Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A- | 1 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Damon And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
By Cindy McLennan | Season 1 | Episode 19 | Aired on 04.22.2010
t's then that Pearl presents him with another Original Johnathan Gilbert original. Yep, it's another invention. It looks like a pocket watch, so at first I think it's the ACTUAL VAMPIRE COMPASS, but either the Salvatores or Gilberts are currently in possession of that, so it can't be, unless it's another one. And it's not. Pearl knew about the ACTUAL VAMPIRE COMPASS and thought she stole it, but realized she was wrong, once Gilbert used the ACTUAL VAMPIRE COMPASS to out her, back in 1864. Pearl has no idea what this new old gizmo is. Neither does Damon and he wants to know why Pearl is giving it to him so readily. "What's the catch?" Pearl says there is none. They just want to stay in town, and realize Damon refuses to trust them, so he should consider the Gilbert Gizmo an apology, but the words, "I'm sorry my Suck kidnapped and tortured your brother," never leave her lips, because remember, Pearl doesn't "do" apologies.Mossy Manse: Elena finds Stefan, who is not shirtless, but once again in a tank-style undershirt. Elena tries to give Stefan credit, saying "that" wasn't "him." She blames the blood for making him that way, but Stefan says he's always that way, the blood just brings it out. He wanted to drain Anxiety Amber dry. Elena shakes her head and says he can't scare her off. She blames herself for making him drink her blood, but Stefan says all she did was expose who he really is. When she insists this isn't him, he slams his hand down on a table and tells her not to get any closer. She insists, even as he yells stop, and finally, he shoves her up against the wall. Elena tries to regain her breath as she deals with this shock. Stefan, for his part, realizes immediately what he's done and apologizes. Elena hugs him as he sobs into her shoulder, and assures him he'll be okay. And then, she stabs him in the back. Literally. With a Vervain dart. HOORAY!
Damon walks in and asks her if she's sure she wants to do this. She's sure. They lock the still unconscious Stefan down in Damon's former dungeon accommodations. Damon can't guarantee that this will work but Elena says, "It has to." It's clear he plans to leave and asks Elena if she's coming. TMI, Damon, and probably not, since you're not currently dancing. OH! I told you that you were getting the quick and dirty. I was determined to be half right. Actually, Damon just wants to know if she's leaving the dungeon corridor. Elena says she's going to stay there, and sinks to the floor. Silently, Damon sits down across from her and settles in for a long night. They're still looking at each other as we fade to the title card.
Before I close, I have to hand it to Paul Wesley. He showed more range tonight than I imagined he had. I mean, I was already impressed by his ability to act/seem older when talking to an older character, but his manic, suffering Stefan is also a thing of beauty and really, he owns this episode. What's more, his swaggering Stefan is so different than the other versions of Stefan we've come to know and love. He showed us immediately that something was up. He's hit every note in this addiction arc. Bravo.