Sporadic Scene: The Vampire Diaries (Season 3×21) – Klaus Tries To Get Into The Gilbert House

This scene is absolutely hilarious. I mean, we all know Klaus is cuckoo and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Still not having gained entry to the Gilbert house was no deterrent for him, and the way he started to wage a siege to get in was classic. The execution of this scene, the music, everything just worked wonders. My favourite piece? The way Klaus walked the gas up the stairs to burn down the house, and Stefan stops him there at the door. Ah, Klaus! ❤

The Originals: Season 3 (2015 – 2016)

*CONTAINS SPOILERS*

What I liked:

• Hayley and Elijah getting some awkward time together, and finally caving to it. YAY!
• More Vincent. I really like this character, definitely interesting, and I am so looking forward to seeing where it goes for him.
• The relationship ties between characters really improves more with each passing season.
• I warmed to Freya – she annoyed me last season, but she has grown into herself, and definitely fits into the family better now, and I like that.
• The relationship between Klaus and Elijah. I love how they can mess each other up intensely, but they are the only ones allowed to mess with each other like that, and then they will have drinks. Nicely done guys.

• The guest appearances from Stefan and even Matt Donovan, as pompous and annoying as he still is.
• The Mikaelson family drama remains absolutely enthralling every step of the way.
• Those last two episodes! That finale! Like oh my goodness!

Okay, okay, okay. I can’t help it, but Elijah. So cold, so efficient, so classy, so hot.

What I didn’t like:

• Lucien. Ugh. I don’t even want to really type out what I think about this… prat. It’ll get ugly.
• All these first turned vampires got on my nerves, not even going to lie.
• This whole Camille/Klaus and Aurora/Klaus thing. It just annoys me. He doesn’t actually have any proper chemistry with them, anything that would convince me that they are supposed to be together (whichever he wants).
• Camille annoyed me enough as is as a human, but as a vampire? UGH.
• Finn coming back.
• That whole prophecy angle, while it was good, was dragged out way more than necessary.
• Minimal werewolf story arc, and I actually liked knowing more about them all.

Rating:

Oh my goodness! What a season! Initially I was a little peeved, and there were sections I didn’t like, but there was also so much that was so right with this season! When it started up, I was a little sketch about all these first sired vampires, one for each Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah. Lucien Castle particularly annoyed me, even just the way he spoke. Soon it was evident that it was going to be an issue. Tristan didn’t peeve me like Lucien, but Aurora was a piece of work I didn’t like, and neither did I like this forced, ancient love story.

Davina leading the witches and finding herself wasn’t bad, either, I have warmed up to her as the show has progressed, though she truly still is a flawed individual. A character I adore is Vincent, and the man is fantastic, has his own set of morals, and works totally different. He is a character that is immensely sure of himself. I was also pleased to see how the Freya story arc was sorted out, because I really didn’t like her in the last season. I was so sad to see Jackson killed off – like I said, I really liked the dude, I just didn’t want him to be with Hayley because I am a Haylijah shipper for life man. Elijah is so freaking in love with Hayley, but he is such a good man and would put her happiness above his wants, and would step back so that she could just live her life. Man, too much for me.

Anyway, you obviously know I was over the moon when Klaus wheedled Hayley into admitting that she still had the hots for Elijah, and that she should do something about it, and then she did. My heart sang. Anyway, the Mikaelson “Always and Forever” motto is really put to the test here, and it was insane to see Kol brought back, but Rebekah taken, Finn brought back, though it was short-lived (thank goodness), and there is just melodrama everywhere, as is Mikaelson tradition. I loved seeing how this season tied into The Vampire Diaries (season 7), and it was great to see Stefan again.

Freaking heck, can we just talk about this Camille/Klaus crap for a second? It has always irritated me, this you know, but this last season it was particularly bad. Then the bitch was turned, and was even more annoying. I know this sounds awful, but when she passed, the only person I felt bad for for losing her was Vincent. Anyway, the way the Mikaelsons sorted out the warring sirelines was fantastic, and Klaus’s disposal of Lucien was cold, like wow. All that aside, that finale nearly drove me crazy! People dying left, right, centre, wars starting, this super dangerous hybrid whatever Lucien crafted, Klaus’s life, my poor Elijah getting snacked on (I literally cried out “no” when it happened), all sorts, it was some intense stuff! I was riveted.

