#s5 rewatch

the team flies giant RAINBOW balloons looking for a signal

...but no signal [from mike] yet

it's taking forever!

they need to trilaterate the THREE signals [will/el/mike]

once they let the balloons fly free...

like this maybe?

then they find the signal

“oh… 😔😔😔 ok…. 💔💔💔 just tell her i quit modelling-”

“YOU QUIT MODELLING?”

“marinette!!! you’re back!!!!”

theo is the first chimera. he was so young when the dread doctors kidnapped him. it was probably too easy for them to manipulate and deceive theo. if we can see him being easily manipulated by the dread doctors as a teenager, and by deucalion in 5b, can you imagine how easy it must have been when he was a child?

because even though theo has his own plans to get what he craves so much, which was power, he's still stuck with the dread doctors. and they made theo believe he would get a pack if theo did everything according to the dread doctors' plan. and the way he reacts when the dread doctors reject him, raising his voice and getting angry, gives the feeling that, behind this narcissistic persona that the dread doctors built on top of the younger version of theo, he still hasn't grown up since that time. he is still that same child from years ago. and regardless of whether or not theo calls or even believes in the dread doctors as his parents, the dread doctors are the parental figures he has. it's how an involuntary part of theo's mind sees them. because the dread doctors created him. they were the ones who gave theo false hope with chimera powers. they were the ones who taught theo his distorted view of the real world and turned him into a project, making theo believe he had some kind of importance because they kept him there when all other experiments turned out to be failures. so, naturally, theo would seek the attention and approval of the dread doctors. because, even though theo is not allowed to see and interact with the other dread doctors' experiments, when they say that an experiment is a failure, they don't just mean words. means they are useless. and if they are useless. they will die. and that was probably something theo knew. so he couldn't be a failure. and he forced himself to believe that he wasn't a failure.

and that makes perfect sense with his obsession with being a real werewolf, and why it hurts him so much that he is (in his words) a cheap knock-off, weaker, and a failure. because, deep down, i feel like theo feels like he's a failure because of this. which also ends up making sense of his obsession with power. because i feel that, in theo's mind, the more powerful he is, the farther from failure he becomes. i think just as he sees a real werewolf as perfection, he also sees power in that same way. and all this because of all the dread doctor upbringing. theo is this bitter and angry child because he sees himself as impotent. it's how he deals with it.

going back to that scene where theo explodes with the dread doctors, we see that theo is, yes, very angry. but we also see how scared and broken he is. as soon as he realizes that the dread doctors have stopped what they were doing to pay attention to his outburst, theo takes a fearful step back. and his eyes are watering even with all the anger he is feeling. which shows, again, how powerless he is in the face of the dread doctors. this also leads me to think, that if theo was scared by just the dread doctors' attention on him there, at that moment, how much physical abuse (because psychological abuse is already a fact about theo) he must not have suffered at their hands of the dread doctors for all these years (not counting the surgeries he underwent). because, at that moment, theo is already a teenager. and if he was acting this stubborn, explosive, childish way with the dread doctors as a teenager, imagine what it must have been like when he was actually a kid? and how much did it cost his mental health? the dread doctors aren't human. they're psychopaths who do illegal experiments on children. and in 5a, and when liam and hayden are kidnapped by the dread doctors, we see that they don't hesitate to use violence against anyone. so it's very likely that theo has had some bad experiences like that.

theo's obsession with control is a defense mechanism, because losing control (or making it visible to others that he has lost control) would lead to the feeling of helplessness he is so familiar with. and because, at the end of the day, he is alone. because theo was always alone. he had to survive that way. he was excluded because of the dread doctors. and that mindset would always put him ahead of anyone else, no matter what the circumstances. because theo doesn't know how to care about anyone other than his own survival. because that's what he's been doing his whole life. he knows nothing else. and he only comes to understand these things a little better after liam gets him out of hell.

also, i've seen several people with the headcanon that liam's biological father was abusive, and that because of that, he developed i.e.d. that makes sense. and what also makes sense is that this happened to theo. he took a lot of abuse from the dread doctors, and he has this angry behavior that we see more than once during the season (as well as liam) when things get out of hand for him. theo's response is anger and outburst. which is the same thing that happens with liam. so that's one more thing to add.

and, imagine, theo in his younger version, buried alive, forgetting who he is and everything, losing control, and getting violent (which is how we see the other chimeras react during 5a). everything this kid had to go through…fuck. he really is a survivor!

