Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A- | 4 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Family Ties That Bind And Gag
By Cindy McLennan | Season 1 | Episode 13 | Aired on 02.04.2010
Elena and Stefan pore over Jonathan Gilbert's journal. Elena reads: "The Fell family believed it should be I, not them, who protected the witch's spellbook, but I feared she would haunt me from the hereafter. They mocked my fear, but it was Giuseppe Salvatore who..." Elena pauses. "Is that your father?" Stefan confirms it is and takes over. "It was Giuseppe Salvatore who removed my fear. He told me he would protect the secret of the spellbook. He said he would carry it to his grave." We flash back to...
1864: Giuseppe is writing in his journal, but when Stefan comes to talk to him, he puts it aside and brushes of the significance of his scribblings. "I will carry the real secret with me..." Stefan finishes for him: "To your grave." Guiseppe nods. "And a full grave it will be." Stefan is there, because what if... like... Vampires are people too? What if some are fluffy bunnies? And Dad, didn't you -- Son of the Confederacy -- teach us not to take what others say at face value. "You always taught us so differently." Papa's all -- these are deadly, seductive demons! "Those who stand with them -- those who bring shame to their families -- will be destroyed as well." He pours Stefan a drink. We flash forward to...
Gilbert Gables: Stefan looks at Elena. "I know where it is!" We do too, doofus. It was pretty evident after all that "to my grave" falderol.
Anna's Place: Damon sneaks up on her and chokes her. His equal in strength, Anna chokes him right back. Finally, he calls her off, and they both drop their hands. Anna glares at him. "I was wondering how long it would take you to find me." I know, right?
Giuseppe Salvatore's Grave: Elena asks Stefan why his dad isn't buried in the family tomb. Stefan explains that it hadn't yet been built. Does anyone else suspect the set-designers and writers forgot, and had to scramble at the last second? Stefan's as sure as he can be that the grimoire is in the grave with Giuseppe. By torchlight, they dig it up. Stefan tries to let Elena beg off, but she doesn't want Katherine's tomb opened any more than he does, because that will totally cramp her style, y'all, so she's ready to help. When Stefan lets out a big sigh, it dawns on Elena how difficult it must be for Stefan to dig up the remains of his own dad. With that, we flash back to...
1864: Katherine is playing with an amber crystal that looks awfully familiar, but it's the cameo around her neck that Stefan is asking about. Katherine says it's a gift from Emily. Is that her day-walker bling? She wonders when Stefan will stop worrying about Damon. Stefan wants Katherine to himself. Katherine says she's spoiled, selfish, and is the one who gets to make all the rules. She kisses her way up his bare chest (bless) and then latches onto his shoulder as he moans in pleasure. Suddenly, Katherine raises her head. Blood still dripping from her lip, she groans, "Vervain," and falls to the floor. Stefan (bite mark on his shoulder) doesn't know what all is up, so to add to his confusion, his father bursts in and tells him to go get the sheriff; they have a vampire and nothing Stefan feels for her is real. He fed Stefan Vervain to expose her, because his suspicion was piqued when Stefan showed sympathy for the vampires' plight. "I didn't raise my sons to be so weak.... The sheriff -- now. Go, quickly. Now, son." And Stefan? He frigging goes.