Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: C | 2 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT The Night Of the First Kiss
By Cindy McLennan | Season 1 | Episode 2 | Aired on 09.17.2009
Mossy Manse: Elena arrives at Stefan's door, because that went so well last time. When he answers, he's much more obliging and invites her in. Instead of accepting, she brings him outside to look at the slowest-moving comet in God's heavens. Elena confesses that she was going to go home and do what she always does -- write in her diary. He asks what she would have written and again I'll spare you, because I'm a giver like that. Suffice it to say she decided to talk directly to him about the things that would usually go in the little book about giving up, not taking risks, etc., but now she knows she's hiding from the truth that she's afraid of being happy, because she can't stand to have it all come crashing down again. Stefan asks, "Do you want to know what I would write?" When Elena nods, he says "I met a girl. We talked. It was epic. And then the sun came up and reality set in...Well, this is reality. Right here." That makes even less sense to me than anthropomorphizing a comet, but it works for Elena. Stefan leans in for a kiss which is slow and gentle, if a bit short. When their lips part, they look deeply into each others' eyes (which I seem to type a lot). This time, Elena moves in for the kill er... I mean kiss, and it's longer and more intense. Stefan whispers in my ear, "Passionate." Thanks sweetie, I got that already. We cut to...
Somebody's bedroom. Damon looks up at us and then trails his lips from (at least) Caroline's navel up the length of her form. Her back arches. Her bright pink bra thrusts north to give the camera a clear shot. But then, Damon vamps out. His face goes all vein-y and his eyes are bloodshot and rimmed with red. When Caroline opens her eyes, she is frightened into silence. Damon lunges at her -- going in for the kill. Caroline's screams carry us into the black.
Well, overall, this episode worked less well for me than did the pilot. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for cheese this week? I do like that Matt seems to be a good guy, and that Caroline is less one-dimensional than I originally thought. The music is driving me nuts, though. Is it as intrusive as I think? I'm fine with it on shows like Veronica Mars, Scrubs and, of course, Supernatural so I sort of don't think it's me, but nothing makes me feel older than watching this show, and telling my pre-teen and teen that they can't, so I have to admit it just might be that this show wasn't written for me in the first place. Before I close, I'd like to thank the kind readers who wrote in to explain to me that it was always supposed to be Damon that shape-shifts and brings on the fog, never Stefan, and to everyone else who wrote in with their thoughts and speculation. Next week, Stefan joins the football team, and Elena lets out a big scream. See you then.