5x12

I really hate how they used Caroline having sex with Klaus to somehow make her come around to DE because now she knows what it's like to "want the bad guy" RME! Caroline sleeping with Klaus was about her taking an opportunity to get him to leave her alone and have an itch scratched. Damon is still her rapist.

Katherine’s face at the KC sex reveal LMFAO she’s dying inside.

Honestly Stefan punching Tyler has a lot more to do with him not liking Tyler and less to do with him thinking Tyler was in the wrong. Do I think Tyler deserved to get punched absolutely not, Caroline needed to leave him the hell alone! But I’m not Stefan and I like Tyler and think he’s allowed to be really fucking angry at Caroline for awhile.

What Katherine said to Damon as Elena is exactly what Elena SHOULD say to Damon but never does.

The switch from “I want Stefan Salvatore” “Well I’d hate to be the person standing in your way” to a shot of Caroline is absolutely intentional. This scene is also adorable and say what you want but Stefan is absolutely flirting here, especially when he's like "I have no idea what Klaus saw in you, what was he thinking!" because he knows EXACTLY what Klaus saw in her!

5x13

Caroline leave Bonnie alone! She does not need to be single-adjacent she has suffered enough.

“Come on Damon, you’re better than this” he’s really not though Stefan! He’s pretty consistently been awful this whole show.

LMFAO there was a definitely a lot of foreshadowing that Stefan was gonna kill Enzo.

Caroline looks so hot and gorgeous in that dress and the way her hair is clipped *faints* no wonder Stefan checks her out. There's also a few moments where the wind blows her hair and she just looks stunning. Bonnie looks smoking hot too, I love her bob and the lace on her dress is super sexy.

Katherine’s eye roll at the dramatics of Damon kidnapping Jeremy and needing to show her concern for Jeremy... honestly same, this is a stupid ass plot. I do appreciate that Katherine knew to be worried about Caroline if she has feelings for Stefan. Like Damon is a moron so dispatching him was easy but Caroline, she’s gotta know what she’s up against.

EL OH EL the framing is so funny though how Caroline keeps popping up every-time Kathlena gets a moment with Stefan. And he looks guilty AF when she opens the door. Caroline also looks so good standing in the doorway with her little turn.

5x14

Caroline you know damn well the good news is that we might get to kill Damon, not the bad news.

Ugh Stefan is totally jealous of Tyler this show is so stupid you had the perfect love triangle set-up and you BLEW IT! FOR ENZO! I mean Stefan really? Acting like Tyler was gonna kill Caroline, please he knows that wasn’t going to happen. He just doesn’t want Caroline to go back to him because he’s totally crushing on her and refuses to see it!! He’s the same as Caroline because his bad news was actually good news for him.

Uh we don’t all love Matt Donovan Katherine, okay. Some of us have wished for his death every season. Words matter.

I appreciate Stefan pointing out Elena has never cared about Damon doing horrible shit before, and that’s like his first clue something is off.

Katherine asking who Stefan loves more Damon or Elena, girl don’t play that stupid game! You are only gonna win stupid prizes! Katherine should also know better than this, she knew Damon was the key to saving Stefan in 3x09 because she knew he wouldn’t let Damon die even with his humanity off. It feels like the show is doing that thing again where they make characters dumber than previously shown for the plot. Maybe you could say Katherine was off her game because she became impatient, but like she didn't survive for 500 years being impatient! DUH Stefan would do the most Stefan thing ever and put himself in danger instead of killing Damon, I mean what show have you been watching Katherine?

I love how domestic Steroline got in these last few episodes, Caroline made herself right at home at the Boarding house AS SHE SHOULD!

5x15

I love Liv lol.

You know I love LOVE Caroline but girl leave that man alone! Tyler needs space. While I agree about Caro monologue that people always expect good from her and she has flaws Tyler doesn’t need to forgive her and he really hasn’t been harping on her that much. Damon was right Caro took the nuclear option to end her relationship with Tyler. Even if I understand why she had sex with Klaus she still knew what it would do to Tyler.

