rewatching a show you watched in your teens is like. everything happens so fast. characters get together one episode after being introduced to each other. that character you remember loving was only in one episode. halfway through season 1 there's already been three tagedies. no one has any chill, everything happens so much, it's impossible to see the leads declare they're in love with each other because they just met 7 episodes ago, maybe a couple months at most in canon time like they just met. they're practically moving in together but they're 16.

Here's the list of all my theories about Stranger Things 5 (not in order):

-Robin dies -> either to sacrifice herself (for Vickie or Steve) or she gets killed by Vecna.

-Max dies -> she doesn't wake up of her coma (episode 6 or 7, preferably after Robin's death).

=> After everyone starts to lose hope, they all get the courage to read her letters and they get determined to avenge her and the other deaths (even from previous seasons, such as Barbara for Nancy).

-Jonathan dies -> by saving Nancy or Will.

=> causes an emotional damage to Will, losing his big brother, the only one who knew about who he was.

-Mike and Eleven break up because Mike wants them to be just friends.

-Mike finally tells Will he's in love with him (episode 6 or 7, preferably after Max's death).

-Mike and Will go in the Upside Down (no reason in my mind right now, except it could be to find something).

=> They find Eddie alive (not dead because or the following reason: it's impossible to get killed in the Upside Down if you're not killed by Vecna himself -> Barb was killed by Vecna in the Upside Down since we see her in the pool she died, trapped like Chrissy, Vecna's mother etc. This could explain why Vecna didn't die when Nancy, Steve and Robin tried in S4). ((This theory is the least possible one in my mind, just so you know)) => he really dies though in the end.

Then, mostly everyone becomes a target of Vecna. Here's the list and the causes (why are they a target) and the characters that saves them (in order):

-Dustin is a target -> cause: Eddie's death, as he feels guilt for letting him go back in the Upside Down without him -> Steve or Lucas saves him because of their strong friendship.

-Lucas is a target -> cause: He feels guilt for not saving Max before Vecna takes her -> Max (if she doesn't die) or Erica saves him.

*Robin dies at this moment before the others gets targeted*

-Steve is a target -> cause: He feels guilt because he couldn't save Robin from the hands of Vecna -> Nancy saves him.

-Nancy is a target -> cause: She feels guilt because of Barbara and Steve being a target, but mostly of Barb -> Jonathan saves her by dying = she feels a second guilt and Steve feels guilt too.

*Jonathan dies at this moment*

-Will is a target -> cause: Vecna shows him his old memories (with his mom, Jonathan, Mike and the Party), but mostly bad memories to show him how his life is miserable. He asks Will to join him but refuses -> The music "Should I Stay or Should I Go" gets a door to open (just like Max when "Running up That Hill" started), and Mike's voice gets Will to escape Vecna's lair. He crushes his left eye before escaping (foreshadowing from Eddie during the DnD campaign in S4).

-Mike is a target (endgame, mostly end of episode 7 or beginning of episode 8) -> El saves him by fighting with Vecna but she still doesn't kill him. She gets hurt because he got stronger.

Now, the most crazy theory:

-Everyone finds a plan: Time travel.

=> They think, if the time in the Upside Down stopped the day Will got into the U.D, maybe he's the key of the U.D. Why? Maybe Vecna gave him this "power" because they're alike (sensitive, lonely, and good drawer). So they think if Will goes back inside, they can come back to the day he got kidnapped by Vecna and kill him when he was less strong.

And the Endgame theories (so episode 8 or end of episode 7):

-The Party finally gets back together and are going to be the leaders of the last episode.

-Eleven saves Hawkins by killing Vecna.

=> Parallel with the first season: Eleven gets Vecna on the wall, being ready to kill him but before that, she turns her head to Mike or the Party and says "Goodbye" one last time just like in the final of season 1. She then kills Vecna inside of the U.D creating a sort of supernova (because she erases him like the Demogorgon in s1, but since she did that outside of the U.D and she teleported them in it, and this time she's inside, this world can't support it and it makes a sort of supernova). This causes the U.D to get closed forever and Eleven dies, closing the possibility of interacting with the U.D from the real world.

That's it!! Tell me what you guys think about this, it's the main theories in big lines, some things a more precise obviously.

Thoughts on the Alex Rider TV show...

Some background: I’ve been reading the books since Point Blanc came out, so we are going back a few years (actually quite a few more years than I care to credit). I thought the Stormbreaker movie was a pretty awful adaptation all round. Definitely lacked the grit of the book series. Imagine my fear of what they were going to do to Point Blanc, one of my favourite books of the series...

So, thoughts (in no particular order):

1. Otto Farrant is brilliantly cast. OK, one can nitpick. He’s been aged up, but I think that works - the TV series has tried to go grittier than the movie, and if we’re honest, a 14 year old being treated the way Alex is would just be extremely uncomfortable viewing. The books are written for children - they put up with a lot more than adults. And Farrant manages to strike an excellent balance between being old enough to make the whole thing believable, and young enough to provoke the right amount of outrage. His portrayal of Alex is really very good - the unwillingness to let something drop when he’s curious about it, the coldness, the desire to just be a schoolboy, the fundamental streak of doing what’s right. Sorry, Alex Pettyfer, but no matter how good looking you were, you weren’t Alex Rider for me. Otto Farrant has nailed it.

2. Alex generally. The writing is pretty faithful to his character. There are a few tweaks - he’s a bit more of a rebel than he is in the books. The foam party - one can see Alex doing that in the book because it’s part of the bad-boy act he’s supposed to be putting on, but I’m not sure that was the motivation for the foam party; I think he did it because it was fun and he’s someone who likes to rock the boat a bit. But I liked this Alex. It made his snarkiness and impulsiveness that much more believable. And, let’s be honest, what kid is taught to withstand interrogation techniques without becoming a bit of a loose cannon? One thing that was changed that I’m still not sure about was his determination to go back to Point Blanc. Book Alex didn’t want to go back; TV Alex says he’s going with or without MI6′s help because he’s got friends there. This was admirable, and I think probably the right move (I don’t think “leaving it to the professionals” would have come off well on screen when he’d made such good friends), but I did miss the scene from the book where Jones more or less manipulates him into going back in.

3. Jack. I love Jack as a character. It’s a bit more of recent phenomenon - I think since I became about the age that Jack is and suddenly woke up to what she must have felt - but the book Jack puts up with so much without complaint. The thing is, she’s a very tricky character to portray, because it’s a fine balance between making her powerless and useless. I think they did a good job here. They’ve changed things - Jack gets her degree at the start, and hints to Ian that it might be time for her to think about leaving. It’s not faithful to the book, but it’s a brilliant move, because as soon as Ian dies and she sticks around, you think - wow. She’s just given up her plans for this kid. She really cares. And that’s what the book series hints at throughout but has only addressed explicitly in recent books. I also like that they showed her having a bit more agency, which is realistic. I mean, she’s got a law degree. She’s not helpless. Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo does a good job here. OK, she’s not the red haired Jack we know of the series. But so what? Representation matters (on a side point of which, good job in making Alex’s crush at school black too). And didn’t that thing about Immigration strike just a bit harder because Jack was black? Didn’t it make it that much more realistic and scary? This shit happens, people.

4.Ian. I didn’t have strong views about this. I’ve seen that others didn’t like how his death was changed. I’d argue they wanted to get away from what had already been done in the Stormbreaker movie, and, anyway, it set up the mystery of Scorpia’s involvement and the MI6 leak quite effectively. I don’t care about the speeding/seatbelt change. They probably did it because these days any decent car (like Ian’s was) screams at the driver if they’ve not got their seatbelt on.

5. K Unit generally. We didn’t get too much of Fox, Eagle and Snake, but we got a bit, and what I saw, I really liked. I liked that two of them were women (one of them an excellent sniper!). This show generally handles women much better than the book series - far more balance. I liked the introduction of K Unit - the whole interrogation scene was really well done, from K Unit following orders but being quite uncomfortable with the whole thing, to Alex’s reaction to it, to his escape. I think the lack of SAS training camp was again an attempt to shift away from the Stormbreaker movie and, although it has spawned a lot of fanfiction, it doesn’t actually serve any purpose that couldn’t be addressed elsewhere. For K Unit lovers, I think this move was a good thing. It is pretty difficult to justify K Unit’s attitude towards Alex at Brecon Beacons, and translating that situation to one of trust between Alex and Wolf would be very difficult. This approach worked because, although K Unit was introduced in circumstances where you think they’re acting badly (following orders to interrogate Alex), you’re immediately introduced to the idea they’re not comfortable about it - so they might be good guys after all.

6. Wolf. So this gave us ALL the feels (the apology, the blanket wrap at the end...), but I (possibly controversially) think they could have done more here. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of what we saw in the book - Wolf not liking Alex, and then them turning that around. Don’t get me wrong - obviously, the more Alex/Wolf trust, the better. But I thought they made Wolf into a bit more of a softie than they really needed to. They had 8 episodes - they had time to build more of a character arc for him. 

7. Jones. Mixed feelings. Vicky McClure is really good, and I think the way they’ve set it up, there’s room for a good character arc here; at the moment, the Department is portrayed as basically being under Alan Blunt’s rule, with others disagreeing with his approach but getting overruled. If they make it far enough, Mrs Jones is going to need to have adopted some of his ruthlessness by the time Blunt gets the sack at the end of Scorpia Rising. A bit like Wolf, I thought Mrs Jones could have been a bit more complex than she was. But I’m happy to wait and see what they do in (hopefully) future seasons.

8. Setting. Generally pretty well done. Thank GOD they were wearing proper school uniform (what were the directors of the Stormbreaker movie thinking...this is Britain, y’all). The Point Blanc academy was suitably creepy and isolated. My only criticism re setting was that the “Department” was in a basement. I can see why they did it (dark and mysterious setting, OK), but it didn’t strike me as a particularly realistic place to run a Government department from. Even MI6 has a decent building in Vauxhall.

9. Kyra. I didn’t want to like this deviation in principle - I was really suspicious they were just setting up a love interest (the same way as in the Stormbreaker movie, where they elevated Sabina’s character in a way that just wasn’t appropriate). But Kyra was a brilliant addition. Complex but good-hearted. And nothing cringey happened - even that nearly kiss before Alex leaves Point Blanc was actually pretty believable and went just far enough. Be interesting to see if she comes back - that hanging ending, man. Poor Kyra. On a side point, I think for the purposes of the TV series it was quite important to give Alex a good friend at the academy. Solitary spying works well on the page, but not so much on screen - viewers need dialogue. I thought the way they did it worked well.

10. Plot. Yes, there were tweaks. But I thought the way it was put together was well done. There was no dramatic baddie revealing all at the end. I liked the way it gradually unfolded, and that although MI6 had managed to piece some of it together, it was ultimately Alex who solved it through the spying he’d done. Interesting that they have decided to introduce Scorpia so early on, but it’s given us something to drive the series forward rather than it just being one mission after another, so probably a good move.

11. Tom. The relationship between Tom and Alex was well done (when Alex comes to Tom’s rescue at the end!). O’Connor is good (though, please, PLEASE can we ditch what my husband and I have dubbed the gnome hat?). I thought he got slightly too much air time at this stage, personally - and turning up at the Friends’ house was a bridge too far for me. But I can forgive this. I liked the way they targeted Tom because he and Alex are such best friends. This bromance was something missing from the series and it was a welcome introduction.

I could go on, but I think this is long enough. If anyone has anything they’d like to chat about or to hear my opinion on, do PM me or comment on this post. Meanwhile, I’m off to rewatch the series.

