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Grading episodes of The Vampire Diaries has become a fool's errand. Nearly every week, Williamson, Plec, and their talented cast and crew set the bar higher. Tonight's outing, "Let the Right One In," may well have been the best episode of the season/series (and I can't yet decide if I mean that it's tied with all the other best episodes of the season, or if we're working with a brand new scale). I don't even know what to do with this thing, anymore. I thought TWoP had assigned me to cover With Fangs, but it's so very much more. Oh, this show will and does appeal to the tweens and teens, but I am far from either, and yet find myself on the edge of my seat each week. And while I'm telling tales out of school -- so does my husband, Scott. I'm sorry, honey, but I see you over there, and I ain't going down alone.
While Jeremy continues his flirtation with Anna, and with the idea of being turned, Stefan, Elena and Damon decide they have to handle Fast Freddy and the other misbegotten members of Pearl's 1864 Coven. But when Pearl (who proclaims and/or pretends she is ready to abandon the idea of vengeance) steps out, Fast Freddy rounds up his sub-minions, and they capture Stefan.
Since Pearl's Coven is crashing at a human's house, and Fast Freddy has laid the thrall on said human (Ms. Gibbons) to prevent her from inviting the Salvatore Boys into her home, Damon and Elena reach out to Alaric to help them. Damon turned Alaric's wife (Elena's bio mom) Isobel, so Alaric is not exactly inclined to play nice, but they finally convince him. With his help, they get into Gibbons' home and Damon gets Ms. Gibbons out of the house, determines that she has no family who would be considered rightful owner/occupants of the property, and then...HE SNAPS HER BLOODY NECK! He and Alaric fight for their lives and Stefan's -- staking vamps left and right. Meanwhile, Elena waits in the car until she can no longer wait in the car, and then enters right into the fray, to complicate the Hell out of things -- but also, to save her man. Hurrah!
Eventually, the team frees Stefan (and, at his insistence, they spare Harper). Stefan and Elena return to Damon's car, but Fast Freddy jumps them there, and Stefan (who has been subject to starvation and SHIRTLESS TORTURE, thank you, Show) is no match for him. Elena finally gets Fast Freddy with a Vervain tranquilizer dart, but Stefan is so near death, she can't rouse him. So, she does what any girl in love with an impossibly handsome and good vampire would do -- she revives him with her own blood. You're looking at her like she's stupid, and I am too, and yet -- I would be no different -- not better -- no smarter. Stefan is able to defeat Freddy, but will he be unable to stop snarling at Elena like she was his , long overdue meal? Okay, yes he will, at least for now, and probably in the long run, but the dust is going to take a while to settle, which reminds me...
Caroline visits Matt at the Grill, but since it's a dark and stormy night, she leaves early to get home, and then gets stuck in the mud, out by the Falls. When she can't get a signal on her cell phone, she exits her car and wanders the woods, but slips down an embankment and happens upon... an arm.
Later, Caroline and her mom -- she's The Sheriff -- arrive at the Donovan's house with sad news. That arm was attached to a whole body, which, it seems, belongs to the Donovans' daughter and sister -- Vicki. Worst Mother Ever Kelly is crushed. Best Brother Ever Matt is cold to Caroline -- he wants to be alone in his grief, at least until Elena arrives and hugs the shite out of him. A hurt and offended Caroline looks on, all... hurt and offended, like the hurt and offended often are.
Denouement: Stefan and Elena try to act like he didn't just drink her blood, and didn't just growl at her like she was his long-overdue supper. Elsewhere, Anna twigs to the fact that Jeremy only wanted to be turned because of his deep feelings for Vicki. Since she's spent the episode defying her mother (Pearl) to see the Germ, she is understandably miffed, and takes off, leaving Jeremy to his misery. Meanwhile, back at Mossy Manse, Damon follows the trail of blood bags until he finds the rainbow at the end -- Stefan, cracked out on human blood and unable to rein himself in. DUN!
Was that awesome or what? I didn't mention him above, but it was so nice to see Tyler in an episode again. I do wish Bonnie would come back, though. I need to see how she and Elena resolve their conflict. I'm working on the full weecap, now. In the meantime, come on over to the forums, where we are happy to offer table manners instruction to your boyfriends, 24/7.
