Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Your Diabolical Plan: The Sequel
By Cindy McLennan | Season 1 | Episode 12 | Aired on 01.28.2010
MFHS; exterior: the camera pans past a sign advertising a '50s Decade Dance and over to Elena who has just given Caroline a necklace. Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition. The child finally has some Vervain. Caroline asks if it's a Lesbian Friend Necklace, "'Cause we're freaky like that?" But Elena remains serious, either because she's the star of the show and doesn't want to be too offensive, or because she's well aware that Caroline is so starved for affection that that might have been actually 50% come-on. The long-shot possibility is that she really does consider Caroline a good friend, but c'mon, Elena, have you met her? Anyhow, Elena knows Caroline has been avoiding her and she wants her to know that whatever is going on between her and Matt is okay with her. Since Matt is Elena's ex, Caroline feels weird talking about this, but Elena says, "It's not about me." Caroline says it's all about her. Elena is a little too self-absorbed here to give Caroline the validation she's practically screaming for. Instead, she opts for: "I'm with Stefan now. Matt knows he has to move on." I mean, what's the next sentence there, Elena? Enjoy being his second choice, Caroline! Caroline doesn't say anything, but her face agrees with me.
The Grill: Matt is filling out an application for a busboy job when Ben McKittrick, the Grill's new bartender and MFHS's old football star, walks up and greets him. They commiserate over MFHS's half-forfeited season (thanks to Damon killing All-Trades Tanner). Poor Pudding Pop! When his chance at a football scholarship evaporated, so did his one-way ticket out of Vamp Village.
Over at a table, Bonnie and Elena discuss Elena's recent news that she's adopted. What Elena can't figure out is why Miranda and Grayson Gilbert are listed as her birth parents. Bonnie advises her to ask Jenna. When Elena looks uncertain that she's ready to learn any more, Bonnie reminds her that she just found out her lover is a vampire. She's pretty sure the Elena Gilbert she knows can deal with whatever Jenna's got to tell her -- unless her birth parents were aliens. Having already seen the whole episode, allow me to laugh and laugh. Elena sticks Bonnie with the check and leaves to buy accessories for the '50s dance. After she's gone, Damon sidles over to Bonnie and proposes a fresh start. Bonnie just wants him gone. When he doesn't get the hint, she morphs into BAMF Bonnie, and reminds him that she can start fires with her mind. "Fires kill vampires, right?" Heh. Just then Ben McKittrick walks over to ask if everything is okay. Damon says it's all fine. Ben smirks at him. "I wasn't talking to you." Damon considers him for a moment (probably imagining how quickly he could pull off his head and drink directly from his throat) before he blinks and smiles prettily at Bonnie and walks off, leaving her with Ben. She thanks Ben and is surprised he remembers her from high school. "I didn't graduate that long ago. You're making me feel old." She just didn't know he knew her. Ben flirts: "I always know a pretty face." If he's old enough to serve booze, he probably wasn't in high school with Bonnie, but let's ignore that, because he's cute and this is the first time Bonnie's even indicated she might be interested in someone.