The Originals: Season 2 (2014 – 2015)

*CONTAINS SPOILERS*

What I liked: 

• Elijah and Hayley finally doing something about the things going on between them. Phew, thank goodness, it was getting a little intense.
• Mikael and Klaus working together. However brief, it was so cool to see what might have been. Sadly, it was incredibly short lived. Oh well.
• Kol has grown on me. A lot. I haven’t ever really been particularly keen on him, but when he came back as the witch Kaleb, and the way he changed and adapted? I grew rather fond of him. Plus, I really liked him and Davina together, quite nice.
• The whole Mikaelson clan making an appearance. You would assume this would be annoying, but surprisingly it just works.
• Vincent. I know that when he was Finn he peeved me, but when Vincent is Vincent and not possessed by a Mikaelson, he is pretty darn cool.

What I didn’t like:

• Jackson and Hayley. I really, really do want to like them, and he does love her, but the thing is, she went into this marriage due to obligation, and Elijah was crushed because of it, and goodness knows I am a Hayley?Elijah shipper, so just deal.
• This whole sticky situation with Klaus and Camille the whole time. I mean come on. They don’t actually have chemistry. I can buy into them being friends, but never actually more than that, it just doesn’t seem to come together very well. Plus, the bitch ain’t Caroline. #KlarolineForever
• Finn got irritating. I have never liked that slimy bastard, but he was just all over the damn show here. I thought that Caspar Xafer did a fantastic job portraying him, but sheesh!
• Freya. Goodness gracious me. The girl pitches up out of nowhere and just wants to pop in, take over, the whole shebang. Uhm, really?
• This Gia/Elijah bullshit situation. NOT A FAN!

Rating:

Plotsies afoot, plotsies afoot everywhere! I really quite liked this season! For one, there was all the crazy work initially with keeping a lid on the fact that baby Hope is alive and well, and Klaus had to look okay. When Marcel spoke of how weird it was that Klaus was not mourning and murdering together, I laughed. He is so right. Klaus and his politics, of course, were all over the show here, and the intensity and depravity of what he gets up to does not escape me.

The entire Mikaelson clan was alive at some point or other during this season, but that didn’t annoy me at all, anywhere. I mean, they are the original pretty much everything, so the regular rules totally aren’t going to apply here. The siblings facing off against Esther and her lackey, Finn, was going to be interested. From the beginning I was sure that Kol was not going to stick with them for long, and I was right. He quite grew on me this season, which was awesome, and he and Davina actually worked well together.

What really was sad, though, was seeing how Klaus had to deal with daddy dearest once again. Constant warring, and when you finally think they have made headway? Screw that, stake the bastard. I totally get why Klaus would though, he has always been rejected, bullied, and hurt by his father. It also broke my heart to see Hayley marry Jackson. Don’t get me wrong, I like the dude and all, but he is not Elijah, and Elijah and Hayley just click. Like, when they finally gave in to each other? My heart cheered, I was so happy about the whole situation. I knew it was doomed. Ugh. I should stop getting my hopes up.

Naturally, no peace can be known for the Mikaelsons, and one victory over mother dearest meant that they would have dearest Aunt Dahlia on their hands, and that was one hell of a sticky thing. Freya is not a character I can say that I love at all, something just seems off about her, but let’s see where this goes. I was impressed by how much Rebekah has grown on me since I first saw her in The Vampire Diaries. Goodness knows she is still flawed, but she is getting better, especially due to Hope, and getting into a witch body.

I am not a fan of the Elijah/Gia story-line, and I was glad when that was disposed of. So much actually happened this season, but it all worked wonderfully. I really wish they would stop forcing this Camille/Klaus thing, it’s like every now and then the show remembers they are supposed to be interested in each other, and send them to see each other again. I was so sad to see Aiden killed, and Josh’s heart broken, and the chain reaction that came from that was insane. Klaus, of course, for getting screwed over (and it was horribly sad to watch), responded as only he could – nobody can torture quite like our Klausie. Definitely a good season that looks fantastic, flows well, and is interesting throughout. Well worth a watch.

The Originals: Season 1 (2013 – 2014)

*CONTAINS SPOILERS*

What I liked:

• So. Much. Klaus. I am a huge Klaus fan, and I was from the moment we met him in The Vampire Diaries. He’s just bad to the bone, really, and so unapologetic about it. He is what he is, and he doesn’t care who you are.
• Elijah. Again, I have always like this Original. He is so honourable, has amazing suits, always looks good, speaks beautifully and has such a dignified air about him that you cannot help but respect him. On the flip side, do not get on his bad side. Like holy wow, the man is brutal as heck.
• Being able to manage the stories of witches, werewolves, and vampires. New Orleans, man, was the best setting for this, because there are a ton of each of the supernatural beings, and it doesn’t seem out of place in New Orleans.
• Glimpses of the Mikaelson past. Seriously, having been around for centuries means that there is history to tell.
• Elijah and Hayley and all their back and forth. Yes. This couple? I think they are great. I just want Elijah to be happy, and he is so into Hayley, and being the man of honour that he is? Man, it’ll just be fantastic.
• The warring between Marcel and Klaus. Really, to see where Marcel came from, the relationship between him and Klaus, and how things have gotten? Oh my.
• Father Kieran. I actually really like this character – I was a bit worried when there was the requisite priestly character for this type of thing, but it worked quite well.
• The story arc of the wolves. I like that they are actually quite important here, not just a side plot to the vampires. The Originals has managed to successfully involve all these factions, and really well, too.
• The relationships between characters is great. Elijah and Klaus, Klaus and Marcel, Marcel and Davina, Davina and Josh, Cami and Klaus… there are just so many and they all work exceptionally well.

What I didn’t like:

• In The Vampire Diaries, in season two, Elijah was against Klaus because he was convinced that Klaus had killed off their whole family, and then Klaus brokered a deal to give the Mikaelson family to Elijah/reunite them, if he helped him. It was then revealed that the family had merely been daggered and lying in coffins. It was big news to Elijah. However, in The Originals, there are daggerings happening left, right, and centre, and it is well known knowledge that Klaus daggers the siblings that peeve him to teach them a lesson. I was not a fan of the inconsistency.
• Davina actually irritates the hell out of me at the moment. She is so… she’s such a bloody child, and whiny. Get your things together sweetie, such is life!
• Rebekah still irritates me. Not as bad as before, what with getting to spend more time with her, but enough to peeve me still. I guess we will have to wait and see how all this goes.
• Francesca. Oh. My. Gosh. You can just tell she is trouble from the off, and what an ugly chick to boot, too. What an ego she has, too! Wow!

Rating:
Okay, so I ended up watching this because I finished all The Vampire Diaries and was all sad cause I was so hooked. Naturally, I turned to The Originals because you all know I love my Klausie. And Eljah. A lot. So I was, of course, willing to watch a show where they were the central leads. Of course I was. I wasn’t going to look down my nose at an opportunity to see as much Klaus as possible, as well as Elijah and his gorgeous suits, phenomenal poise, and stunning vocabulary. Seeking this out was well enough, as The Originals happens to be a really good spin off series, which is rare.

The plots are well developed, the characters have depth (even if it takes time to reveal them), the show ties in nicely to The Vampire Diaries, but only briefly and quickly, so you can easily watch this without the former, and the pacing is cool. The first few episodes fumble a little, as is to be expected, but as soon as the ball is rolling, we are on a fantastic mission here. It was interesting to see how Klaus’s opinion of Hayley and her pregnancy changed as the season continued, and it showed an extremely hidden side of him. Elijah, too, stepped up and showed another side to him, which I love. The man has impeccable taste and is a man of honour, integrity, and his word mean everything. He is super polished. However, under all that, he is a brute of note.

Klaus taking on Marcel for the city was interesting, too, because they both want such different things out of the whole deal. The story arc of the witches, their oppression, and then eventual completing of the Harvest was great, and resurrecting the fallen. I thought it was crushing to see how Rebekah had brought their father, Mikael, to New Orleans all those years ago to run Klaus out of town so she and Marcel could be together, because it is a really sad thing that Klaus is painted terrible and treacherous (he is), but nobody examines what happens before all these things.

Another thing I love? The chaste relationship between Elijah and Hayley. I am quite taken with it, and the tension between them is driving me wild. Let’s not forget the Camille side of things – I actually don’t particularly enjoy her character, I find her flat and needy. Also, the jumping between Marcel and Klaus is silly, and I don’t feel that her and Klaus click at all. I just wish it would work out. I particularly enjoy all the politics going on here, and the history of the Mikaelson family is compelling. New Orleans is the perfect setting for all the power plays and all the magical factions coming together. It is really good.

And that final episode? The dramatics! The intensity! The blood, rage, and anger? Eeeeeeep! As if I didn’t dislike papa Mikael enough, seeing more of his history, what he did to his kids, and especially Klaus? Never, ever going to like him now. UGH. I am a really big fan of seeing the Mikaelson history, as well as delving into their exceptionally messy family ties. For reals. Also, Mikael returning in the end? This could get absolutely fascinating.

The Originals is a really solid series with great characters and interesting stories. It is quite well written and really well acted. No time is wasted getting into the story, and I like that. The Mikaelson family is fascinating, and watching the broken dynamics of it is engrossing, and to see how all the relationships between characters tie in together is great. Truly well worth the watch!

