My roundup for “Family Ties” was a bit wordier than I had intended for the roundups to be, so I suppose I might have more to say about this episode than I have for the others. Or maybe I’m not proficient yet at being succinct…At any event, I have excessive thoughts in the roundup if a comment here implies elaboration.
Okay, so “Family Ties.” First of all, There are a lot of ‘first’s in this episode. This is the first sign (and it is flashing neon) that Stefan-as-protagonist has a….morally questionable methodology when it comes to achieving his ends. This is the first time we know for sure that Damon has larger plans, and didn’t just show up to taunt his brother and provide narrative tension for Stefan’s hero journey. This episode also embarks on the first of the (many) founders’ celebrations that will be attended in the show, signifying the special kind of self-congratulatory miscomprehension the town leaders regularly practice. This is the episode that introduces grownup characters who are not Aunt Jenna, Uncle Zach or Coach Tanner. And this is the first time we realize that there’s a Council that’s onto the vampires. Will this revelation lead to a Van Helsing is racist arc? Or will this factor lead to non-supernatural opponents that provide a variety of moral perspective in the larger scheme of things?
So, I’ll quickly start with the problem with Stefan. Now, I already explained my thoughts on his “heroism” in the hero category of the roundup, so I won’t be redundant here. Suffice it to say, I’m glad the writers took this direction with the character. Yes, it does make him less of a clear-cut hero, but if he were too archetypical I think the virtue would come across as less plausible and so less aspirational. Also, if he were the hero ‘who could win if only he chose devious methods, but he refuses so he loses,’ it would be a very frustrating season, and I think younger viewers might conclude that being honorable doesn’t pay off if it’s ineffectual. (They do make a point of saying he won’t drink human blood, even though it would give him a better chance against Damon. I’m glad that (in later episodes) his reluctance falls less along the lines of ‘a single drop is too great a sin’ and more along the lines of ‘a single drop will never be a single drop, it will be a blood bath because I’m an addict.’ That makes his refusal more about choosing to be good than choosing to be perfect). Ahem, anyway….so Stefan is pretty badass in this episode. I remember the first time I saw this I was so thrilled and surprised and relieved, and Stefan’s unexpected moral-fluidity-for-the-greater-good continues even now. It makes him a more worthwhile opponent, and a worthwhile ally, in the long run.
Second, this is the episode where Damon gets his crystal (which looks a bit more like an amber, but I know nothing about gem stones). It begins a trend I really like in the show, where the villains have got lives of their own. They don’t show up just to taunt or interact with the heroes, they have personal plans and motivations that make their interactions with the main cast only collateral in nature. And the plans are always unknown to us, at first, but never in a cheap camera-turns-away kind of manner. We see all the actions they’re taking, we just don’t know what it all adds up to. (I’m getting ahead of myself, but what I’ve said here can be applied to the arrivals of John Gilbert, Katherine, Elijah, Klaus, and so on). So we’re reassured that there’s an adequate and believably self-preserving reason behind Damon’s decision to cover his tracks and encourage town-life to continue unabated.
I also want to give a shoutout to Elena, who discovers that her friend is being abused and actually confronts the abuser. And is angry. And is willing to take action (and cut off ties with Stefan) if necessary so that the abuse stops. The shoutout is because I think it’s great that Elena doesn’t need to be supernatural, or in on the secrets, or anything else in order to actively affect the forward narrative. Also, just…wow. She stands up for what’s right in a strident, non-Mary-sue, non-‘bitchy’ kind of way, and it’s a thing of beauty. One of my increasing frustrations with the show in recent seasons is Elena’s willing complacency in tolerating the destructive behaviors of the people in her inner circle.
Okay, so there are four new characters this episode: Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood (Tyler’s parents), Liz Forbes (Caroline’s mom), and Logan Fell (Jenna’s ex). First, these actors were perfectly cast. From second one you get a real understanding what how they operate and what’s going on in their minds, even if you don’t know their plans or secrets. So first, the new characters connect to existing characters, which gives increased insight into people we already know. This foundation increases the importance of whatever they do on account of of their pre-existing, difficult-to-untangle, permanent relationships with the main cast. Also, these characters are all adults. I think it’s neat that most of the new characters the show introduces will be adults. It takes the show away from high school melodrama, and also is (comparatively) satisfying that centuries-old people would hang out with adults rather than an expanding pool of teens.
Second, we learn these characters’ occupations right away. Jenna is in graduate school, but we don’t know her field or her plans or anything, because she’s not a player in any active plot. The new adults (I’m going to call them ‘council members’ from now on) are well placed in the town hierarchy, and use their roles to forward their personal schemes. And the writers wisely let us know immediately, almost before anything else, what their occupations are. Logan is a star journalist (controlling public perception); and before we know anything else about him, we see him (in Stefan’s dream) on the TV, falsely chalking exsanguinated bodies up to ‘animal attacks.’ The first time we see Sheriff Forbes she’s in full police regalia, so we can guess her role (controls crime scenes; capable of force) before she utters a single word. The Lockwoods are a power couple. Admittedly it takes 30 seconds rather than first instant, but Vicki calls them “Mayor and Mrs. Lockwood” (controls political, legal and social direction the town will take). I’m going on too long but I just love that the chess pieces are laid out discreetly, and then when the surprise ending reveals that they’re part of a long-standing council, all of the pieces and possibilities are already in place.
Third, how about that revelation. This is another element I felt distinguished this show over most other genre shows/movies. Generally, the people in positions of power are clueless and kept in the dark beyond all reason or plausibility. In The Vampire Diaries, they’re so on the ball they know everything before we even know that they know. Granted, they don’t know the minutiae of things like daylight rings or what have you, but a sum of accurate knowledge is power and so this episode suggests the possibility of the council being a worthwhile opponent, or at least filled with interesting supporting characters. The ending also reveals that the council has a secret plan to take down the vampires and it is….the writers do the same thing here as they do with Damon. There’s no cheap editing to keep us in the dark, we just don’t know because they didn’t say it, because people don’t exposit to other people what everyone in the room already knows. So we know that the Gilbert watch is important to their plans, but we don’t know why. We know the Gilbert watch always goes to the first born son, which may not be just a vanity thing but (if the watch is a tool or weapon) keeps the power and responsibility over vampires in the hands of a founding family. We don’t know much else, but we know that we will, and that goes a long way. And we know, just four episodes in, that the show won’t just be Stefan and Damon confronting each other at the end of every single episode (like it has been so far), because that would get old fast.
One thing I love about this show is the shifting alliances. The enemy of my enemy is my friend…except when my enemy is also my brother friend, than things get complicated. The greater variety of elements in the show, the more ways characters struggle and bond and oppose based on furthering their own disparate agendas.
So poor Caroline. Oh my God poor Caroline. And Vicki. And Zach. After writing the roundup, I’ve even begun to feel for Tyler! I think another thing that makes Elena awesome is she insists that Stefan be honest with her. She doesn’t just request honesty; she makes it clear that dishonesty is a deal breaker. This shows strength and an admirable amount of self-worth, and that trait continues to this day.
Let me close on Bonnie. She never fits in the roundups, and I’m starting to guess why. She has interesting stuff going on, but her interesting stuff isn’t linked to the other characters, or to the forward narrative. But I wanted to write how much I like the start they’ve taken with her. A teenager who’s discovered that she has magic would be equal parts scared, wondrous, and curious about her limitations. All Bonnie’s done so far is light fire and accurately predict data she can’t make sense of; it’s worrying for her but I can see why she also would have a bit of fun with her new-found powers. And I like the early episodes where her magical apprenticeship takes place on screen.
My grade: A
The Bloody Details 