Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: B- | 3 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT I Shot You To Protect You
By Cindy McLennan | Season 3 | Episode 16 | Aired on 03.15.2012
Back in the present, Becky says that definitely sounds like the Sage she knew, who happened to have a thing for Finn 900 years ago. Sheeeesh, do the Originals have to be all up in every story? Anyhow, Stefan's got the jitters and says he has to leave. I thought booze was supposed to take the edge off the craving for blood. It's like no one remembers the rules anymore. Damon will let Stefan go if he'll just admit he's jonesing. After Damon grabs him, Stefan admits it then frees himself and starts out.
Nitpicky Sidebar: Since we've recently seen Stefan ignore a glass full of blood, without getting jittery, this sudden jonesing irks me a little -- not enough to say anything more than that, but I did have to get that off my chest.
Back in Meredith's apartment, Elena goes through the file on Alaric and says there's all kinds of stuff on him, including medical records and old court documents (so I guess the fights and restraining orders might have happened). Matt then finds an old journal -- it's Samantha Gilbert's. Matt finds another paper and asks Elena if M.E. Brian's death was between 1:00 and 3:00 AM. The paper he's holding from the county coroner's office states that's wrong. Just then, they hear Meredith return home so the kids hide in the closet. Meredith comes in, throws down her keys and purse, changes and picks up her keys and leaves. Elena turns the closet light on and she opens the door. Meredith is standing there, glaring. Commercial.
At the station, Liz reads Matt and Elena the riot act for breaking into Meredith's place. She knows about the letter from the coroner's office, which corrects M.E. Brian's time of death. Liz says Meredith brought it to her hours ago and apologized for accusing an innocent man. Matt asks why Meredith would have a copy hidden in her closet. Liz says she can't ask that, because they broke into her home. That's ridiculous. I mean, they broke in, but that's their crime. They're not cops, so there's not a warrant issue for them. Meredith is the one who called the cops and allowed them to enter her apartment. Liz could certainly at least ask about the copy. She goes on about how far she's had to go to protect them and sends them home. She says Alaric will be released as soon as the letter is authenticated.
Rebekah and Damon follow Stefan outside and manipulate him into drinking from a live, compelled woman. Once Stefan is feeding, Damon sends Rebekah on her merry way and then prevents Stefan from killing their victim. Damon bites into his own wrist to feed the woman his blood and heal her. Just then, Elena and Matt -- on their way home from the Sheriff's office -- happen upon the grisly scene. To up the drama, this happens before Stefan can pull himself together and wipe the blood off his mouth. Matt leads a horrified Elena home. Damon winces as Elena leaves and tells his brother, "So, that's gonna take a little time." Stefan storms off. Damon, you really should have started him out with a blood bag in the privacy of your own home. Work your way up to living "donors."