From Harrison’s version of “All The Things She Said” at the heartbreaking club scene, to Wolf Parade’s “I’ll Believe in Anything” at the Skip kiss, Heated Rivalry has brought us so many needle drop moments. Just like many other aspects of the show, the soundtrack helps tell the story of Shane and Ilya.
This deep dive is written in collaboration with u/SoftSeagulls on Reddit. A big thank you to their incredible research and for allowing me to adapt their original Reddit post 🫶🏼
A comprehensive collection of The Shirt™️!! 🫶🏼🥰 First worn by Shane at The Cottage, then adopted by Ilya during his stay, and finally swiped by Connor to wear off set. If we ever see Hudson in The Shirt™️ again, it will have come full circle. 🤝🏼
In an interview recently, Jacob said they had Ilya wearing Shane’s clothes because that’s just what you’d do if you were a couple spending two weeks together, and he wasn’t even sure the audience would notice. 😆👀 That’s back when he thought 11 people were going to see this show. He wasn’t counting on a fandom full of professional detectives.🕵🏼♀️
a new detail that came to my attention was how the script is really pushing the idea of Percy and Luke being two sides of the same coin, but the thing is – it's not only them.
sally is the one to bring this possibility up with her prophetic dream, and please correct me if i am wrong, but in the books she didn't have this ability, she could only see through the myst.
so now we have two mothers, one with prophetic dreams but that chooses to step away from a life among the gods and monsters to raise her son, and doesn't look into 'doing something with her gift', doesn't try to become the new oracle of delphi, and therefore keeping her sanity, and because of that being able to raise a good person, and an understanding one, someone strong enough to see that joining kronos is the worst thing to do in their already precarious environment as demigods.
whilst may castellan feels the necessity of looking for more and more, and do something with her ability of prophecy and sight, and being cursed for it, unable to filter and differentiate present from future, creating a hostile place for her son to grow in, scaring him and making him vulnerable, defensive, angry and far too weak to manipulation.
But the parallels don't end there, theirs fathers can also fall into this category.
Poseidon, The Sea God, Lord of Storms and Earthquakes, restraints himself for years, from the moment sally refuses to go with him to atlantis, he trusts her choice, and doesn't look back until 9 years later when she calls him, "The sea doesn't like to be restrained" but he does it, for her, for his son. in his absence, albeit unwelcome, he somewhat saves them.
Whilst Hermes, The God of Diplomacy and Heralds, Lord of Cunning, can't for the life of him find the restraint to step away and put haults into what he can share with May about his world, coming back again and again untill the damage is so big that now when he finally realises that he should step back is too late. His presence doomed the Castellans, it corrupted and contaminated them.
these 6 just make me go insane with these subtle script change from book to show, i do hope i am not reading too much into it and setting myself up for disappointment but it just makes sense you know, the mirror analogies, the acting against their nature, the countless "what ifs" that could've ended with such a different story.
luke is what percy could become — percy is what luke could have been
I haven't spent enough time in your world to change that.
He’s going to go to school. And he’s going to learn things that you can’t teach him there. And it’s gonna be hard for the both of you. It’s gonna be torture for the both of you. But he will be stronger for it on the other side. His mother raised him well.
PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS
— 1.07 ♆ We Find Out the Truth, Sort Of
— 2.05 ♆ We Check In To C.C.'s Spa & Resort
People seem to forget that more often than not, Percy has to use his wit to win fights, and he is incredibly intelligent and observant, too. Percy is the one who knew he couldn't just beat Ares in a straightforward fight, so he acted weak and had Ares let his guard down so Percy could strike. Percy is also the one who came up with the plan to have Luke admit he poisoned Thalia's tree with an Iris message.
Additionally, it was Percy that led the demigods against Kronos and used his battle strategy in placing the demigods. It was him who beat Chrysaor by remembering something Dionysus showed him 4 years ago when he couldn't beat him.
Yes, Percy is incredibly powerful, but let's not downplay his intelligence. Don't mistake ignorance for foolishness. After all, if everyone treats him like he's stupid, how can Percy's thoughts ever have him believe he's smart. And what really annoys me is that no one ever sees Percy struggling with his self-confidence and tries to help him.