Friday, December 17, 2021 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: SWAN SONG (Apple TV +) UNINTERRUPTED'S TOP CLASS: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE SIERRA CANYON TRAILBLAZERS  (IMDb TV) JOE BOB RUINS CHRISTMAS (Shudder) ROLLING LIKE THUNDER (Crave 3) 9:00pm CHILLIN ISLAND (HBO Canada) 10:30pm

WHAT IS NOT PREMIERING IN CANADA TONIGHT MISTLETOE IN MONTANA (Premiering on December 19 on Lifetime Canada at 8:00pm) 89TH ANNUAL HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE (CW Feed)

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME/CRAVE/NETFLIX CANADA/CBC GEM:

AMAZON PRIME CANADA CLARICE (Season 1) THE GRAND TOUR (Season 4) WITH LOVE

CBC GEM CALL THE MIDWIFE SEASON 9 CHRISTMAS SPECIAL ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY (Season 26A) THANKS FOR EVERYTHING CRAVE TV CHRISTMAS IS CANCELLED COMEDY CENTRAL’S A HOT HOLIDAY MESS COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS DIGIMON ADVENTURE TRI: COEXISTENCE DIGIMON ADVENTURE TRI: CONFESSION DIGIMON ADVENTURE TRI: DETERMINATION DIGIMON ADVENTURE TRI: FUTURE DIGIMON ADVENTURE TRI: LOSS DIGIMON ADVENTURE TRI: REUNION GEORDIE OGs (Season 4a) GREEN LANTERN AN ICE WINE CHRISTMAS LADYHAWKE THE LAND BEFORE TIME LOONEY TUNES: BACK IN ACTION MADAGASCAR THE MATRIX MTV UNPLUGGED: TONY BENNETT AND LADY GAGA NEEDLE IN A TIMESTACK ONE BIG HOLIDAY RECIPE PRISONERS OF THE GHOSTLAND REBA MCENTIRE’S CHRISTMAS IN TUNE ROLLING LIKE THUNDER A SNOWY CHRISTMAS SPENCER’S HOLIDAY BBQ SPIRIT: STALLION OF THE CIMARRON TED 2 THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS

DISNEY + STAR ARENDELLE CASTLE YULE LOG: CUT PAPER EDITION PARIS TO PITTSBURGH

NETFLIX CANADA DECOUPLED FAST & FURIOUS SPY RACERS (season 6) THE WITCHER (season 2)

NHL HOCKEY (SN) 7:00pm: Sabres vs. Penguins (TSN2) 8:00pm: Capitals vs. Jets

NBA BASKETBALL (SN Now) 7:00pm: Heat vs. Magic (SN1) 7:30pm: Warriors vs. Celtics (TSN3) 8:00pm: Lakers vs. Timberwolves (SN1) 10:00pm: Hornets vs. Trailblazers

WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS 2021 (HGTV Canada) 7:00pm: Behind the scenes of the three-day project that brings spectacular trees, breathtaking decorations, and over-the-top gingerbread creations to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

HANSEL AND GRETEL: AFTER EVER AFTER (Family Channel) 7:00pm: Youngsters Hansel and Gretel escape from the witch's house in the woods. However, when they return to their village they learn that the villagers are being enticed by a mysterious stranger with sweets.

CANADIAN WOMEN’S HOCKEY (TSN/TSN5) 8:00pm: Canada vs. US

ANNE MURRAY: FULL CIRCLE (CBC) 8:00pm: A documentary exploring the extraordinary life of a Maritime girl who became an international superstar.

CELEBRATING GREATNESS: CANADA'S WALK OF FAME 2021 (CTV) 8:00pm:  Honoring exceptional Canadians with distinctive accomplishments in philanthropy, advocacy, and contributions towards the greater good.

MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MELODY (City TV) 8:00pm:  Once a promising singer-songwriter, Abby now finds herself writing uninspired jingles for commercials. As she heads home for the holidays, Abby soon rediscovers her voice as a local music teacher enlists her to help save a school arts program.

SUGAR PLUM TWIST (W Network) 8:00pm: After failing to get the coveted role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in "The Nutcracker," an aspiring ballerina joins forces with a retiree from the New York City Ballet to create her own dance spectacular -- with a Latin twist.

CHASING GHISLAINE (Investigation Discovery) 8:00pm/9:15pm/10:35pm (SERIES PREMIERE):  Vicky Ward profiles the life of media mogul Robert Maxwell; Maxwell's story helps to pull back the veil on his daughter Ghislaine's mysterious past. In Epsiode Two, Ghislaine Maxwell turns to Jeffrey Epstein for financial security after her father dies, and she introduces him to the rich and powerful; prosecutors say Macwell provided introductions of a very different nature. In Episode Three, Vicky Ward looks at the web of men around Jeffrey, even after he's a convicted sex offender; Ghislaine tries to escape his orbit, but she's drawn back by a revealing photo.

CHRISTMAS AT CASTLEBURY HALL (Super Channel Heart & Home) 8:00pm:  A woman (Katie McGrath) escorts her niece and nephew (Travis Turner) to spend the holidays with their grandfather (Roger Moore), an English duke.

THROWDOWN WITH MICHAEL SYMON (Food Network Canada) 9:30pm (SERIES PREMIERE): Michael Symon pulls out all the stops for a throwdown all about burgers and barbecue; slinging a burger piled high with juicy pulled pork, his mystery competitor is former fine dining chef Matt Abdoo, now at Brooklyn's canalside hot spot, Pig Beach.

THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS (Crave) 9:00pm: A handful of men search for rare, expensive and delicious white Alba truffles deep in the forests of Piedmont, Italy.

CRIME BEAT (Global) 10:00pm:  When Canadian boxing star Eddie "Hurricane" Melo is killed, investigators start digging into his connections to the Montreal Mafia; Mark Carcasole reports on the theories, the arrests and how Melo's daughter is keeping her father's memory alive.

Steven Hyde and family, part 2 [Barnetts]

Part 1: Hydes, is here. 

At the end of season 6, Hyde and us find out he has another person listed as his biological father in his birth certificate, some William Barnett he has never heard of. Turns out, yes, Bud Hyde was never his father.

We learn next, in season 7, that Hyde is about to meet this William Barnett. He turns out to be a very rich man whose money comes from music, and the show did the disgusting thing of using his color as a joke. As we find out, W. B. is also black.

This makes Hyde biracial and whitepassing. An interesting thing to explore in fics, something the show used the wrong way, and that will mean a lot to the headcanon part of this post.

At the beginning, W. B. believes Hyde is going after his money and that’s why he wanted to meet. Once he is shown that’s not Hyde’s intentions, I believe they get to bond pretty well.

One of the very, very, very few little things done right in season 8 is Hyde’s relationship with his father. We see him in season 7 working for him in his comapny, then getting the chance to own the Grooves store at Point Place with his sister (I’ll later about Angie).

But in season 8, we see them bonding. We see W. B.’s house and his offic a little bit more often (not much, but is there), and what I got from the scenes with him is that, even if on the cover he and Hyde have nothing but their ‘fros in common, Hyde does share some things with his father.

They bond over music and W. B. ultimatelly gives him the complete ownership of Grooves and the hint at him starting what he had with his Music Company. W. B. sees potential in Hyde and his love for music and encoragues it the best he can (and as much as the writers allowed his character).

I firmly believe he has a good relationship with W. B. and with time, it can become a ral father-son relationship like Hyde dreamed to have with Bud in season 3. And what’s more important is that this doesn’t overshadows his relationship with Red. Red Forman will always be Hyde’s father, but like I got to learn by being adopted by my own daddy, you can have as many. Father is the one that raises you and supports you from the heart.

Angie is Hyde’s older sister, W. B.’s daughter from a marriage we don’t know nothing about. She is a total daddy’s girl like Hyde’s girlfriend is, an intelligent woman that will not stand anything getting in her ay to be successfull in what she is passionate about: the music industry.

Hyde and Angie have a very rocky start and slowly gets to become better. Like with W. B., Angie get sproven wrong about Hyde, and we see her more often interacting with him and the gang.

Turns out they couldn’t be more different, but like with W. B., music drives them together and a bond is born from it. 

He starts showing interest and care for his sister early on. He jokes in the office about how they are like a family of awesome ‘fros, to what W. B. smiles and seems genuanely pleaset at. Angie shows no interest in this, but later when she starts dating Kelso, we see Hyde upset over this over the course of an entire episode.

Because he knows the kind of crap Kelso is to woman, he doesn’t want his sister to date such a fuck up like his friend, and with his best friend [Eric] being an asshole about it, things aren’t looking fine for him. Eventually, this gets solved and peace comes back to them.

We aren’t told much about the Barnetts away from W. B. and Angie, so the next I’m telling is pure headcanon of mine.

The Barnetts is a family I have a lot of interest in. I understand the fear some writers may feel at working with POCs, but as a poc myself, I find it important and interesting to talk about. Yet, I’m always being careful, since it’s a culture that doesn’t belong to me, it’s a theme that is important to real people beyond the fiction I love.

I have the Barnetts as a hard working family. W. B. is an only chield but, his was Steven Barnett, who died when he was younger. His mother, Isabella ‘Izzy’ Barnett, re-married many years after Mr. Steven Barnett’s death, to a man named Nethan, also known as only Nate.

He has plenty of cousins that he sees as brothers, so his children call his nephews and nices cousins themselves, too. From them, comes Uncle Tim who married Aunt Eunice, and got George, Alice and Tom. Tom is around Hyde’s age, a few months older than him, and also the first of the cousins to welcome him.

Tom constantly invites him and Jackie to hang out with the other cousins. At first, Hyde didn’t feel like going, but Jackie managed to convince him most times. Later, breakfast on Sundays and the cousin night out once a month become something they attend all the time is required.

She’s happy to see Hyde being accepted in the family and both enjoy their place at Barnett’s table and the importance they hold in the house as members of the family.

Other uncles, aunts and cousins: Aunt Lila that married uncle Jon, and had Lily and Daisy, both around Angie’s age, just a little bit older. And Aunt Gina that married uncle Al, and had Vicky, who is Angie’s age, and Diego, who is Hyde’s and Tom’s age.

Diego, Tom and Hyde hang out a lot when they have the chance. He sometimes takes Eric with him, and other times, even Kelso and Fez get invited, alongisde the girls if it’s not boy’s night.

Hyde and Jackie later become Diego’s kid, Jonathan, godparents. While Tom’s younger kid was named Jackson after Jackie. Hyde and Jackie chose for their second daughter’s middle name to be ‘Tami’ for cousin Tom.

While Hyde’s name was not chosen for his late grandfather he didn’t had the chance to meet, when the family is asked if it’s because of him, no one makes an attempt at saying ‘no’. He likes it that way, too. Deep down, it makes him feel included.

Izzy was the first member of the extended family he got to meet alongisde Nate. They being his grandparents welcomed him warm and happy, since Izzy has always said she wanted more grandchildrens.

Her love for Hyde and Angie can be seen from space, she would do anything in her hands for them and is always there for Hyde. He feels safe talking to her and having her accepting him so easily and so quickly into the family helped him shape his security for when he met the rest of the family.

She got to see all her great grandchildren, and that’s something that always calms Hyde’s heart when later, when she’s gone, he misses her.

TVD 2x02 Review

1. I really like Paternal Stefan, I wish he and Jeremy had more screen time.

2. I mean they SEEM like a family. “Well today we have a distraction courtesy of the slave driver, Elena. Hello, Elena!” I could see him saying this to his son. I’ve finished watching This Is Us, which I liked for various and really disliked for others but Jack and Rebecca, I could see them being Stelena.

3. “Is Elena worried too? I bet I’m your every conversation” yeah Damon, because you killed her brother.

