Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT The Writing's On The Wall
By Cindy McLennan | Season 3 | Episode 7 | Aired on 10.27.2011
Over at Caroline and Bonnie's lantern-bedecked tree, Matt swears to Bonnie that he hasn't seen Vicki. Bonnie's not sure, because Vicki has just as much reason to haunt Damon, as Brick House does. Matt is convinced Vicki is gone. He'd know if she was here. Bonnie looks worried. "If any ghost other than Vicki Donovan has a physical foothold on our side, that means Damon's right and something has gone really, really wrong." Matt is choked up, with both sorrow and anger. "I've had enough of this ghost stuff to last forever, so you guys can leave me out of this one." Now Pudding Pop, you know I love you, but you're the one that did the damnable spell last week. I'm just sayin'... When Matt leaves the girls, Caroline makes a pointed comment to Bonnie about how it took a lot for Matt to send his sister away. Then she sharpens her point, adding, "So much strength as a man." Bonnie: "I've got a ghost problem to deal with, Caroline. Save the Jeremy lecture for later." When Bonnie tries to pick up her book bag, it opens and a grimoire falls out. As she reaches down, it pops open to a manifestation spell, one used to reveal veiled matter -- like ghosts.
Mystic Grill: When Elena keeps asking Jeremy about the possibility of contacting Lexi, Alaric asks her to drop the topic. Elena says she can't, as she doesn't know what else to do (about Stefan). Alaric: "Don't you think we have a few too many dead vampires in our past to be sitting here, thinking of them watching us." (Oh hi there, Isobel.) Anna tells Jeremy that she doesn't think all vampires go to her so-called other side. "I think some of them find peace." Noticing the expression on her brother's face, Elena asks Jeremy if Anna is there, right now. Anna: "Don't tell her I'm here. She won't like it." Jeremy lies and then beats a hasty retreat inside the Grill, saying he has to check the schedule.
Stefan arrives, sits next to Elena, picks up his old journal (Elena had it out while talking to Germ about Lexi), and cracks about having forgotten how much he used to care about things. Elena says she hasn't forgotten, so Stefan tells her not to torture herself about the past. Alaric knows Stefan's just being a prick, so he tells him he doesn't have to be there. Stefan agrees, then adds, "But Elena's here and I look out for Elena." Then he says he's looking forward to eating all the attendees at Illumination Night. Standing, he grabs Elena by the shoulder and says, "Kidding. Loosen up." Once he's gone, Elena tells Alaric she can't drop her quest to save Stefan from himself.