Now, with Annabeth, her pride has cost others more than not. Ex. the Laberinth, with not wanting Rachel to help, the whole fight with the Spynx. And the whole taunting Arachne and allowing her to escape enough to attach some thread to Annabeth's ankle so Annabeth is dragged into Tartarus and Percy chooses to fall with her to save her.
So I guess in this case, yes, the books would be shorter if Annabeth had powers because everyone would die at the cost of her pride like how she used Percy as bait in the first book (a new inexperienced demigod who just thought he lost his mother, and then left him to fight alone against the whole of the Ares cabin. What a great way to win allies and have your teammates stay alive 🙄 "Oh, but it was just a game." A game that helps them prepare for war. Meanwhile, she never answers Percy's questions and treats him like he's stupid.)
Disclaimer: Yes, this is Annabeth bashing, but this is simply a rant, and anyone is free to like or dislike her as a character. I am simply expressing my thoughts on the matter.
Once again putting my unhealthy amount of fanfic knowledge to good use. Here's my list (non-exhaustive) of the best vampire diaries & originals fanfics. Includes Klaroline, Bamon, Kolvina, and more.
Bamon Fics
Before I Take My Flesh Away by Orig1n - the fic where Bonnie and Damon are comically bonded, and she hops around in his timeline pre (and during) the series. Tragically unfinished, but completely incredible! Kudos for developing Stefan and Damon as brothers and making me not hate Lily Salvatore. Also love the Arthurian lore.
if you love me (don't let go) by sarcastic_fina - this is a heartbreaking deconstruction of Bonnie and her victim mentality, and shows the strength of not only her romantic relationship with Damon, but her friendships with Caroline, Matt, and Tyler. So sad, but so good!
Bloodstone by cactusfinch - Bonnie time travels to 1864 (with all the problems entailed). Her relationship with Damon is done well here, and her friendship (sort of!) with Katherine is fun as hell.
rest for the wicked (hope for the weary) by castelia - Damon and Bonnie go on a road trip together after the prison word. I am a sucker for mutual pining, and this fic does it so well!
Fifty-Five Years by turningofflights - written from Elena's perspective, after she reads Bonnie's diary entries and learns how Bonnie and Damon fell in love. A bittersweet, believable love story for Bonnie and Damon.
Other Bonnie Bennett Ship Fics
The Edge of Night by Szajnie - a crossover between season 3 of the Originals and season 7 of the Vampire Diaries, where Bonnie goes to New Orleans. She's absolutely in her element here as the most powerful New Orleans witch, takes the supernatural world by storm, and everyone has a happier ending because of it (including her!). Absolutely love her friendships with Davina, Vincent, and Freya, and shout-out for being the only fic to make me care about Cami! Truly, this is great. The NOLA gang is the family Bonnie deserves, and the Bonnie/Klaus is so believable.
Kai Parket Screwed Us (Until Bonnie Bennett Screwed Him) by hysteriaww - exactly what it sounds like. Bonnie shows up to help Josie and Lizzie deal with the prison world and her and Kai's insane relationship weirds everyone out. Deals with the Gemini Coven in a really interesting way. Hilarious, and with mild Damon and Alaric bashing. BonKai.
Season One, Epsidoes One-Three by BorgiaBabe - a rewrite of the first three episodes of TVD with Bonnie as a proper main character. Her love interest is a softer Kai, and it's great! Bonnie really deserves better.
the night light hits off, turning kisses to bites by donutworry - an insane, dark, twisted Bonnie and Kai romance, where they're the only ones in the prison world from the start. I absolutely love the Gemini Coven lore in this fic.
Klaroline Fics
Make them bow by for_darkness_shows_the_stars - Klaus appears in season 1 of the vampire diaries. it's Klaroline, but still super gen, and all the characters get their own compelling arcs in it. Especially love the way Elena and Stefan are written.
One of A Kind, Two of a Kind, or the Three Musketeers by Phandancee74 - Caroline is an ancient nymph who was erased from memory by Malivore. She still helps the Mystic Falls gang out (and her relationship with Bonnie is great)! The Klaus/Caroline is angsty and lovely.