4. I also like how they’re saying he’s worried he’s going to explode as if killing Jeremy wasn’t an explosion.

5. I forgot that Bonnie was vibing on Carter and he was vibing on Bonnie before he is brutally killed like essentially every black man on this show and all of her love interests.

6. What other show is Carter in?

7. So remember that time Damon killed Jeremy and then remember that time he went to the carnival and put Jeremy in a chokehold because Jeremy was rightfully upset? And remember that time the show treated this as a mild annoyance and made Elena look like a terrible sister and human being for being with the man who did this to her brother?

8. I really like when Paul and Ian stand next to each other because the contrast, like Paul is fucking sculpted its insane, that collarbone?

9. “There is no such thing as combat turtles” “It’s Ninja turtles actually” love Stefan.

10. Ian STOP with the eyebrows, we GET it. He didn’t waggle his eyebrows as Boone right? He just tries to give Damon a thing.

11. I remember I used to love when Caroline pushed Damon down the hell but that is wildly underwhelming considering everything he’s done to her. At least break a kneecap. Or push him so hard, he slams into a wall.

12. Also I like how Damon is the one who sets up this experiment with Carter and Tyler but doesn’t even stick around to see it through? Stefan has to be the one to make sure everything doesn’t end in bloodshed?

13. Also I forget how exactly would Katherine know that Damon gave Caroline vampire blood?

14. “Because Katherine is a manipulative nasty little slut” so are we just not going to talk about Damon’s misogyny? Also, why are we acting like Caroline being turned is the worst thing ever when literally last episode Damon killed Jeremy? And last season Damon tried to kill Caroline and abused and raped her? AND he turned Vicki and sent her over to Elena’s house for fun? And he literally just compelled a guy to keep going at Tyler just to see what happens. Like Katherine is actually pretty low-key compared to Damon’s shit, guys.

15. Wasn’t there a school carnival the night you staked Vicki? No, it was a Halloween party. Already the writers are forgetting their own canon.

16. Bonnie going around being a sounding board to everyone’s problems and no one has asked her anything about herself. Cool. 

17. I also kind of love how both Stefan and Elena protect Caroline, like Elena has her front and he has her back. Seriously, Mom and Dad of the group.

18. Stefan helping Caroline in the bathroom is still one of the sweetest scenes in the series.

19. “Bonnie, it wasn’t his fault” no but like basically everything else is, he deserves to die, fam.

20. Totally glad that Damon nearly got burned alive.

21. “I have a doppelganger who is hellbent on destroying all of us.” HOW? Katherine turned Caroline, shitty, yes, but like that’s kind of she’s all done right now. She just went to the wake and pretended to be Elena fo five minutes, calm down.

22. “But killing you, what’s it going to do?” Jeremy, if you had just killed Damon then Tyler wouldn’t have died, Aaron wouldn’t have died, nameless innocents wouldn’t have died, the world would’ve been a much better place if Jeremy or Bonnie just killed him.

23. Damon and Jeremy “bonding” because their fathers hated vampires makes literally no sense. They don’t even SAY anything.

24. Still think it’s totally cute that Stefan wakes Elena up by kissing her and she’s jut like “oh hey, what time is it?”

Thanks for reading!

tagged by @realbensolo

the last

drink: water

phone call: my mom, calling to discuss the sudden torrential downpour (we live in central Arizona where this is an Event)

text message: “she looks as awkward as ever”

song you listened to: friday i’m in love

time you cried: two weeks ago while withdrawing from Lexapro

dated someone twice: no

kissed someone and regretted it: that was awhile ago. i have this thing now where i only do the side-hug on first dates and there isn’t usually a second because they’re clingy and/or weird

been cheated on: no

lost someone special: my great aunt Marie from Pasadena, who was the most righteous old lady i ever knew and even after getting dementia still had her 7&7 at cocktail hour every day

been depressed: i have Depression

gotten drunk and thrown up: not since july 4th of 2015, after copious amounts of sushi (i do NOT recommend this)

three favourite colours

Hot pink

Black

Turquoise

in the last year have you

made new friends: yes

fallen out of love: no

laughed until you cried: yes

found out someone was talking about you: of course, i attract the attention of a number of exceptionally pathetic young women with no lives outside TV show fandoms for some reason

met someone who changed you: one of my roller derby coaches who seriously took the time to listen to my concerns about my health and the sport

found out who your friends are: yes

kissed someone on your facebook list: no

general

how many of your facebook friends do you know in real life? most of them since i remade as a roller derby only account. the only ones i don’t know are a couple of dudes, one of whom is the husband of a gal who didn’t friend me back (uh oh spaghetti-os)

do you have any pets? a black cat named Barnabas who i usually refer to as demon seed or dumb wiener cat

do you want to change your name? not anymore. i had to grow into it

what did you do for your last birthday? i actually spent it at a roller derby bout. the day before my mom took me to p.f. chang’s for dinner

what time did you wake up? around 3am (yay for Wellbutrin!)

what were you doing at midnight last night? sleeping

name something you can’t wait for: the last jedi, my upcoming trip to austin with @realbensolo

when was the last time you saw your mum: this morning

what are you listening to right now? the simpsons episode “bart gets an elephant”

have you ever talked to a person named tom? my great uncle Tom

something that is getting on your nerves: sw fandom, my job, my dumb compulsive behaviors

most visited website: twitter

hair colour: dark strawberry blonde

long or short hair: i prefer it longer, but it’s short right now because i’m trying to grow out this drastic asymmetrical cut from last year

do you have a crush on someone? not really, though i like to entertain the idea that this bearded guy in my office is into me

what do you like about yourself? i’m a Deep Thinker. my seventh grade homeroom teacher said so

piercings: just earlobes, but i might get a daith in a couple weeks

blood type: AB+

nickname: vic, vicki (you aren’t allowed to call me that unless you’ve known me prior to 1996)

relationship status: single

zodiac: taurus

pronouns: she/her

favourite tv show(s): the office, the simpsons (only up through season 8), daria

tattoos: six, four of which are symmetrical

right or left handed: right

surgery: n/a

sport: ROLLER DERBY

vacation: i grew up in AZ which means most vacations were California and later, Vegas, and i actually didn’t travel much until i joined the military. i occasionally get to Colorado to visit my dad. there are like five places i want to go in the US next year but my real dream vacays are Ireland and Germany.

pair of trainers: i have a pair of black and lavender fold-over chuck taylors that i can’t bring myself to get rid of

more general

eating: Green & Black dark chocolate

drinking: water

i’m about to: attempt homework :///

waiting for: the opportunity to live on my own without having to support my folks financially

want: a better paying job

get married: that’s a biiiiiiiiig if

career: what i currently have is what i would categorize as a job, not a career. the concept of a lifelong career is beyond me since i tend to get bored as hell with a job after 3-4 years. that said i am angling to be a teacher, but that might still change

which is better?

hugs or kisses: hugs

lips or eyes: eyes

shorter or taller: i’m very into the tall guy short girl aesthetic, but being a tall girl, am personally into very tall guys (6′ or taller)

older or younger: same age or older. i don’t mess with younger dudes anymore. i learned that lesson the hard way

nice arms or nice stomach: ARMS. SEE DRIVER, ADAM

hookup or relationship: relationship

troublemaker or hesitant: hesitant

have you ever

kissed a stranger: yes

drank hard liquor: yes

lose glasses/contact lenses: very expensive sunglasses

turned someone down: yes

sex on the first date: not anymore

had your heart broken: yes

been arrested: nope

cried when someone died: yes

fallen for a friend: a couple of times

do you believe in

yourself: i have my moments

miracles: I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES, DON’T YOU? NA NA NA NA NA NA NANANANA man DDR was full of bangers

love at first sight: i’m demiromantic

santa claus: until i was seven and i found the previous year’s wrapping paper in the closet

kiss on the first date: only if i’m really feeling it

angels: i like the idea

other

eye colour: blue-green

favourite movie: a new hope, beetlejuice, frances ha

Tagging: @aeschars @mnemehoshiko and idk i haven’t done one of these in years so whoever else wants to jump in :D

The Racist Treatment of Bonnie Bennett

I contemplated coming up with some cool title with a ring to it, or maybe something veiled that made you scratch your head and wonder, before reading further, BUT... why not just call a spade a spade? - “But, BB8fan, that’s such a BOLD statement to make!” I KNOW. But don’t worry, I have the facts to back it up! 

The definition of the adjective “racist” is showing or feeling discrimination or prejudice against people of other races, or believing that a particular race is superior to another. In this article, I will prove that Bonnie Bennett has been CONSTANTLY treated, made, and portrayed to feel as though the predominantly white characters of “The Vampire Diaries” were superior to her. #RacistTreatment

DISCLAIMER: LET THIS POST SPARK EMPATHY AND AWARENESS, NOT ANGER AND HATRED, LEST WE BECOME ADVOCATES OF THE VERY THING WE DESPISE... 

Firstly, when it comes to men: 

Bonnie Bennett has been treated, made, and portrayed to be the least desirable of the three female leads of TVD. While Elena was sought after by the hunky Salvatore brothers... and Caroline by the all powerful, Klaus, All-American, Matt, beefcake wolf, Tyler, Professor Alaric Saltzman, AND STEFAN to boot... BONNIE was sought after by Ben (who only wanted to use her), Luka (who only wanted to USE HER), Jeremy (who was grieving over the ex, he later CHEATED ON HER WITH), and Enzo, who had literally exhausted all other options! 

IT IS DISGRACEFUL! IT IS STOMACH CHURNING DISGUSTING, AND BLATANTLY IN YOUR FACE, WHEN YOU PAUSE TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT IT! THE RACIST TREATMENT... 

Elena was given the show leads, Caroline was given literally EVERY GUY ON THE SHOW, while Bonnie was whiny Jeremy’s third choice (after Vickie and Anna), and irrelevant Enzo’s third choice, for that matter! (Don’t forget CAROLINE and Lily! ;)

WHY have BOTH of her only relevant love interests end up with her BY DEFAULT?! And WHY IN THE WORLD couldn’t Ben or Luka start out using her, and then GROW TO CARE FOR HER?! Why did her stupid STEP BROTHER not even want her?! She had to literally THROW herself at him! WHY DID THE WRITERS TREAT THE BEAUTIFUL BONNIE BENNETT IN SUCH A DEMEANING MANNER??! In my opinion, she’s the most gorgeous of all the females, but NO. TVD made her undesirable. They put her white friends on a pedestal, and portrayed her as the inferior oddball NOBODY wanted and NOBODY CHOSE FIRST. #RacistTreatment  

But in case you need more evidence... 

Secondly, when it comes to empowerment:

Bonnie Bennett has been treated, made, and portrayed to be the most powerless out of the three female leads of TVD. ‘How so? Elena was a weak human for 3 seasons! And Bonnie’s the baddest witch in the land!’ I’m glad you asked... YES Bonnie’s a fierce witch, and yes, Elena was human for 3 seasons. BUT! 

1) Bonnie was possessed, beyond her control. (S1) 2) Bonnie was held back by Stefan, while Damon KILLED HER MOTHER. (S3) 3) Bonnie was CONSISTENTLY FORCED to do magic for Klaus! (S3) 4) Bonnie helplessly witnessed her grandmother being tortured by the spirits, to the point where she lost the ability to do her magic. (S4)  5) Bonnie had to lay there and watch Jeremy die right in front of her! (S4) 6) Bonnie’s dad was KILLED RIGHT BEFORE HER VERY EYES! (S5) 7) Bonnie lost her magic. (S5) 8) Bonnie became the anchor, and had to undergo enormous magnitudes of pain. (S5) 9) Bonnie was stabbed, chased, and tormented by Kai. (S6)  10) Bonnie had no magic. (S6) 11) Bonnie was hunted by the armory and had no magic. (S7) 12) Bonnie had NO MAGIC! (S8)

So yes, Bonnie’s an all powerful witch! But HALF THE SERIES she’s spent WITHOUT HER MAGIC! Elena was weak and human, and used for the cure! BUT Bonnie has been used as a magical tool EVERY OTHER EPISODE - and by literally EVERY character on the show! It’s not just Klaus and Katherine who’ve made her feel powerless! BUT Damon, Stefan, Katherine, Klaus, Silas, Enzo, and EVERYONE!!! 