Sporadic Scene: The Vampire Diaries (Season 3×11) – Klaus Heals Caroline

This scene… was beautiful. Unexpected. Up until this point, Klaus had just been a crazy, psychotic killer Original. Heck, he was even the one that sent Tyler out to bite Caroline, so I was really surprised to see him show up on her doorstep, and more than a little wary. Then he sits there and has the sweetest, most touching conversation with Caroline and I was amazed. What a beautiful side. He owed her nothing, and there was nothing here to indicate it was a romance, it was just a selfless moment where Klaus shared something, inspired something in Caroline – he stood to gain nothing, and yet he still did it. I didn’t trust the turn in character one iota initially, but it was the first time we got a look at something genuine within Klaus, and it really is stunning. It turned me into a fan. I liked him well enough before, but he was never really a layered character, and this single scene changed my entire opinion of him. From here on out he just grows. Well played, writers, well played.

The Vampire Diaries: Season 7 (2015 – 2016)

*CONTAINS SPOILERS*

What I liked:

• KLAUS! While only a momentary appearance (sadly *sniff sniff*), it was so rewarding, so beautiful, and that phone call he had with Caroline? CRUSHED ME. See, still super duper keen on these two, they are destined for each other.
• While I was not a fan of the story jumping from the present to the future, the present to the past was just fine, it explained a lot of how things changed, etc. without boring us to tears setting everything up.
• Bonnie and Enzo. Initially when it happened, I was like what?! But when you see how it comes to be, it is a beautiful thing.
• The soundtrack improving – Manson being used twice in one season? And properly, at that? Score!

This had me squealing in delight, and it was so short lived. However, I will take whatever I can get.

And obviously I was desperately hanging in there to see when Klaus and Caroline would chat. CRUSHED.

What I didn’t like:

• The relationships in this season! I mean, come one! Caroline and Rick? Enzo and Lily? Stefan and Valerie? What the heck is going on?!
• Jumping between the present and the future. It meant that whatever perils were faced in the present meant nothing, because it is evident in the future they are still alive, etc.
• Where the heck is Jeremy while all this is going down? No return for Elena (which I get), but no vampire hunting, no assistance, no outrage over Mystic Falls? Really?
• The whole Heretics taking over Mystic Falls thing. Seriously, that got old, fast.
• Lily Salvatore. Yes, she still irritates the crap out of me, nothing has changed there. Meh.
• Another hunt(ress) story line? Really. I thought we had done the whole thing already, and here we are, hashing it out. Again.

Rating:
How did I get to the place where I am  hopelessly addicted to this show? It should be shameful, but I can’t help it. I freaking love this stuff! I thought it was really ballsy that they left Elena in the coffin this whole season, really rolling with the whole concept of her being in a Sleeping Beauty state. It made things feel like something was missing, but on the other hand gave the show time to explore other characters and relationships, and that I quite enjoyed.

One thing about this season is that it carried a ton of relationships, and plenty of them were terrible pairings. I mean, Caroline and Alaric? Creepy! Valerie and Stefan? Didn’t dig it. What was that crazy pairing of Lily and Enzo? Not cool man. However, then there was Bonnie and Enzo, and while it came out of nowhere, I loved it. They had some really grand chemistry together, and had some moments where I truly swooned.

There were not too many crazy plots in this season, and I think it was pretty well balanced. I was not a fan of skipping from the present to the future, it took all sense of dread away when you knew how things were later on, but I did like it when the show flipped from the present to the past, to fill in some gaps (the whole story with Matt Donovan and Penny was dreadfully sad). I am glad that this season was not dedicated entirely to waking Elena up, as that would have annoyed me. As for the Armory as the next ambiguous bad? Not sold. It was just not a really strong organisation.

Then, let’s get to Klaus and Caroline. When I saw Stefan heading to New Orleans, I damn near jumped up from my couch, and was beyond stoked when he made his appearance. I have missed the guy! Luckily for me, he got to share one crushing phone call with Caroline, which still confirms for me that they are like my favourite ever pairing in this show, and probably most other shows. Everything just works when they are together. Argh!

I was so glad that Alaric was still around, and I was even happy for him still getting his babies, even though the method was crazy. The Julian storyline had a lot more potential than was ultimately realised, and the Phoenix Stone turned out to not be as a big a deal as was expected. Anyway, a pretty decent season, and definitely helped me with my unacceptable withdrawals, but now I gotta wait for more. Plus the next one is apparently the last one 😦 Yes, I know, it is just one of those things. But I have always liked this, even when it got bad.