I guess in retrospect Katherine was right, she made sure if she couldn’t have Stefan no one could.

I feel like the writers did a lot more damage to how they see Elena's character after the sire bond storyline than they realize. I don't mean that it ruined her character, I mean it ruined how they feel about her and how the inevitably treat her. This was a really fucked up thing to do to Elena, I mean she had complete autonomy of her body taken away for 3 (almost 4) episodes! That would have never happened in S1-3 because of how the writers felt about her, she was the special snowflake of human frailty MUST PROTECT. You can also tell by her styling, it's been off and on all season (especially the hair) as opposed to when she always looked stunning in S1-3.

5x16

CRYING at Elena’s “memories” and it's just her having fun in a bar dancing Iike a normal college girl and she’s like OMG the horror! What a loser!

“I wouldn’t lead you on like that” girl I- did you not watch yourself with Am!Stefan? That was 4 months ago!

Ah good Caroline is back to talking shit about Damon to Stefan, balance is restored.

Stefan just casually joking about having brain damage as his way of flirting, he’s so weird I love him.

THIS SCENE! When I watched this episode live I was ready to give up because I was so over the triangle of doom and straight-up not having a good time and then Steroline got these scenes in this episode and I was like OMG this is really gonna happen!?! When Stefan said "Me, and I would do it for you, too" he just confirmed that Caroline was up there with Elena and Damon for him aka people that he LOVES and Caro's face was my face like *tingle*. Then Caroline confirms the same when she says "You'd do the same for me right" and HIS FACE!!! He really didn't know she was so ride or die for him, and then his total jealousy over Enzo, I cry.

Damon and Elena are THE WORST my god. This is the stupidest dialogue I have ever heard on this show and that's only because it's second to their monologue in 4x23!

5x17

TOM AVERY TOO PRECIOUS FOR THIS WORLD

I’m sure Damon’s dialogue is supposed to be sexy but all I feel is rape-y.

God I absolutely LOVE the scene where Caroline can’t kill Tom and snaps Enzo’s neck instead! The way she reacts to Stefan is always more intense than any of her other love interests, sorry not sorry. She looked into those green eyes and remembered Stefan said he was a good person and the emotion from that meant she couldn’t do it.

Liv asking to be killed rather than listen to Damon and Elena, bestie I CAN RELATE!

Why are we doing with the Jeremy might be cheating on Bonnie subplot with Liv? Just so unnecessary MY GOD LEAVE BONNIE ALONE ALREADY!

The van scene is so <3333 I think it’s very obvious they both have feelings for each other in this scene. The way Stefan keeps looking at Caroline’s lips and the sultry voice he’s using *flails* and Caroline feels it too. I think this is the moment she realizes she’s falling for him. For Stefan I feel it started last season and it got even more confusing after his amnesia stint and this is probably the point where he starts pushing his feelings away because it's scaring him. He does not think Caroline has feelings for him with the way he talks about Enzo and her so for him it’s better to push it away than possibly ruin their friendship. Even if he’s such a dummy because OBVIOUSLY STEFAN she’s got a thing for you. I love them so much man, they just make me feel things!

Welp Bonnie hasn’t been tortured in like 3 episodes so of course we had to make up for that -_-

5x18

Oh man they even put Elena in her old S1/2 wardrobe and her straight hair is back! Totally gassing it up in these visions huh?

It’s amazing how interesting the traveler plot sounds with taking over MF like invasion of the body snatchers as opposed to how unbelievably boring it actually is.

I don’t think I’ve mentioned this before but I really don’t like Kol and I don’t know why I have to keep dealing with him.

Liv with her little sexy knife play, mark me down as scared and horny.

As someone who has watched the Steroline 8x02 proposal let’s just say A LOT, the Stelena vision proposal in 5x18 IS NOTHING LIKE IT YOU WEIRDOS. I mean the ring was in a drawer, that's literally it.

I did not remember that Vicki got sucked into Cade’s hell and IDK that’s a bit harsh show, Vicki did not deserve hell.

Turns out hell is every Delena scene this season.

