Just about everyone had a modern day and an historical doppleganger in Dark Shadows
"historical" episodes of The Vampire Diaries?
- Thread starter Temis the Vorta
- Start date
Yep, I finally saw the first "historical episode!" (and the first ep where I managed to keep my finger off the ff button) Very interesting, a few thoughts...
-If they've hinted that Catherine is a Union sympathizer (being in the church that was burned down), what does that imply about her relationship with Damon, that dirty secesh*?
-I can't see Damon giving a flip about the Confederacy, or any other political movement, for real. Was it all just a fun adventure (until the bullets start flying)? Or was he a very different person "before"? (I've interpreted the very different personalities of the brothers as a hint that vampirism doesn't change your personality but just enhances what already exists. Or is there a more interesting explanation for the difference?)
-Speaking of bullets flying, what might happen if Damon were mortally wounded, with Catherine his only route to "survival"? Just wondering if that's how it all went down. Seems like Damon is in a very high-risk occupation where such things are likely to occur. (I'm probably remembering another vampire story where something like that happened...Anne Rice perhaps?)
-The costuming department was remiss in giving Damon such a new-looking uniform, considering he was "on leave" and not a new recruit. They should have stomped on it and dragged it through the mud a lot to give it more authenticity. I did notice that Damon's hair looked like it hadn't been washed in a month.
-Speaking of hair, I like Stefan's look a whole lot more in flashbacks. I know they do the slicked-back look to convey the sense of him being repressed, but it's not at all flattering.
-Was the very well dressed black "maid" in Catherine's carriage one of Bonnie's witchy ancestresses? Hmm.
And on other topics:
-I keep seeing the Made in Georgia logo at the end of episodes. I'm sure I recognized a location outside Vancouver (a kind of treehouse-in-the-cedars place with a high footbridge over a stream) in an early ep, and the forests strike me as too piney/cedar-y to be anyplace in the South. But the flashback scenes seemed more geographically plausible. Are the flashbacks being shot in Georgia?
-if Stefan is surviving entirely on chipmunks and other woodland creatures, he must be eating a whole scad of them to measure up to one human being per night (which seems to be Damon's diet). I imagine the target market for this show would rather see Stefan snack on Elena than a fuzzy bunny. Do we ever see him eating any rodents, raccoons etc? (Don't tell me any spoilers about him falling off the wagon and goes for bigger prey.)
*wow, got the spelling right on first try!
Spoilers below........
Because I am a doofus and don't know how to use spoiler code.
Hi Temis:
They go into the brother's pre-vamp personalities more in season 2. Let us just say that the Salvatore Brothers have had 145 years to change.
The show goes through Katherine the early days; Stefan and Damon finding out about the "true" Katherine; The church; The vamping - It explains why Damon hates his baby brother so much, and why Stefan is so dang broody.
They do address Stefan's diet, and erm...drinking problem....
They also explain what Katherine was doing in that church. I don't want to tell you more and spoil.
Yes the young lady you see with Katherine is one of Bonnie's ancestors. She was an uber witch and the series delves into that more.
I think you will like Elijah. The actor does amazing things with that charcter.
I am pretty sure you will like Alaric's and Damon's bromance. They start off on the wrong foot though. It was funny for me to watch them in season 1 as enemies/frenemies; because I picked up the series with season 2, and Alaric was kind of Damon's wing man.
I also love Damon's interactions with the Sheriff. I think he really does value ole Liz.
Keep me posted. I would love to hear what you think, for good or for ill.
Is there something funny about liking historical sf/f stuff?
Nah, I just like how you respond to those people calling you a "hater".
I enjoy reading your reviews. Keep it up.
I'm doomed to be a hater of everything I guess. I've never run across a show where I couldn't find something to complain about. But if I keep watching a show, that means it's in the 90th percentile, because I only watch about 10% of what's out there, and I'm sure that's a generous estimate.
I've never run across a show where I couldn't find something to complain about. But if I keep watching a show, that means it's in the 90th percentile, because I only watch about 10% of what's out there, and I'm sure that's a generous estimate.
Re: the brothers' personalities, I'm avoiding anything spoilery but now that I know there is development of some sort, I can't help thinking Damon has a lot of repressed rage which he hides behind heavy layers of sarcasm and indifference, while Saint Stefan sure likes to play the eternal, suffering martyr.
I'll bet Stefan could start drinking blood clinic blood and do just fine. But then he wouldn't be a squirrel-blood-chugging martyr anymore, would he? And if Damon was Katherine's willing victim, why is he so angry? I wonder if the show writers ever start casting a jaundiced eye on the characters. I love it when shows do that.
I'll bet Stefan could start drinking blood clinic blood and do just fine. But then he wouldn't be a squirrel-blood-chugging martyr anymore, would he? And if Damon was Katherine's willing victim, why is he so angry? I wonder if the show writers ever start casting a jaundiced eye on the characters. I love it when shows do that.
This show isn't something you can watch an episode every once in a while. Like LOST, you gotta watch the whole thing to get the full story.
Yeah even missing one episode can really throw you off. particualrly after about episode 6 or 7. When the show kicks into high gear.
