Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT This Is A Story About Control -- My Control
By Cindy McLennan | Season 1 | Episode 18 | Aired on 04.15.2010
MFHS; Alaric's Classroom: Alaric catches Elena up on Isobel. No, don't be ridiculous. He catches her up on Jeremy and his Vampire history paper. They decide to hope that Jeremy is still innocent to the reality of vampires, and then Alaric gets personal (oh, not in any bad way, just stop that -- although they don't have bad chemistry) asking how she manages to lie to everyone she cares about. Well, it's not everyone, Alaric. Bonnie knows, and of course there's Stefan (and Damon), but I'll let you get back to your conversation. Elena lies to protect the ones she loves. (Just like Stefan lied to her, which put her in danger and royally pissed her off. Excellent hypocrisy there, E.) Then Alaric gets almost fatherly. "I think Stefan's a good guy, but at the end of the day, he's still a vampire." Which is really this episode's thesis. Elena's almost as good at denying Stefan's dark side as Stefan himself is. "Stefan's different. He would never do anything to hurt me." Isn't it romantic?
Gilbert Gables; Suppertime: Jeremy announces he doesn't want to go to the Founders Day Kick-Off Party. Uncle Jackass will have none of that. It's tradition! "The Gilberts have been part of this town for 150 years. We're one of the founding families. With that distinction comes certain obligations. [...] One day, when you can appreciate the significance, I'll tell you all about your heritage." Over in the peanut gallery, Jenna takes a poke at the Gilbert's and their sacred legacy. "I was never a Gilbert, so I wasn't cool enough to hear about it." Germ leans in toward his uncle and asks why Jenna hates him. Jon says, "We used to sleep together." Oh, that's it. He's Uncle Snark. Jenna throws something at him -- but sadly, I think it's Chinese food, not a knife.
Elena's Bedroom: Elena catches Stefan up on Jeremy's vampire report and wonders if Damon's thrall is starting to wear off. Stefan tells her those memories are gone for good. I wonder if he's right. I'm wondering why Elena and Stefan don't bring up Anna, here. Why haven't they made the connection. Stefan knows that Jeremy's friend is the one who grabbed Elena. Elena knows Anna's original plan was to revive Pearl with Jeremy's blood. Let's get to the connecting of dots, people. But no. Instead, Stefan recommends that Elena just talk to her brother. Clearly feeling the reverberations of her conversation with Alaric, Elena says all the secrets and lies are piling up between them. Jeremy doesn't even know she's adopted. Well, perhaps you could use that as an ice-breaker, Elena? Stefan doesn't say so explicitly, but he's with me. He suggests opening up to Germ a little and feeling him out for what he knows.