S06.E14: Stay

[Miles]

Damon and Stefan's mom was mentioned like six times between this episode and the last one, and I can't decide if it's because it's a related topic or if she's going to show up in a couple of episodes and start some shit.

If the vampire diaries and the originals have taught me anything it's that someones undead mother always shows up to start some shit. So I'd assume the latter.

If Matt isn't on enough vervain to kill a cow by this point and thus could be compelled at all it would be far more nonsensical IMO. Besides the fact that he should be impossible to compel by now, if he could why would Enzo even bother with threatening Matt's mother or Jeremy or anything like that when he could have just put in a standing order like "do whatever I say from now on" and just call Matt up whenever he wanted anything? While he's at it, why not make Matt forget everything Enzo is having him do?

Wasn't Matt specifically not on vervein for a while so he could help his friends out with his blood if they needed it? Also I think Enzo compelled him a little to begin with, but I honestly can't remember. This storyline just won't stick in my brain.

I assume Enzo would get a kick out of controlling Matt without or with limited compulsion, just like he plans to corrupt Sarah without it.

[Smug47]

Okay. So I am assuming that, because Caroline wasn't there to say goodbye and she so loves to be in control of everything, this may take her over the deep end for a bit. I know that she and Stefan are starting their courtship dance, but I really don't want to see Stefan be the one to pull her out of her grief and loss. Caroline (compared with, say, Elena) benefited enormously from becoming a vampire and began to be a much stronger and more faceted character. When her father died, she grieved him and then moved on, and even forgave him. I think she will have that urge to turn off her emotions and just not feel, but I want to see her decide on her own that the best way to honor her mother's memory is to live and grow and always remember her. Elena sucks at grieving and always has, but I hope that Caroline continues to be strong and uses this experience to grow and deepen. If Stefan wants to help, I hope he does, but I definitely do not want a situation where Caro throws herself into his arms and suddenly everything is okay.

[Blushing Bloom]

I agree wholeheartedly with everyone who said that was one of the best episode of the show: best since the finale of s3 which doesn't mean much (i know) because the quality decreased drastically since s4, but imo if felt nonetheless that it was on  the same level  than the best episodes written during the golden age of the show (s1-s3). 

 

I felt like the absence of supernatural twist (except for the Matt/Sarah/Enzo storyline) in a episode which was about death and separation was ironically a breath of fresh air.  

 

For me, the success of this episode rested entirely on the quality of Liz Forbes storyline and Margaret's spectacular acting.

 

Everything revolving around her disease and her last moments felt true and real, but was also very well paced and brilliantly tackled.

I loved how the writers linked her professional career and her personal issues over the Gilbert accident to show, that in fact in both cases there wasn't a satisfying  answer, as much as Liz  wanted closure and to give sense to  her premature death.    

It's been a long time since the writers have played so smartly with the mythology of the show, so i almost forgot that they could deliver efficiently a simple twist with minimal effects.    

   

I loved the light and cinematography in the scenes filmed in Liz office: so soft and beautiful and yet hauting and carrying a feeling of sadness. This atmosphere of gravity was well emphasized by the choice to keep her inside doors with only one person and to let her mostly reminisce about her past.

I never liked her relationship with Damon because of what happened between Caroline and him, so i would have prefered to see Alaric at her side but i do get that the continuity with season 1 and 2  called for it, especially considering that Damon played the same role for Alaric and Rose (two other adult characters important for him).

 

The flasbacks with little Caroline were pretty much perfect: the actress was well cast and every technical aspect (light, photography, set, music, wardrobe) was used to make this moment as peaceful, warmful and symbolic as possible. The entire team nailed it.

 

I think that the dialogues were for once on par with the quality of the rest: the entire speech given by Liz in her bedroom about what she wished to say to Caroline and about being exceptionally ordinary is so moving that it deserves to serve as example for every writer of the show.

I was also touched deeply by Stefan's quote's (life not being about the final moments but the moments leading to them) and also of course Caroline's line: "don't let go. I'm not ready"      

 

I'll skip the part about Jeremy because his scenes, especially with Elena and Damon,  just looked like a rehash of the previous seasons where he left to move on or died and always came back at one point.

 

I don't think that Enzo's plotline is as random as it seems: his animosity against Stefan has been heavily exposed at the start of the season and  it seems like we are in the middle of something growing enough to become a real war betwen the two men. I wish that means that Stefan and Damon's relationship will also come back at forefront, because the low play of the triangle this season has meant so far the almost complete disparition of their relationship on screen.      

