Dark magic, heart-snatching, possessed Hybrids, Vampires with issues, Elena Undead, and a fierce Founder’s Council – Thursday’s Season 4 premiere of the The Vampire Diaries did not disappoint. So without further ado, let us on with the review!
Show Stealer
“I would have saved you in a heartbeat, no question…and you would’ve gotten to grown up and had the life that you wanted, the life you deserved. And I know that I didn’t used to get that but I do now and I wanted that for you, Elena and I would have gladly given that to you and let Matt die because I am that selfish. But you knew that already. First night we met is not all you remember.”
There was SO MUCH Damon-deliciousness in this premiere, but this scene and this speech really brought it all home. As a certified and seasoned Damon Defender, I’m going to this moment now to relish it all…. and send The Writers a GIANT basket of cookies…and avert my eyes as long as I can from Lucia and Vee who are likely side-eyeing me as they read this and plotting their intervention speeches for our TVD podcast.
More Applause Triggers
“I need my sister, not another one of them.” Jeremy’s reaction to Elena’s impending vampirism gives me so much hope he’s going to go rogue with a crossbow soon and shock the sugar out of EVERYONE.
K-yler Super-Rescues Caroline. I totally pom-pom cheered Team K-yler (Klaus-possessed Tyler) here till I realized what I was doing. Damn, he’s a good villain.
“Hey, Mom.” Klaus pretending to be Tyler on the phone to Carol Lockwood was hilarious. If you didn’t laugh out loud in that scene, it’s you not me.
Bonnie Goes Dark Side. The intensity of Bonnie’s dark spell, her cross over, and her attempt to bring back Elena’s human spirit was absolutely freaking riveting. Then Grams shows up, tears our hearts out, and pays a fearsome price for Bonnie’s rebellion. WELL DONE, EVERYONE *applause, applause*
“So the mayor and the sheriff never contemplated a back up plan, Liz?” EXCELLENT POINT, DAMON.
Elena Remembers. Was so stoked when Elena began regaining her memories of moments Damon compelled her to forget. Granted, it was a short-lived moment of joy for me…. *side-eyes The Writers*
No Hot Hybrid Sex for Delusional Originals *KAPOW!* LOVE Caroline so much. *proudly polishes my Caroline Forbes Fan Club membership card*
Hybrid Heart-Snatch. Klaus, while still inside of Tyler’s body possessing him and likely still a wee miffed about no hot hybrid sex with Caroline, starts ripping out Tyler’s heart with TYLER’S OWN HAND to force Bonnie to comply and attempt the dark magic spell to put Klaus back into Klaus’s own body. Wow. Bravo, Brother, BRAVO.
BYOB =Bring Your Own Bait. Was totally fooled into thinking we were going to get a Team 00Donavan and Damon moment, then CRUNCH! Damon bit Matt! *applause, applause while dodging Angry Matt Groupies*
“Yoohoo, big bad vampire out here!” There was taunting and fangs and crazy eyes and so much flashback in my brain to Season One Damon in this episode that my mother will never forgive me if I post my true reaction here. Let’s just say if this keeps up, there’ll be a bucket of ice next to my wine glass this season. *kisses all The Writers*
Stefan Feeds Elena. Nothing says love like mustering that last ounce of super-strength to split a guy’s head open so your girlfriend can feed and complete her transition *reaches for the tissues*
Damon-Death-Fake-Super-Shotgun-Stab – Love, love, love, love, LOVE.
“You can’t possibly hate me more than I hate myself” Dear Matt, have you met Damon Salvatore? Of course he can! But I digress. What I will applaud highly, however, is the focus on Matt and how he’s perceiving and handling Elena’s ill-fate. In scenes with both Damon and Stefan, it was clear Matt is struggling profoundly with survivor’s guilt and I for one can’t wait to see what that will drive our young Donovan to do.
Hell Hath No Fury like an Original Hybrid Robbed of his Doppelganger Blood Bags. Rebekah loses her cool, starts popping blood bags all over the parlour, calling Klaus out on his lack of devotion to his true family and his obsession with creating a new one, especially as she out of everyone has stood by him and loved him always. Klaus, as only Klaus in his cracked little ancient mind can, sees things very differently and so denounces his sister and snaps her neck for good measure. Fantastic scene!