Season seven, while flawed, is still an enjoyable watch and a breakneck journey to undertake. There were some major changes to get used to here, what with Elena being gone, but it was definitely not a bad thing. The story was not as tight as the last two seasons, and the latest villain is pretty meh, and there was so much going on (but not as cluttered as some earlier seasons), but it is entertaining and well worth the watch.

I know this one took me by surprise, but Bonnie and Enzo have fantastic chemistry, and I am actually quite the fan of them together!

The Vampire Diaries: Season 5 (2013 – 2014)

*CONTAINS SPOILERS*

What I liked:

• Everyone getting together to drink on Katherine “dying”. Even though the bitch avoided it (again), it was really hilarious to watch everyone drinking for all the wrongs she had inflicted on them.
• Elena and Damon finally getting more warm screen time (I complained last season that, while together, it was really not as great as when Stefan and Elena were together). It gets better though, and gosh, I have been waiting for this. So long because they have amazing chemistry together.
• Stefan and Caroline getting closer. I really like this, there is so much potential. But he still isn’t Klaus. Just saying.
• Caroline and Klaus finally, just that once, dropping all defenses. I was beyond thrilled, let me just tell you this! Like eeeeeeeeeeeeeeep! Oh my gosh, and it was hot, too! Just seeing them (however briefly) give into their lust was so worth waiting for.

• Luke. I like him more than Liv, though she gets more screen time, unfortunately. Oh well. I think he is sassy and super cool. I hope we see more of him soon.
• Damon Salvatore. Yes. Again. That guy just owns every season, really. He went from perfectly happy, to absolutely crushed (how much pain and suffering can one dude endure?!), to vindictive and deadly. Typical Damon, and it was awesome to watch.
• Damon and Enzo. This has the potential to be such a great friendship, albeit complicated. I quite like Enzo – he is an enigma, and just does what he wants.

• Bonnie and Jeremy kicking it together. I think these two are great together, I do, and when they finally got to their, uhm, intimate time? It was perfect. Really.

What I didn’t like:

• Katherine. Katherine. Katherine. That chick peeves the hell out of me, and now I had to spend such a chunk of the season watching her. Ugh.
• This season struggled a bit with finding its feet – introducing college, a new doppelganger theory, the Augustine section, bringing Bonnie back, the whole katoot was just a bit crazy. The show lacked any real, serious direction.
• This whole “doppelganger destiny for life” concept is getting really old and really boring. I am so over hearing about how Elena and Stefan are simply destined to be, and that is just how it is going to be.
• With all this drama going down with the Travelers working to undo witch magic, where were the Originals? Don’t tell me that they didn’t have a vested interest in surviving?
• Not really any Klaus. I miss Klaus. So much.

Rating:
Yeah, this season, this season that was all over the show and had ten million stories going, ten million plots, all simultaneously. I was not happy about Bonnie being a ghost, I do like the girl a lot, and it was so sad to see her with just Jeremy, and how much it hurt him, and I was so pleased when they finally brought her back, even though that meant she was the anchor to the Other Side, and that brought a whole new set of irritations with it. Then there was the whole Silas/Qetsiyah story arc that just irritated me. Get to the damn point already, and move on. That took up time. Let us then not forget about the Travelers (not even for one moment), and how that turned into a whole thing of Katherine Pearce taking over Elena’s body, and becoming a vampire again (let’s face it, her being human got old quickly, and she was still irritating as heck). There was the inevitable heartbreak of Damon, because, you know, let’s constantly just crush the man. Naturally that led to Damon being Damon and going dark side and crazy, cause it is just what he does. I still miss Alaric a lot, and I was not pleased with how little Klaus there was this season. I miss seeing him and Caroline together 😦 Sad me. BUT LET US JUST TALK ABOUT KLAUS AND CAROLINE AND THE YUMMY FOR JUST A MINUTE! I can’t help it. It has been driving me crazy since season three. Gosh, it was rewarding to see Klaus and Caroline drop their inhibitions for a few moments. I need more now though. For reals. Tyler is treating Caroline like a real dweeb, and that isn’t cool. I did miss Klaus in this season, but it is also good to see the show finding its own feet again, with its own villains, etc. and moving away from the Originals a bit. Okay, then I must also say, Bonnie coming back and kicking it with Jeremy again? Love. Bonnie and Jeremy getting… intimate the first time? Hot. I am going to say it. There, it’s out. The end was also getting a little outrageous, what with the promise of bringing everyone back, and I was not pleased about Bonnie being in the crosshairs yet again. It crushed me in the end when Bonnie called Jeremy, and he came screaming into the woods looking for her, and Damon getting stuck on the other side, and how that completely crushed Elena. Really, that last bit was awful to watch 😦

The Vampire Diaries: Season 4 (2012 – 2013)

*CONTAINS SPOILERS*

What I liked:

• Klaus being alive and well and with us. Seriously, we are attached to this guy.
• It is amazing when Klaus and Damon “work” together.
• Damon Salvatore. Yes, I am going to say it again. And again. And again. He always knows how to just make everything hilarious (refusing to take things seriously is totally healthy).

