The Vampire Diaries Diary: a rewatch blog

all moments in this round are from season one. winners are in boldwith a *. all polls are a week long. click here to see all polls in the project, click here to see polls with community discussion, and make sure to vote and reblog!

Round 1.1

A. *1.11 carside "five minutes" vs 1.22 "you decided I was worth saving" speech

B. *1.18 rose vs 1.02 first meeting

C. 1.22 curtsy vs *1.11 life-saving

D. *1.03 "nothing human left in Damon" vs 1.12 "would you like to dance?"

E. *1.22 "that eye thing you do" vs 1.08 "does it get tiring being so righteous?"

F. 1.21 phone check-in vs *1.11 bridal carry

G. *1.03 "you lost her, too" vs 1.21 "because he's in love with you"

H. *1.20 cohabitation vs 1.21 "you don't have to see her if you don't want to"

I. *1.14 tomb vs 1.11 "you're not the worst company in the world, Elena"

J. 1.13 "you and I will have a vampire girlfriend" vs *1.13 "shhh...he's an ass"

K. *1.19 Miss Mystic Falls Pageant v 1.07 porch compulsion

L. *1.14 "an understanding" vs 1.17 umbrella

M. 1.18 "I will not go to your bedroom with you" vs *1.11 beers in Atlanta

N. 1.13 "that move was deliberate" vs *1.15 "she left you, she sucks"

O. *1.19 "I'm gonna stay here" vs 1.12 "I'll be with the two of you, I'll be safe"

P. 1.03 "I'm not Katherine" slap v *1.07 "it matters and you know it" slap

Round 1.2

Q. *1.11 carside "five minutes" vs 1.18 rose

R. 1.11 life-saving vs *1.03 "nothing human left in Damon"

S. 1.22 "that eye thing you do" vs *1.11 bridal carry

T. *1.03 "you lost her too" vs 1.20 cohabitation

U. *1.14 tomb vs 1.13 “shhh…he’s an ass”

V. *1.19 Miss Mystic Falls pageant vs 1.14 “an understanding”

W. *1.11 beers in Atlanta vs 1.15 “she left you she sucks”

X. 1.19 “I’m gonna stay here” vs *1.07 “it matters and you know it” slap

Y. *1.22 "you decided I was worth saving" speech vs 1.02 first meeting

Z. *1.22 curtsy vs 1.12 "would you like to dance?"

AA. 1.08 "does it get tiring being so righteous" vs *1.21 phone check-in

BB. *1.21 "because he's in love with you" vs 1.21 "you don't have to see her if you don't want to"

CC. *1.11 “you’re not the worst company in the world, Elena” vs 1.13 “you and I will have a vampire girlfriend”

DD. 1.07 porch compulsion vs *1.17 umbrella

EE. *1.18 “I will not to go your bedroom with you” vs 1.13 “that move was deliberate”

FF. *1.12 “I’ll be with the two of you, I’ll be safe” vs 1.02 “I am not Katherine” slap

Round 1.3

KK.* 1.22 “you decided I was worth saving” speech vs 1.13 "shh...he's an ass"

LL. 1.22 curtsy vs *1.14 "an understanding"

MM. 1.21 phone check-in vs *1.15 "she left you, she sucks"

NN. 1.21 “because he’s in love with you” vs *1.19 "I'm gonna stay here"

OO.* 1.11 “you’re not the worst company in the world, Elena” vs 1.18 rose

PP. 1.17 umbrella vs 1.11 life-saving TIE

QQ. *1.18 “i will not go to your bedroom with you” vs 1.22 "that eye thing you do"

RR. 1.12 “I’ll be with the two of you I’ll be safe” vs *1.20 cohabitation

Round 1.4

SS. 1.22 “you decided I was worth saving” speech vs *1.14 “an understanding”

TT. 1.15 “she left you, she sucks” vs *1.19 “I’m gonna stay here”

UU. *1.11 “you’re not the worst company in the world, Elena” vs 1.17 umbrella vs 1.11 life-saving

VV. 1.18 “I will not go to your bedroom with you” vs *1.20 cohabitation

GG. *1.11 car-side "five minutes" vs 1.03 "nothing human left in Damon"

HH. 1.11 bridal carry vs *1.03 "you lost her, too"

II. 1.14 tomb versus *1.19 Miss Mystic Falls pageant

JJ. 1.11 beers in Atlanta vs *1.07 "it matters and you know it" slap

Round 1.5

WW. 1.14 "an understanding" vs 1.03 nothing human in Damon

XX. 1.19 "I'm gonna stay here" vs 1.11 bridal carry

YY. 1.11 "you're not the worst company in the world, Elena" vs 1.14 tomb

ZZ. 1.20 cohabitation vs 1.11 beers in Atlanta

Round 1.6

AAA. *1.14 "an understanding" vs 1.19 "I'm gonna stay here"