“We are the beginning.” FINALLY someone stepped up *hugs all The Writers.* I am absolutely enthralled with the potential of Pastor Young as Leader of the Founder’s Council and whatever Unnatural Band of Merry Minions he has just created. That scene by the way: complete CHILLS. Whoa. Young completely took charge of everything and seems a truly formidable opponent to our vampires and their allies and that is no easy accomplishment on this show; am ecstatic to see where our story goes with him. *standing applause!*
Fang Triggers
“I was coming back for you, Stefan” Best decision she ever made, huh? How is that exactly? *confused, annoyed fang-snap*
Vampire Elena. Though I am very excited that she is finally here and this arc of Elena’s story is beginning, I felt her transition and arrival was a little lack-luster. So for this episode, it’s a bit of a fang trigger for me. Hopefully, we’ll get more in the next episodes to change my mind. I would have also really liked to have seen Matt react to the new fangs-on Elena saving him from Damon but…
“I remember everything” and it was amazing but I’m still picking your brother over you. Want to talk about it? This whole speech was cruel and unjustly judgy, Elena. Especially now that you know what you know. I, too, am definitely getting a wee vexed trying to keep up with your choices. *fang-SNAP!*
“But I’ll get to live…I’ll be with you forever…I’m going to get through this …one day at a time.” Even if I could settle my stomach over the whole smelly cheesiness of the Elena/Stefan moment here, this scene would still bring my fangs out because I just couldn’t buy into it. For a girl who just that morning was devastated to discover she was transitioning into the undead to be sitting on a rooftop by sunset talking all warm and fuzzy about it just doesn’t jive for me AT ALL.
Brewing on the Brain…
Who will be the new mayor, the new sheriff, the new coroner?
Rebekah appears to have helped Stefan help Elena get blood to survive. What does that mean for Rebekah and Elena now?
How much blood does it take to feed enough to complete the transition? Musing on this is driving me crazy.
So Tyler knew that Klaus was going to use his body, eh? Interesting….
How come Caroline heard the Vamp-nappers coming to the hospital room but not to her front door to vervain her?
Did Tyler survive Bonnie’s spell?
What has Pastor Young turned everyone into?
Will Vampire Elena get more interesting?
There you have it, Diaries fans: “Growing Pains” raved, ranted, and reviewed. Now it’s your turn! Hit the comments section below and tell us what you thought of The Vampire Diaries season premiere.
Photo Courtesy of The CW
Lee MacOdrum, when not tweeting mayhem, defending Damon Salvatore, or plotting the next phase of her diabolical master plan, can usually be found writing or dreaming about writing. She also has a profound penchant for Pink Floyd, red wine and supernatural folklore. For more of her musings and mayhem, visit her blog 
Once again, reading your review, I have to chuckle at how closely your thoughts mirrored mine. I loved the Damon we saw here in this episode. He’s ticked off, but he’s not out of control.
The Stefan/Elena scenes….while intended to be touching, I’m sure, came off as cheesy and sappy-sweet. I also questioned the “I came back for YOU, Stefan” lines….since, in the finale, she’d been very specific to say that she was going back for Caroline, Tyler, and not simply Stefan.
I questioned Elena’s “hey, I’m a vampire, everything’s cool” mentality until I thought back over Jeremy’s comments earlier in the episode. Elena’s the queen of pretending everything’s okay – especially when they’re spiraling out of control. Not only do I think she allowed herself to become that which she most desperately didn’t want to be (since she was perfectly ok with dying) to spare Stefan any sense of guilt over his inability to save her, I think she was still in “pretend things are fine” mode on the roof with Stefan.
I hated that the moment when they discussed her reclaimed memories was when both Damon and Elena were at their (arguably) angriest points in the episode. It was clear that when she initially remembered the necklace moment, Elena was touched. The fact that they were denied what could have been a tender moment between the two of them made me sad.
Well, I’ve talked too much. Great review, though!
Thanks! And I like your theory on the truth behind Elena’s rooftop reaction.
Your “show stealer” quote would be mine as well!! Damon isn’t ooey gooey and shouldn’t try to pretend otherwise. Why in the world Elena prefers emotional Stephan, I have no idea. I too thought the ending scene was about as cheesy as it could get…seriously?? Elena needs to develop some rougher edges and her new vampire self shouldn’t be so calm. Keeping my fingers crossed for more depth and complications ahead.
I’m a bit confused about your enthusiasm for Pastor Young’s potential. Julie Plec herself said they blew him up (!) to subvert expectations and demonstrate that the Council wasnt actually going to be the Big Bad this season. I’m sure we’ll learn about why he blew them up and it’ll be connected to something bigger, but I don’t think he’s going to be much of a presence. Again, just going off julie here.
Thank you for sharing, Anne. Haven’t read Julie’s post-ep response myself, so am just going on how I reacted watching the scene. It seemed very purposeful especially when Pastor Young said “We are the beginning;” I felt there was more to it than what it appeared to be. Just as Alaric was made into something more supernatural so he could fight the vampires, I was thinking that perhaps blowing up everyone was part of a spell to be resurrected as some ultimate fighting force. But if in fact the Big Bad Council is just a rouse, I ,for one, will be heartily disappointed.