Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: B- | 3 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Someone Just Shot A Panda Bear
By Cindy McLennan | Season 3 | Episode 15 | Aired on 02.16.2012
Stefan and Damon realize they have to end the magical bloodline, if they're going to save their girlfriend. Damon notes that only one of them has to do the actual "deed" -- which means only one of them has to incur Elena's wrath. They're both still unhappily in love with her, so they flip a coin (not a metaphor) to see who must do the dirty work and take the hit with Ms. Gilbert.
Down in the basement of the Which House-Witch House, Stefan grabs Bonnie. He tells her that the Bennett bloodline has to be broken, if they're going to save Elena's life. Bonnie thinks Stefan means to kill her, but oh no! Upstairs, Damon has grabbed Abby. He forces his blood on her, then snaps her neck. She won't be dead, she'll be undead, but as has been previously established in Esther's backstory, if a witch turns into a vampire, she loses her woo, because there's no such thing as a witchpire, sillies. Smart plan, Salvatores. I mean Bonnie's going to hate you for it, and Elena probably will too, because she's made it patently clear she will die for her friends, but I still think that vamping move was spectacularly practical. Well played, Damon.
Outside, the flames on Esther's five torches flare. When the fire dies out, Klaus, Kol and Elijah are left looking at the empty pentagram. Where did Finn and Esther go? Hey, wait!!!
Well, never mind that, because it turns out Damon played it better than I could have hoped. When the boys have a post-mortem, back at Mossy Manse, we learn Stefan lost the coin toss. He should have been the one to turn a Bennett. Damon explains he knows Stefan has been eschewing even bagged human blood. When he asks little bro how long it's been, Stefan says he hasn't had the good stuff since the night he forced his blood on Elena, threatened to drive her off Wickery Bridge, and THREW OUT HER CELL PHONE. (I need to retire that, don't I? It's just -- I have a daughter. There's no coming back from throwing out a girl's cell, ya know? Sorry. I'll be good.)
Damon reckons Stefan is already wallowing in guilt, and since he's slowly becoming more like his old self, Damon selflessly decided to take the hit with their girlfriend. Oh, my heart. I love moments like these between the brothers. Stefan says he knows Damon still loves Elena. Damon says, "I do. I thought I could win her from you fair and square. She didn't want me. It's for the best. I'm better at being the bad guy, anyway." Oh Damon, who are you fooling? I mean, you're great at being the bad guy, but there's no way you're going to give up hope -- at least not deep down inside.