BBB. 1.14 tomb vs *1.11 beers in Atlanta

CCC. 1.11 car-side five minutes vs *1.03 "you lost her too"

DDD. *1.19 Miss Mystic Falls Pageant vs 1.07 "it matters and you know it" slap

Round 1.7

EEE. *1.14 "an understanding" vs 1.11 car-side five minutes

FFF. 1.11 beers in Atlanta vs *1.07 "it matters and you know it" slap

Round 1.8

GGG. *1.14 “an understanding” vs 1.07 “it matters and you know it” slap

HHH. 1.03 "you lost her, too" vs *1.19 Miss Mystic Falls pageant

Round 1.9

III. *1.14 "an understanding" vs 1.03 "you lost her, too"

Championship:

FIRST PLACE

1.19 Miss Mystic Falls pageant

SECOND PLACE

1.14 “an understanding”

THIRD PLACE 1.03 "you lost her, too"

FOURTH PLACE 1.07 "it matters and you know it" slap

FIFTH PLACE 1.11 car-side five minutes 1.11 beers in Atlanta

SIXTH PLACE 1.14 tomb 1.19 I’m gonna stay here SEVENTH PLACE 1.03 nothing human in Damon 1.11 bridal carry 1.11 “you’re not the worst company in the world, Elena” 1.20 cohabitation

EIGHTH PLACE 1.11 life-saving 1.15 she left you she sucks 1.17 umbrella 1.18 I will not go to your bedroom with you 1.22 you decided i was worth saving speech

NINTH PLACE 1.12 "I'll be with the two of you, I'll be safe" 1.13 "shh...he's an ass" 1.18 rose 1.21 phone check-in 1.21 "because he's in love with you" 1.22 curtsy 1.22 "that eye thing you do"

1.19 Damon just told Elena about Stefan’s blood binging, and now Stefan is MIA. Elena’s name is called, and she descends the stairs in her beautiful gown, nobody waiting at the bottom for her. Damon, standing in the crowd, looks around, realizes what is happening, elbows his way to the front, and smoothly steps up to wait for her. Her face softens in gratitude, he gazes up at her. She takes his hand and whispers, “Where’s Stefan?” “I don’t know,” Damon whispers back. And then, together, they step into the light. Jenna watches them walk by and asks, “What is she doing with Damon?” Alaric answers, “I have no idea.” “What are we gonna do?” Elena asks.  Damon answers, “Right now we just have to get through this.” And then they dance. Damon starts to smile at Elena, and then after a moment, she starts to smile back. She’s not panicked anymore. The soundtrack provides telling commentary: “Can you still see the heart of me? / All my agony fades away / When you hold me in your embrace / Don’t tear me down for all I need /Make my heart a better place / Give me something I can believe”

1.14 Elena goes alone to the Salvatore boardinghouse to try to get Damon to trust them again. “I’m gonna have to change the locks,” he says when he sees her. She tells him she’s not going to apologize for getting the grimoire without him, because she was trying to protect the people she loves - “But so are you, in your own, twisted way, and as hard as it is to figure, we’re all on the same side because we all want the same thing.” “Not interested,” Damon says. “Yes you are, because you were willing to work with us yesterday!” Outrage and hurt fly across Damon’s face before he settles into wry self-deprecation: “Fool me once…shame on you.” Elena switches tactics abruptly: “Okay, when we were in Atlanta, why didn’t you use your compulsion on me?” He shoots back, “Who’s to say I didn’t?” Elena is taken off guard, and says, “You didn’t.” He raises his eyebrows. “I know you didn’t,” she repeats more firmly.  “But you could have. You and I…we have something. An understanding. And I know my betrayal hurt you, different from how it is with Stefan, but I’m promising you this now, I will help you get Katherine back.”  He appears to struggle with this before saying, “I wish I could believe you.”  She takes her necklace off, holds it up.  “Ask me if I’m lying now.”  She puts the necklace on the ground and faces him. Damon picks up the necklace and fastens it back around Elena’s neck, while she looks up into his eyes. “I didn’t compel you in Atlanta because we were having fun,” he tells her softly. “I wanted it to be real…I’m trusting you.” Then his voice hardens: “Don’t make me regret it.”

the 1.03 scene in the kitchen when Elena tells Damon “I’m sorry. About Katherine. You lost her, too”, the 1.07 slap when Damon tries to tell Elena that he doesn’t care, and she insists that his actions matter and he knows it, the 1.14 scene when Elena finally gives words to what’s between them and takes off her necklace to prove that she trusts him, only for him to give the necklace back to her and admit that he wants what’s between them to be real, and the 1.19 scene when Damon steps in at the rescue at the bottom of the staircase and then dances with Elena, exactly what she needs from him when she needs it.

1.14 vs 1.07 is in the losers bracket, once one is out it’s out forever. 1.03 vs 1.19 is in the winners bracket; the loser will get one more shot.