 

On Stefan/Caroline romance, i'm probably very alone but even though i'm a die hard fan of their relationship since s1 and under any form, i didn't buy their romance in this episode.

My problem is not the execution (in fact i found it well done) or the acting (Candice gave her one of the best performance of the show and her chemistry with Paul is perfectly exploited), but my distrust of the writers when it comes to romantic ships and few clues left here and here that make me think that the triangle is not dead. So i can't enjoy fully this ship, and in fact I have never been so anxious about a fictional couple.

 

Call me superstitious but are we sure that the death of Silas and Amara meant the end of this foolish plot based on the "universe" trying to reunite the dopplegangers? If so, why are the writers still mentioning Silas and Qetsiyah?

 

Also, we are on s6 and the writers still write dialogues in which new characters comment on how Elena and Stefan seem 'weirdly functional" while Damon and Elena are "dysfunctional"; baddies like Kai who couldn't be more alien to the concept of love is yet revolted by Damon/Elena's romance; and Damon confirmed once again in front of everyone that this relationship is toxic, that Elena is at her worst when she's with him and that she wouldn't have choose him if she didn't become a vampire.

 

I don't like this relationship at all but can't see the point of mentioning it over and over again if Damon/Elena are endgame?

Do those comments reflect the opinion of the writers on this romance and if so how they will manage to write them for the rest of the season (and the show) now that the character have  reached a sort of agreement about the nature of their relationship?    

The only twist that i can imagine (since angst is an obligation in this show) is the return of the triangle.

Or maybe  I might have been traumatized by Paul: he mentioned during a recent interview that the writers could easily resurrect Stefan/Elena's feelings with one twist, wich makes me think that he's not sure himself of the writer's plan even at this point and maybe trying to warn us... 

Edited February 15, 2015 by Blushing Bloom

[KatWay]

I'm totally just looking for reasons to hate Elena, but sheesh, did she really press ignore on a dying woman's call? I imagine busting her for pot smoking wouldn't be high on Liz' priority list, what with the dying of cancer and stuff. But she made sure to take Damon's call a minute later.

 

Why does Enzo exist? Why? Everytime he popped up on screen I groaned.

 

I'm not shipping Stefan and Caroline, but they were really sweet this episode. They feel like a breath of fresh air compared to Delena who have way too much baggage at this point for me to even enjoy them in their low-key moments.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

I'm totally just looking for reasons to hate Elena, but sheesh, did she really press ignore on a dying woman's call? I imagine busting her for pot smoking wouldn't be high on Liz' priority list, what with the dying of cancer and stuff. But she made sure to take Damon's call a minute later.

No, it was the other way around. The first call was from Damon (on his cell phone so the caller ID said "Damon"), which she didn't answer. The second call was also from Damon but he used Liz's phone (so the caller ID said "Sheriff Forbes") and she freaked out because she was high and she didn't want Liz to know she had been smoking pot, but she answered the phone (only to learn it was Damon calling again).

[ByTor]

I just rewatched that scene.  On the 1st call, the phone clearly had "Sheriff Forbes" in giant letters.  When Elena answered the phone the second time, we didn't see the phone, and Elena said "what do you want Damon?"  And then she went on to tell Damon...we *tee hee raspy giggle giggle* smoked pot.

[KatWay]

 

No, it was the other way around. The first call was from Damon (on his cell phone so the caller ID said "Damon"), which she didn't answer. The second call was also from Damon but he used Liz's phone (so the caller ID said "Sheriff Forbes") and she freaked out because she was high and she didn't want Liz to know she had been smoking pot, but she answered the phone (only to learn it was Damon calling again).

I just watched the scene, so I'm 99% sure it was Sherrif Forbes first - with Elena going "oh noes, we're so busted" and hitting ignore and then Damon, which is when she picked up and asked "what do you want, Damon?" before he even said anything.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Sorry, I must have remembered it incorrectly! I watched it Thursday night so I was going off of my almost three day old viewing. I trust your more recent memories!

I thought it was stupid that she didn't want Liz to know she was high but then Damon said very loudly (in Liz'a office), "ARE YOU HIGH?" Way to keep a secret, which kind of negated his advice about hiding it.

Edited February 15, 2015 by ElectricBoogaloo

[timimouse]

I have mixed feelings about this Stefan/Caroline relationship. I don't hate them together. I am however, disappointed that it went there. Here's why...

