Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A- | 4 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Family Ties That Bind And Gag
By Cindy McLennan | Season 1 | Episode 13 | Aired on 02.04.2010
ANYhow, Stefan kisses Elena on her achey head and says he'll go downstairs and find her some aspirin. She flops on the bed as he descends the staircase and meets up with Jenna, who says, "You know you're not staying the night, right?" Um, Jenna -- I'm pretty sure this episode opened up with a morning after Elena spent the night at Stefan's. Furthermore, I'm pretty sure you turned a blind-eye when Vicki spent the night with Jeremy. Look, I'm a parent. This crap is hard. But pick a stance and stick with it, and half of your problems will disappear. Stefan's too polite to say any of that. He just says they're going hang. Jenna smiles. "You're lucky I like you. Keep the door open." Stefan says, "You've got it," and asks for some aspirin. While Jenna is looking for it, Jeremy walks into the room, greets Stefan and as a door closes he asks Jenna, "Oh hey, where'd she go?" Jenna says "she" went to the bathroom. Stefan asks who they're talking about. Jeremy says, "Anna." Stefan flashes back to...
1864: Anna looks on in horror as Katherine is hauled away. Her mother tells her to stay hidden and get Emily. "I'll get us out of here." As Pearl unties her horse, she's greeted by an eager Jonathan Gilbert. "Do you see all this? The town's gone mad running after all the demons." Pearl does her best to smile and nod, but then Jonathan's ACTUAL VAMPIRE COMPASS starts whirling and whirring like it's on overtime. It sputters and clicks until it stops -- and points right at Pearl. Jonathan looks at her in horror. "You?" Across the way, Emily and Anna hide in the bushes. Pearl begs for her life, but to no avail. Jonathan yells, "I've got another one, over here." Pearl tries to zoom away from him, but he shoots her, and by the way she falls, he's used wooden bullets. He slaps another Hannibal Lecter-ish mask on her, and has her dragged away. In the brush, Emily keeps her hand clasped over Anna's mouth, for her own good. "It'll be all right. You're going to see her again. I already know how to protect them. I'm going to protect them." Stefan looks from the horrible scene in front of him, over to the frightened, hiding women. We cut to...
Present Day: Stefan takes only a moment to realize the meaning of his memory. He zooms upstairs, and calls out Elena's name. But by the time he gets to her room, she's gone. Her window is left flapping in the breeze. And? Scene!
Well, that was quite the episode. I cannot commend the writers enough on their pacing. Nothing is rushed, but nothing is beaten into the ground, either. Every reveal leads to another, rather than a dead-end. That doesn't mean I don't have questions. I do. I was under the impression that Katherine sired Damon and Stefan. I'm now left wondering how and when that happened. I also wonder who turned Anna and when she was turned; that Pearl was worried about her safety around the horse seems to indicate she was still human during the events of this episode. I wonder if Pearl was evil, or if she was also a vegan vampire. I wonder why Emily was as loyal as she was to the local fang gang. I also wonder when Stefan and Damon are just going to kiss and make up. The thing is, I'm not sitting here all discouraged that I'll never get any satisfactory answers. In just a little more than a half a season, the writing staff has built up my faith in them to what is probably a ridiculous degree. I do think both Stefan and Damon are being a little hard on 1864 Stefan, and yet I do understand why. It isn't all sunshine and roses, though. Last week, I was so thrilled that Elena fought to save her own life, so it was a little disappointing to have both her and Bonnie turned into damsels in distress, this week. I'll hold further comments on that though, until I see what happens next Thursday and my word, I can't wait until Thursday. Before I close, I just want to applaud Dobrev, Somerhalder, and Wesley for their impressive performances in their 1864 roles. Honestly kids, I didn't think you had it in you; I was so very wrong. I'm particularly impressed with Dobrev. Her Katherine is as bad as Elena is good. Kudos. Next up is "Fool Me Once." In the meantime, come on over to the forums, where we never, ever sing karaoke.