Elena watched Jenna die. But Bonnie watched Jeremy AND her DAD die! She found her Grams dead, and was held back while her Mom was killed! 

This woman has been beaten down in ways that are just deplorable and unheard of! She has been FORCED, she has been ABUSED, she has been TRAUMATIZED in the appalling ways she’s been made to feel and be POWERLESS! More times and with more damaging magnitudes than with any other female lead! Fight me on this! It’s #RacistTreatment

But just in case you still REFUSE to see the light...

Lastly, when it comes to worth: 

This is the most serious and damaging of them all! Fine! Portray your only lead POC character as undesirable! Portray her as powerless! But worthless? This is just unacceptable... But TVD did it! My gosh they DID it with Bonnie Bennett!  

Caroline doesn’t put her life above Elena’s so why should Bonnie? TIME AFTER TIME AGAIN??! And then not only does she do it with Elena, she does it FOR JEREMY TOO!!! She literally GAVE HER LIFE for the two them! For Jeremy to be alive, and for Elena to be “happy,” she GAVE UP HER LIFE, because it is worth THAT little! Or so the show would have Bonnie believe, - AND the other characters, as no one has ever corrected her, - and we, the viewing audience! 

This is unhealthy, abusive, and DAMAGING, this belief system! But it has gone unchecked and uncorrected for YEARS! AND TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY,  the one time people claim their “superior” white faves did sacrifice for Bonnie is complete BS! Talk about #RacistTreatment

The ignorance of the show BLEEDS into the fans/viewers of it, and it is SCARY! To say that Elena or Damon sacrificed ANYTHING in season 6, when Kai linked her life to Bonnie’s, is not only absurd, it’s HORRIFYING! I don’t know if people are losing brain cells watching this terribly written show, but Elena was IN A MAGICAL COMA! That was done! It happened! -- NOW. The loophole is that she could wake up, IF BONNIE DIES! So when people say Elena sacrificed, and Damon sacrificed, they’re literally saying “Delena didn’t KILL Bonnie, they’re supposed best friend! What a sacrifice!” 

They’re literally patting them on the back, for not MURDERING their “friend!” Do you realize how messed up that is?!... But then again, a messed up ship breeds messed up fans! And a messed up show breeds messed up viewers! Bonnie’s life isn’t worth anything! That’s been the running theme of the show! So why wouldn’t viewers pat DE on the back for not killing her?! She isn’t worth crap! 

“Bonnie’s superiors are her white friends, and she needs to be ready and willing to lay down her life for them, at all times!” 

That’s the message of TVD. I am SICK. I am utterly disgusted and SICK! I cannot BELIEVE I wasted SO MANY years of my life on this show, thinking they cared about this beautiful person of color! CONVINCING myself they were saving Bonnie for DAMON, and that was the reason for her lack of love interest! Reasoning they were making Bonnie a stronger, more layered character, by putting her through so much crap! Believing they’d have the right man DECLARE Bonnie’s worth to her, and put a stop to her self harm!

NOOO! 

They’re not saving Bonnie for Damon. Why would they put the “inferior black girl” with one of the most desirable males of the series?! Even though Bamon is canon in the books, they will not even share a KISS! They will be the only important book!ship left COMPLETELY UNEXPLORED (they even did Meredith/Alaric!), when if this were Bonnie Mccullough they’d already be MARRIED! 

You know, back in season 3 of the show, I started to wish for Bonnie’s death. I thought, ‘if her character is going to be used and abused THIS much, she might as well be gone... Kat Graham deserves better, and I deserve better than to be stuck watching this show for her!’ But TVD kept her alive. They kept their token black person to keep their demographic viewers.

And yeah, a couple seasons later things seemed to be getting better... but then season 8 happened. :/ But I guess I should be thankful! My eyes are OPENED because of it. 

Bonnie Bennett is ENDLESSLY treated, made, and portrayed to feel undesirable, powerless, and worthless, next to her white friends. It’s #RacistTreatment and she deserves better. Kat Graham deserves better. And we as VIEWERS deserve better. 

I am SO DONE with this show, and I hope you will be to! Don’t put yourself through the heartache! Don’t put yourself through the twisted brainwash! I wish more than ever now that Bonnie Bennett would die. There’s just no winning. :/ She deserves better than emo Enzo AND self-centered Damon, who doesn’t give a crap about her! So just kill her! The writers have been emotionally stabbing her from the beginning anyways... 

I’m hurt. This hurts me... In a world full of constant injustice for people of color, I thought I was finally witnessing a powerful character... an attractive and beautiful black woman, who would be cared for and loved by others... It turns out she was nothing more than a plot line punching bag, created to make Elena, Caroline, the writers, and the viewers of this show feel better about themselves. :/ The abuse Bonnie Bennett has undergone has abused me worst than I think I’ve ever experienced in life. They have subliminally consistently told me I am less desirable, less powerful, and less worthy. I didn’t realize it before unfortunately, but I realize it now! And I’m DONE listening to the lies!

Well, I hope this article has enlightened you all! Don’t get so happy next time you see a diverse cast! Pay attention to the way the show/movie TREATS their people of color! Don’t be fooled, and left heartbroken and damaged, after believing and putting your faith and support into complete filth... 

Last, but not least, don’t let the ugly behavior of this world turn you into the very thing you despise. Fight hate with LOVE! And remember, we’re all brothers and sisters, whether we like it or not! 

Pray for the writers of TVD. Pray for the actors. Pray for it’s fans. Pray that they see the error of their ways, and learn to love and treat others the way they’d want to be treated... We all make mistakes. We’re all human. “We all have sinned.” Now it’s about moving FORWARD from that, and not repeating the same mistakes! :)

P.S. Go show Kat Graham’s twitter page some love! As hurt as I am by Bonnie’s treatment, she’s probably 10x more hurt! It’s probably why she decided to leave the show! She knew things weren’t going to get any better for her... :/ Anyhow, go show her some love! Thank her for gifting us with the lovely Bonnie Bennett! And compliment her on being the gorgeous and talented PROFESSIONAL she has always been! 

God bless!

Previously you said that you didn't think Nina delivered a very strong performances of Katherine/Elena, and since I've seen other people comment about that too, it would be interesting if you could dive deeper into that? I haven't watched the finale, except from the SE scene (who I personally think was just as good as all scenes between Paul and Nina / Stefan and Elena) and Stefan and Lexi's scene, so I can't really make a stand point on the matter

To be honest, it’s difficult to distinguish between the performance being poor and the writing being poor, because I do feel like Katherine and Elena didn’t have enough adequate screen time for us as viewers to be able to reconnect with them. Bringing them both back for just one final episode seemed so rushed and I think that partly plays into the reason why the performances felt so poor. I mean, I’m pretty sure Katherine only got three scenes and Elena a few more than that, but still barely any real screentime or dialogue. Her main scene was basically the final scene where we had her voice over as she wrote in her diary, but to be honest, after the direction the show headed in after Elena was gone it felt kinda wrong to have her finishing the show, even though she was the one that opened it and was always the main character.  But to delve deeper into this I’ll analyse Katherine and Elena separately, because it’s just easier that way. I also won’t really discuss how the writing affected it, because I’ve already explained that I do feel the poor writing contributed to it, but you asked specifically about Nina’s performance, so that’s what I’ll focus on. 

Katherine: Her portrayal of Katherine was so much worse than her portrayal of Elena. I’m assuming it’s because Katherine is more of a challenge to play because she’s so different than Nina, which Nina herself has even said in the past. It didn’t even remotely feel like the same Katherine to me. I have to admit, that the small details did affect my perception of her being Katherine and by that I mean her appearance. I understand that Nina is a real person off-screen that has changed and aged since she last played Katherine in season 5, but she just looked completely alien to me. Firstly, what was that hideous wig!? I’m still in shock at how bad it was. Her hair line was like 10 inches further forward than it was supposed to be and apparently there’s hairdressers in hell, cos her hair was a damn lot shorter than it was when she died. Even her make-up didn’t look right. I know Katherine’s signature look is the dark eyeliner and red lipstick, but it just looked so trashy. Then there’s the issue of Nina’s body language. The walk, the hand gestures, the posture, it was all wrong and none of it felt like Katherine. Katherine stands up right, when she walks she struts in an almost seductive and arrogant manner but there was none of that. The exaggerated facial expressions are one of the main things that have always separated Katherine from Elena. Usually I can tell just from seeing a gif whether it’s Elena or Katherine based on the way Nina is moving her lips when she speaks, because with Katherine it’s much more pronounced and dramatic. Nina did try and do that, but she didn’t go far enough. Her face looked stiff a lot of the time and the expressions were just lacking. Katherine has always been a character that communicated a lot physically, so through her expressions, her gestures etc. and all of that was stripped back completely. Then there’s the eyes and the smile. That vindictive and cunning smile Katherine had was no where to be seen and the glint in her eye to go along with it was also gone. Basically, Nina put on a deeper voice and did a more pouty face than she would as Elena and that was it. But everything that we know Katherine Pierce to be was gone in that finale and I wish they would’ve just left her alone instead of resurrecting her for absolutely no purpose. 

Elena: Again, the first issue I’m obviously going to mention is the same as Katherine - her appearance. The wig was atrocious and that alone was enough to make her look nothing like Elena to me. Nina’s strongest performance throughout the entire finale was by far the scene she had with Paul. There was real emotion in that scene that felt genuine. Other than that, I can’t really criticise her performance of Elena much more than that, because she didn’t particularly do anything wrong, it just didn’t really feel like Elena to me and I do put that down to the writing and time. 

I know I said I wouldn’t talk about the writing, but I can’t help myself haha. I understand the writers wanted to bring Nina back for the finale since she was a part of the show for so long and played two of the most important characters, but in a way it didn’t fit for Elena and Katherine to come back. In regards to Elena’s character, she was already up in the air anyway, because she’d been pretty poorly written since she became a vampire. It’s like the writers got confused between vampire and human Elena and she lost her personality and identity because of it. She was one person in season 4 when she first transitioned, another in season 5 and another in season 6, then in the last 2 episodes they made her human and did a complete 180 on her character by trying to make her the exact same Elena she was in season 1. Then she slipped into a coma and suddenly woke up in the finale, so we had all of 5 minutes to try and get to know who she was again and it just didn’t work. To be honest, Nina did ruin the show by leaving in season 6 and we all know it. The ending we would’ve gotten if she would’ve stuck around until the end would’ve been a million times better for certain. The writers have basically just winged it for these last two seasons to squeeze the final bit of money and life they could out of it before bringing it to an end. But Nina should’ve never left and this finale just proved why. 

As for Katherine, her character’s story ended a long time ago. They already unnecessarily dragged it out by making her a passenger in Elena’s body, which really served no purpose but to bring her back again for that pitiful finale was just wasteful and pointless. Katherine’s story had already had closure and although bringing her back could’ve been epic if it would’ve been done correctly, it really sucked. 