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I'm pressed for time, so I'm skipping the Previouslies, but take note: last week, Jeremy introduced them. This week, it's Damon.
NOW; Gilbert Gables: It's a dark and stormy night. The Gilberts, who live in a posh single-family home in a tony area of Mystic Falls, can't afford any window screens because they're ORPHANS, you cold hearted snakes. But fortunately, the windows still open and close, so when the thunder and lightning get a little too close for comfort, Elena wakes with a start, rises, and starts shutting them.
Meanwhile, Elena's little brother Jeremy, who is in dire need of a hair cut, is receiving a lady-caller in his boudoir. Scandalous! What's even more scandalous though, is that lady is no lady, she's Anna -- a centuries old girl-child/vampire. Jeremy feels her out (not up -- not yet) about vampire myth versus legend -- Dracula, in particular. The wee Spike, who lurks in the shadows of my office, feels the need to chime in. "Poncy bugger owes me eleven pounds, for one thing." Hush, Spicule. Didn't you read where I said I'm short on time? I know you're all "Dracula Schmacula," but let the children speak. Maybe we'll learn something new about our favorite Transylvanian. Besides, you've got to admit his supernatural abilities are intriguing. "Nothing but showy Gypsy stuff." Hush, I said. Hush. Anna tells the Germ that Drac is not only a complete wuss, but also a stinker who never showers. Spike: "I liiiiiike this bird." Then Anna is all PSYCHE! There's no such thing as Dracula, you tool. Ah, young love.
Jeremy continues trying to talk Anna into turning him into a vampire, because... he's just not angsty enough as a regular human teenager, darn it. When he can't even try to give her one good reason to turn him, she laughs and tells him to let her know once he can. Just then, there's a knock on Jeremy's door. Anna uses her vampyric speed to disappear, which is a good thing, because it's Elena doing the knocking. She needs some help closing the windows, 'cause she's a girl, I guess.
Pearl's Pilfered Pad: Fast Freddy sharpens stakes as he asks Pearl for more blood. She'll send Anna to the hospital tomorrow, but forbids Fast Freddy from trekking along (even if it's rainy enough to make the sunlight a non-issue -- seems he lacks a daywalker ring) because of the stunt he and the late (but not so great) Bethanne pulled with the Brothers Salvatore. Pearl -- who, my word, is beautiful -- goes on to lecture him about self-control, patience and not living their lives for the sake of revenge. Fast Freddy yeses her to death, but once she's gone, he fondles his stake and makes it clear to his sub-minions that while Pearl thinks she has it all figured out, she is so not the boss of them, because nothing can defeat the penis.
Mossy Manse; Day; Rain: As Damon boards up the window Fast Freddy busted through, he suggests invading Pearl's Pilfered Pad and seeking revenge. Stefan points out the numerous streaks of idiocy running through that plan, so we know it's close to whatever their final strategy will be. The talk turns to Pearl, and how she bullied Damon into cooperating with her (by poking out his eyes with her frigging thumbs, which would SO not be the unspoken context were it my eyes). When Damon mentions that Pearl is going to help him get Katherine back, Elena can't help but gripe that of course Damon gets what he wants, as usual, consequences be damned. What is she -- his little sister? When Damon tells her she needn't be snarky about it, I experience mixed emotions. I mean, maybe it's a "Spare the Snark; Spoil the Networks" shout-out to me, but so very probably not, because Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson are all about Carina MacKenzie (and who can blame them). But whatever. Sniff. Elena was being snide and sarcastic, which is as good of a definition of snark as anything, but... regardless of the fact that TWoP butters my bread, I can't help but think that the word snark (but not the vibe, never, ever the vibe) may well have run its course.
Anyhow, Elena tells Damon she's earned her snark -- seeing as how the whole damned gaggle of vampires formerly sealed in ye olde tomb have found their way out. And off-topic for a moment, but I want a good collective noun for vampires. We already have a murder of crows, so I am proposing a suck of vampires. What say you? Damon, feeling non-sequiturial if not digressional, asks when the hell Elena is going to get over the fact that he sired her birth mother. Arms crossed and eyebrows raised, Elena sneers. "I'm not blaming you, Damon. I've accepted the fact that you're a self-serving psychopath with no redeeming qualities." Except for those blue eyes, and muscles for which I know no decent name, but I digress. Stefan decides the snark-off between his brother and their girlfriend is less than productive and assures them they'll figure out a way to deal with the new fang gang in town. Damon, fresh out of "snark" -- leaves the room for... um... a refill.
