8.3/10
“Another great installment that continues to build on the series’ expanding mythology while deepening our emotional investment with the characters."
Wow. The Vampire Diaries is shaping up to be quite the series. Who would’ve thought that a series based on such an unoriginal concept could’ve become this engaging? The series started out rough with some uneven episodes but ever since “Haunted”, the series has had consistently strong episodes and this latest instalment certainly doesn’t break that pattern.
“Unpleasantville” picks up almost immediately after the previous episode with Elena, having returned from Atlanta, being stalked by the new vampire in town. As Damon and Stefan race to uncover the identity of her stalker, Elena and her friends prepare for their school’s 1950s-themed dance.
The Good:
There were so many things to like about this episode that it’s actually difficult to choose what to praise first. I really enjoyed the introduction of several new vampires into the series’ mythology and Mystic Falls. With Damon recently getting a more sympathetic portrayal, the series is in desperate need of a villain and hopefully these new vampires can provide this. It’s also refreshing that these vampires aren’t just interested in Elena but are also using Bonnie and Jeremy to achieve their goals.
The episode also featured several suspenseful moments with two being particularly noteworthy: (1) Noah’s attack on Elena at her house and (2) Elena’s later confrontation with Noah at the school. Both scenes were nicely shot and effectively racked up enough tension to keep us engaged despite their predictable outcomes.
Particularly impressive was the director’s use of long wide shots during the confrontation scene in the cafeteria. The wide shots – typically a device used to take us away from the action and place us in a spectator-type position – is here used to demonstrate and emphasize just how alone Elena is. Just as we (the viewers) are distanced from the action, Elena is distanced from her support group. She might have her friends, family, and the Salvatore brothers to support her, but sometimes Elena’s going to have to fight her battles alone.
It’s a nice moment for the character as Elena acknowledges this and instead of playing damsel-in-distress, fights back. What’s nice is that Elena is proud of her actions when she discusses the events with Stefan later in the episode. Elena’s always been a very proactive heroine and that’s why I like her more than Twilight’s Bella, so it’s nice to see her stepping up even further to the plate and fighting back. It was also nice that Elena wasn’t able to kill Noah on her own – after all, she’s not super-powered like Buffy or Sookie – so for her to have been able to kill him so easily would’ve felt like a bit of a cheat and would’ve been inconsistent with the information the series earlier established about a vampire’s strength. The writers should really be applauded for finding such a perfect balance between an empowered female and a damsel-in-distress.
It’s amazing that such a simple scene can accomplish and convey so much. All in all, it’s a tense and exceptionally shot sequence that also provides Elena with some nice character development. I can only hope we can get more scenes like this in future episodes.
Another aspect of the episode that really deserves some praise is the Alaric/Jenna storyline. When I first heard of Matthew Davis joining the series, I was sceptical on whether or not he could pull off the role – having not been charmed with his performances in “Legally Blonde” and “Urban Legends: Final Cut”. Surprisingly though, Alaric has turned out to be a strong addition to the cast. Davis and Canning share an undeniable chemistry and their budding relationship is definitely one the episode’s strong points. Translation: Someone needs to start a petition to have Matthew Davis upgraded to series regular status next season. It’s also nice that writers are finally integrating Jenna into the show’s main storylines. The reveal that Alaric’s wife might be a descendant of Katherine and Elena’s birthmother was a great twist that no one could’ve seen coming.
However, Elena/Stefan and Alaric/Jenna didn’t get all of the romantic attention this episode. The relationship between Caroline and Matt is really starting to progress with the couple overcoming its first major obstacle. Although the budding relationship is a little predictable and dull in comparison to the other couples on the show, they’re a sweet pairing and the series needs a stable couple without all the supernatural issues to pry them apart.
The Bad:
Oddly enough, one of the episode’s strongest elements was also one of it’s weakest. As much as I enjoyed the introduction of several new vampire figures, it seemed a little obvious that they would turn out to be the new bartender and Jeremy’s new friend. I’m glad we’re getting more vampires, I just wish their identities would’ve been a little more shocking a reveal.
And on a sidenote: Where is Tyler? The character has really been neglected lately and it’s shame because it seemed like the writers were trying to bring the character back into the spotlight a few episodes ago with the allusion that he might be a werewolf. Yet since this reveal, Tyler hasn’t been seen or heard from on the series.
Conclusion:
With "Unpleasantville", the series has proven once again that it has the ability to be both entertaining and emotionally resonant. The directing, writing, and acting were all spot-on this week making it the series’ best instalment to-date and the first episode since “Haunted” to really exceed expectations and demonstrate what the series is capable of. With only ten episodes until the season finale, the series is really shining. The Vampire Diaries is clearly the surprise hit of the 09-10 Television Season.
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