The Stelena scene by the fire is an example of how the show uses nuance in scenes to keep ships alive depending on how you read into it. For me it feels like closure, they talk about how they grew apart and ending the spell kind of signifies that draw they felt has ended. However, you could say it shows they'll always love each other and now with the spell gone if they found their way back to each other it would be completely natural. YMMV.

I always thought "I think you can either be friends with someone or in love with them. I don't think you can be both" was such a (!!!) quote from Stefan since it shows you how he compartmentalizes people because he's a control freak. He puts the women he loves into these two categories from everything we've seen so far. Caroline and Lexi fit into the "friend" box, Elena and Katherine fit into the "in love" box and the two boxes do not mix. He moves Elena into the friend box now since he's not in love with her anymore, but the problem is Caroline. Unlike Lexi Stefan does feel more than friendship for her (he says it in 6x16 argue with the wall) but he can't mix the boxes! He doesn't think you can mix the boxes! He doesn't think you can have both. This line is a Chekhov's gun IMO he says it because we're either gonna learn it's true or it's not.

5x19

I was about to say how much of a loser is Stefan that he keeps helping Elena study but obviously he would not miss a chance to be pretentious so I get it.

Poor Tyler this is the beginning of his tragic downfall of the writers not GAF about him anymore.

Enzo on the other hand is A LOSER!

This episode might be rock bottom for me in terms of being boring and stupid. I would almost rather go back to a stupid DE monologue, ALMOST.

5x20

Oh it’s the Steroline first kiss cabin!

Hehe Damon called Bill Forbes a dickwad, sometimes I like you Damon I admit.

Caroline knowing right away that Stefan and Elena were being lying liars who lie, my BB has come so far in her ability to read people. And her idea to expose them is through charades because she’s always gotta have a theme!

I have no idea what’s going on with Jeremy, Tyler, Matt and Bonnie besides the fact that Bonnie deserves better. Always and forever.

“I didn’t want you to think any less of me” TINGLE!! When I saw this scene live I was like okay I give in I WANT ALL THE STEROLINE! Knowing full well it could still get used as a prop for SE but like I couldn’t help myself! He brushed the dirt off her cheek! He did the thing he always did with Elena where he only wanted her to see the good parts because that’s what this fool does when he’s in love! Truth be told I do not think Stefan is in love with Caroline here, I think he loves her as a friend but his feelings for her have become something more than friendship. Caroline however knows she’s falling in love you can see it on her face when he walks away.

The writing for Elena is very passive these past few episodes and it feels weird. Like she’s just there, she doesn’t move the plot or really do much but exist in the scenes they put her in. It’s such a stark difference to when she moved everything and everyone revolved around her. Oh well!

5x21

Omg Enzo if you didn’t want to be dead then why did you let Stefan yank your heart out. HE’S SO ANNOYING!

Stefan was so proud of that “if Caroline Forbes were here right now we’d both be laughing” joke. What a dork!

The anti magic spell was a good twist, and I like that it took awhile to get rid of.

Even Luke feels a tingle for the Stefussy!

Damon’s note LMFAO

Poor Caroline she had to see dead Stefan way too often. I totally forgot she didn’t snap Julian’s neck because she was afraid of getting bite again, poor BB had PTSD about that (thanks a lot Klaus *side-eye*)

5x22

LEXI!

CAROLINE MAKING MOVES! I told you nothing gets a reaction out of her like Stefan.

Ugh I hate this scene! Poor Tyler that was cruel and I hate that they de-powered him! I think de-powering for male characters on this show is basically a death sentence because the ‘verse works on hard power for men and once you lose that your days are numbered (unless you’re Matt Donovan).

No Lexi he doesn’t, because he’s a moron.

Bonnie that was obviously not Stefan lol but she’s going through a lot I will let it slide. Why does Silas want to be resurrected now! Everyone was so ready to die until they actually did huh!

“This is my choice and I need you to respect it” ASDSFFDHGFJKHG I am always here for making fun of that!

Bygones! Great Bonnie scene!

The last few Delena scenes have not made me think I’d rather be chewing glass so kudos.

BAMON 1994 ERA AND STEROLINE RENAISSANCE AWAITS!

Lines that made me laugh:

Damon: It's the obnoxious theme song of the travelers. (the chanting was ridiculous!)

Damon: Liv has a twin? Is it possible for there to be just one of someone around here? (he's not wrong!)