Once they're alone, Stefan holds Elena close. She apologizes, noting that Damon just makes her cranky. Stefan: "Oh, Elena. He makes everybody cranky." Hee! You forgot dead and/or undead. He then assures Elena that he and Damon will handle everything. Stefan is bound and determined to exclude her from whatever plans he makes though, in order to keep her safe. When Elena points out that she worries about his safety too, he pooh-poohs her concerns, because she has a vagina, but to give him his due, Stefan does it with style. "What do you mean? I'm perfectly safe. I have Damon, the self-serving psychopath, on my side." Again, I say hee. Elena rolls her eyes as she sinks back into his arms. "That's comforting." We zoom out to see them locked in a tight embrace -- except they're both sticking out their bums. Do you see that? I wonder if the actors went to parochial school and are trying to leave space for the You Know Who.
Get Your Kill And Fill at the Mystic Grill: Anna and Jeremy continue to flirt for their own benefit -- and exposit for ours. I can't call him Germ all the time, because one of my son's best friends is named Jeremy and I've already slipped up with him. Of course, my son and his non-Jeremy friends thought it was HI-larious, because they're in Middle School and still weaning themselves off "humor" like fart jokes, but I do not make it a habit to pick on Middle School children, particularly nice ones like our decidedly non-germy Jeremy. Which reminds me... once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away, the very same son had a Joshua in his first grade class. And of course, everyone called him Josh -- everyone but me, who called him "Joss... Josh. Yeah, I mean Josh." What's that? You don't care about my life? You came here to read a recap of the show? Huh. Okay, then. Good thing I don't have a cat. Anna says they can hang for a little, because her mom, Pearl, isn't yet due at the Grill. Germ wants to know if Anna's mother knows she's a vampire. Anna laughs, and points out that the fact that he thinks it's possible for a vampire to live with someone who doesn't know the truth shows how un-ready he is for siring.
, they discuss the bracelet Elena gave to Jeremy. Anna likes it, but neither she nor Germ know it's loaded with Vervain, at least until Jeremy tries to give it to her. Anna -- who seems to figure it out -- requests they keep their relationship a secret, especially even from his sister. She then goes on to accuse Jeremy of only liking her because of what he wants from her. Jeremy scoffs. "No, I--I like... you." The stuttered protest is never so convincing as when you're a teen, or trapped in the body of same. Anna -- who may have been born at night, but not last night -- returns the bracelet to its rightful owner. "You should wear it. It looks better on you, anyway."
Meanwhile, at the bar, Matt tells Caroline he yelled at his mom and confesses he feels like the parent of a screwed-up kid, but he worries that if he gets too stompy, she'll take off, just like Vicki. And then, Matt breaks my heart. "I wish that she would just try a little, you know? If she would just try to try, that would be okay." Caroline: "Maybe she'll surprise you." You keep dreaming, kids. Anyhow, because another dark and stormy night is falling, Caroline decides to leave before the roads get worse. She has to go to attend her dad's boyfriend's daughter's birthday party. Matt is appropriately concerned. "Buckle up. Don't speed. Stay off your cell phone and call me when you get there." Caroline laughs. "Anything else?" Pudding Pop says, "Yes," and then it's all kissy kissy smoochie-face. Mmmm. Pudding Pop.
Mossy Manse: Damon is resetting the grandfather clock when Stefan enters the room, ready to go out for a jaunt. Damon asks, "Hunting party?" It is -- of sorts. After getting stabbed by Fast Freddy the night before, Stefan needs to feed regain his strength. The soul of generosity, Damon offers: "I have two liters of soccer mom in the fridge." Note to self: Never, even in a fit of pique, tell Damon: "Eat me." Stefan declines with a mere grin, zips up his jacket and says they'll talk when he gets back. Damon: "Give my regards to the squirrels." Oh man, it's like vittles on The Beverly Hillbillies.
