Post by missmystic on Mar 24, 2014 16:03:13 GMT -5
Hi guys.
I'm new to the boards, but thought I'd start a discussion about everyone's favorite brothers! I'll start by saying that I am Team Damon all the way, but that doesn't mean I am anti Stefan. Although I am sometimes, not gonna lie. But I think both characters are fascinating, in their relationships with the other characters and with each other. I know that obviously anyone who was ever a Buffy fan can see the similarities between Angel and Spike, so it's hard not to compare. But the fact that Stefan and Damon are brothers and not just rivals for Elena is one of the things that brings so much depth to the character developments.
Ok, so here are some of my observations.
First of all, I know there's a lot of heated back and forth about who is better for Elena. My first comment for that is, sometimes it bother's me that people are so fixated on who is better for Elena. What if, instead, we asked who is Elena better FOR? Who's life does she have the most positive influence on? Who does she make a difference for? Elena is supposed to be the heroine of the story, but most of the time she's a damsel in distress. And everyone is worried who is going to take the best care of her. Well I think it would be great if she was the rescuer, instead of the one getting rescued.
Now, as far as the old question of who is better for her, as I've already said I am Team Damon, so I think you can guess where I stand. But here's why: Damon challenges her, he makes her question her life, makes her think outside the box. He forces her to be honest with herself about who she is and what she wants, and to question right and wrong. In order for a person to grow and learn, they need these things. They need to be challenged and questioned. But he also supports her, and understands her, and he's willing to make tough decisions in order to protect her in life or death situations. Stefan, on the other hand, almost never stands up for what he believes if it opposes what She believes. He's not willing to tell her she's wrong, even when he knows she is. He calls it respect for her decisions, but that's not the way it comes off, in my opinion. To me it seems more like fear, like if he fights her she might get mad at him, and he can't bear that. I don't think that is healthy for either one of them.
Now, as to the character of the men themselves, one of the things that has been really bothering my lately is how much the characters attack Damon for the bad things he's done, but never seem to remember that Stefan is actually worse ... Yes, Damon has killed people in cold blood. He used Caroline, and many other people, for his selfish gains, and he's made a lot of mistakes. No one is denying that, obviously. But the thing is, that Stefan has literally done ALL of those things too. He has killed, what, hundreds of people? Most of them in cold blood. He has lied, and manipulated, and hurt people. Including Elena. He tried to kill her for god sakes! And it's not like Angel becoming Angelus. He didn't lose his soul and then become evil. He was just as lucid as Damon when he made every single one of those decisions. And none of those things are secrets, everyone knows about it. So why do they continue to insist that Damon is Bad and Stefan is Good??
I think the two men are equals. They both have dark sides, and they both handle their dark sides badly. Both of them! The only difference is the way they each react to it. Stefan simultaneously pretends its not part of him and feels guilty about it at the same time. Damon owns his flaws, but try's to pretend the Good parts don't exist. Probably because those are the parts that can hurt him more. Either way, both man have stuff they need to deal with in regards to who they are.
And last but not least, there is their bond as brothers. I think this is a driving force of the show, even though sometimes it doesn't feel like it. They have both made enormous sacrifices for the good of the other, and they have also both hurt each other repeatedly. But neither one ever gives up.
I think these are all very interesting things. What do you think?
I'm new to the boards, but thought I'd start a discussion about everyone's favorite brothers! I'll start by saying that I am Team Damon all the way, but that doesn't mean I am anti Stefan. Although I am sometimes, not gonna lie. But I think both characters are fascinating, in their relationships with the other characters and with each other. I know that obviously anyone who was ever a Buffy fan can see the similarities between Angel and Spike, so it's hard not to compare. But the fact that Stefan and Damon are brothers and not just rivals for Elena is one of the things that brings so much depth to the character developments.
Ok, so here are some of my observations.
First of all, I know there's a lot of heated back and forth about who is better for Elena. My first comment for that is, sometimes it bother's me that people are so fixated on who is better for Elena. What if, instead, we asked who is Elena better FOR? Who's life does she have the most positive influence on? Who does she make a difference for? Elena is supposed to be the heroine of the story, but most of the time she's a damsel in distress. And everyone is worried who is going to take the best care of her. Well I think it would be great if she was the rescuer, instead of the one getting rescued.
Now, as far as the old question of who is better for her, as I've already said I am Team Damon, so I think you can guess where I stand. But here's why: Damon challenges her, he makes her question her life, makes her think outside the box. He forces her to be honest with herself about who she is and what she wants, and to question right and wrong. In order for a person to grow and learn, they need these things. They need to be challenged and questioned. But he also supports her, and understands her, and he's willing to make tough decisions in order to protect her in life or death situations. Stefan, on the other hand, almost never stands up for what he believes if it opposes what She believes. He's not willing to tell her she's wrong, even when he knows she is. He calls it respect for her decisions, but that's not the way it comes off, in my opinion. To me it seems more like fear, like if he fights her she might get mad at him, and he can't bear that. I don't think that is healthy for either one of them.
Now, as to the character of the men themselves, one of the things that has been really bothering my lately is how much the characters attack Damon for the bad things he's done, but never seem to remember that Stefan is actually worse ... Yes, Damon has killed people in cold blood. He used Caroline, and many other people, for his selfish gains, and he's made a lot of mistakes. No one is denying that, obviously. But the thing is, that Stefan has literally done ALL of those things too. He has killed, what, hundreds of people? Most of them in cold blood. He has lied, and manipulated, and hurt people. Including Elena. He tried to kill her for god sakes! And it's not like Angel becoming Angelus. He didn't lose his soul and then become evil. He was just as lucid as Damon when he made every single one of those decisions. And none of those things are secrets, everyone knows about it. So why do they continue to insist that Damon is Bad and Stefan is Good??
I think the two men are equals. They both have dark sides, and they both handle their dark sides badly. Both of them! The only difference is the way they each react to it. Stefan simultaneously pretends its not part of him and feels guilty about it at the same time. Damon owns his flaws, but try's to pretend the Good parts don't exist. Probably because those are the parts that can hurt him more. Either way, both man have stuff they need to deal with in regards to who they are.
And last but not least, there is their bond as brothers. I think this is a driving force of the show, even though sometimes it doesn't feel like it. They have both made enormous sacrifices for the good of the other, and they have also both hurt each other repeatedly. But neither one ever gives up.
I think these are all very interesting things. What do you think?
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