The Vampire Diaries Review: Things We Lost In the Fire (Season 7 Episode 11)

If we thought last week’s episode, “Hell is Other People”, was bad, it was solely because we hadn’t seen this week’s episode of The Vampire Diaries, entitled “Things We Lost in the Fire.”

Because Stefan was right. Post-hell is way worst than actual hell. Which, I think is a shout out to the title of the episode. “The fire” being hell. Things both Salvatore brothers lost in hell.

In this episode, we get to see just how the phoenix stone affects its occupants after they get out, if ever. Ultimately, it leads to the person going insane that some gasoline and a lighter are involved.

I really do not think Damon ended up burning Elena’s body (because Damon yells at Stefan that he didn’t want to be woken up until Elena woke up in the first episode of the season), but he thinks he did — which really, is a great way to torture him. Speaking of torturing, we also get to see what happened to Stefan in the underworld.

He kept drowning.

And the only way to save himself was to let Damon go. It’s interesting that that’s the conclusion Stefan would jump to; maybe it proves that some of his guiltiest thoughts are along the same lines, because yes, this show has had Stefan state (as well as other characters) that Damon just holds Stefan back.

Damon taints him.

And now, Stefan thinks that the stone is trying to tell him that he needs to get rid of Damon, and probably every other person in the world he cares about in order to save himself.

Now I know this stone is really powerful, but could it be that it has an end game? To just have Stefan push everyone away, so he that he turns into a ripper and hates himself in the end? How far ahead can this stone think or plan? Because that would really be rock bottom for Stefan.

For some reason, the stone is hell bent to believe that Stefan and Damon are essentially the characters that we met in season 1. Stefan is the vampire with the soul “trying to relate to every episode of how I met your mother” and Damon “is a monster.” It’s an interesting sort of “reset” button, and one that we know isn’t, can’t be true. The show has proven over and over again these brothers care deeply for each other. They have opposite personalities, but they are the ying and yangs to each other.

Team Salvatore for life.

Either way, many things fall into place this episode. We get to see Caroline start to really care about Alaric’s babies, which will lead them to a life in Dallas, as well as maybe even spark a romantic storyline between the two since Stefan is all about being alone. I thought I saw a possible ship sailing between Norah and Bonnie, which could be why Bonnie is AA meetings after talking about a person she lost. It could be interesting; it could be fun.

Tyler… he just sort of pops up doesn’t he? He states that one of the best decisions he’s made is leaving Mystic Falls, and he has a point. He and Alaric seem to only be the ones with their head on straight. This isn’t the same town we saw seven years ago. Mystic Falls is a hell hole now. It’s run by vampires who are reckless and horrible, and right now, it doesn’t look like it will change any time soon. For a while now, this show has emphasized just how much the town means to our core group. It seems like seeing Mystic Falls burn is a parallel to watching the group fall apart as well.

We know that Tyler is alive in the future, though I still have zero idea why he’s around. Tyler is a mystery, but I don’t think he’s crossed over to the dark side- aka The Huntress’ side.

That’s Matt forte now.

And yes, Matt’s been pretty Anti vampire for a while now. It’s literally why he and Care broke up, and why he couldn’t be with Rebekah. But three years from now, he’s actively trying to kill Stefan, and that seems like a big jump. I’m wondering if the girl he was arrested by is the huntress, of the girlfriend he loses, because all their scenes together would be absolutely pointless otherwise.

The Vampire Diaries has taken on some interesting storyline. I like seeing people together who wouldn’t usually be together. I like the mix up of good and bad characters. And I think it’ll be interesting to see what exactly the phoenix stone wants from Stefan and Damon, because they obviously haven’t finished their tests yet.

Things to think about:

• Small PSA: Don’t drink and drive and text, kids. Even cops don’t get away with it.
• What was the point of the tinder scene? Was it to show Bonnie and Matt are both single? Why are they even on Tinder? Who else could they be matched with other than Julien’s vamps?
• I am okay with Nora joining the group.
• Lol at Julien’s popped collar and fire barrels. I don’t think I’ll ever be okay with him.

What did you think of “Things we lost in the fire”? Tell us in the comments below!

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The Vampire Diaries airs Fridays at 8/7c on The CW.