Review of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES – The Birthday (2011)

Fate is cruel to be kind when it grants a birthday wish

For Elena (Nina Dobrev), turning 18 was not the magic number to having all her dreams come true.  It just opened the door to adulthood and closed the door on her innocence.  As Alaric (Matt Davis) so gently pointed out, it was time for Elena to be responsible for herself and to be the one last parental figure for Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen), who appeared to be spiraling out of control again.  Alas, life is not so easy for the young raven beauty.  She is in love with a vampire who has enslaved himself to a monster to keep her and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) safe.  She is also conflicted about the feelings she has for Damon, the one who continues to be there for her now that Stefan (Paul Wesley) cannot.  One by one, those that Elena depended upon as she grew up, have been taken from her — being an adult sucks, which can be taken more literally when one lives amongst vampires.

But Elena’s one birthday wish was for a sign that Stefan was still alive — and that wish came true.  Racked with guilt and longing, Stefan could not stop himself from calling her on her birthday.  He did not have to utter a single word, but she knew.  Her wish had been granted.  But a sign of life is not truly a sign of hope.  Stefan is slowly losing himself under the weight of Klaus’ continual demands to debase himself and be the monster he never wanted to be.  Stefan’s curse is not to be a vampire without a soul, but rather he is cursed with a soul.  He feels acutely each and every life he takes and the separation from his one true love — Elena.

So is it a gift to know that the one you love still lives, when they are living in hell?

Points of Interest

1.  While is was noble and thoughtful for Alaric to step up and stay with Elena and Jeremy during their time of need, it is a shame that he could not hold it together better while grieving and could not be the role model they wished he could be.  But love is a funny thing, it can make a man and it can break a man.  In Alaric’s case, he is utterly broken.  Losing his wife Isobel (Mia Kirshner), once by choice and then again by fate.  Then losing Jenna (Sara Canning) to a diabolical monster that still roams free.  It is a wonder that Alaric’s psyche has not cracked sooner, but it would have been nice to keep the quasi-family together a bit longer.  After, all they are all grieving and searching, and together it may have been a bit easier.

2.  Where are Elijah (Daniel Gillies) and Katherine (Nina Dobrev)?  For two such strong and dominate presences during the second season, their absence was keenly felt.  They are the wild-cards that will undoubtedly figure into the master game afoot.  With Klaus (Joseph Morgan) building a hybrid vampire-werewolf army, it is going to take more than just a few allies and friends — it is going to take knowledge and experence about the man that Klaus once was versus who he is now — and the only ones who knew Klaus then and now are Katherine and Elijah.  So let’s get the party started already!

3.  After the stunt that Carol Lockwood (Susan Walters) just pulled sandbagging Caroline (Candice Accola), it will be fascinating to see how mommy-dearest, Sheriff Forbes (Marguerite MacIntyre) reacts.  Will she come to her daughter’s rescue or will she align with the darker-side of Mystic Falls’ foolhardy and over-zealous Town Council?

What Worked

After the brutal losses of last season, it was good to see the surviving members of the Mystic Falls supernatural club were sticking together.  Alaric and Damon, Jeremy and Matt (Zach Roerig), Caroline and Tyler (Michael Trevino), Bonnie  (Katerina Graham) and Elena — their friendships did not wither and die as they all struggled to move on with their lives; rather, it has brought them all closer together.  They all share in the same big secret — there are supernatural beings living amongst them — but secrets alone do not keep them allied.  It is their love that has been tested by death and fire that keeps them closer than ever.  The time for secrets and solitary existence is over.  Their strength lies in their friendships and love for each other.  It is the one thing that will ultimately help them defeat Klaus and anyone else that threatens them.

It was a nice surprise to see Andie (Dawn Olivieri) back and working with Damon, but her reappearance was a dead giveaway that her days were numbered.  Stefan chose the honorable route and instead of ripping her apart, he gave her a death with dignity.  While it may not have appeared humane to have her jump to her death in front of Damon, it was the most gentle way possible that Stefan could send the message — back off or someone else close to you may die.  Damon fortunately got the message, but took it the wrong way.  He did not see past the charade and only saw the demon Stefan had become.  But it took breaking Damon’s heart to make it seem real.  Stefan was only doing what he had to do to protect Damon — and Elena.  For if Klaus realized that Elena still lived, he would want to claim her for his own again.  She is the ultimate mystery for him and the ultimate prize — for Klaus knows exactly how much that would hurt Stefan.

