Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: N/A | 427 USERS: B- YOU GRADE IT My Sister's Keeper
By Cindy McLennan | Season 4 | Episode 8 | Aired on 2012.12.06
SNAKE WATCH: To give the show its due, this is a nice parallel to Damon's current situation with Elena (and better constructed than the Klaus/Adrian one). However, Damon didn't have to leave Stefan forever. He had to avoid going to a bloody battlefield where surely he would feed, which would tempt Stefan to shut off his humanity and go all Ripper again. And truly, to give the show its due -- because I missed this parallel when writing the recaplet -- at least here is one instance of a man having too much influence (of whatever kind) over another man.
Back in the present. Stefan is touched by Damon's story. He admits he's jealous of Damon and Elena. After the sire bond is broken, if Elena doesn't feel the same about him, Stefan will accept her choice. The writers have Damon say something about the "dreaded C word." At this point, I think they're just trolling me.
Mossy Manse. Morning. Caroline enters and hugs Elena. She apologizes and I should probably recap the cuteness of this scene, but I'm too upset by the rest of it. Caroline promises to never again judge. And again I say, if Caroline had only talked to Elena about Damon's real flaws, rather than this "man-slut" nonsense, she'd at least have a valid point. It might not change Elena's feelings about Damon, but perhaps it would help these two friends mend their relationship in some way that is real and workable and not detrimental to their characterization.
Instead, as ever, this episode is all about the boys, because Elena's first concern is that Caroline not tell Stefan about Elena and Damon. UGH. Bonnie enters and asks her friends if they've made up. Caroline says, "Well, she saved my life in spite of me being the nasty, bad witch." Really, Caroline? That's your go-to insult and right in front of Bonnie, too? Daughter, remind me later to talk to you about how the "witch" label was usually thrown around by those who resented the power in women (and I don't mean magic). Elena says, "Thankfully, we had our good witch." To do what? To explode lightbulbs. Yeah, Bon, you really played a key role, this week, huh?
When talk turns to Bonnie and Shane, she explains the new magic he's teaching her. He calls it, "Expression." Dun dun dun. So, raise your hands if you think that Bonnie is unknowingly drawing on the power generated when Pastor Cliché blew up himself and the rest of the Council? Come on. Submit to my speculation. Submit. On your knees! No, no, no, no, no. Don't do that.