The Vampire Diaries Review: You Made a Choice to Be Good (Season 8 Episode 11)

 

No! NO! NOOO! NOOOO!!!! I am not okay, you guys!

Watching The Vampire Diaries Season 8 Episode 11, titled “You Made a Choice to Be Good,” makes me want to punch a wall and cry in a corner. I can’t decide which I want to do more right now.

Of course this range of emotion is due to the incredibly depressing murder of Enzo, and my hopes for Bonnie getting everything she wanted are destroyed in an instant.

When Enzo first appeared on the show, I was lukewarm about his character. He had moments where we saw a sliver of a compelling character (his love for Lillian Salvatore not withstanding).

However, we got to see his character flourish as his relationship with Bonnie deepened. Their romance came out of nowhere and surprised everyone with how well matched they were.

With so much focus on the love lives of every other character, Bonnie never really got much of a chance for finding true love. Her relationship with Jeremy was sweet, but never saw much emotional growth.

Bonnie has put her life on the line time and time again for her friends. I was foolish to think the writers would finally let her live happily ever after.

Bonnie and Enzo’s road trip completing items off his bucket list should be warning number 1. The two of them declaring they will grow old together should be warning number 2. Enzo not getting to take the cure should be warning number 3.

But alas, I suppress my growing worries until that fateful moment Stefan rips out Enzo’s heart as Bonnie watches in horror. This has got to be one of the saddest deaths in the history of the show.

After reaching Bonnie’s secret house where she has moved Elena’s body, Bonnie gets the news from Damon that they need the cure to use against Cade. There’s no certainty the cure will turn the Devil mortal, but it’s the only shot they have.

Enzo vows to stay by Bonnie’s side as she grows old. Why does he have to say such perfect things?

Enzo: Bonnie, I’ll still be in love with you even if I stay a vampire. We can still have our future. We can live right here in this house. We can cook dinner every night in the kitchen, dance by the fire…

Bonnie: I’ll play the guitar…

Enzo: And I’ll watch you grow old and gray, and you’ll be as beautiful then as you are now. I don’t need the cure to be happy. I only need you.

In her moment of pure anguish, Bonnie’s powers are restored. I can’t help but roll my eyes and feel annoyed by this development. Enzo’s death ultimately acts as a catalyst for Bonnie to access her powers again, and I hate that.

Can’t Bonnie have her powers and be happy at the same time? Why does it always have to be one or the other?

I’m sure her restored powers will come in handy for defeating Cade, but I can’t think about that right now. The image of Stefan holding Enzo’s heart is all I can see right now.

I think it’s safe to say the redemption ship for Stefan has sailed for good. How does he come back from this?

I’m sure one will make the argument that Damon was still redeemable after killing Tyler, so we should forgive Stefan for killing Enzo while in Ripper mode. There’s always that possibility, but this particular character death is so emotionally brutal in a way that Tyler’s wasn’t.

After being released from the Salvatore basement by Cade, Stefan goes on a mission to kill Elena for good. He tracks down the realtor that Bonnie used to get the house so she can sign over the ownership to him. That’s when he shows up and kills Enzo without a thought.

Just before Stefan is about to kill Bonnie, she stabs him with the syringe filled with Elena’s blood, which also holds the cure. Bonnie forces the cure into Stefan, and he is now human!

I did not see this coming at all. Stefan becoming mortal again never crossed my mind, despite knowing the cure was still in play.

Honestly, I don’t see how Stefan will be able to forgive himself or live with himself after this. A whole lot of guilt is about to come rushing in.

Damon, for the most part, has returned to normal. He’s determined to save his brother, defeat Cade, and be able to reunite one day with Elena.

Whatever made Damon think he could kill the Devil is beyond me. Cade is all about violence and fire. A little burning and heart removal isn’t going to take him down so easily.

He gives Damon the option to kill 100 people or kill Caroline. Damon decides to go with neither, but Cade’s villainy is taken to the next level when he reveals he gave the same option to Stefan, except instead of Caroline, it’s Elena.

Stefan doesn’t even hesitate in choosing Elena. His explanation over the phone to Damon about Elena’s place in their relationship is rough. In Ripper mode, Stefan believes Elena is just some average girl who got in the way of their relationship as brothers.

Not only does Stefan not care that Damon will never forgive him if he kills Elena, but he welcomes it. He wants to be rid of Damon for good. No more trying to save each other.

If Stefan kills his brother’s love, he’ll be past the point of no return. Luckily for Elena, but unfortunately for Enzo, Stefan doesn’t get the chance to see how that scenario will play out.

Enzo is dead, Stefan is now human, Damon thinks his brother is going to kill Elena, Cade is still invincible, and Bonnie’s powers have been returned, and I am exhausted.

Leftover Thoughts

• Caroline makes a excellent point to Matt about Mystic Falls. The danger was always there, but the adults just kept everything a secret.
• Matt’s superiority has and always will be annoying. If he hates the supernatural so much, he should just leave and never speak to his friends again.
• With Alaric still missing in action, Dorian uses his knowledge to try to crack a code. No such luck yet on the message, but I’m sure it will play a role in taking down Cade.

Are you crushed by Enzo’s death? Should Stefan be forgiven for killing him? What did you think of this episode of The Vampire Diaries? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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

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