The haunting of Jeremy is proving to be a fun and fascinating new story to see play out.  It is good to see that resurrecting one from the dead does have consequences — and one of those may be that Jeremy can now see into the after-life or those who are stuck between here and there.  Plus, it makes for some great comedy and it is a delight to see both Kayla Ewell and Malese Jow return as Vicki and Anna, both characters who died too soon and have been missed dearly.

The new roles carved out for Stefan, as The Ripper, and Damon, as The Cleaner, are intriguing.  Stefan cloaks himself in his old reputation trying to ensure that Klaus does not suspect that he has something to hide other than his love for his brother; and Damon is now the one having to clean up after Stefan’s messes, not knowing that all the while Stefan is leaving him a message.  Stefan was trying to tell Damon that he was alive and yet still human enough to feel remorse.  But Damon only saw the animal savagery and feared that his brother had slipped so deep into his blood-lust to be irreversibly lost to humanity.

Also long over-due was the igniting passion between Caroline and Tyler. Their chemistry has been undeniable since both entered the supernatural realm, and it was explosive to see them come together ripping each others’ clothes off.  But as the fans were screaming, “Yes!” there was still that sense of foreboding that this was not going to end well.  After all, vampires and werewolves are natural enemies.  It is worse than playing with fire.  But as Caroline took a handful of vervain-filled darts in her back, it makes us wonder if it will be Caroline’s mom or Tyler who comes to her rescue. Will Tyler be the good son, or will he defend the woman who makes his blood boil in all the right ways.  Will passion and love win out, or familial loyalty?

Finally, the tender moments as Damon and Elena continued to dance around each other and their feelings is intoxicating.  When he gave her necklace as a birthday present, one could see that she was surprised and touched. And that he could put it around her neck so delicately and then offer his arm to her so respectfully to escort her to her birthday party, this is not the Damon who used to demand her attentions.  Damon is slowly wooing her and letting her grieve for her lost love.  He may tease with sudden full-frontal appearances out of the bath tub, but he was willing to wear the towel she handed him.  Likewise, he hid from her the full truth of what Stefan did to Andie.  Why burden Elena with that when she is already sickened by the idea that Stefan has returned to his ripping days and is leaving body parts up and down the Eastern Coast.  Damon was being cruel to be kind when he told the disbelieving Elena, “Stefan is gone and he’s not coming back — not in your lifetime.”  It was the most gentle way possible to tell her that the Stefan they knew and loved is gone.  It was heartbreaking to watch as Damon, in his rage and sorrow, destroyed Stefan’s room.

But hoping against hope, Elena knew instantly when she got the unknown caller on her cellphone.  Without saying a word, her heart knew it was him.  So as she softly told him, “If this is you, Stefan, you’ll be okay.  I love you. Hold on to that.  Never let that go,” our hearts broke.  They were both in so much pain.  The loss of a loved one by cruel circumstance, is perhaps worse than loss by death.  Death lets one grieve.  Stefan’s forced captivity only torments them each and every day. But that is all Elena wished for on her birthday — proof that Stefan was alive.  It may have hurt like hell, but proof of life is preferable to proof of death. So long as Stefan is alive, there is hope — and what would life be without hope?  Stefan and Elena’s love story is not over yet.  It has perhaps just begun.

What Didn’t Work

What is up with Caroline sneaking out of Tyler’s bed like she instantly regretted sleeping with him?  Her late night walk of shame only ensured that she was easy prey for Carol Lockwood to take down.  After months of brewing sexual tension, one would have thought there would be no regrets.

Is Klaus really that needy and insecure that he has to use Stefan to do his dirty work?  Doesn’t he have an army of willing “pets” do take care of those nasty tasks?  Why Stefan — is it merely for the sport of it and the desire to break Stefan’s stubborn, soulful will, or is it something more?

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

“The Birthday” was written by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec and directed by John Behring. ‘The Vampire Diaries’ stars Paul Wesley, Nina Dobrev, Ian Somerhalder, Steven R. McQueen, Candice Accola, Katerina Graham, Michael Trevino, Zach Roerig, Matt Davis, Joseph Morgan, Daniel Gillies, Kayla Ewell, Dawn Olivieri, Malese Jow. ‘The Vampire Diaries’ airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on the CW.