Woods: Stefan is off in search of non-human prey when Fast Freddy and his minions surround him. They stake him in the gut and... COMMERCIAL.
Gilbert Gables: Elena gets call from Damon on her cell and hits ignore, but there's a knock at the door, and doors have not yet adopted the glorious features already available on our magical talking machines. So of course, it's Damon. Stefan went out in the woods, but isn't answering his phone. Elena tries to call him, because while Stefan would readily ignore his brother, he'd never ignore his present-day sweetie who is the spitting image of his sweetie of yore. When he still doesn't answer, Elena can't figure out what is up. Damon looks her straight in the eye. "You're not going to like what I'm thinking."
Pearl's Pilfered Pad: Damon bangs on the door. "Pearl, open this door or I swear to God I'll bust it in and rip your head off." Sadly, Pearl is not home, so Fast Freddy answers, and taunts Damon -- which he so desperately needs -- but not right now while Stefan is suffering, thank you very much. Fred summons Ms. Gibbons to the door and compels her never to open the door to Damon -- i.e. "this bad man." Gibbons complies, and goes on her bloody-necked yet merry way. And somewhere in there, Fred calls out for Billy, who (along with another sub-minion) drags out poor Stefan. Fast Freddy blathers on about the excruciating pain vampires experience at the beginning of a forced starvation. To drive the message home, one of his sub-minions stakes Stefan in the side. Fred then whinges about how Katherine's infatuation with the Brothers Salvatore was at the root of all the vampires' troubles. Once this lovely demonstration has sunken into Damon's brain, Fred adds, "Well, you have a nice day," and shuts the door.
Woods Adjacent to Pearl's Pilfered Pad: It's pouring as Elena waits in Damon's car. When she spies him approaching, she gets out. Damon says they're not going to let Stefan out. "They want revenge." Elena says, "We've got to do something." Damon is right there, with her. "Elena, I know, but I don't know how to get him out."
Pearl's Pilfered Pad; Insane In The Basement: Stefan is shirtless and tied up. Yes, ruminate on that for a moment. I understand.
Pearl's Pilfered Pad; Insane In The Basement: Shirtless Stefan is tied up with ropes that have been soaked in Vervain. When Fred says, "That's gotta sting," I start having delusions of a shout-out, once again, but I get over it. He then drops some Vervain into Stefan's eyes. As our poor, well-muscled victim cries out in agony, Harper tries to stop Fast Freddy, but Freddy could not care less. "He killed Bethanne -- one of us, Harper, and don't you think for a second that he wouldn't kill you if he had the chance. Pearl says we're not here for revenge, right? I say that's exactly what we're here for, starting with this...." He slices into Stefan's magically delicious chest and then grabs his throat as he adds, "And then his brother, and anyone else who gets in our way." When Harper tries to intervene, Fast Freddy grabs him by the throat and screams, "You're gonna wanna let go of me." Harper says: "Miss Pearl will be home soon." Fast Freddy: "Miss Pearl... is no longer in charge." Nodding toward Harper, Fred tells his sub-minions, "Tie him up and then stake him down." He turns back to our poor, bound, bloody Stefan. As soon as I can breathe again, I'll continue.
MFHS Corridors: When Elena and Damon find Alaric, Damon -- ever the diplomat -- can't help but crack that Alaric looks alive. Thankfully, Elena is there to plead their case. They need the human Mr. Saltzman's help to rescue Stefan, since Damon has been denied an invite Miss Gibbons' home. Elena says, "I would go, but..." Damon interrupts her. "But your life is valuable." Oh, Damon. Elena explains that they know about Alaric's magical ring which brought him back to life after Damon killed him -- the point being that he's hard to kill. With all apologies to Elena, Alaric refuses to help at first, but when Damon tells him that the woman in charge of the new fang gang can help find him find his wife, Alaric agrees, even though he knows Damon is lying.
Grill: Germ has an answer. Anna should turn him because he feels okay, but there's something missing -- like a hole. "Some people they fit... in life, or whatever. I don't." Anna is not large with the pity turn, and explains the motivations that can induce a vampire to turn a human in this MYTHOLOGY MOMENT: A vamp needs someone to do dirty work; revenge; boredom; loving someone so much that you'd do anything to spend all eternity with them. She then tells him that he doesn't fit any of those categories... yet. Just then, Pearl walks in, causing Anna to change her tune. "So yeah, just make sure your thesis is clear and she'll love it. See you later." She sends Jeremy a text that reads: "Mom." To Pearl, Anna lies that she was talking to "a friend" from the library.
