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So apparently some fan was rather awful to Julie Plec yesterday over tonight's episode, and while that's never okay (Get off my side!), at the same time, I have to agree with the general feeling. The wheels are coming off this ride. And I figured out why yesterday.
Look, it's not that Damon's a psycho jerk. I couldn't care less about that part or that fandom's in love with him. He's not a character type that does anything for me, but Damon, himself, as a character, is not my problem.
My problem is that I already know the end of the story and it's a place I want to go less and less. And that has a LOT to do with Damon.
Personally, it's the constant refrain of Damon/Elena are going to be together SOMEDAY is my problem, and I think it's a problem that's begun to overtake the show. When you have a future end point, that's not an organic outgrowth, that's a design. Generally audiences approve of 'end points', but this is not a case of 'we'll bring everyone back to the Island and this stuff will happen' or 'we'll get to Earth and it'll suck'. This isn't a secret held only by the producers for what's going to happen at the end of the year or next season. This is a goal that's known by EVERYONE EVER, and fans therefore pore every little thing looking for evidence of it (both pro and con). There's no mystery in who Elena's going to 'choose' - we KNOW she's going to get to Damon eventually. That makes all the interactions in the triangle (Quad, if you count Katherine in there) awash in anvils. I believe they're generally not intended as such by the writers, but it feels that way to me, because if I know where the train's going, I can't help but see the landmarks on the way, y'know? Even if I have to squint at them through the window.
Half the things Damon does are there to SLOW that train down - but that has the corresponding effect of making that eventual pairing that much less believable or desirable. (Damon has no impulse control? Responds to challenges and self-esteem issues with violence? People are expected to walk on eggshells around him because otherwise he kills people? and I'm supposed to WANT this pairing?) But after all the ship baiting, it's also inevitable that show WILL get there eventually, no matter what Damon does. This is also part of the reason why some fans are so eager to say he's 'not that bad' or forgive him in advance - because they know the end point too. They know every bad deed is going to be paid with a good deed or woobie backstory or whatever, so why not jump past all that? Most Damon and even most Damon/Elena fans admit that he's got a ways to go to be worthy of Elena -- they just don't think it's as far as I do (which is pretty much infinity).
And the reason that someone was virulently opposed to tonight's episode based only on the trailer, is that tonight's episode is clearly the first big step down that track. Even if it's a dream or something (which I don't think it is), it's STILL that step. And I know that's true because last week's episode was horribly contrived to set it up. (Damon just dashes off without Stefan, even though Stefan is right there? the door is abruptly SO heavy that it takes the two of them to move it, even though Caroline could do it herself? c'mon, that's so someone can see. Cage sex doesn't count unless someone sees it and can tattle) It's a case of end result (Stefan trapped in tomb for hate!sex with Katherine) coming before the set up -- which wouldn't be as obvious if I didn't also know that Stefan HAS to be tarnished in Elena's eyes for Damon to even seem remotely viable.
And yeah, I know, it's dumb to complain about a triangle, when that's basically the entire BASIS of the show. And maybe it's unfair to examine the show on the basis of something which hasn't happened yet. But at the same time, they've done such a good job showing me why that eventual result is such a horrible idea, and they've put Damon down such a deep hole, that I'm not sure I'm interested in seeing his climb, especially since it seems as if it'll have to come at Stefan and Elena's expense.
So, to crib a line from a show that never planned a damn thing in advance:
'Anyway I'm sorry but that just happens to be how I feel about it. What do you think?'
Look, it's not that Damon's a psycho jerk. I couldn't care less about that part or that fandom's in love with him. He's not a character type that does anything for me, but Damon, himself, as a character, is not my problem.
My problem is that I already know the end of the story and it's a place I want to go less and less. And that has a LOT to do with Damon.
Personally, it's the constant refrain of Damon/Elena are going to be together SOMEDAY is my problem, and I think it's a problem that's begun to overtake the show. When you have a future end point, that's not an organic outgrowth, that's a design. Generally audiences approve of 'end points', but this is not a case of 'we'll bring everyone back to the Island and this stuff will happen' or 'we'll get to Earth and it'll suck'. This isn't a secret held only by the producers for what's going to happen at the end of the year or next season. This is a goal that's known by EVERYONE EVER, and fans therefore pore every little thing looking for evidence of it (both pro and con). There's no mystery in who Elena's going to 'choose' - we KNOW she's going to get to Damon eventually. That makes all the interactions in the triangle (Quad, if you count Katherine in there) awash in anvils. I believe they're generally not intended as such by the writers, but it feels that way to me, because if I know where the train's going, I can't help but see the landmarks on the way, y'know? Even if I have to squint at them through the window.
Half the things Damon does are there to SLOW that train down - but that has the corresponding effect of making that eventual pairing that much less believable or desirable. (Damon has no impulse control? Responds to challenges and self-esteem issues with violence? People are expected to walk on eggshells around him because otherwise he kills people? and I'm supposed to WANT this pairing?) But after all the ship baiting, it's also inevitable that show WILL get there eventually, no matter what Damon does. This is also part of the reason why some fans are so eager to say he's 'not that bad' or forgive him in advance - because they know the end point too. They know every bad deed is going to be paid with a good deed or woobie backstory or whatever, so why not jump past all that? Most Damon and even most Damon/Elena fans admit that he's got a ways to go to be worthy of Elena -- they just don't think it's as far as I do (which is pretty much infinity).
And the reason that someone was virulently opposed to tonight's episode based only on the trailer, is that tonight's episode is clearly the first big step down that track. Even if it's a dream or something (which I don't think it is), it's STILL that step. And I know that's true because last week's episode was horribly contrived to set it up. (Damon just dashes off without Stefan, even though Stefan is right there? the door is abruptly SO heavy that it takes the two of them to move it, even though Caroline could do it herself? c'mon, that's so someone can see. Cage sex doesn't count unless someone sees it and can tattle) It's a case of end result (Stefan trapped in tomb for hate!sex with Katherine) coming before the set up -- which wouldn't be as obvious if I didn't also know that Stefan HAS to be tarnished in Elena's eyes for Damon to even seem remotely viable.
And yeah, I know, it's dumb to complain about a triangle, when that's basically the entire BASIS of the show. And maybe it's unfair to examine the show on the basis of something which hasn't happened yet. But at the same time, they've done such a good job showing me why that eventual result is such a horrible idea, and they've put Damon down such a deep hole, that I'm not sure I'm interested in seeing his climb, especially since it seems as if it'll have to come at Stefan and Elena's expense.
So, to crib a line from a show that never planned a damn thing in advance:
'Anyway I'm sorry but that just happens to be how I feel about it. What do you think?'
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and also, bingo is more fun on this side!From:
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