• It breaks my heart, but how Damon still considers Alaric his best friend, even though he is gone, and won’t let anyone sit on Alaric’s spot in the bar, and drinks at Alaric’s grave with him. So many feels!
• Klaus and Caroline’s date at the Miss Mystic Falls pageant – I swear, he was like a child. She unleashes a totally different side of him and I love it to bits!

• Damon and Elena finally kicking it together. We have been waiting for this for like… forever!
• Klaus returning for Caroline’s graduation, and his adamant attitude that Caroline might love Tyler now, he intends to be her last love. I want to see this happen. These two drive me freaking wild! Their chemistry is insane!

• The Originals pilot that was inserted in here – it was quite interesting all round.
• Getting to see some more Elijah this season. It has been a while.

What I didn’t like:

• How absolutely freaking annoying Elena became. I mean, I know I complained last season about jerking the guys around, but this incessant whining is super frustrating.
• All the characters are actually whining and bitching this season – Bonnie especially.
• How much more Elena can you squeeze into one show?
• Everyone is screwing each other over, but let bygones be bygones the moment it happens, right? Who needs drama?
• Damon finally getting a chance with Elena, and yet it is so cold, I haven’t seen the absolute passion she had with Stefan yet, and that crushes me.
• Stefan is so self-righteous in this season! I get it must seriously suck when your brother gets your girl, but do you have to be so nasty about how it is only because of the sire bond?
• Speaking of – Elena being sired to Damon was just so freaking uncalled for. It’s like nothing can happen for Damon without some hidden reason, without some other cause, it could never just be because he and Elena are clicking. It also totally undermined their relationship.
• The whole hunter story line had way more potential than was ultimately realised, which was disappointing.
• The cure story line also annoyed me. Endlessly.
• Elena turning off her humanity just got beyond annoying.

Rating:
This season lost a bit of the traction that the last few had built on, and that was pretty sad. Not that it was bad, it was just not as good as the last two. When it started with Elena being turned, I just knew that there were going to be dramatics I had no time for, and I sure as hell wasn’t wrong there. I was a big fan of seeing Alaric come back from time to time, I sure as hell miss the guy. Rebekah was also in full evil swing here, showing you that the whole Mikaelson family is not too healthy upstairs. Kol annoyed me, too (and there is actually potential here for other things), and the inclusion of Professor Creepy (Shane) also didn’t help – I was irritated whenever we had to deal with his character, even when it was to help Bonnie. A regular, functioning Stefan returning was really great though, and I thought that the show handled the tension between the brothers due to Elena really well. I was not impressed with the way that Elena is finally with Damon, and the show manages to make it all wrong, like he is forcing her, or she was compelled to because of a sire bond. Come on, man, is Damon not allowed anything? On the Damon from, of course, I just wanted to have his hair cut, and it was crushing to watch him drinking alone, missing Alaric, and being really lonely after his death, but it was also nice to see him with Elena, even though that came with a ton of guilt. Speaking of feeling bad, there is the Caroline/Klaus/Tyler thing to consider. I mean, I do like Caroline and Tyler together, I always thought it was as real sweet thing, but goodness, when Caroline and Klaus are together, it’s like the universe is in sync. Forever. She is a challenge for him, he finds a good place inside himself, and they just click like few others. I want to see more, even though I know it will crush Tyler, I just don’t care. I am so cold like that. I know Klaus is bad, but we all love him. Come on, we do. The hunter story arc was something that had so much more potential than was used, and that was a real pity. Instead, it was really just meh at the best of times. So flat. Jeremy and Bonnie dying (at different places, of course) was not cool, and the consequences because of both deaths was something else. I was not a fan of Elena becoming even more whiny than ever before when she turned off her humanity, and it was cool to see Damon track after her all the way to try and bring her back. He loves her, man, really. Bonnie dying means Silas got out, which leads to some horrible consequences for Stefan, whom I really just feel sorry for. He cannot seem to catch a break at all. Oh gosh, then, the pinnacle of this whole goddamn season? The fucking cure. Yes. That is how much is pissed me off. What a convoluted and annoying plot. I don’t even really want to get into it, but goodness, could we waste our time any more than we did?! WHY?! Anyway, a decent watch, but not as solid as the last two seasons, too many histrionics all round.