In the end, I basically think Nina’s return ruined the finale. I could write a million alternative endings I’d prefer to see, but this is just one of them: 

A villain (not Katherine) threatens Mystic Falls for who knows what reason (the writers always find some pathetic, small reason and turn it into a big one). Stefan, Damon, Caroline, Bonnie, Matt and Alaric all work together to defeat the evil. 

The person that dies is Elena. 

Right after they’ve defeated the villian everyone comes to the realisation that Elena is really gone and they’re all grieving for Elena 

We get a sweet Defan moment where they confess their love and cry over Elena being gone, but we can clearly see their relationship is finally on track and stronger than ever

At the same time we get a sweet Baroline moment where the girls grieve for Elena too 

After that, Stefan and Caroline come together and just sit together in front of the fireplace taking comfort in each other

In the meantime we cut to a Bamon scene, they’re maybe watching Steroline from a distance and Damon comments on how lucky they are to have each other. They basically chat about losing Enzo and Elena and their shared grief of simulatenously losing their partners and best friends. 

Some time after, maybe a week or two, we see Steroline go on honeymoon to distract themselves and just get a break 

Bamon decide they should go on a roadtrip to deal with their grief and just rediscover themselves. We see them driving off in Damon’s camaro. 

We jump forward 10 years or so and get a similar montage to what we got in the actual finale, of Matt being sheriff with Vicki and Tyler watching over him, Bonnie is with Ric and Caroline and they’ve set up a school for magical kids because of the girls and because Bonnie is inspired to use her magic for the purpose of teaching other witches. Damon arrives in his camaro with Stefan, who is dressed in a doctor/paramedic uniform. Damon goes right up to Bonnie, slips his hand around her waist and kisses her, whilst Stefan goes to Caroline and does the same. 

Like honestly, I would much rather have seen that than what we actually got. I just feel like despite all the constant Elena mentions, the show actually outgrew Elena in those two seasons that she was gone and the characters that stayed until the end deserved to be the ones that got the happy ending and were there to see it out. It kinda felt cheap that the characters that essentially carried the show for the last two seasons were completely cast aside and Elena who had been back for all of two seconds stole the show and took front and center stage. The show basically reinvented itself during seasons 7 and 8 and I do completely understand why the writers wanted to go back to the roots and try to recapture the essence of season 1. I thought I’d want to see that myself, but I can’t shake the feeling of how wrong and out of place it all felt. With how things developed and progressed, to go back to Elena at the end felt like taking a thousand steps back. Watching the finale really hammered home to me that it wasn’t about Elena like I first thought. It wasn’t even about Stefan either. It was about all of the characters that were left, the ones that had been on the show since the beginning and been on the complete journey. Elena wasn’t one of those people. 

And I’m aware that I’ve gone off on so much of a tangent, so I’m going to end it there. But my main point is that Nina’s performances were so terrible because the writing was terrible and the writing was terrible because there was just no room for Elena (or Katherine) in the finale and the writers forced it. How could Nina perform to the best of her ability when she hadn’t played those characters in years, the material she had to work with was so bizarre and OOC and when she was basically stepping into a completely different world of TVD than what it was when she was on it way back in season 6? 

The Truro Murders

South Australia, we’ve been waiting to get inside you for a long, long time.

To start our journey around Australia's most messed-up state, we have the Truro murders, the name given to the truly traumatic series of serial murders committed by Christopher Worrell and James Miller.

From 1978 to 1979, a series of human remains were located in remote bushland near the town of Truro, eighty kilometres away from Adelaide, South Australia. As more bodies turned up, police became convinced they’d found the dumping grounds of a serial killer.

Eventually, they put two and two together and connected the bodies to a series of seemingly unrelated (and apparently mostly uninvestigated) disappearances of women from around Adelaide, who had all vanished over a period of just over fifty days.

The women had been picked up by Worrell and Miler, and restrained, assaulted, strangled, and then dumped in the bush.

Fair warning, this ep discusses sexual assault, and also gets a little gross.

EPISODE NOTES:

The disappearances of seven women over a period of 52 days from around Adelaide was not taken as seriously as it warranted. It was the seventies, they were all young women, and apparently young people were prone to up and leaving their friends and families for periods of time and never communicating with them ever again.

The families of the missing women were certain that they would never run away, but police assured them that there was likely nothing to worry about.

Over a year passed from when the last girl went missing to when a body was found by mushroom hunters in the bushland near the town of Truro. Veronica Knight had gone missing around Christmas of 1976 and was not found until 1978. The absence of any clear cause of death led police to believe that Veronica had simply gone missing in the bush and died of natural causes. When a second body was found in the bush almost exactly a year later, the police changed their tune.

As more bodies were uncovered, police began linking the deaths to a total of seven young women who had disappeared from Adelaide between December 1976 and February 1977. And a tip led police to their likely killers: Christopher Worrell and James Miller, two men who had met in prison and formed a dominant and submissive sexual relationship on the outside. Worrell allowed Miller to perform sex acts on him, but he preferred women, and eventually he and Miller would cruise around Adelaide, looking for women for Worrell to assault.

Worrell would be killed in a car accident in 1977, which ended the killing spree, but Miller stood trial, and claimed that he never harmed any of the women, and only went with Worrell because he was coerced. But nobody bought that nonsense, and he was sentenced to six life sentences for the murders.

The victims of Christopher Worrell and James Miller are:

Veronica Knight, aged 18, disappeared on the 23rd of December 1976

Tania Kenny, aged 15, disappeared on 2 January 1977

Juliet Mykyata, aged 16, disappeared on 21 January 1977

Sylvia Pittman, aged 16, disappeared on 6 February 1977,

Vickie Howell, aged 26, disappeared on 7 February 1977

Connie Jordan, aged 16, disappeared on 9 February 1977

Deborah Lamb, aged 20, disappeared on 12 February 1977

You can view the episode of Crime Investigation Australia, ‘The Killing Fields of Truro’ that covers this case ~on the internet, but we won’t link it, because crimes

You can read an extract of murderer James Miller’s book, where he details Worrell’s methods, here https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/extract-from-james-william-miller-book-dont-call-me-killer/news-story/f346b0e95541187030e10fec33c0b2ff?fbclid=IwAR2oYPIViFl9LR9Mhx-VsaiU1tT4-hjmE--xmyYPP8nLtEVTfTvpvyNH3H8

For more info about the crimes and the connection to the still-unsolved case of Lina Marciano, go here https://www.qt.com.au/news/city-of-evil-who-killed-lina-marciano/3522651/?fbclid=IwAR2a1lMLQLcDD_sGcpwAZrOz3QeYYRpQBmqm7fHIUb8VAVnP5abYh7VuT6A

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On this episode of "This is my blog and I'll post what I want"

p: 1. Last kiss -boy: Devan, girl: Vicky 2. Last phone call - little 3. Last text message -maitlin 4. Last song you listened to -rainbow by Kesha 5. Last time you cried -like yesterday HAVE YOU EVER: 6. Dated someone twice -not technically 7. Been cheated on -not technically 8. Self harmed -yee 9. Lost someone special -too many 10. Been depressed -yeee 11. Been drunk and threw up -every weekend lol THIS YEAR HAVE YOU: 12. had sex -ya 13. How many people have you had sex with this year? -like 5? Maybe 6? 15. Made a new friend -sure 17. Laughed until you cried -probably 18. Met someone who changed you -mhm 19. Found out who your true friends were -I suppose 20. Found out someone was talking about you -yup!! 26. What did you do for your last Birthday -went to BWW 27. What time did you wake up today -9:30 29. Name something you CANNOT wait for -school 30. Last time you saw your all of your siblings at the same time -this morning 31. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life - I wish I didn't have mental illness 32. What are you listening to right now -a podcast about serial killers 33. When is the last time you had sex? -like a week ago 34. Who's getting on your nerves right now -Devan 35. Most visited webpage -twitter 36. Favorite colour -blue 37. Nicknames -Liv or fluff 38. Relationship Status - single af 39. Zodiac sign -Gemini 40. Male or female -f 41. Primary school - St. joes 42. Secondary School - st. Anthony's 43. High school/college - St. Bernard's / Fitchburg State 44. Eye color -blue 46. Height -5'7 47. Do you have a crush on someone -ya 48. What do you like about yourself - I'm wicked funny 49. Piercings - 10 50. Tattoos - 0 51. Righty or lefty -lefty FIRSTS: 53. First piercing -ears 54. First best friend -danielle 55. First hookup -Finley lmao 56. First Bestfriend - u already asked this??? RIGHT NOW: 59. Eating - I just had a doughnut 60. Drinking - water 61. I'm about to -put on makeup 62. Listening to - u already ask this 63. Waiting for -my hair to dry YOUR FUTURE: 64. Want kids? - 5 65. Get married? -yes 66. Career -nurse WHICH IS BETTER: 67. Lips or eyes - lips 68. Hugs or kisses -kisses 69. Shorter or taller -tall 70. Older or Younger -older 71. Romantic or spontaneous -spontaneous 72. Nice stomach or nice arms -arms 73. Sensitive or loud -loud 74. Hook-up or relationship -relationship HAVE YOU EVER: 76. Kissed a stranger -ya 77. Drank hard liquor -ya 78. Lost glasses/contacts -ya 79. Had sex -virgin 4 lyf 80. Broken someone's heart -ya I suppose 82. Been arrested - no 83. Turned someone down -ya 84. Cried when someone died -of course 85. Fallen for a friend - kinda DO YOU BELIEVE IN: 86. Yourself - ya 87. Miracles - sure 88. Love at first sight - I suppose 89. Heaven - ya 90. Santa Clause - YA!! 91. Kiss on the first date - ya 92. Angels - ya 93. How would you label yourself? - funny 94. Someone You Pray Everyday For - ya 95. Did you sing today - I sung in the shower 96. Who From All Your Ex's have You Cared The Most About - idk 97. If you could go back in time, how far would you go? - back and convince my mom to abort me lolol 98. Out Of Everything In The World What Do You Wish For - sanity 99. Are you afraid of falling in love? - I guess 100. Do you like the way you look? - luv it

TVD 1x17 Review

1.       I legitimately don’t understand Pearl and the others’ desire to stay in MF and that’s what happens when the flashbacks are mostly about Katherine, Stefan and Damon. These vampires should’ve been pillars of the community and then turned on or something to that effect because then the desire to stay in the town would be reasonable. If they just want to kill people then they could go out and kill people.

2.       “I’m sorry he just makes me so cranky.” That’s all, Elena? The rapist and attempted murderer of your best friend just makes you cranky? Cool. But the way she folds into Stefan and closes her eyes as she leans against his chest, that level of solace and comfort and relief is so great to see.

3.       “Which means nothing if you’re not safe too!” I love how Stefan brushed her hair and then she moves her hands from his chest to his wrists. Little details, man, little physical details.

4.       Their fireplace hug is still one of my favourites. They’re just wrapped around each other.

5.       Jeremy, cut your hair.

6.       Also manipulating Anna like that is mean. Then again, she manipulated you too. So, fair, I guess.

7.       I love how Matt gently teases Caroline about staying off her cell phone. They were mad cute.

8.       I forget. Was it established that tomb vampire dude knows Stefan’s routine, that he would know that Stefan would hunt for animal in the woods?

9.       I like how this rain scene had all the DErs like OMG DE RAIN, TENSION, LOVE and Elena is literally trying to fight Damon to get into a house full of vampires to get Stefan back.

10.   Even the way Damon holds Elena’s head is like he’s talking to his sister-in-law.

11.   This is a terrible situation for Stefan but I am seeing topless Paul so I mean, plus.

12.   Alaric is also hella chill about the fact that Damon killed Ms. Gibbins.

13.   “Who is that?” “It’s not my mother.” I don’t know, Michael’s delivery was done well here.