As Pearl suggests they leave, Mayor and Tyler Lockwood walk in. The mayor explains that the driving is too treacherous for her to leave. "Route 5 is completely flooded." The adults make flirtatious pleasantries -- leaving the kids feeling all out of sorts. When the ladies retreat to the proffered booth, Tyler snarls, "Be more creepy, Dad." Mayor Dad fronts, talking about elections, rich constituents and what not. Tyler remains unimpressed. "And you can tell all that by looking at her ass?" Pearl and Anna, of course, hear the whole conversation with their vampyric bionic ears. Tyler begs off to shoot some pool, and we cut to...
MFHS; Alaric's Classroom: Damon, Elena and Alaric go over Alaric's weapons cache, including tranq darts filled with Vervain. Damon intends to go in all alone, but when Elena starts inserting herself into the plan, Damon and Alaric ignore her. Damon tries to placate her by offering her the role of getaway car driver. Damon condescends about understanding that Stefan's love lifts her up where she belongs, but when she persists, Damon points out that having her in the mix will distract him from Stefan, and add more blood to the potential blood bath. Alaric gets it, and is fully on board. COMMERCIAL.
Route Five: Caroline calls Matt to tell him she's on some backwards path to Hell. Since their call is breaking up, he advises her to turn around and go back the way she came. Once they're off the phone, it's not too long before Caroline's car gets stuck in the mud, and despite her spiffy green slicker, Caroline cannot get a signal on her phone.
Pearl's Pilfered Pad: Alaric knocks on the door and asks to use phone, explaining that his car broke down a few miles up the road. Fred lets him in and directs him toward the kitchen. Once there, Alaric runs the water and the food processor, to mask any sounds that might tip off the vamps to his true mission. He then stakes Billy (or whatever sub-minion), and opens the back door to reveal Damon. Miss Gibbons, still under Fast Freddy's compulsion, continues to deny Damon admittance, so at Damon's bidding, Alaric nudges her outside and into Damon's clutches. After double checking that Miss Gibbons has no spouse, parents or children to inherit the rightful ownership (and inviter-ship) of her home, Damon snaps her neck. Alaric: "You're supposed to compel her." Damon: "It doesn't work that way." Alaric: "She's human." Damon: "And I'm not, so I don't care." He pulls Alaric outside. "Now get out of here, and get rid of the body."
Woods; Car: Elena waits impatiently. Eventually, she digs through Alaric's weapons bag and pulls out a tranq dart. Just then, a branch falls and lands on the car windshield. Elena gasps for breath -- for control.
Grill: Pearl tells the Mayor she's in the process of obtaining some property, and knows that the Lockwoods own the most property in town, including the fact that they came into a lot of it in 1864. When the mayor is impressed, Pearl says, "History a passion of mine." Meanwhile, Tyler complains to Matt that his father isn't even bothering to be subtle. When Matt asks who the mayor is talking to, Ty says, "Not my mother."
Germ waits over at the bar, watching Anna from a distance as she throws darts. When he starts toward her, Anna texts: "Keep your distance. We're a secret, remember?" When Jeremy texts back, "I'm bored," Anna laughs and replies, "Suck it up." Jeremy's response? "Turn me, and I will."
Not all of this activity escapes Pearl. "I'm sorry, Mayor. Do you know that boy over there?" The Mayor turns his head toward the action. "Yeah. That's Jeremy Gilbert." Pearl: "You don't say."
Pearl's Pilfered Pad: It doesn't take the fang gang long to figure out that something is amiss in the kitchen. The poor bastard who finds the food processor and water running shuts them off, and then Damon stakes him. Alaric runs to Damon's car and to Elena, but she's not in it. He grabs his bag and heads back toward the house. Elena is already there. She finds an entrance to the cellar and makes her way down, but hangs back once she spies a vampire lurking in the hallway. Just as she's about to stab him with the Vervain-laced tranq dart, Damon disables him and then rounds on her. "Are you insane?" Commercial.
