After all the crap both of them have been though, this episode was a sweet sense of relief for me.
Never mind the friendship braclet subplot, it's really just a maguffin device (like with most of the subplot in the episode of the show).
This episode is really about coming back togther and breaking free of denial. This episode is based on the classic romantic build up. Were in both characters perspectives we feel the same pain both of them feel, from Serena who is in pain over Darien's distonance of her and she doesn't know why to Darien's need to be close to her and take her in his arms but is unfortuantely armed with that knowledge that doing that could put her in danger.
However soon she has that same prolific dream as Darren. I really liked that moment in his apartment when both of them talk about not just the dilema but the dream both of them have. Were thinking at that point he'll take her back but no the suspense is delayed even further when he shuts the door on her, it was really painful seeing her bang on the door crying while Darren talks to her in a rather somber tone, he even looked like he was going to break in tears.
I thinking cmon Darren come to your senses this is killing you. We can see that Darren is failing the test of love more than winning, he's putting her life in more danger with his distonance than protecting her with it. It goes to show the dynamic between death and love. No one can ever be certain when their going to die, even though Darren got a vision of the future it was not specific as to how or specifically when both will die. It is better to continue to love one another and accept their destiny no matter how it turns out than to go on with a lie, where no one can ever really live. Serena was winning this test because she accepts the destiny, she would rather die with someone she loves than alone.
He of course realizes this and accepts it as well so he passes, and of course at the final moments of the episode they come back together.moreless





