I don't mind couples having problems to overcome as long as they fit the story and don't retcon characterization and previous established back story.

Not to be mean but Elena as well. Stefan as a romantic lead is just boring. Until the writers allow him to have layers and accountability for his actions instead of hiding behind the "ripper" or "no humanity" and have him own who and what he is, he will always be a little bit boring.
The writers seem to go half way…

IKR. We have 2 incredibly powerful witches on side and yet the Salvabros are off on a suicide mission?
I get why they wouldn't ask Bonnie, since this has nothing whatsoever to do with her, it isn't her fight, BUT, this has everything to do with Valerie.

It's by Digital Daggers.

"What are they doing with Caroline, Stefan, Valerie and Alaric?"

I think the stone will make Stefans adventure in the safe feel like a walk in the park.
The preview shows Damon resurrected after 3 months, and he looks as if he is traumatized by whatever torment the stone does. Damon withstood 5 yrs of torture as an Augustine subject and this looks to have broken his psyche more than…

Well, I didn't see both brothers ending up in the stone, so that was surprising, but otherwise, nothing else really happened that was not entirely predictable.
The defan scenes dominated the narrative, but unfortunately it's just retreading old ground with them, with little to no evolution of their relationship.
Damon…

Elena needs to come back, even if they have to hire another actress to play her.
You are right, the show has lost it's heart, and that was Elena IMO.

Aside from Silas, PW had PTSD Stefan, a whole Doppelganger arc that lasted the whole season in which he and ND were heavily focused on and he was also heavily involved in the Katherine SL.
S5 was a PW bonanza, so I don't understand where you are coming from with this.
Granted, the writing wasn't up to much, but that…

Yes they are the fault of the writers, but then Paul shouldn't have signed on for another season if he is so over it all, or at least attempt to earn the money he is being paid by being present in his scenes.

Elena being out of the story has not helped this season in any way. The character interactions have pretty much continued from S6.
Enzo and Alaric still have limited scenes with Damon or any of the mains.
Matt and Enzo are off doing their own thing,
Alaric is MIA again,
Bonnie is interacting with Damon mainly, but is…

The last line was too funny.

Yep, and to add to that, Stefan has had more bonding moments with his mother since she returned in which she has shown some level of understanding even if she wasn't back on full Mom mode with him. With Damon, she has given him nothing at all to work with.

Exactly.

I'm with you, because A) It's totally in character for him and B) Ian has totally sold Damons inner rage and hurt.
Damon can still be extremely cruel to those he views as his enemies, and that is exactly how he views Lily and rightly so.
Obviously, something changes within him as we see in the FF.
Werewolf toxin again?…

Actually on rewatching this, I noticed lots more of this kind of thing than I picked up first time around, and can see why it would grate, especially as he is mute. Actually, I think Beau still has his story to come, and will probably turn out to have a link to the main mythology with phoenix stone since he is the…

Don't we all?

Best Episode of this season yet for me. Everyone seemed in character, the dialogue was smart, snappy and witty. Very little romantic steroline, bamon etc.
It all just flowed better despite the more nonsensical stuff.
I agree with the recapper, the main characters were the focus, and the rest back drop, which is where…

Perhaps they wanted a more robust body, that can't die. A vamp would be a convenient solution to increase the odds of the babies survival.
I can't believe I'm defending this complete nonsense lol, when we all know why it's happening this way.

Body jacking is a thing in this universe no? It's not new.
Remember when Kat hijacked Elenas body, and proceeded to seduce Stefan?
I don't remember such an outcry, I remember fans cheering her on because it was Kat. gross. Yeah, that was bad writing and so is this.