Calling on a Friend by Phandancee74 - 5 year old Josie gets Klaus's number. Shenanigans ensue. Short and cute as hell.
Sanctuary in their Hearts by thatsanotherlovestory - Caroline leaves before the season 8 wedding, and heads to New Orleans with Klaus. A fun story, but still so sad Bonnie didn't get her happy ending in it. The twins are so cute in this.
Let's do the Time Loop again! by kcatdino - on the night of the sacrifice, both Klaus and Caroline get stuck in a time loop. It's so funny to watch them get more and more deranged.
sweet present of the present by VintageLilac - it's Caroline, not Rebekah, who raises Hope while New Orleans is at war. I absolutely love Katherine in this fic, and though Hayley gets the short end of the stick it's written quite well.
The Wolf by Yokan - a witch version of Caroline is the one pregnant with Klaus's baby in the originals. And while season 1 doesn't change a lot because of it, the later one's definitely do! I love the Klaus and Caroline relationship, and Caroline & Elijah friendship.
Elena Gilbert-Centric Fic
The stars were brightly shining by adlyb - a fic where Elena is pregnant with Klaus's baby. It's so hard to describe! A little twisted, a little sweet, and a thorough depiction of Elena's mental state.
The Forgotten by MissNMikaelson - Elena time travels and gets dropped in the middle of Klaus and Kol's war in New Orleans, circa 1914. The flashback scenes in the fic are great! Eventual Kol/Elena.
blame it on the stardust by allwritenow - the fic that looks into if Elena's doppelganger nature affected her more. And a truly beautiful Caroline, Bonnie, and Elena friendship.
Off by a Single Degree by Tarroko - when Elena's phone dies, Damon walks her home and never compels away her memories, and her parents never die. This softer, sweeter Elena is so believable, and I love the way canon immediately shifts. Amazing development of her parents, Anna, and Enzo. Delena.
Katherine Pierce Centric Fic
afflictions eclipsed by glory by passionesque - in 1864, right after the fire in Mystic Falls, Elijah finds Katherine. They team up together against Klaus. This deals with Katherine's trauma and cunning so well! A slow build to Elijah/Katherine, involving him acknowledging his faults.
General Mystic Falls Gang Fics
in another life (i would let you go) by sarcastic_fina - Elena wakes up in a world where she isn't the doppelganger and no one knows her. An interesting deconstruction of the affects she's had on her friends.. Manages to be both Elena-bashing and sympathetic at the same time. Minor Steroline and Bamon.
Originals Family Feels
It All Comes Crumbling Down by AlwaysAkin - can I do a self-rec? I'm doing a self-rec. Hope is born a century earlier, and grows up in New Orleans with the Mikaelsons. I'm particularly proud of my Hope-Marcel bond and young!Hope voice in this one.
A Twist Through Time by fandom_lover_101 - Hope is sent back in time to the Vampire Diaries season 3. She messes everything up. Absolutely love the slow Hope & Klaus relationship built here, and her friendship with Elena is cute too. Minor Klaroline, Delena, and Handon.
Always & Tomorrow by Viretta - another tragically unfinished fic. Set after Hope jumps into Malivore in Legacies, it involves the dead Mikaelsons being resurrected, and the kids from the Salvatore School travelling to New Orleans (with a newly activated tribrid Hope). This is a Mikaelson family story in the bloodiest, best way. Has Handon and Klaroline in addition to the canon originals couples.
if no one in the entire world cared about you (did you really exist at all?) by nevermore_evermore - Elijah is erased from the minds of everyone he loves. Kol is (eventually) there to help him through it. An interesting take on Elijah's place in the family.
A Million Mistakes by mon-amour-eternel - a fic where Caroline is also an original, and her and Klaus are Marcel's parents. Sadly unfinished, especially considering the rarity of Marcel-centric fic!
But Stand Brave, Life-Liver by crownjrose - A Hayley-centric fic! Her foster parents come to New Orleans and see the way her life turned out. Interesting closure for Hayley, and a sweet Klaus/Hayley relationship.
