The Vampire
Diaries
Season Four
Episode
Three
'The Rager'
- 4.5
 |
| This could be the start of something wonderful |
In an
episode devoted to an exploration of rage and emotional control, there was
little to be passionate about in 'the Rager'. There were moments here and there
that show this series is attempting to take Elena's transformation with the
upmost seriousness and with a degree of realism, but the quick-fly scenes and
almost pestering tone of this episode detract from the relatability.
Stuff always
happens in Mystic Falls, it's not like Sunnydale. Yeah, if you put it out on
paper I bet more bad stuff has gone down in Buffy's Californian small town, but
it just feels like the writers have this need to fill every episode to breaking
point with action and shocks, thinking that we don't have to attention span to
last out the 'boring bits'. To make my point, my favourite scene tonight was
the first conversation between Matt and Elena, in which he offered his wrist to
her as some sort of loving, nurturing symbol of his undying devotion to her,
but all she can talk about is herself. She doesn't even seem to register that
her ex-boyfriend is feeding himself to her. Nonetheless, the more held back and
subtle direction here was a nice, toned-down change from the in-your-face
obviousness that often tarnishes this show.
I'm
definitely not calling the director good though; his filming of Elena's two
instances of showing-off were just awful. First, when she does a handstand on a
beer keg and drinks is absolutely atrocious, it was clear when it was a stunt
double or when she was being held up by wires. Later, the green-screen motorcycle
ride was reminiscent of the boat scene from the Pilot of Ringer. That is
definitely not a good thing when the moment was supposed to be an emotional
high for the character, when all it looked like was Nina Dobrev having an
acid-trip in front of a box fan.
We finally
get to see Phoebe Tonkin's character strut onto the set and I have to say; I
was a little disappointed. So far, Tonkin is once again playing Faye, just a
sassy werewolf this time instead of a sassy witch. Granted she seems much less
selfish, I thought they'd have a bigger focus than sticking her in for two
scenes, establishing her as a potential hurdle for Tyler and Caroline then
having Klaus say 'she's left'. Right. Of course, she hasn't left the town or
anything, but she didn't even get a witty one-liner as a send off. Last I saw
of her, she was bad mouthing Klaus in her stereotypical, anti-authoritarian
tone-of-voice.
I was much
more appreciative of Rebekah's return to form, once again playing the role of a
thousand-year old teenager, perpetually pining for the love and affection of
her peers but always failing to get it because she FUCKING KILLS THEM. She
dwells on this tonight as she comes under a seedy attack from the town's
current vampire-hater, Connor, who poisons some beer with Tyler's werewolf
venom. I was worried for a second that the writers had completely forgotten
that werewolf bites don't kill Originals, but luckily Rebekah's temporary
sickness ends with her simply sliding out of her bed. While she's sick she has
a vision in which her high school crush, Matt, scolds her for failing to mature
during her thousand years, causing her to freak the shit out and rip his heart
from his chest. I knew they wouldn't kill off a main character so
unceremoniously, so it was completely obvious that it was a fantasy, but it was
still pretty impressive.
In other
news, Rebekah's brother is starting to irritate me. I was generally a fan of
Klaus, but as of tonight he seems... shorter. That's nothing against him, but
Joseph Morgan lacked his normal intimidating stance and position as he strolled
about doing jack all - except helping Elena survive her werewolf venom incident
and saving Connor's life. What? I guess we'll get to that later this season?
Damon and
Elena are still in deep desperate love with each other, but I still can't take
the writers seriously for even considering this a possibility, and I sure as
hell will never take Ian Somerhalder seriously as an actor. Just no.
There's
nothing much that would entice me to tune in next week had this been my first
viewing, but I will invariably return. If I were to be asked a reason, it would
be that I am intrigued by the prospect of April and Rebekah alliance,
which was hinted at towards the end as a repentant Rebekah offers her expertise
to help the orphan out with the investigation into her father's death. I guess
that will tide me over until next week.
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