1.03 Damon invited himself and Caroline to Stefan and Elena's dinner with Bonnie, and now Damon is helping Elena with the dishes. She drops a wine glass; he catches it, and she laughs and tells him "Nice save." "I like you," he says, "you know how to laugh." She smiles at him. Damon brings up Katherine again, says she died in a fire, and Elena asks what she was like. "Beautiful, a lot like you in that department. Complicated, selfish, at times not very kind, but very sexy and seductive." Elena says, “Sooo which one of you dated her first?” Damon answers, "Mine and Stefan’s answers would probably differ on that point." And then he changes the subject: "You should quit cheerleading." He says he saw her and she looked miserable. “Things are different this year," she admits, "everything that used to matter…doesn’t anymore.” "So don't let it," he says. "Quit, move on, problem solved." Elena says a little wistfully, “Some things could matter again.” “Maybe,” he says, “seems a little unrealistic to me.” She looks at him, and says, seriously, "I'm sorry." He looks at her quizzically, and she clarifies: "About Katherine. You lost her, too." Damon's face softens and transforms in wonder. For the first time, someone is seeing him for who he is.

1.14 Elena goes alone to the Salvatore boardinghouse to try to get Damon to trust them again. “I’m gonna have to change the locks,” he says when he sees her. She tells him she’s not going to apologize for getting the grimoire without him, because she was trying to protect the people she loves - “But so are you, in your own, twisted way, and as hard as it is to figure, we’re all on the same side because we all want the same thing.” “Not interested,” Damon says. “Yes you are, because you were willing to work with us yesterday!” Outrage and hurt fly across Damon’s face before he settles into wry self-deprecation: “Fool me once…shame on you.” Elena switches tactics abruptly: “Okay, when we were in Atlanta, why didn’t you use your compulsion on me?” He shoots back, “Who’s to say I didn’t?” Elena is taken off guard, and says, “You didn’t.” He raises his eyebrows. “I know you didn’t,” she repeats more firmly.  “But you could have. You and I…we have something. An understanding. And I know my betrayal hurt you, different from how it is with Stefan, but I’m promising you this now, I will help you get Katherine back.”  He appears to struggle with this before saying, “I wish I could believe you.”  She takes her necklace off, holds it up.  “Ask me if I’m lying now.”  She puts the necklace on the ground and faces him. Damon picks up the necklace and fastens it back around Elena’s neck, while she looks up into his eyes. “I didn’t compel you in Atlanta because we were having fun,” he tells her softly. “I wanted it to be real…I’m trusting you.” Then his voice hardens: “Don’t make me regret it.”

1.11 Damon brings Elena to Bree’s Bar, despite the fact that she's not old enough. Bree pours them all shots; Elena seems unsure about hers and so Damon sneakily drinks it for her, which makes Elena smile.  Bree asks Elena how she got roped in to Damon's heart-breaking ways; she says she’s not roped, but doesn’t get through explaining that she’s dating Stefan. Bree tells Damon that there's no way to get in the tomb to save Katherine, and then he eavesdrops on Elena telling Stefan over the phone she doesn't see why she should believe him.  Damon speeds to her side and asks, “You okay?” She snaps, “Don’t pretend to care. I know you’re gloating inside.”But a minute later they’re inside together, eating french fries at the bar and discussing her heritage and his digestion. Elena is enjoying his charm and his humor, and then asks, “This nice act…is any of it real?” He just looks at her, and doesn’t answer. Bree hands him another beer, Elena pipes up, “I’ll have one too. Time-out, remember? For five minutes. And this five minutes is gonna need a beer.” They do some shots with bar denizens. “Do you need a bib?” Elena teases Damon. “Sorry I can’t unhinge my jaw like a snake to consume alcohol,” he answers. Elena suggests another round, a woman tells her she should be on the ground. "I'm not even drunk, my tolerance is like waaay up here!" She jumps up and down, Damon stares at her, smiling with equal parts bemusement and affection.

1.14 Elena goes alone to the Salvatore boardinghouse to try to get Damon to trust them again. “I’m gonna have to change the locks,” he says when he sees her. She tells him she’s not going to apologize for getting the grimoire without him, because she was trying to protect the people she loves - “But so are you, in your own, twisted way, and as hard as it is to figure, we’re all on the same side because we all want the same thing.” “Not interested,” Damon says. “Yes you are, because you were willing to work with us yesterday!” Outrage and hurt fly across Damon’s face before he settles into wry self-deprecation: “Fool me once…shame on you.” Elena switches tactics abruptly: “Okay, when we were in Atlanta, why didn’t you use your compulsion on me?” He shoots back, “Who’s to say I didn’t?” Elena is taken off guard, and says, “You didn’t.” He raises his eyebrows. “I know you didn’t,” she repeats more firmly.  “But you could have. You and I…we have something. An understanding. And I know my betrayal hurt you, different from how it is with Stefan, but I’m promising you this now, I will help you get Katherine back.”  He appears to struggle with this before saying, “I wish I could believe you.”  She takes her necklace off, holds it up.  “Ask me if I’m lying now.”  She puts the necklace on the ground and faces him. Damon picks up the necklace and fastens it back around Elena’s neck, while she looks up into his eyes. “I didn’t compel you in Atlanta because we were having fun,” he tells her softly. “I wanted it to be real…I’m trusting you.” Then his voice hardens: “Don’t make me regret it.”