Reaching new heights

The Vampire Diaries

Season 4 episode 2 "Memorial" 

Dear Diary,

So, about this episode. Well, don't I just feel a tad bit silly. Last episode I may have said things like how they didn't give time to mourn Elena, they brushed over her transformation, stop hurting Matt (ok, that I say every episode, but that's only cause they keep doing it) but Whoa, was I wrong, ok sort of, I stand by what I said about "Growing pains" which I really, really did love very much, but sadly I had lost faith, I went through a shocking transformation of my own without the help of some attractive vampire brothers and forgot the Vampire Diaries writer's ability and what wonderfully, masterful people they are and should have known that something this awesome was coming straight up afterwards.

Everything was heightened during this suburb hour of television programming. The suspense, the love triangle, the chemistry, the violence, the blood vomiting, the emotions. So many emotions. I many have cried. A lot. Very, very many tears were shed, particularly during those last two scenes.

Sometimes with television you need episodes that rip your heart right out of your chest and that's exactly what "Memorial" did.

Let's discuss.

Vegan Vampirism

Blood it does the body good does it not? I for one cannot imagine living without it and I'm sure that there are many people who feel the same. 

Vampires however have a little bit of a different relationship to blood than us boring old humans.

While we like to let it simmer inside our veins, do its own thing as we go about doing ours, vampires like to rip it straight out of bystanders throats, gulp it down, go back for seconds than possibly dance around in it for a moment (don't quote me on that) Elena, our intrepid young hero is just now discovering this different reaction to blood and was giving everything the old college try.

Which basically means, she understands the theory, can't do the practical and there was a lot of throwing up involved.

Luckily the newly vamped Miss Gilbert had a lot of teachers and volunteers who wanted to help her in her heightened state. The lessons:

Intro to hunting and gathering: If you went out to the woods that day you were in for a big surprise. You see, Mr Stefan when he is not ripping people apart with his teeth, teaches a day class in how to eat deer, nearly run vamp style and make out up against trees. Unfortunately half way through the lesson, his student Elena, fell ill and had to leave before the final examination. 

That did not put him off though, having been a survivor of the bunny diet for a longish period of time, Stefan just wanted Elena to not have to go through the hell of having killed someone by mistake. Even though unbeknownst to him not drinking fresh human blood was killing Elena instead. It took a few sharp (and rather harsh words) from a still smarting Damon and a proper conversation with Elena where she told him the truth and having to witness her going to town on her ex-boyfriend’s neck in the middle of a semi-hostage style situation, to realise that he had been ignoring the reality of what Elena was actually going through.  

Women's bathroom studies: Damon on the other hand was all over Elena’s eating crisis. Being the vampire brother she turned to when deer would not still right in her stomach. The every chipper and always helpful elder Salvatore took it upon himself to offer his unrequited crush a variety of other alternate snacks, one of which was his own blood supply. This was a BIG deal. Blood sharing between vampires is very personal and very intimate and apparently a very sexy thing (I put forth the bathroom scene as evidence your honour) which didn’t work in helping Elena, but had gained Original Papa Mikael quite a reputation over the centuries. Vampires talk.

How to control your blood lust in two seconds or less: While both Salvatore brothers argued that they knew what was best for the new vamp, a starving Elena who while vomiting up all manner of blood sources still found time to help out with the Memorial for all the dead council members, comfort the guest star and get in a costume change, was rapidly deteriorating to the point that she nearly exposed herself to the town’s new vampire hunter. Luckily Matt, who was still feeling guilty that he was the one Stefan saved, offered a blood supply that Elena was able to keep down.

 –Book Spoiler- One of my favourite moments in the book series was a similar situation to this moment between Matt and Elena, and I was super happy with this version, it was amazing. Amongst all the tension at the church this simple moment of one friend sacrificing apart of himself to save the other- ok you can look again-

Compulsion and not snacking on the guest stars 101: The final lesson came from the always awesome Caroline Forbes, who really should have been in charge of this thing from the get go. In a moment of weakness Elena nearly killed the new girl in town April Young (Grace Phipps) the spunky daughter of Pastor Young who had tried to kill everyone than killed everyone else. It was Caroline who brought her back from the edge and even taught her fundamentals of compulsion in the process. Caroline is the best.
　
　
The guy with the white oak tattoo

Now the cause of all the heightened tension on Memorial Day. The new vampire hunter Connor Jordon (Todd Williams.) A very welcoming figure on first and second appearance, only attractive people visit Mystic Falls you know that, but just don't shake his hand if you’re a member of the undead or you'll end up with a gut full of lead  (I seriously didn't mean for that to rhyme, but I'm going to leave it.)

The new guy was quick; he was dangerous, he was organised, he shot and stabbed people and hybrids in public, he had “magic” bullets and was a better crime scene investigator than the entire Mystic Falls police force (though to be fair that oven was probably made from the same stuff as the fridge that protected Indiana Jones was the nuclear blast in “Crystal Skull”) He also had a magical tattoo that shared the same symbol as the “magic” bullets and looked like it had tree branches going up his arm (the white oak tree will never die) and could only be seen by psychically charged Jeremy Gilbert. I have never been more excited and scared for Jeremy in my life.

In remembrance

And then we were left with the final two scenes of Memorial.

I guess I know I have a heart cause it's breaking.

While there may have not have been enough time was grief amongst all the heightened action last episode, but the writer's took the time, where other shows may not have, to remember all the characters lost along the way. It highlighted where all the characters were coming from and what they were now letting go. 

Even if Damon was not into the lantern ceremony I was (Jeremy's list may have been the saddest thing ever, plus RIP Uncle Zac.)  But that was ok; Damon had other places to be. He needed to talk to his best friend.The friend whose chair he had made sure stayed empty throughout the day, the friend who had left him all alone to babysit the kids, the friend who was there with him, listening to every word, feeling his pain and loneliest even though Damon didn't know he was there.  Well played, Julie Plec well played.

I'm just lucky computer screens can't show tear stains that way that paper can. That would be embarrassing.
　
Until next time, I'll miss you guys too,

xoxox

Hanniebee