Muck And Mire: Caroline's in her car. When her phone doesn't work, and the car remains stuck, she exits. Holding her lavender umbrella (which strikes me as unbelievably quaint) she walks near the falls and tries her phone again, but it fails. When she holds it up in attempt to get a signal, she loses her footing and slides down the embankment. Once she stops sliding, she sets to work on climbing her way back up again. As she grunts and groans, she grabs onto tree roots and pulls herself up, that is, until she happens across...AN ARM!!!!
Grill; Ladies Room: As Anna washes up, she is confronted by Pearl, who knows all about her and Jeremy Gilbert. "Is that what you've been up to?" Anna: "He's my friend. What's the big deal?" Pearl reminds her daughter that the Gilbert family is responsible for her century-plus imprisonment in a mystical tomb. Anna: "That doesn't mean he'll make the same choices." When Pearl says she wants Anna to stop seeing him, Anna says that she's been on her own for a long time and can make my own decisions. Pearl cautions that as soon as Jeremy knows what she is, he'll turn on her. Anna: "He already knows. [...] He likes it and he likes me." At that, Pearl hauls off and slugs her. We cut to the bar. Jeremy watches as Pearl stalks off and Anna follows in her wake, texting: "I'll do it."
Pearl's Pilfered Pad; Insane In The Basement: Suffering Stefan addresses Harper, who is staked to his chair. He thanks him for his attempt to help. Harper says the fang gang just needed somebody to blame and punish. Maybe there's more conversation. Maybe there's not. I'm just looking at Paul Wesley's impossibly chiseled abs -- wishing for an adverb more impossible than impossibly.
Just then Elena bursts in, and takes in the sight of the love of her young life, tied up and tortured. Damon's close on her heels and already making excuses to his brother. "She was supposed to stay in the car." When Damon tries to free him, Stefan warns that the ropes have been soaked in Vervain. Maybe it's not such a bad thing that the Vagina-American insisted on involving herself in the first place. Once his brother is free, Damon is ready to take off, but Stefan insists they free Harper, too. Elena frees Harper and then looks to Damon for the move. He complies. "You rescue; I'll distract. Go!"
Upstairs, Fast Freddy orders that this sub-minions turn down the stereo. When one of their female members is staked, he grabs his own weapons and orders the subs to spread out.
Meanwhile, Elena drags a failing Stefan toward Damon's car. When they both fall, Elena finds she is bleeding from the wrist. Ignoring her own injury, she drags Stefan to his feet.
Damon attacks Fast Freddy. They struggle until a couple of the sub-minions appear and join in the fray. Eventually, Damon subdues them, though, and he beats the hell out of the last one standing until Alaric appears with his stake rifle and shoots the sub dead. Good, I totally hated that guy. Damon takes off, saying he's going after Fast Freddy.
Woods: Elena finally gets Stefan into Damon's car, but when she goes to turn the keys in the ignition, she realizes they've been broken off from the chain. It's then that Freddy appears and drags an ailing Stefan out of the car. As Freddy beats the hell out of Stefan and (non-fatally) stakes him, Elena stabs Freddy with a Vervain-laced dart. Once he's down, she drops to her lover's side and removes the stake. When Stefan is nearly unresponsive, she freaks. Commercial.
Back at Pearl's Pilfered Pad, Damon and Alaric rid the world of the newest fang gang. Once they're done, Damon notes that Fast Freddy is gone. "Let's get out of here." When they reach the front porch, they see a passel of vamps heading their way. Damon: "How many of those Vervain darts do you have left?" Alaric: "One." Damon: "Not going to be enough."
Donovan Domicile: Kelly is trying to cook a mystery casserole for dinner. Matt is touched if less than tempted. As they try to sort out their relationship, they're interrupted by the doorbell. It's Caroline -- AND SHERIFF FORBES! She's-The-Sheriff asks Matt, "Is your mom home?"
Grill: The Mayor's on the phone telling someone to keep "it" out of the news for now. He taps his son Ty on the shoulder and says they have to head out. When Ty protests, Mayor Dad explains, "They found Vicki Donovan." I don't know whose face lights up more -- Ty's or Jeremy's, but it's Ty who asks, "Are you serious? Where was she?" Mayor: "Storm unearthed the grave off County Road. They just brought her body down to the morgue." Jeremy: "Wait. She's dead?" Dun! Mayor: "C'mon, we've gotta go." Ty and the Germ share a brief look of dread, before Ty follows his dad out into the night.
