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
1864: Katherine is playing croquet with Papa Salvatore -- assuring him that he can trust her as she would never cheat. Stefan wants to come clean with their father and go to him for help. "He could help us keep her safe." Damon accuses Stefan of going mad. "No, no. Father would drive a stake in her himself." Stefan maintains they can trust him. Damon says, "No, not with this. Promise me you won't tell him, Stefan." Stefan promises.
Gilbert Gables: Damon tells Elena that there was a time he would have trusted with Stefan with anything. Elena reminds him that trust breeds trust. Damon just wants Katherine back. "I'm sure you can understand that." Elena says, "I can understand that you would do anything for her -- yes." Damon says, "Then you understand what I will do if anyone gets in my way." Elena sighs and we cut to commercial.
Damon plays video games with Jeremy, who is dodging calls from Anna. When Damon asks if she's hot, Jeremy says she is, "But she can be weird." Contrary to Barney Stinson's theory, Damon says, "Hot trumps weird, trrr-rust me." Out in the kitchen, Jenna whispers to Elena that Damon is ridiculously hot. Elena, realizing Damon is probably listening with his bionic vamp hearing, whispers back that he's an ass. In the living room, with his back to the ladies, Damon rolls his eyes. Back in the kitchen, Jenna asks why Elena is going through all the family mementos. Elena lies that she thought there might something about her birth parents. Jenna asks if Elena has told Jeremy -- because Elena's the true adult in the house, after all. Elena says she hasn't -- but she will. And, allow me to interrupt myself here, but I've seen a lot online about how Jenna is dating Alaric and yet flirting up a storm with Damon. And honestly, Scott voiced the same complaint when we first watched the episode, but I don't have a problem with it. She's not a teenager -- so every date isn't a commitment, and as far as we know, they haven't yet had their Friday Night Dinner & a Movie date, yet. But even if they have -- that would seem to me to be a date, not dating, and certainly not an engagement. It's not like she was screwing Damon's brains out in the laundry room -- and even if she was -- it's not like she and Alaric are married or even committed. Jenna doesn't know what Damon is. And he's so very pretty. I cut her total slack on her wine-fueled flirtation. So, and in conclusion? There. ANYhow, the doorbell rings. It's Stefan. Damon races Elena to the door, and when they open it, he stares at his brother and asks, "Well?"