Kolvina Fic
(finally) you and me are the lucky ones by yorkes - a long one-shot where Kol and Davina are soulmates. It's cute as hell! And Kol and Davina really grow into each other in this one.
The Vixen and the Fox by BlueBooThalassophile - be warned, this read is long as hell. But it's also great. Davina time travels to the Vampire Diaries season 4, gets involved in the fight against Silas, and everything goes sideways immediately. Love Davina's friendship with Hayley and bond with Marcel in this one. Every character in both shows appears in this one.
I’m thinking about Wicked tonight, specifically why Elphaba ends up with Fiyero instead of Glinda in the musical despite Elphaba and Glinda having the more well-rounded relationship.
You could chalk it up to the writers wanting a heteronormative ending (and I’m certain that’s part of it) or the fact that Elphaba and Fiyero had a love affair in the book. But I think there’s a bit more nuance to it.
The whole point of Glinda’s character is that she upholds the status quo of Oz. No matter how much she loves Elphaba or sympathizes with the plight of the Animals, she will always align herself with the current system and those in power. And as long as that remains the case, a relationship between her and Elphaba is futile because Elphaba will not give up her cause.
Elphaba and Glinda represent to different ends of a spectrum. Elphaba resists the oppressive forces in Oz, while Glinda upholds them. But Fiyero is somewhere in the middle. He starts out privileged and carefree like Glinda, but quickly turns to Elphaba’s side. He does become Captain of the Guard, but only to find Elphaba and help her evade arrest.
And therein lies the difference between Glinda and Fiyero as love interests to Elphaba. Glinda would never sacrifice her title as “the Good Witch” and all her power granted from the Wizard, even if it meant helping Elphaba. Fiyero, on the other hand, does give up his privilege, his title, and even his human form for Elphaba. Glinda clings to what the status quo gives her, while Fiyero ultimately rejects it.
Yes, the writing around Elphaba and Fiyero’s romance is a bit rushed and doesn’t have the same gradual development that Elphaba and Glinda have. And yes, I have no doubt heteronormativity played a role in giving Elphaba a male love interest in the end. But I see a lot of people write off Fiyero and his relationship with Elphaba and I just don’t agree.
Why does Elphaba end up with Fiyero instead of Glinda? Because Fiyero makes the sacrifices that Glinda wasn’t willing to.
I’m thinking about Wicked tonight, specifically why Elphaba ends up with Fiyero instead of Glinda in the musical despite Elphaba and Glinda having the more well-rounded relationship.
You could chalk it up to the writers wanting a heteronormative ending (and I’m certain that’s part of it) or the fact that Elphaba and Fiyero had a love affair in the book. But I think there’s a bit more nuance to it.
The whole point of Glinda’s character is that she upholds the status quo of Oz. No matter how much she loves Elphaba or sympathizes with the plight of the Animals, she will always align herself with the current system and those in power. And as long as that remains the case, a relationship between her and Elphaba is futile because Elphaba will not give up her cause.
Elphaba and Glinda represent to different ends of a spectrum. Elphaba resists the oppressive forces in Oz, while Glinda upholds them. But Fiyero is somewhere in the middle. He starts out privileged and carefree like Glinda, but quickly turns to Elphaba’s side. He does become Captain of the Guard, but only to find Elphaba and help her evade arrest.
And therein lies the difference between Glinda and Fiyero as love interests to Elphaba. Glinda would never sacrifice her title as “the Good Witch” and all her power granted from the Wizard, even if it meant helping Elphaba. Fiyero, on the other hand, does give up his privilege, his title, and even his human form for Elphaba. Glinda clings to what the status quo gives her, while Fiyero ultimately rejects it.
Yes, the writing around Elphaba and Fiyero’s romance is a bit rushed and doesn’t have the same gradual development that Elphaba and Glinda have. And yes, I have no doubt heteronormativity played a role in giving Elphaba a male love interest in the end. But I see a lot of people write off Fiyero and his relationship with Elphaba and I just don’t agree.
Why does Elphaba end up with Fiyero instead of Glinda? Because Fiyero makes the sacrifices that Glinda wasn’t willing to.