14.   Anna, Jeremy, you two aren’t even being subtle about secret texting. Like Jeremy is deadass standing up and LOOKING at you AS he texts.

15.   LMAO I am LAUGHING because Elena runs out of the car and when she gets to the house, she realizes there’s a separate entrance leading to the basement and that’s where she goes to get Stefan. If Damon had actually done some recon on the house and did that too then he would’ve only had to kill the vampire standing guard of Stefan and then they could’ve gone out the same way Elena got in. Much simpler plan.

16.   “What about you?” Elena, there’s no reason why you should care if Damon lives or dies.

17.   I just realized that when Elena falls down and scrapes her hand, Stefan stares at it, hungry obviously, and then asks “Are you OK?” My guy was legit tortured and he’s asking about Elena, which is like in 2x21 when he keeps saying “I’m so sorry” even though Damon pulled a bitch ass move and stabbed him. And people want to talk about how he never loved Elena enough?

18.   Fredrick! That’s tomb dude’s name.

19.   I also find it hilarious that in season 4 they make this entire narrative about Elena being this lost little girl who was too scared to do anything when she literally went into a house full of vampires to save Stefan in this episode and then stabbed one with a vervain dart. She was more active as a human.

20.   Elena feeding Stefan her blood is still such a beautifully tragic scene. Paul’s look of anguish gets me every time, he is in so much pain but what shines through the most is this profound fear for Elena and it’s heartbreaking but Elena’s insistence of staying by his side and trusting him with her vein, so a powerful scene for their relationship.

21.   And the way she smiles when he responds to her blood. I have this post about how agitated Elena gets when Stefan is hurt and how relieved she is, like physically and mentally and emotionally relieved when he gets better.

22.   Also Stefan immediately retracting his vampire face when he shoves Elena and that absolute look of embarrassment and shame and guilt is WONDERFUL, Paul is such an underrated actor.

23.   An anon asked me about underrated SE scenes and I haven’t gotten around to answering it, but one of them is the scene I’m watching where Elena is clearly distraught at seeing Human Blood Stefan and says he was like this whole other person and she’s nervous and anxious and then Stefan touches her face and she closes her eyes and she has this look of almost serenity on her face as he continues to stroke it and it’s like, he’s always that person, no matter what, he is that person for her.

24.   I think we could’ve lingered on Elena sort of just sinking onto the stairs after coming home from Matt’s when he finds out Vicki is dead and Jeremy is going upstairs and have her just sort of bunch her hair in her fists or something, I don’t need her to cry but like something to show conflict.

25.   And Stefan shame-drinking blood is pretty fucking sad.

 Thanks for reading! I will try to do another review tonight but I have a thing I need to go to in like 5 minutes so it depends on how long it’ll be and how buzzed I’m going to get, which means either a drunk review or no review tonight.

TVD 1x08 Review

Hi all! Welcome to the eighth review of TVD season 1. Considering that I haven’t like sat down to watch a full episode of the past seasons of TVD in a few years and my memory might not be the greatest I think I will start with my usual disclaimer: I write my thoughts in real time so if I make a mistake at the beginning of this post, it will be corrected by the end. There will be anti-Damon and anti-Delena sentiments (I’m only mentioning these two because it’s the beginning of the series), and in light of recent events I feel the need to say that there may be some anti-Jenna sentiments too. I will probably bring up other shows and call attention to misogynoir, racism, anti-blackness etc. Also I do not have MS Word right now so I wrote this on Kingsoft, which is eh, so some of the formatting might be off. Ready? Let’s go.

1. Lexi trolling Stefan is still such a great entrance and I like it because it’s still very cinematic, the show uses the dark shadows, the intense music, we actually see how old the Salvatore Boarding house is because of the wide shots. Season 1 TVD was really cinematic and the show should’ve kept that aesthetic.

2. And I didn’t realize this before but Stefan actually feels 17 years old with Lexi? It’s not just that he’s giddy around her but he actually feels like a teenager.

3. “Come on, let’s go, I mean what’s keeping you here?” “Her name is Elena.” Seriously, it’s been iterated and reiterated that Stefan can’t leave town because of Elena --- in the finale, he could’ve gone with Caroline and Alaric etc. but he stays, well they say he stays because he won’t leave Damon because Damon won’t leave Elena but the fact remains Elena’s at the root of why he’ll stay and she’s the last person he sees before “moving on”; not to mention, he’s about to go soul-searching in 8x14 but Damon asks him to stay because Cade has Elena so Stefan does; in season 5 Katherine says that he keeps wanting to leave “this one horse town” but stays because of Elena while in season 3 he decides to stay because Elena turned into a vampire and she chose him.

4. I still never understood why Lexi couldn’t just find a witch somewhere and ask them to make her a daylight ring? She’s been alive for how long?

5. Well at least Jenna escorts them to the police station. Half a point.

6. Elena. Stefan. You guys know where’s not a good place to talk about the fact that you were lying to the police? Outside of the police station.

7. “Around you people get hurt and people die” um, Elena, it’s not Stefan’s fault that Damon is a homicidal douchebag.

8. I really, thoroughly, in my bones hate that they made Damon and Lexi sleep together in the 70s. That insertion was unnecessary and disgusting and I feel like the writers need to understand that women can be around Damon and not end up fucking him.

9. It’s funny, one of the Jenna-defending anons was saying how Jenna is better than Kelly and Bonnie’s parents but that anon is actually incorrect because we simply don’t see Bonnie’s father until season 4 but he’s been around in season 11, she leaves Grams’ place because “Dad doesn’t like it when I stay over too long” and they joke about how he’s always right, so he’s actually involved in Bonnie’s life but the show just doesn’t let us see it.

10. I kind of also really want Bonnie’s butterfly earrings.

11. My friend really hated that Jenna only jokes about Jeremy doing homework because she was like, if my brother was drinking and pill-popping and spiralling and then suddenly was doing homework and being productive then I would worry about manic depression with extreme highs and lows.

12. The Council is actually useless.

13. Did Kat not have tattoos in season 1 or did the show actually put effort into covering them up?

14. I like how Bonnie has to make it up to Elena that she’s been MIA when she’s going through her 30 second break-up with Stefan but when Grams dies, it becomes about Elena’s confusion over Isobel and Elena is terrible at being there for her.

15. Oh look, Damon compelling Caroline some more when Caroline specifically told him to stay away from her but ah yes, that wasn’t an abusive relationship.

16. But to that anon who asked if Stefan should’ve done more to protect Caroline, let’s rehash what happened --- Stefan finds out that Damon has been feeding from Caroline in 1x03, in 1x04 he spikes her drink to take Damon down, in 1x05 Damon is in the cellar and he tells Caroline that Damon is never coming back and then Damon breaks out of the cellar and kills all the druggies and almost kills Vicki, in 1x06 he tells Stefan that those deaths are on him since he starved Damon but then he turns Vicki so Stefan is dealing with that through until 1x07 and a little into 1x08 since he has to cover up what happened in 1x07. He was a little busy.

17. “See this isn’t about sex or compulsion or any of our other tricks, she has to want to be with me on her own terms.” And people want to argue that SE is an abusive relationship?

18. But Lexi didn’t even warm up the blood though. In True Blood and BTVS they warm up blood in microwaves all the time.

19. “I prefer mine at 98.6″ at least they reference that Damon prefers warm blood but like what vampire wouldn’t? Y’all don’t have a microwave?

20. The way Stefan defends Elena to Lexi is with so much heart and so much conviction, like he even touches his gut when he says “On the inside they’re completely different”, like he LOVES her. 

21. I also like how Elena opens the door and sees Stefan and she’s smiling but she’s trying to be standoffish so she’s trying not to smile as she says, “What are you doing here?” It isn’t working, Elena.

22. And that smile she has when he assures her nothing romantic ever happened between him and Lexi. Girl, just stop fighting it.

23. Bah their gazes are too much.

24. I really do love that Stefan keeps trying to make Matt understand that he was trying to help Vicki and it’s not for brownie points from Elena, he just wanted Matt to understand his intentions were good ones.

25. Seriously, Damon tears down Caroline so much and what’s even more awful is that uncompelled she legit wants nothing to do with him, she’s like I’m done being your little slave girl so then he compelled her compliance so this is compelled Caroline being like I’m so good to you and I’d do anything and he tears her down by calling her useless, stupid and shallow so he essentially compels her just to tear her down again so she has to rebuild constantly.

26. The way Stefan dances is the way I dance, like nah guys, I’ma be in the corner, just yeahh no.

27. I mean, Lexi, you don’t have ID though?

28. “Towel girl”, really Elena, that was lame.

29. I know a lot of people love “When it’s real, you can’t walk away” but I always loved, “I’m scared.” “But you’re here, because you’re crazy about him” because I think that speaks to SE so much, like whatever fear they may have, fear of being happy, fear of seeing each other’s darkest aspects, fear of the supernatural, they’re always next to each other despite that because they’re so in love.

30. Lol all of SE’s longing gazes.

31. “Are those curly fries?” lol Candice’s delivery was on point, also I really do think Mattoline could be sweet.

32. Damon legit killed Lexi on Stefan’s birthday. Like Stefan’s one and only friend for his entire vampiric existence dies on his birthday. Lexi came into town for ONE day and Damon just HAD to fuck it up. He legit could’ve just used Vicki’s body.

33. Like Damon does the MOST in these episodes and in 1x09 he goes even further by trying to kill Bonnie and they expect me to believe that Elena would be comfortable with him in 1x11? IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE especially, ESPECIALLY since they actually hardly spend any time together throughout these episodes.

34. Also no one saw what happened outside?

35. “He’s never going to change, Elena!” Ha, how true those words are.

36. Although Stefan actually seems pretty calm about Lexi, considering.

Thanks for reading!

SURPRISE! {TVD 1x07 Review}

Hi all! Welcome to the seventh review of TVD season 1. Considering that I haven’t like sat down to watch a full episode of the past seasons of TVD in a few years and my memory might not be the greatest I think I will start with my usual disclaimer: I write my thoughts in real time so if I make a mistake at the beginning of this post, it will be corrected by the end. There will be anti-Damon and anti-Delena sentiments (I’m only mentioning these two because it’s the beginning of the series), and in light of recent events I feel the need to say that there may be some anti-Jenna sentiments too. I will probably bring up other shows and call attention to misogynoir, racism, anti-blackness etc. Also I do not have MS Word right now so I wrote this on Kingsoft, which is eh, so some of the formatting might be off. Ready? Let’s go.

1. Tyler interrogating Vicki when she’s in the car is the weirdest thing because Michael’s delivery is odd, like he doesn’t seem like he’s eager for information because he’s an excited teen, he seems like he thinks she’s a suspect.

2. Vicki does do out-of-control with hunger really well although I still don’t get why she showed up in Tyler’s car because she isn’t enraged by how he treated her, she looks to have gone to him for comfort, which is like, but why?

3. “Oh come on, whose going to miss this idiot?” Damon wanting to kill Tyler in season 1 and making good on that desire in season 8.

4. When Tyler punches Damon Vicki yells “Don’t you hurt him” which suggests to me they were going to make Siring a thing that just happens when you make a vampire without the ridiculous “you need to have feelings first” caveat in an attempt to de-problematize DE but they didn’t go through with it.

5. So Damon is worrying about the council on the other side of the room and Stefan turns his head to look at him and omg that neck, that JAW, Paul Wesley is kind of a divine, guys.

6. Also he looks hella James Dean here and I’m thinking about that time that anon came into my inbox talmbout how Ian was more James Dean than Paul and all of you, my lovely followers, DRAGGED them for like DAYS.