I didn't like human Caroline. She is the ONE character I think has actually benefited from becoming a vampire. She has become strong, assertive, confident yet still caring and loving. I have grown to like her more and more as the seasons progressed. And I LOVE Stefan Salvatore. Not just because he's good-looking but his character has developed very well also. Good guy but still flawed. And what I loved most was the development of their FRIENDSHIP. I'll be honest, when they kissed, my first thought was "can nobody on TV maintain a platonic relationship"?!?!?!?! I am tired of everybody hooking up with everybody. (Sidenote: I recently re-watched all seasons of Gossip Girl and got upset all over again for this very reason... they ALL slept with each other!)

However, my second thought was... they're sweet together. And that kiss was nice. Very appropriate. 

Unfortunately, it's is doomed as is all TV relationships.... (RIP Meredith & Derek)

[miss-vanilla]

I have very mixed feelings re caroline and Stefan. On the one hand, I have been secretly rooting them since S2, but on the other hand I don't feel Stefan is really there yet, if ever. The kiss was nice, and beautifully shot, but I felt it was too soon, and will forever be tainted by the backdrop of Liz's death.

Stefan hasn't really earn't this devotion, don't get me wrong, he is on the right road, but like I said, it was too soon for me. I guess I will have to see how it plays out in future, before I make my mind up.

I have always enjoyed Enzo as a character, but I feel my enjoyment waning fast. His motives as presented are thin, so therefore boring, and his shoehorned appearances in eps like this are just Jarring. The writers need to shit or get off the pot, with this SL, because fans are just past caring.

So, so glad that this show took the time to pay homage to the Liz/Damon friendship, a true highlight in this episode for me. Those scenes had just the right amount of love, respect, banter and openness that belied this strange but true friendship that has evolved over the entire series. It is fitting for Damon to write and deliver her Eulogy, after all, aside from Caroline, he knows the most about her "true" life as a MF Cop, and human being.

[DigitalCount]

I personally loved the Stefan/Caroline kiss, but my g/f who watches with me immediately said "And now he's always going to remind her of her dying mother." I can see the argument, but even so this was like surfacing after so long (five years!) underwater.

 

Little things:

 

- Liz taking joy in being ordinary and Caroline being extraordinary: yes. I wanted to reach into my television and hug her right then, because yes.

- Elena and Jeremy spending time together just in time for Jeremy to peace out: I liked what time they had together, but it was very little.

- Liz closing the book on her life with Damon's help: beautiful and fitting for the characters.

- Gilberts' death just a random accident: I had always thought it was something more, but sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and it works especially well in this context. You can't always control the variables in life. DON'T RETCON THIS PLEASE.

- Liz's dying dream: beautiful. I was wondering if Stefan was going to teach Caroline that, and I'm so glad he did.

[miss-vanilla]

Ah! I forgot to mention the dream thing at the end. I loved that, and I loved that Stefan was the one to guide Caroline here. In fact, it had more emotional resonance, and felt more organic than the kiss scene.

[scarynikki12]

Gilberts' death just a random accident...DON'T RETCON THIS PLEASE.

 

I don't think they will. If the Stefan/Elena side of the triangle was as popular as the Damon/Elena side, then I think the Gilberts' deaths would still be an uncertainty but the viewers have moved on.  One of my early theories with the show was that the triangle would conclude only when the circumstances of the Gilberts deaths were revealed.  I was convinced that one of the brothers was responsible for the wreck and that would be what made Elena choose.  But this episode seemed pretty definitive in making their deaths non-Salvatore related so I don't expect to revisit it.

 

I did think the scenes between Liz and Damon were nice and made sense for their relationship but it just reminded me how sad I was that Liz never found out about his abuse of Caroline.  Caro never had anyone to talk to about what she went through and I wish her relationship with Liz had strengthened to the point where she could have shared it.  Of course, that means that Liz would have turned against Damon, and we can't have that.

[Blushing Bloom]

I did think the scenes between Liz and Damon were nice and made sense for their relationship but it just reminded me how sad I was that Liz never found out about his abuse of Caroline.  Caro never had anyone to talk to about what she went through and I wish her relationship with Liz had strengthened to the point where she could have shared it.  Of course, that means that Liz would have turned against Damon, and we can't have that.

 

She had Elena before the sirebond and Bonnie after they worked up Bonnie's rejection when she became a vampire and recovered her memory of what happened to her, so basically 2 seasons (s2 and s3) to bring the issue and possible solve it (if trauma coming from abuse can be solved) but i don't know why the writers decided, while keeping the hostility between Caroline and Damon, to never adress again the subject directly after s1.

It became a sort of taboo for the characters: it happened but we don't talk about it.

At least, Damon admitted the abuse at the start of the season and seemed to regret what he did in regard to Elena of course....