As for historical episodes. There are several set in the Civil War and two or three set around 1500.
Yeah they do go in to what motivated them both in the past and what motivates them now. I don't want to spoil so we can discuss later once the show reveals it to you.
Damon's reasons for the hate are explained. Stefan's martyr complex is also explained.
The show really does pick up pace. I think you will like season 2.
I have a friend that I am just going to start cold with season 2. I don't think she would make it through season 1. She would probably eye roll and kavetch herself to death over the teen stuff.
Season 2 clicks right along. I think she will like that.
Wow, you mean there's a story-based reason behind those personality traits other than that it makes Damon sexier and Stefan more cuddly-bunny for the swooning fangirls?
That alone is more than I hoped for!But I wouldn't be a sci fi fan if I didn't eventually start ranting about Vampire Logic, so I might as well get it out of my system now. Let us consider the vampire from an economic perspective. Much of human (and inhuman) economic interaction comes down to the individual trading resources or skills that he/she has in abundance for resources or skills that he/she lacks.
The vampire lacks the resource of nutritious and tasty human blood. What resource or skill does the vampire offer in exchange? Well, immortality...and generally being really sexy...and the ability to control people's minds...
And there we come to a screetching halt, when we compare that skill, of mind-bogglingly immense value, to the resource that the human has, of possessing a limitless supply of nutritious and tasty blood. But how valuable is this resource, really, with 6.5 billion+ humans generating blood 24 hrs a day, with no more effort than it takes to eat a burger? The supply easily outstrips the demand.
Many of these billions have more blood than they need to maintain health. What they lack is having Obi Wan Kenobi on their payroll. Want that promotion, that hotty at the end of the bar, that diamond necklace in window at Tiffany's, that conveniently hung jury? Just phone Salvatore Brothers, Esq. They'll fix all your problems for the low, low price of a pint of the red stuff.
Therefore, there is no logic to Damon or Stefan continuing either of their lifestyles, when they could just hop a plane to Wall Street and sell their services to the highest bidder. They'd be esconced in a penthouse, wallowing in type-O in no time whatsoever.
So it's a good thing if their true motivations have to do with externalized and internalized rage, respectively. Because deep-seated dysfunctional personalities are the only things that could be keeping them trapped in the crumbling old mansion of their minds.
And I guess I should stop this essay before turning to my next topic, How Stefan Could Expunge His Terrible Guilt. Kid, you can control people's minds! Just raid a blood bank, get your ass to the Mideast and bring about a lasting truce between Israel and Palestine, you idiot! Syria and Libya can be next on your itinerary. And how about hitting a few corporate suites and putting a stop to global warming? You could be a greatest humanitarian since Jesus, but instead you just hang around some musty old tomb and mope. Talk about lacking vision!
I don't know that I can address your essay without getting spoilery.
Let's just say that Stefan returns to town every now and again for sentimental reasons. He finds a reason to stay. That is covered in the series.
Damon comes back for his own reasons. At first it seems he is just there to rain on Stefan's parade but Damon does have his own motivations. His motives will be revealed. Persecuting his baby bro is just gravy.
I like that the series explains the motivations behind people's personalities and their actions. They make good use of thier historical flashbacks to show what the oldsters were up to in the past; how the past changes who they are and how they act.
Plus once the series starts clicking along, they are pretty consistent with thier lore as it pertains to vampires and others. I can't say more on that subject without spoiling things that I found to be fun developments.
The story does get better as it moves forward. The series really picks up in quality past the season 1 mid point.
Let's just say that Stefan returns to town every now and again for sentimental reasons. He finds a reason to stay. That is covered in the series.
Damon comes back for his own reasons. At first it seems he is just there to rain on Stefan's parade but Damon does have his own motivations. His motives will be revealed. Persecuting his baby bro is just gravy.
I like that the series explains the motivations behind people's personalities and their actions. They make good use of thier historical flashbacks to show what the oldsters were up to in the past; how the past changes who they are and how they act.
Plus once the series starts clicking along, they are pretty consistent with thier lore as it pertains to vampires and others. I can't say more on that subject without spoiling things that I found to be fun developments.
The story does get better as it moves forward. The series really picks up in quality past the season 1 mid point.
Ok I've booted the rest of the DVDs to the top of my Netflix queue. Sorry Justified, The Wire, Six Feet Under and The Sopranos, you'll have to wait just a little bit longer.
I'm up to the episode that ends with Elena flipping the SUV after hitting the mystery vamp who of course is Alaric. Right? Right?
I'm up to the episode that ends with Elena flipping the SUV after hitting the mystery vamp who of course is Alaric. Right? Right?
Ok I've booted the rest of the DVDs to the top of my Netflix queue. Sorry Justified, The Wire, Six Feet Under and The Sopranos, you'll have to wait just a little bit longer.
I'm up to the episode that ends with Elena flipping the SUV after hitting the mystery vamp who of course is Alaric. Right? Right?
No spoilers but the answer will change your perspective on events.
The vampire is Jeffrey!
Actually that would be pretty cool. Can someone be a vampire and not know it?