7. It’s funny because this DE “banter” about “If you wanted me dead then I’d be dead.” “Yes you would.” “But I’m not.” “Yet!” legit reminds me of sibling banter? Like I find it really immature.

8. Grams telling Bonnie how their ancestors fled Salem and could just end up in Virgina without experiencing any form of racial persecution is making me roll my eyes.

9. “Have we seen Elena? DO WE KNOW WHAT SHE’S WEARING?” I don’t know, Older Me is OK with Season 1 Caroline, I find her very 16.

10.  “I’m not proud of my past behaviour” so when doesn’t Stefan take responsibility? Like when are these times that DErs keep talking about.

11. “Where’s the bathroom, I have to pee -why do I have to pee, I thought I was dead.” Lmao.

12. LOL when Stefan tells Elena he’s going to give Vicki more blood she has the most unimpressed look on her face and it’s making me LAUGH.

13. “It’s hard to resist certain people especially when you’re new”, which is why I keep saying in 1x01 Stefan kept trying to control his urges but the pull to Elena was so strong, which is why showing up at her house abruptly is, well, abrupt because it’s his emotions on overdrive.

14. “It’s hard to resist certain people especially when you’re new, it’s difficult to separate your feelings love, lust, anger, desire, it can all blur into one urge --- hunger.”

15. I like how Damon is all “omg she’s been cooped up in her room all day, she’s a vampire Stefan she should know the perks” and takes her to the front yard and what does he do, he vamp speeds behind her. My guy, you couldn’t do that inside?

16. And you see what happens, she takes off, you jackass.

17. “I met you before, aren’t you Caroline Forbes’ boyfriend?” And no one finds this a problem? Guys, he legit ends up going to school dances as a chaperone.

18. Poor Matt. He looks at Elena with those heart eyes and she looks at him like a brother.

19. “And you’re going as ... you?” LOL Matt shading Angsty Jeremy for the win.

20. OK a couple of things, I get that Stefan is being Concerned Stefan right now and it’s serious, Paul does it so well but his intensity actually is really sexy and it’s distracting me from the fact that Vicki is losing her mind. Two, in True Blood when Bill just turns Jessica and she’s basically acting like Vicki and Bill doesn’t know how to handle it he goes to Eric like “Omg you see what she’s like right??” and Eric just looks at her and says, “Sit down and shut. up.” And she does. Then he grins at Bill like, “See, you gotta be firm with them, newborns can be like this.” And I get that Stefan is supposed to be out of his wits with Vicki but because he’s really intense when he’s like “Really? No headache? Your stomach isn’t screaming at you...” he gives off the impression that a newbie would listen to him, like he’s commanding so I just thought of that Eric moment.

21. I’m sorry, I just, Damon doesn’t look good at seduction so him getting Carol to talk using his manly wiles is like ... I guess.

22. OK this is the first Bamon scene of the series and they’re acting like they’ve interacted before. 

23. Oh sorry, I suppose technically the first Bamon interaction would be when he hits her car with the bird.

24. Damon is just so fucking negligent, leaving Stefan to clean up HIS mess.

25. “But he was worried about the council” then he can stop killing people.

26. It’s funny, Vicki biting Jeremy’s bottom lip and then sucking the blood from it and licking his lips with her tongue ... I actually expected that sort of scene from DE with their crazy intense vampire sex but nah.

27. And Vicki dies. Alllllllll because Damon was bored. And sad.

28. Why would Elena tell Stefan to take Jeremy away and she stay with the body Why wouldn’t Elena be with Jeremy and have Stefan stay with the body?

29. Because then we wouldn’t get a DE scene.

30. I think the scene where Stefan is sitting on the porch listening to Jeremy cry is very poignant and it’s all in Paul’s expression because it’s like we’re seeing more guilt and pain being added to his conscience, the guilt of having to kill Vicki and the pain at having caused Jeremy pain, like we see how that’s encasing him as he sits there.

31. And he doesn’t centre himself. Elena asks how he’s doing and he says, “I wanted to help her” and then asks about Jeremy, he doesn’t talk about how bad he feels, it’s about the people he’s effected.

32. It’s funny when Elena says “It’s what I want” when Damon says he’ll compel Jeremy if it’s what she wants, she looks at Stefan for confirmation and he nods his head and then the proceedings begin, which is really just a metaphor for the entire DE relationship. Elena always looks to Stefan before saying she wants Damon, which is why Stefan always has to tell her to fight for him.

33. So I love that we get an SE scene but really Elena, Damon was responsible for a lot of death in these past 7 episodes and you’re just going to let him go and fuck with Jeremy’s mind without you being there?

34. “I can’t lose the way I feel about you”, it’s also actually a good summary of SE because there is so much pain and so much death surrounding Elena and a part of her wants to forget about everything but the feeling she has with Stefan, that deep-down good feeling eclipses all of the pain and makes feeling and remembering worth it.

35. They really try to form this triangle by having Elena walk into her house and Damon and Stefan staring at her as she goes in but Elena and Damon literally have no relationship. He threatened her twice, tried to kiss her, manipulated her into getting into fights with Stefan and told her people died in a fire that is the sum of their interactions.

OK done! Funny story, I’m at work doing this (now going home) and this guy from upstairs who I may or may not be crushing on I can’t tell, comes downstairs and sees what I’m doing but I had the scene paused on Stefan and Elena staring at each other and he said “What is this, some vampire show?” I go, “What makes you think it’s a vampire show?” “I don’t know, the way they’re looking at each other, I just ... I get a feeling of a vampire show.” “Oh.” “So is it a vampire show?” “I’m not telling you.” “What, why! It’s not like I’m going to go home and watch it.” “Yeah, I know, you still haven’t watched Underground. Or How To Get Away With Murder. Or Queen Sugar. Or---” “I’m just saying it’s a vampire show, they look like people who would be in a vampire show.” “OK fine.” :D

TVD 1x04 Review

Hi all! Welcome to the fourth review of TVD season 1. Considering that I haven’t like sat down to watch a full episode of the past seasons of TVD in a few years and my memory might not be the greatest I think I will start with my usual disclaimer: I write my thoughts in real time so if I make a mistake at the beginning of this post, it will be corrected by the end. There will be anti-Damon and anti-Delena sentiments (I’m only mentioning these two because it’s the beginning of the series), and in light of recent events I feel the need to say that there may be some anti-Jenna sentiments too. I will probably bring up other shows and call attention to misogynoir, racism, anti-blackness etc. Ready? Let’s go.

1. I always wonder how these dreams work, like how much detail does Damon have to put into it? He has Elena wearing the necklace, Logan Fell is on the TV, he has the details of her room and her kitchen, like how does he create these dreams to terrorize Stefan with? Or does he go into Stefan’s head and Stefan has all these details already there so then Damon just manipulates his memory?

2. You know, sometimes I watch teen shows I watched when I was younger and I can go, yeah I can see why people went crazy for this guy even though he’s a dick. I don’t get that, I cannot see why with Damon.

3. His hair is back to be thoroughly offensive. When do they fix it for good?

4. Stefan throwing a knife at Damon’s chest is still, like, my favourite Defan moment.

5. Damon is so petty, like all he does is hangout in Stefan’s room and terrorize him!

6. “Believe it or not, Stefan, some girls don’t need my persuasion.” Damon, you compelled Caroline, you compelled Andie, and it took a sire bond for you to actually get Elena. Who are you fooling, fam?

7. Another Stefan shirtless shot! Seriously, they totally exploited his abs in season 1. Lmao.

8. OH MY GOD, STEFAN STOP WITH THE VOICEOVER.

9. Lol Jenna and Jeremy are in the other room and Elena just grabs Stefan and kisses him like ok my room upstairs RIGHT now.

10. And I didn’t realize Stefan’s reaction, he has a grin on his face but he’s lookng around like ... Really? Omg they’re adorable.

11. In every makeout/sex scene SE do there’s always a moment where Stefan or Elena pause to look at each other, even if it’s brief, just to have that eye contact.

12. Nina’s sighing pretty hard.

13. I also like how when Elena is like “Maybe we should press pause” and Stefan agrees, he has to go and sit on the other side of the room, like they cannot be on a bed together because it’ll just get that intense again.

14. Also an anon was talking about how they find it interesting the psychology behind a vampie who is in love with someone but still has the urge to feed on them and I responded that Paul was really interested in that dynamic with SE as well and you really do see it in this scene. They’re getting to a very visceral place with the physical contact so that viscera shifts into his vampirism and hunger so he has to press pause, it just adds to a whole other level of angst.

15. “I would be honoured to accompany you, Miss Gilbert.” 1864 Stefan making a comeback.

16. And Elena is fucking loving it.

17. “No yellow, jaundice go for the blue.” “I don’t like the blue.” “Well, I do.” The problem with Damon is that he doesn’t come across as a vampire, he comes across as an abusive boyfriend. With Stefan, he’s a vampire in the simplest things like the fact that he can become a fucking statue when he’s angry or the fact that he will speak a little old-fashioned and of course the fact that his veins appear when he gets too close to Elena, showing that he hasn’t mastered being in society that well. Damon just has the dialogue and the fog and the crow, he just seems like a guy who has a bunch of tricks and murders people because he feels like it so the Daroline dynamic doesn’t even feel like a predator playing with his prey, like it doesn’t feel non-human and human, he’s just abusive.

18. It’s also really sad watching Caroline look at Damon’s bite marks in the mirror. 

19.  “You can be very sweet when you want to be.” This is legit just an abusive dynamic, I don’t even want to say relationship anymore because Caroline has no free will.

20. “And Damon’s not dangerous, he just has a lot of issues with his brother, like major, deep-rooted drama” listening to Caroline speak is like listening to Delena stans.

21. “This country’s dumbed down in the last hundred years.” Oh yeah because enforcing enslavement was the pinnacle of American genius. Fucking writers.

22. Zach was unnecessary and the actor is AWFUL.

23. “I got your punk.” What does that mean exactly, Jeremy?

24. I like how everyone is blaming Stefan for Katherine when Damon is, like, 23 or 25.

25. Elena being like hmm, how do I know if Stefan is a calculating, manipulative lying and Damon is the victim, maybe Bonnie is right, is ridiculous considering that Damon tried to kiss her last episode and she experienced Damon being manipulative and called him out on it saying that it was his intention to make her feel uncomfortable. Like this is so fucking manufactured.

26. Paul’s arms though. And then Ian walks in topless like ... *rolls eyes* put your shirt on.

27. Damon, you would drive anyone to drink, you’re annoying and homicidal.

28. "If I go online will I find it [the pocketwatch] on ebay? Is that how you pay for your pot?” I know she was making a point but like how expensive does she think weed is?

29. “Yes, being a 150 year old teenager has been the height of my happiness” lol Stefan’s dry wit kills me each time.

30. “I’m not some drunk sorority chick, you can’t roofie me” that is a seriously disgusting line. And people want to argue that Damon isn’t a sexual predator?

31. Ian’s hair is OK again, I guess he, like, brushed it.

32. Tyler legitimately brought Vicki into his house through the back. Like that’s rude.

33. Caroline is rude to Liz for no reason, which is why in the later seasons, when they tried to act like she and Liz always had a wonderful relationship I side-eyed it.

34. Elena reading the registry makes me laugh because I remember the bloopers when Nina couldn’t get one name, like she just couldn’t move past it so Paul and the crew made a joke like, think of it as gonorrhea. And that name isn’t in the final cut.

35. “My therapist says I’m acting out... trying to punish Stefan” are you 16?

