Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A- | 16 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT The One I Watch Through My Fingers
By Cindy McLennan | Season 4 | Episode 2 | Aired on 10.18.2012
Soon thereafter, a young girl walks up and says, "Jeremy?" It's the pastor's daughter, April Young (Grace Phipps), but for a second I thought it was Malese Jow's Anna. She's babbling nervously and is terribly awkward, all of which is delightful. Since she's an orphan now, she's no longer in boarding school and has to register at Mystic Falls High. The boys offer her their condolences on her loss, but April doesn't know how to graciously accept sympathy yet. When we later learn she had previously lost her mom, this scene seems less organic, but April is endearing enough that I'm choosing not to dwell on it.
Elena is alone in Stefan's room. She leaves Caroline a voice mail in which she says she's having "adjustment issues." Stefan comes in with a bottle of champagne from the year Elena was born. Even though her first feed was disgusting, traumatic and horrible, she survived, so he thinks they should celebrate. Elena hardly thinks her reaction is worth celebrating, but Stefan says, "Listen, I choked it down for a month before I could stomach the taste. It gets easier." He's willfully blind to the doubt in Elena's eyes and changes the subject to the bottle of bubbly in his hand, which he promises will go down like silk. Elena finds his cheeriness contagious, or is at least enough in love with him to pretend she's dealing. She pops the cork, fills their glasses and then the two kiss. The phone rings and breaks up their snogging. It's Damon. Stefan is annoyed by his brother's impeccable timing and disturbed by whatever Damon tells him over the phone. We cut to the...
Mystic Grill. As Elena approaches the stool on Damon's left, she asks him if he did it -- "it" being blow up Rev. Cliche and the Council. Damon: "That seat's taken." Elena: "But there's no one here." Damon: "Well, I'm just going to pretend like there's someone there, because the alternative's too damned depressing." I am loving these Alaric shout-outs. Damon continues accusing Damon of killing the Council, but he brushes her off. It's then that she admits she's can't keep down animal blood. She needs his help. Damon, who gets all the best lines, says, "Of course you do," and then gestures to the Grill's other patrons. "Pick your meal. You've got Asian Fusion, Mexican, or what about some good old American comfort food?" Elena insists Stefan is right. She has to try to get through this without hurting anyone. Damon says, "Fine," and then takes her by the hand and drags her across the pub.