to feel like she did before the tragedy happen at the same time.
We also get to see Jenna in her guardian role this episode besides getting them ready for school in the morning. Jenna is a character that I wish we had around longer. There is so much about her, like what degree she is getting, that we never find out.
With these first few episodes, I feel bad about how they portray teachers. I know we get a somewhat better experience with them later but still - it sucks. That history teacher is horrible and I hate him more than anything. There is no reason to behave that way! Then again, especially in these first episodes, there are a lot of unrealistic things going on. Like a nurse not being close by when Matt yells for one, that comet lasting for hours, no one hearing Vicki scream, no one seeing Damon threaten to throw Vicki off of the rooftop, Matt forgetting the comment about Tyler forcing Vicki and more.
Okay, lets talk about Stefan and Elena's relationship. At this point, they have known each other for TWENTY-FOUR HOURS! They met, went to a party, talked all night and then this episode happens. I love that Stefan brings Elena a book, man after my own heart. But the way that Caroline is talking, why haven't they hooked up yet, baffles the heck outta me. I guess it makes us less surprised to see what happens with her and Damon next episode but oh my lanta. Again, the writers have done a fantastic job setting up Caroline's personality in just 2 episodes.
While I love Stefan and Elena together - my first reaction to Elena getting upset that Stefan didn't tell her his whole life story immediately is that is was a bit much. But after watching the whole episode, I do understand how grief is still controlling her and that she just wanted to protect her heart and ending it before she got too attatched. I am happy that she listened to Bonnie and pushed through her fear. This episode showed so much of what grief is, how it can impact you, how it can control you and how you need to push past it.
Speaking of Bonnie, I wonder if Grams ever warned her against talking so openly about being a witch. Also, Grams is consistently described as being a drunk, but when we do meet her - that is gone. I am curious why not. Stefan 100% is suspicious of Bonnie being a witch. Between her last name and her reaction when she gave him Elena's phone number.
Stefan really sucks at hiding his vampirism or coming up with excuses to explain his behavior. Him in the hospital was too much - but it was a good way to give us more insight into how much Stefan wants to stay away from human blood. But his words implying things were "so long" ago, reactions to Elena saying Damon told her about Katherine - he isn't too subtle.
Now let's talk about Damon. We finally get to see/get to know him a bit more in this episode. We learn that there is a specific reason as to why he is back, that he has some sort of a plan. We also see him continue to use fog and the crow - he also is able to compel Vicki without looking in her eyes. That is something we later learn shouldn't be possible. It is so easy to hate him this first few episodes, even this first season. But I am glad we get glimpses of him just wanting to have his brother back even if Damon doesn't understand how to have a stable relationship with him yet. ALSO! Damon says the line "Thats for me to know and for you to dot dot dot" like we see Katherine famously say later. I never caught that before.
Lastly, lets talk about Vicki, Jeremy and Matt. Vicki is ping ponging between Jeremy and Tyler. I feel so bad for Jeremy as it seems like Vicki had been helping heal, that Jeremy had almost trauma bonded with Vicki - and now she is leaving him for Tyler. The writers have done a great job making us feel for Jeremy. I loved how Jenna is evolving into more of her role as a guardian with Jeremy - being the adult that he needs. Finally, Matt. I am kind of glad that Matt doesn't try to push their relationship onto Elena or tries too hard to get back together with her. He just is a raging jealous ex. But I am glad he relatively sees the reality of the situation.
Since Bonnie is a witch, she just doesn't believe it yet. I have not really counted supernatural flags against her. If I did, she would have a couple but only when it has been her magic so far.
Timeline:
1864 - Last time Comet was seen
2009 - comet (Last seen 145 years ago)
Supernatural Flags:
Elena: 2 (Matt tells her Vicki said it was a vampire who attacked her, Damon +Crow when she goes to visit Stefan)
Caroline: 3 (Damon disappearing at comet night, Bonnie reacting to touching Stefan's hand, Damon showing up at her car)
Matt: 2 (Stefan at the hospital, talking with Stefan at comet about being at the hospital)
Town: 3 (how many animal attacks can happen before it is suspicious? Vicki screaming in the bathroom, Vicki and Damon on the rooftop)
Vicki: 1 (in the hospital seeing Damon)
Favorites:
Song: Gravity by Sara Bareilles
Line: We met and we talked and it was Epic but.. then the sun came up and reality set in. - Elena
Episode Info:
"The Night of the Comet"
Director: Marcos Siega
Writer: Kevin Williamson, Julie Plec
Songs:
"Gravity" by Sara Bareilles - Emo Song (there is an emo song in every episode that I am now going to highlight)
"I Get Around" by Dragonette
"I Am an Animal" by Neko Case
"Heavy Cross" by The Gossip
"Hang You from the Heavens" by The Dead Weather
"Closer to Love" by Mat Kearney
"Help I'm Alive" by Metric
"Interloper" by Earlimart
"Conductor" by We Were Promised Jetpacks
"Mud" by Peaches