Or maybe it's that ancestor (Jonathan?) that Jeffrey stumbled across. Reading his letters raised him from the dead! See, kids, studying history is evil! It's all part of Alaric's grand plan.
Actually that would be pretty cool. Can someone be a vampire and not know it?
Or maybe it's that ancestor (Jonathan?) that Jeffrey stumbled across. Reading his letters raised him from the dead! See, kids, studying history is evil! It's all part of Alaric's grand plan.
I assume Jefferey is Jeremy?The vampire is Jeffrey!
Actually that would be pretty cool. Can someone be a vampire and not know it?
Or maybe it's that ancestor (Jonathan?) that Jeffrey stumbled across. Reading his letters raised him from the dead! See, kids, studying history is evil! It's all part of Alaric's grand plan.
Just want to be sure I'm laughing at the appropriate wrong predictions and being impressed by the predictions you get right.
Oh right Jeremy. I would have looked him up on imdb but don't want to be spoiled when it lists Steven McQueen playing "Jeremy/Sebastian" or some such.
There's gotta be a vamp named Sebastian on this show sooner or later.
There's gotta be a vamp named Sebastian on this show sooner or later.
We won't talk about Sebastian
Temis you are getting to the good bits. Once you have watched I would be interested in knowing if you think that I should make my friend sit through season 1 to get the full story or start her cold on season 2.
Your comments make me laugh. I told Toad that if I did not know better I would think she was you.
I started her off cold on season 2 of LOST. I am thinking about doing the same thing with Vampire Diaries.
I like that Vampire Diaries sometimes kept me guessing, and sometimes I would be sitting there in shock. It really gets better and better.
Your comments make me laugh. I told Toad that if I did not know better I would think she was you.
I started her off cold on season 2 of LOST. I am thinking about doing the same thing with Vampire Diaries.
I like that Vampire Diaries sometimes kept me guessing, and sometimes I would be sitting there in shock. It really gets better and better.
Who is "Toad"? Apparently my evil twin.
You should show her S1 of Lost, it's terrific. The pilot episode is still the single best episode of TV I've ever seen.
The early S1 eps of TVD are okay to watch. I quickly realized that I could zap any of the emo-teen scenes (involving Vicki, Jeremy, etc) and most of the Stefan-Elena scenes where they do their "I love you/I can't be with a vampire/okay I can be with a vampire but now the vampire doesn't want to be with me" dance. I doubt they'll ever break up for good (it would upend the show's premise) and even if that happens, it ain't happening in S1, so why bother with that stuff?
I stop zapping whenever Damon appears, or for any human over the age of 18 (since the grownups and their schemes form an important part of the vampire-fighting arc). However, the scenes with Damon and the blonde nitwit are a big zapola. Just can't tolerate her. This means I missed the early setup about the comet and the amulet, but it's no big deal, since it's easy enough to piece things together after the fact.
So here's what I figure is going on. Alaric is in town to hunt down the vampire who killed his wife. The first one I'd suspect is Damon. But that's too obvious. Wouldn't it be more fun if it were Stefan? But that means it must have happened a long time ago. So Alaric must be a vampire. Maybe he became a vampire in order to live long enough to hunt down Stefan. Maybe Damon provided some help in that regard, just to yank Stefan's chain?
If Jonathan appears (played by Steven McQueen of course), I hope he's not a vamp because this show shouldn't get too vamp-heavy. Perhaps he's a warlock who discovered the secret of immortality or he's been raised from the dead or rendered immortal by Emily or another witch.
Apparently my evil twin. You should show her S1 of Lost, it's terrific. The pilot episode is still the single best episode of TV I've ever seen.
The early S1 eps of TVD are okay to watch. I quickly realized that I could zap any of the emo-teen scenes (involving Vicki, Jeremy, etc) and most of the Stefan-Elena scenes where they do their "I love you/I can't be with a vampire/okay I can be with a vampire but now the vampire doesn't want to be with me" dance. I doubt they'll ever break up for good (it would upend the show's premise) and even if that happens, it ain't happening in S1, so why bother with that stuff?
I stop zapping whenever Damon appears, or for any human over the age of 18 (since the grownups and their schemes form an important part of the vampire-fighting arc). However, the scenes with Damon and the blonde nitwit are a big zapola. Just can't tolerate her. This means I missed the early setup about the comet and the amulet, but it's no big deal, since it's easy enough to piece things together after the fact.
So here's what I figure is going on. Alaric is in town to hunt down the vampire who killed his wife. The first one I'd suspect is Damon. But that's too obvious. Wouldn't it be more fun if it were Stefan? But that means it must have happened a long time ago. So Alaric must be a vampire. Maybe he became a vampire in order to live long enough to hunt down Stefan. Maybe Damon provided some help in that regard, just to yank Stefan's chain?
If Jonathan appears (played by Steven McQueen of course), I hope he's not a vamp because this show shouldn't get too vamp-heavy. Perhaps he's a warlock who discovered the secret of immortality or he's been raised from the dead or rendered immortal by Emily or another witch.
J
Jetfire
Guest
Do you want to be spoiled? All this is easy to clear up.