The Vampire Diaries: Season 3 (2011 – 2012)

*CONTAINS SPOILERS* 

What I liked: 

• How close Damon and Elena have gotten, though it is just unfair on everyone. I mean really. All this means is someone gets hurt.
• Stefan going off the deep end and being all cuckoo crazy. Love. Really, so entertaining, considering how uptight he always is.
• The amount of Klaus in this season. The man is amazing. I mean, crazy and all hell, but gorgeous and solid in his convictions and always goes beyond what is required about everything. He is so unpredictable! Yes, that entertains the hell out of me. And Elijah, if only he got more screen time.
• Some Mikaelson history in this season, and that is always appreciated.
• Damon Salvatore. Oh. My. Gosh. That guy gets more and more amazing every time I see him, and his character development is insanely interesting, too.
• Klaus and Caroline. Oh. My. Gosh. He seems genuinely taken with her, and she is sassy enough to deal with his crap, which is fascinating to watch. And I just want to see this work hahahaha.
• The plotting, the scheming, all things fantastic!
• Damon and Alaric – that bromance is just so much fun!

• How tight the Salvatore brothers are – again, they might love/hate each other, but they are the only ones to have that right.
• Klaus’s hybrid army obsession, and then, of course, the meeting with Papa Mikaelson. Like whoa!

What I didn’t like:

• The sheer amount of insane plots that were squeezed into one season. It was heavy.
• Alaric going all cuckoo and being written off. Really, who do these people think they are? NOT ON.
• How convoluted some of the Originals plotlines are. I mean really, I was waiting on so much more potential here. I know I praised it above – it was a bit of a mixed bag. Also, I want so much more Elijah man.
• The love triangle. I knew that this was coming, but freaking hell, I hate these things. I think they are the ugliest and most unfair things in the world.
• Bonnie and Jeremy drifting apart – I know they didn’t really get a crap load of screen time, but they work absolute wonders together. Ugh. They just had to bring Anna back to throw a pin in that one.
• Rebekah was quite the annoyance, I have to admit. Okay, a really big annoyance.
• Caroline’s dad. Sure, steadfast in his beliefs and all, but come on dude!

Rating:
Back to another super busy season, that, while good, was not as good as the last season. I found it interesting to watch the lengths that Stefan would go to to protect his brother, and his unfeeling, nasty side was such a different, crazy character. This season spent a lot of time trying to get things cozier with Damon and Elena, and I don’t always think that worked too well, but the point was made – she was falling just a bit for him, but like I said, it didn’t always feel real. Elena was clinging to the old Stefan, which was actually painful to watch at times because it got really grating.

Then there was the whole Klaus thing. I like Klaus. He is crazy and insane, but he is incredibly entertaining to watch, and I think he is very interesting. I love the dynamics between him and Elijah, another thing that is great. I also truly did enjoy the concept of Klaus having a soft spot for Caroline – it is a creepily satisfying option I would like to see explored. It was with Caroline that we got the first real chink in Klaus’s whole facade, when he went to save her from Tyler’s bite, and had a real romantic outlook on the rest of her life. It was so beautiful it stunned me and I just didn’t trust it, but the more I watched, the more it seemed evident that it was a genuine thing for him, so wow. Just… Klaus and Caroline together is one of the things that makes me beyond happy. She is snippy and snappy with him, but he is endlessly fascinated by her, and that comes through in every scene. Let’s not even forget to mention the chemistry those two share – wow!

Now, the whole love triangle (Damon/Elena/Stefan) thing got annoying. We all knew it was coming, but I found it so unfair that when she was free to be with Damon, she didn’t do it, and when Stefan came back, she was all uhm and ah about them, even though Stefan didn’t want her. I think her and Damon could be great together. Stefan is the safer option, sure, but Damon is the one where you see passion igniting, and some danger, which was cool.

Naturally there are all the crazy plotsies around the Originals – fascinating at times, frustrating at others. I think this is because there is just so much more to their family dynamic than can be squeezed into one show where they are not the leads (lucky for us, there is a spin-off, and it’s great). I totally could have done with  more Elijah Mikaelson, the man is fascinating, but I was super stoked to have so much more Klaus in this season. The man is bona fide crazy, but so ridiculously compelling.