36. See Damon telling Elena how he and Stefan died without saying how they died and his clear pain over what they did to him and to Katherine would’ve been a storyline I would like to follow more. If he came back to MF to destroy it because of how much he hated it and he chose Caroline to get back at the Founding families, if he was still devastated by what they did but then throughout the season started realizing that Caroline and Tyler and Jeremy and Elena, essentially the descendants of these families, were actual people and developed from that, I think they could’ve had something interesting. And the show has like remnants of this idea throughout season 1 but it isn’t an actual arc for Damon because his arc is supposed to be Elena and he terrorizes the town because he feels like it, it isn’t a statement so he’s just a dick.

37. “Doesn’t it always come down to the love of a woman?” No. And this is Damon’s entire problem.

38. “That’s what you get when you bring the trash into the party” ... Carol, what? Vicki actually did nothing a “respectable” young woman wouldn’t do. Like it just doesn’t even go.

39. Yeah Bonnie is hardly in this episode. Shunted to the sidelnes for no reason. Caroline and Elena haven’t even gone over to her table to see what’s happening. Caroline I forgive because she’s Damon’s puppet right now but Elena, really?

40. I love the way Elena stares at Stefan when they’re dancing and then she giggles to herself because she’s just so happy being with him.

41. “I hope Damon didn’t drive you too crazy.” “No actually, he was on good behaviour” manipulation, Elena, that is what manipulation looks like.

42. Yes, Stefan, Damon is trying to get Elena to turn against you but you not saying anything about yourself isn’t helping matters either. I mean, it makes sense because you’re still fucked up about what Katherine did to you but you gotta budge a little, honey.

43. Oh hey Elena, talking to Bonnie who you left alone all night to bitch about your boy problems?

44. Carol didn’t even say hi to Bonnie.

45. There’s actually no reason why Damon had to bring Caroline to this.

46. I also don’t care at all about Jenna and Logan.

47. “I’m sorry, I take it all back, you are completely right about Damon”, but like Elena wasn’t even defending Damon in the previous scene, so ... what? 

48. “I’m handling it.” “Handling it? Stefan, you should be having him arrested.” Elena, why don’t YOU have him arrested? You saw the bite marks and you told Damon to stay away from her OR you’ll tell her mother, what is with the show and having characters threaten to do something they should just DO? Like, I would understand it if Elena doesn’t quite know what to do in the situation and thought she did a good job by telling Damon to stay away from Caroline because she IS 16 but her getting mad indignant at Stefan is like ... or you could do what you’re telling him to do?

49. Vicki and Jeremy, is just. Ugh.

50. Seriously this scene between Damon and Caroline is fucking terrified, rewatching it really just emphasizes just how awful the show is for the Daroline friendship.

51. And Damon being broken hearted over Katherine does not excuse this behaviour.

52. I just, how does Elena not remember hugging Caroline who was breaking down in her arms saying “I’m fine, I’m fine” every time she’s with Damon? Like how she does she just block that out?

53. Oh, ending it on the utterly useless council.

I don’t know, man, these early episodes just reaffirm my hatred for Damon.

This episode was SO jokes {TVD 8x15 Review}

Hi all! You know the deal. I write my thoughts in real time so anything I saw at the beginning that might be a mistake may be corrected by the end. This review will have anti-Damon, anti-Delena, anti-Steroline, anti-Bamon, anti-Bonenzo sentiments and will most likely have references to other shows and to the misogynoir, anti-blackness and racism in the narrative. If you do not like it, you do not have to read this. Are you ready? OK! Let's go. 1. So I'm stopping a very promising Kdrama to watch this. The Kdrama is called Mirror of the Witch, I'm on the first episode and already there are more consequences in this drama than all eight seasons of TVD. So far it looks exceptionally dark and mean-spirited, I think it might actually disturb me. Anyway. It's still entirely ridiculous that Cade's last words are “Go to hell.” Like why? Also why would Stefan say, “You first”? Wasn't Cade already in hell? Like didn't he sort of create it? And now he's just ... dead? What was that dialogue? 2. I like how opening the door to Cade's world will only destroy everything for “miles”, like that's such a small scale, shouldn't it be the end of the world if the devil is walking among us? Or is he not the devil, is Katherine the devil? I'm confused about the Hell hierarchy, you see. 3. Also I should mention I have a cold and I took cough syrup and it SAYS non-drowsy but last night I was knocked the fuck out so if I get a little loopy near the end, it could be that. Or it could be that watching TVD has finally addled my brain. Who knows. 4. They really do hype Katherine way too much. 5. Sorry, pausing because my cat is being extremely affectionate and I would rather play with her for a little than watch what trash this episode is going to be. 6. But now she's on my keyboard. It's like she's trying to spare me. 7. The lighting in this episode seems to be darker than normal, I can barely see anything. 8. I think it's funny that Caroline keeps waking up expecting to see Stefan and he's not there. 9. Matt's hair is SO stupid though. LIKE WHY. 10. I have it paused because the video is loading still but like seriously, he looks thoroughly unattractive like this and out of character I think Zach is pretty cute, so like ugh, why am I subjected to this. 11. Why do we care about Matt's dad again? 12. Or his mother for that matter. 13. Like remember when she came to town and then made out with Damon and then they discovered Vicki was dead and she made out with Tyler? Or was Tyler first and then Damon? Either way, she's messy af. The only interesting dynamic was her and Caroline and Elena. She's pointless. 14. “That was a lifetime ago, things have changed since then” that should just replace the title of TVD. “Didn't Damon kill your sister?” “That was a long time ago.” “Didn't Damon kill your brother” “That was a long time ago.” And now apparently abandoning your family because of man pain and cowardice and immaturity is “a lifetime ago” too but oh no, Stefan was a ripper a literal century ago and we need to harp on it forever. 15. Real talk, I already feel kinda woozy but it's fine it's like being buzzed and it's probably the only way I will get through this episode. 16. Why would Dorian agreeing to help them on how to get rid of the “Queen of Hell” be misconstrued as him being “cool” with Stefan though? Isn't getting rid of someone who is supposed to be the devil Plus be in everyone's best interest? Like whatever, it was just another chance to take a shot at Stefan. Transparent as fuck. 17. That red looks nice on Kat. 18. I like how Katherine is in this world, everything is supposed to be going to shit and Matt isn't like “Mom, Dad, I hate you but you need to leave town because you could possibly die” he's just like yeah fam, I'm rescheduling our awkward dinner date. Like lol. It would be more interesting if he didn't give a shit if they died but this is just the writers being the writers. In Buffy, when the Mayor is supposed to devour all of Sunnydale, Buffy forces her mother to leave town and tells her if she doesn't her presence will get her [Buffy] killed. 19. I love Stefan's face when Damon says “she's obsessed with Stefan” like BITCH WHO TOLD YOU TO TALK? 20. Why does it have to be a wedding though? It could just as easily be an engagement party or a rehearsal dinner, like sooooooooooo forced. 21. I mean, I don't blame Bonnie for hating Stefan but Damon was responsible for killing Jeremy and kidnapping Jeremy, Enzo was responsible for suffocating Jeremy and she's cool with both of them, hell she fell in love with one of them so I'm just like girl, I guess. The writers are ridiculous because it just feels like they don't know the web they've created with these characters and understand that they've turned pretty much everyone into a hyprocrite. 22. And as a non-Beremy shipper, I still think Bonnie loved Jeremy more than Enzo and Beremy was a problematic af ship but at least some things were halfway earned, Bonenzo is pure dialogue, fam. 23. Oh and looks. 24. I don't even know why Damon needs to tell Stefan that what happened to Enzo will haunt him like Stefan isn't new to guilt. Why are they making it seem like this is Stefan's first rodeo? 25. My video keeps fucking buffering. I might switch sites because I love myself too much to drag this out longer than I have to. Because I am only eight minutes in, that's not gonna fly. 26. OK so everything is just buffering. I was supposed to have my data back, what is this. 27. Right now I have it paused on Damon. I really don't get what anons mean when they tell me his arms are huge. Like I don't see it. 28. WHO CARES ABOUT MATT'S MOM? What's her name again? Kelly? 29. Is she dying? 30. She's dying. 31. Oh she's dead. Ish. 32. “Oh please don't be mad at me, Caroline” that actually sounded like Stefan was talking to his mother. 33. Yeah this BE scene is giving me nothing. 34. Liz did a TERRIBLE job protecting MF, who are we kidding? And toasting with your rape victim about how her mother became your best friend and now her daughter will be your family is disgusting. 35. Lol yes use the SE necklace that Damon kept taking to give it to Caroline on her wedding day for Stefan because we're ignoring how important that necklace was to SE, sure. 36. Seriously, Caroline looks at Alaric with more love than she does Stefan. Like just marry him, y'all are more compatible and have more chemistry than you and Stefan anyway. Like omg. 37. “I hope I get to see this one day with you and Elena” lol the FLATTEST delivery ever. Like do you even mean it? Do you REALLY? Think hard, Stefan. 38. “I want to be a part of your happiness” I mean I guess. I don't like Bonnie being arbitrary in her blame for Stefan but like can the girl be selfish and feel what she feels when she feels it for once? And indulge? Like?? 39. I also find it interesting that Stefan and Caroline don't have a private moment before the wedding, like I know this isn't how we wanted to do this blah blah blah. They're so segregated even when they're together. 40. Do the writers not know of any alcohol other than bourbon? 41. The slow mo doesn't change the deadened expression on Paul's face, guys. Sorry. 42. Also Alaric's speech is stupid, who becomes “family” with the people who have continuously terrorized your life and are responsible for the people you've lost? Like that's when you see a psychiatrist because you have serious emotional issues. 43. “You saw light in me when all I saw was darkness.” WHEN WAS THIS? NO LEGIT WHEN? I REALLY WANT TO KNOW. Madly in love, you don't even look madly in love, you look SO chill. OMG. 44. LOL bout you've been ready since you saw him at school. You were on his jock for one episode, then you onto Damon and were unfortunate enough to be his victim, then it was Matt, then it was Tyler, then it was Klaus, then it was Tyler then it was Jesse then it was Klaus then it was Stefan. Girl bye. 45. That SC dance looks SO AWKWARD. LOL SLOW MO DOESN'T MAKE SHIT BETTER UNLESS IT'S ALREADY GOOD 46. Of course Matt's dad isn't dead. I mean he got stabbed when it was light out and now it's dark but he's still gurgling. Jesus. We met him THIS season, Julie, you can kill the irrelevant fucker off. 47. I don't know why Caroline is STILL wearing the necklace. 48. HER NAME IS KELLY. I WAS RIGHT. 49. Why isn't Caroline vamp speeding into the house? 50. Really? That's your reaction to your kids potentially dying? 51. So like the smoke is having no effect on Bonnie? 52. And them siphoning her doesn't hurt? 53. Caroline is legit calm when she thought her kids were dead for a minute. 54. LMFAO SO WHO ISN'T IN HELL? Vicki was in hell, Kelly was in hell, so like ERRBODY GOES TO HELL THEN? WHAT CRITERIA IS THERE? Like if I run a stop light do I go to hell because it's against the law? What if I jaywalk or accidentally step on an ant or something? BECAUSE SERIOUSLY. 55. STEFAN WHY DON'T YOU EVER CHECK ANYONE'S PULSE? Final thoughts: This episode didn't enrage me like I thought it would, it's just thoroughly ridiculous because it attempts to haphazardly rewrite history and Paul was such a lacklustre groom, like faaaam, those vows were horrible. And Caroline and Stefan are just so isolated from each other, like they don't feel like a couple or a pair, they don't feel like one, it's so very cold. Kelly coming back with her daughter to destroy MF is like, I mean I guess, Katherine's plan isn't even original, Stefan was going to burn MF to the ground first anyway, like we're seriously recycling plots in the same season too? This was actually laughably bad.