The Vampire Diaries Review: Never Let Me Go (Season 7 Episode 2)

This week’s The Vampire Diaries reminds us that this is a whole new show — a revamped show that isn’t afraid to take risks and break our hearts.

And yes, hearts are broken, and risks are taken.

The second episode, entitled “Never Let Me Go,” is a great follow up to the season premiere last week.

We jump right into the chaos: Caroline being kidnapped. I must say, that after six seasons of watching Stefan brood, and just be very neutral to all and everything around him, it gives my heart much joy to see him leaving flirty little messages on Care’s voicemail. He wasn’t even like this while he was with Elena in Season 1.

And once Stefan finds out that his mother kidnapped her, he asks for Damon’s help. Is there another word we can use for Lilly? Because she — in no sense, other than maybe DNA — is their mother. It hurts a lot, every single time that she picks her heretics over our Salvatore brothers. Imagine how Damon and Stefan feel! Their plan — which involves killing Matt (only for less than six minutes — No big deal!), and getting passed Enzo, of course fails.

But we do get to see an anxious Stefan reunite with his ladylove before Enzo comes in between and Caroline’s skin is imprinted/made of vervain!

Quick question: Does anyone actually like Enzo?

I remember him coming into the show, back in Season 5, thinking he’d be a great villain. He had an accent, and he had a vengeance for Damon, and that could have gone so far. But now, I feel like, he’s just sort of… there. He’s not part of our Scooby gang, and he’s not part of the heretics.

Apparently, he has a “thing” for Lilly — which… ew. That’s his friend’s mom! But I just feel like his character could have amounted to so much more then what it has. I don’t even feel like he’s betrayed Caroline, even after their budding friendship, because he’s never actually taken a hold over my emotions, or assimilated into the show’s tone, and pace very well. To me, he’s just Damon’s cell mate from the 60’s.

…Or is the 70s?

Anyway, speaking of Damon, Ian Somerhalder is really this week’s V.I.P. A big worry of min, is that Damon could spiral out of control without Elena this season, but he hasn’t! Sure, he’s a bit reckless, and annoyed and sassier, but he’s not chomping down on people, like before. That proves just how far he’s come from season one, and I love it. But this week’s scene-stealer is when he confronts Lilly about taking Elena.

Lilly retaliates by telling Damon about a time that he broke her vase when he was a baby. Yes, when human Damon, broke his mom’s vase. In the end, she took his toy soldiers away until he admitted it. And this, everyone, is where Damon’s heartbreak outweighs every horrible thing he’s ever done on this show.

Damon: Elena’s not a toy soldier.
Lilly: And Malcolm wasn’t a vase.

All teary eyed and voice wavering, I can’t help but realize why I fell in love with this show seven years ago; with this Damon, who is so fiercely protective of the ones he loves. And now of course, he’s going to retaliate. He won’t just let Lilly take Elena, and I’m pretty sure BonBon can out do a simple cloaking spell. I mean, c’mon. This is the girl who’s played with dark magic and brought down a prison world. Of course they’ll find Elena, but maybe not before some bloodshed. What I am curious to see, is, why Damon will end up deciding to take a sixty-year nap three years from now.

There’s also Caroline’s engagement, and she’s not engaged to Stefan! God, I hope the writers didn’t string us along for six years to have Steroline short lived, for four episodes, even if it is over the course of three years.

But, if it Care’s fiancé does have to be someone who guest stars for 1-2 episodes, can it please, please please be Klaus? I’m sure the writers can figure out the timelines… but can it just be Klaus, for a little while? Either way, I hope there is a reunion for Steroline, and I hope, so bad, that they make up, and we more of the episodes are set in the future. Because, Steroline forever, guys. Forever.

What did you guys think of “Never Let Me Go”? Drop a comment below!

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating: 

 

The Vampire Diaries airs Thursdays at 9/8c on The CW.