Anyway, the season finale really was depressingly sad. Damon had his heart wrenched out and stomped on, which was bad enough. But then he was was fighting the super creepy, dark, scary vampire hunter Dark Side Alaric, and when Dark Alaric was dying, there was a moment when Damon realised Alaric was really dying, and that meant that Elena was dying, too, and it just got so much worse. Like really. His face, his panic, his heartbreak? It was horrible. Like, I wasn’t even concerned about Stefan at that point. Overall, another really good, solid season, and worth a watch!

The Vampire Diaries: Season 2 (2010 – 2011)

*CONTAINS SPOILERS* 

What I liked: 

• Seeing more parts of the past of the Salvatores.
• Finally getting to meet the evil bitch Katherine.
• Damon Salvatore. For all sorts of reasons, and not just science. He is such an immensely layered character, especially when you get to see how he was as a human, before he was turned, before Katherine broke his heart.
• Caroline Forbes as a vampire. While she irritated the crap out of me as a human, as a vampire she is fiercely loyal, strong, more self-assured, much less whiny and quite fun and sassy. Who knew she just needed to be the undead?
• The friendship between Caroline and Tyler. It really just works on so many levels, and she really makes Tyler a more tolerable person.
• Elijah. His character is so… intense and incredibly interesting.
• These Original vampires have so much potential to be awesome, or just downright entertaining. Klaus is crazy to boot though, but so fascinating.
• Damon’s reaction to Katherine is priceless. He has been in love with her for 145 years, but to find out about her betrayal crushed him, and he has gone out of his way to block her out of his life, to shut down his feelings.

What I didn’t like:

• How many murders/disappearances per capita can a small town like Mystic Falls conceivably get away with before rocketing to the top of the most dangerous cities in America list? For reals man, people are just dying left, right, and centre.
• Seriously, just because a person heals, doesn’t mean there isn’t blood left on the skin.
• Katherine Pierce. Gosh, the woman is a nightmare.
• The Jules/Mason arc that came and went. Seriously, there are better things out there to deal with. Plus Jules was the most annoying thing ever.

Rating:
Sheesh. This was one hell of a busy season, but it was highly entertaining. Unlike the first season, this one hits the ground running and wastes no time searching desperately for momentum. From the off, we are dealing with Katherine finally making an appearance, and how Elena actually ties into everything, and we meet the Originals, the beginning of all vampire bloodlines, and that comes with its own fascinating story. Dramatic, left, right, and centre, of course, but it is good.

Caroline changing was really one of the better things – initially I was dismayed, because now we were never going to get rid of that selfish, needy, whiny bitch, but wow, the change is amazing because she has grown into a character I actually enjoy. While Tyler started really irritatingly in this season, his character changes so much, and a huge part of that is Caroline, and I like that. Matt Donovan is still a whiny child though.

I was, again, a huge fan of watching Damon and Alaric together, they really are just besties that work. Constantly snippy, but always looking out for each other, it is great. Damon had some real deep character reveals here now, which makes one think back to when he was a human, and a much nicer soul, so different. Lacing that with a cocky bastard was destined to win points all round, and every now and then he lets his nice side out, but hides it so well. He really is a damaged, impulsive, selfish creature, and it is more concerning that Stefan and all his broody history, because Damon is so in your face about his flaws and doesn’t acknowledge a better side, whereas Stefan is so desperate to cling to humanity and not acknowledge the evil of his past.

Stefan is a character that I really enjoy. As I have said, he dedicates so much of his energy to denying himself and what he is, but it makes for a complex character, constantly living on the edge. He also truly loves Elena, and I like watching the two of them together, even though I am interested to see where this is all going to go. I appreciated this season tackling the question of Elena potentially turning, as it is something that had not been addressed, which is off considering her choice of partner.

This season also spends a lot of time showing how Damon is actually falling for Elena, and how other people are picking up on it more. It works though, it does. I am not actually peeved with this love triangle because it is handled pretty decently, and I usually hate the freaking things. The first time Tyler turns is really sad, too, as you can see things will never be the same again, either. I do like the developments of things with him and Caroline, I was never convinced she should be with Matt.

I am quite a fan of these new, strange Original vampires being introduced – this has immense amounts of potential to bring awesome to the table. Elijah is a character that fascinated me from the off, and Klaus? What an evil SOB! Like wow, he is just evil, not like a maybe or something, and he just embraces it, which is madness, but I love it. So refreshing. There is so much to explore concerning the Originals, and the bits that we have been given so far are really good. So looking forward to more of this, these Originals really do captivate the audience without fail. Great season, I seriously enjoyed every moment of it.