MovieChat Forums > The Vampire Diaries (2009) Discussion > Reviewing Season 8 So far, and what's to...

Reviewing Season 8 So far, and what's to come.

posted 8 years ago by TaylorBruh25
9 replies | jump to latest

The Final Season is halfway through, were 7 episodes deep, and when TVD returns in 3 weeks, it's looking like it will continue until March. Until it ends. I wanted to share how I feel and see how everyone else is feeling about how the season has progressed, and how you think it's ending.

Upon rewatch I still love the season premiere. The mystery of The Vault could've been longer, but TVD doesn't drag out its mysteries that much. Damon and Enzo being confronted by Stefan and Bonnie is still great, and i just really loved the ambiguity of the plot and instead leaving hints here and there, The Sirens being messengers for "The Devil" and deliviring the darkest souls, and Hell that doesn't come in a stone.

The plot has been moving greatly this season with not too much and not too little. I don't know who's decision it was but we definitley could've gotten and extra 6 episodes, this plot would fit fine in a full season but I'll explain in a min. The season has a background theme of redemption but it's mostly condemnation. The sins of the soul and how almost every character on the show IS in fact destined for Hell, something a lot of fans have been saying for years now, now our final season is literally about them escaping the devil and damnation.

Keeping it between our main characters this season is something I've loved about this season, something that (until the end) Season 7 was missing. I've enjoyed certain character arcs I'm finding some not so much.

Damon, he's been sort of sort of not under Sybil's control all season, with his humanity literally on a dimmer. Ive both liked that Damons bad and not dug it all at points. His plot has actually been the most confusing, I can keep/ have kept up with just about every plot the show has thrown at me. This is just a little too unexplained. I'm sticking by Stefan's last words of S7 last year though, this time it actually isn't his fault.

Alaric, besides seeing him be a protective father I've had no interest in him this season. Especially how he's slowly becoming last seasons Matt. The first few eps with him leading the Armory was nice but besides that, not much about has been THAT useful.

Matt, he's been missing for half the season, his return was fun, and he should've been the one to kill Damon. His father plot though has also barely kept my interest and if they don't do something with that soon, just kill Peter off.

Caroline, one of the more dissapointing arcs as well. Love seeing her be a mother, besides that she's really just been counsel for Stefan and Bonnie. I've just rather seen them lean toward eachother and actually be friends. Give Caroline something to actually do. She's now alone when she should be leaving with Ric honestly.

Enzo, I think I've enjoyed his romantic stuff because Malarkey himself has stepped up a whole lot. But, I'm so tired of Enzo living for woman. I'm tired of woman living for men and men living for them like can people have any other motivation damn. Anyway, I do like that his no humanity plot only lasted an episode. I hope he finds another storyline beside being a puppet in these last 9 episodes.

Bonnie, started off strong, we acknowledged Bonnie's grief and how she had no magic, no way of actually helping but still trying. But, after episode 3, it's all downhill for her. She's been with Enzo in every scene, she's barely talked about anything but him and has no development besides him. I really don't need another Delena. Hopefully her psychic talk last episode hints that's she's key to stopping The Devil.

Stefan, started off kind of weak, on another "save Damon" binge. Him and Caroline's relationship besides Eps 6 and 7, has been weak. However, from episode 3 onward, I've definitley enjoyed his arc. He's finally taken true center stage since Season 3 and I'm glad we have him in an interesting arc. Unlike last season Phoenix Hell stuff. Although I like the Julian plot. The real Ripper is back, I can't wait to see the evil Salvatore brothers to serve Cade.

Guests, Georgie and Peter are bland, but Sybil and Seline aren't that bad, Defintley liking the evilness feel that Cade is giving off so far.

I feel like this season could've been 22 episodes, with The Vault lasting 2 or episodes, Sirens lasting 3 or 4 Sirens together vs the group until mid season, introduce Cade, let The Salvatore's serve him, show Hell for 2 or 3 eps, let the final two episodes wrap up the series.

Cameos, who've we gotten so far, mini Sheriff Forbes cameo, Tyler (just to die that was bad) and Sarah Salvatore? (Just to die wow)

I Defintley see the next 3 or 4 eps being the brothers getting their humanity back, and being sent to Hell for it, being in Hell they run into some old acquaintances, and together beat Cade.

Hopefully Elena returns and we end the series on a good note. However at this point I think both Brothers die to save the supernatural world.

What's everybody else's thought?

[–] bluesysax 8 years ago

Hey Taylor. I enjoyed the read and agreed with many points you made.
Despite the negativity I feel for this season I am still rooting for this little show to find it's stride a leave us satisfied in the end. I want to love it because I want to be able to enjoy the re-watch value for years to come. This story captivated me and has held my heart for 7 years and has led to many thousands of typed words online in this fandom...good and bad.