Woods: Elena tries to revive Stefan, but he's too weak. He's too weak, that is, until she gives him her conveniently pre-opened wrist. After his first few sips, Stefan tries to warn her to run, but she insists he drinks deeply. "I trust you." A dying man, Stefan cannot resist. Elena, who shows more passion than Kristen Stewart has in two Twilight films combined, cringes and gasps as he draws his life from her.
Pearl's Pilfered Pad: Alaric twigs to the fact that Damon was lying about someone at the house having information on Isobel. Damon is completely unashamed. Just then, Pearl walks in, demanding to know what happened. Damon explains: "Your merry little band of vampires spent the day torturing my brother." Pearl assures him the responsible parties will be dealt with. Damon cautions her that their little arrangement doesn't stand unless she learns to control them. Pearl: "This wasn't supposed to happen." Damon: "Well, it did! If I had a good side? Not a way to get on it." Alaric follows him out, leaving Pearl and Anna to survey the carnage.
Woods: Fast Freddy starts to rise, but it's all for naught. Stefan is a super villain hero, now. He stakes Freddy dead, and then stakes him and stakes him some more, until Elena tries to break through to him. Eventually, Stefan stops with the overkill and turns to his best girl. AND GROWLS! They stare at each other, until the humanity in Stefan can break through. He drops his makeshift stake, staring at Elena as he pants. Commercial
Mossy Manse: Elena considers her reflection in the window until Stefan returns to his room. They're awkward around one another at first, but they try so hard. Stefan frets that she could have been killed while trying to save him. He's also sorry she had to see him in his vampyric form. Elena says he was like another person, "And it's my fault. I made you..." Stefan assures her she didn't do anything. "You were saving my life, and I was saving yours. Everything's going to be okay." His pants burst into flames. As he caresses her cheek, Elena's phone rings. She slides past him and answers it. "Hey, Jer. What's going on? Oh, no..."
Donovan Domicile: Sheriff Liz Forbes sits by as her daughter makes coffee and Kelly cries. Eventually, Caroline slips by a silent Jeremy and Tyler and into Matt's room. As she pours him coffee, she asks if there's anything she can do. Matt's too broken to worry about anyone else's feelings. He says he just needs to be alone right now. Caroline is hurt, but takes this rejection as best she can -- until Elena walks in. Matt's face crumbles when he sees her. Elena runs to him and takes him in her arms. Matt sobs. Elena joins him. Caroline -- always second best -- looks on.
The Grill: Alaric is drowning his sorrows when Damon joins him at the bar. "That was fun... Oh, don't look at me like that. I know you hate me. Guess what -- everyone hates me, but you can't deny we were bad-ass." Alaric swallows his drink, rises, and punches Damon right in the kisser -- then walks out. When Damon straightens up, he shrugs, says, "Happens," and takes a good long drink.
Gilbert Gables; The Germ and Elena return home. Elena tries to reach out to Jeremy, but he shuts her out, saying he's going to get some sleep. She sinks to the bottom step as he ascends the staircase.
Jeremy's Room: He opens his desk and removes a bunch of newspaper clippings about Vicki's "animal" attack and subsequent disappearance, and rips them up. It's then that Anna appears. "What are you doing?" Jeremy explains: "My friend, Vicki, she's dead." Anna knows this is the friend Jeremy thought was a vampire. "It turns out she's been dead all along." Anna's voice grows even softer than usual. "She's the reason you wanted to turn." Jeremy blinks, but doesn't answer. Anna adds: "You wanted to be with her." Jeremy turns his tear-streaked face away from Anna. When he turns back and apologizes, she's gone.
Mossy Manse: Damon follows the trail of blood bags until he finds the rainbow at the end -- Stefan, cracked out on human blood and unable to rein himself in. Stefan looks at his big brother, lost, scared, alone, confused. Damon cringes as he beholds that which he would have sworn he wanted almost as much as Katherine -- Stefan the Killer. DUN!
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