We might never agree on the finer points and watch for different reasons but ultimately we are all fans of the show for better or worse or we wouldn't be here wasting precious time posting about it.

As far as speculation goes, both brothers dying in the end would not make sense for me despite the wishes of PW and IS, (both are notorious trolls). You are right I think, in believing this seasons' arc is about facing the demons of the past, the consequences but ultimately redemption. I think it's about holding up a mirror to these characters and showing them who they are, what they have become and giving them a chance to obtain some kind of redemption.
The problem I have with this story is that I think Damon in particular had this storyline X1374676 times and has proven time and again that he can and will put other people before his own happiness. The fact he has is humanity switched off in the first place is because he was willing to take this path alone and face the consequences alone for the decisions he made. He wasn't willing to allow this entity (Sybil) to access the part of him that cared so he flipped his switch to protect those people he cared about. 8X01 and 8x02 spelled that out brilliantly but since then I have lost that thread, probably because the writing became so vague after that and we lost the Damon POV.
It isn't lost on me how Enzo has been lifted in the narrative as the "strong" one, the one that didn't fold but TVD is nothing but predictable these days, so I expect that narrative to be turned inside out by the end. Just like the story of Defan has been.

I Defintley see the next 3 or 4 eps being the brothers getting their humanity back, and being sent to Hell for it, being in Hell they run into some old acquaintances, and together beat Cade.

I think Damon will be half way there already and by 8x09 he will be back fighting for Stefan. I understand there will be a time jump when we return and I'm guessing Stefan will have fully succumbed to his baser instincts and prove Cade right (he won't want to turn his humanity back on). Caroline will prove to be his "new" trigger and they will eventually get their "June wedding" with Damon as best man and Bonnie and newly awakened Elena (via loophole spell by Kai) as bridesmaids. I will probably cry buckets despite hating most of it, 😀

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Never argue with stupid people,they will drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.

[–] TaylorBruh25 8 years ago

I agree so much about the show, I believe there's a chance we get everyone's happy ending, I honestly believe if anyone's getting married it's Damon and Elena though, and I'm actually okay and honestly prefer that over a Steroline one. The story would just make more sense. I want redemption to be a thing but it's barely been harped on, if at all, and the problem I see it with it is, besides Stefan and Damon the others don't even see they need redmption, or really see that the brothers do. Enzo of all should just be invested as them and he's definitely being pushed narratively to seem that he's better than the brothers. His development is all over.

I honestly see Steroline falling through, so many rumours and foreshadowing that they're not making it, especailly since a lot of folk think Caroline or Stefan is dying comes series end. Alaric crossover to TO also throws a chance at Caroline dying being true.

Like you I want the show to pull through and amaze us this last couple episodes. Bring it all home. Hopefully they don't lose this plot and shuffle everything apart.

[–] imaneassi 8 years ago

I wanna see Elena with Damon,Katherine with Stephan and Caroline with Klaus

[–] D_Stormborn 8 years ago

Things I like this season:
Caroline! Candice is doing a great job.
The initial story about 2 sirens.
The general feeling.

Not so much:
Another hell, really? That is so last season.
Damon is bad, again. Of course Stefan was worse once.
Powerless Bonnie being reduced to Enzo's arm candy.

________
"Art is magic delivered from the lie of being truth"

[–] TaylorBruh25 8 years ago

I love Candice, find Caroline rather lost this season.

[–] D_Stormborn 8 years ago

I thought that about last season when she was a girl torn between a vampire and a teacher.

________
"Art is magic delivered from the lie of being truth"

[–] TaylorBruh25 8 years ago

Aww man, Calaric Story wise was a real waste.

[–] christinaparker-60256 8 years ago

Good analysis!

I really used to love this show, so it's been hard for me to see certain things keep happening. I think for a few seasons, the storytelling hasn't been great. There are a lot of deux ex machinas, a lack of accountability for all characters (switch flip, ripper, etc.), and overall OOC moments. It makes me sad because the actors and theme are so good, I always find myself wishing this show were in more capable hands.

That said, there are elements of this season I like. I like the sirens a lot. I thought their backstory was interesting. I also enjoyed the actresses.

Love Caroline. I did not enjoy her character at first, but I like her a lot more than Bonnie who really should have had the best arc overall, but is instead arm candy for enzo as another commenter said.

I am hoping for the resurgence of the following people in some way: Kai, Katherine, Lexi and Grams.

Id really prefer a dark ending of both the brothers dying and the rest of them getting to live a normal life, but i think we're gonna end with a double wedding.

[–] osie_amburgey25 8 years ago

Stefan will end up sending Damon to hell by killing him on Cade's orders in the midseason episode. Caroline will get killed by Sybil who will also send her to hell, probably. hopefully we will see Cade's kingdom of hell and the souls of everybody who is stuck there with no hope for peace in the episode after that.