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Stefan is happy, peppy and bursting with joy... and with the human blood he's been nicking from the local hospital and lying to his near and dear about. Sheriff Liz Forbes updates Damon and Uncle Snark on that very same missing blood and asks them to team up, much to Damon's chagrin. Privately, Stefan swears to Damon that he's on the wagon, but when Damon finds little brother and his secret stash, he calls shenanigans. Stefan also swears to Elena that his cravings are lessening, but when a classmate gets cut in the parking lot, he nearly swoons, and Alaric is there to catch him in both senses of the word. Meanwhile, Bonnie is back, but can hardly bring herself to speak to either Elena or Stefan, even though she's talked to Caroline every single day since Grams' death.
There's a Miss Mystic Falls pageant at this week's Founders' Event. Caroline is up against Elena, Amber (Travis' girlfriend, Kylie, from Cougar Town), and a bunch of also-rans. Matt can't be there, because he has to work. Stefan is supposed to be there, but after Elena calls him out on his human blood consumption, he flees, freaks out, and decides terrifying, enthralling and feeding off Amber (who chooses the wrong moment to go outside and fight off a panic attack), is a better use of his leisure time. Damon squires Elena, instead. They burn up the dance floor and my fickle, fickle heart. This may be the first show where I've ever rooted for both sides of a triangle -- at least at the same time. Caroline wins the title, but Elena, who is far more concerned with her MIA boyfriend, is cool with it, since she only remained in the contest because her late mother encouraged her to enter.
When Liz and Uncle Snark happen upon evidence that Amber has been snatched, Liz calls on Damon. He, Elena and Bonnie go looking for Stefan, and find him with Amber and covered in her blood. Bonnie gives Stefan a mystical migraine and saves Amber, so Stefan takes off, then Damon calls Liz to the scene. The girls -- who are assumed to be innocent of Mystic Falls' secrets -- quietly leave the scene and then just as quietly break up with each other.
Back at Mossy Manse, Elena confronts Stefan. She wraps him in her arms, comforts him, and stabs him with a Vervain dart! Once he's disabled, Damon drags his brother off to the dungeon, and then sits with their grieving girlfriend, 'cause he's an altruist like that.
In other news, Anna and Jeremy rekindle their... friendship, which does not the escape the notice of Uncle Snark, who quickly learns that Anna's mother is Pearl. Also, Uncle Snark tells Damon that the 1864 version of Johnathan (that's how they're spelling it) Gilbert had a magical gizmo, and that it was allegedly buried in the tomb with the double baker's dozen vampires. Damon appeals to Anna to get it from Pearl, hoping to deflect Snark's heat. I'll discuss this in full, in the weecap.
This is yet another tight offering from The Vampire Diaries' cast and crew. Stefan's tumble is logical, understandable, pitiful, and yet still damned scary. Elena and Damon's chemistry is ridiculous. I think Nina Dobrev was actually blushing during their dance. Ian Somerhalder's Damon was spot-on throughout, and is so obviously sweet on Elena, that it's hard to remember he's a blood-sucking fiend. Caroline perfectly straddles the line between self-absorbed adolescent and concerned friend. The tension between Bonnie and Elena is tragically palpable. It's Paul Wesley, though, who wins tonight's title. His human-blood-fed Stefan is another character entirely than the Prozac Poster Boy we've come to know and love.
All that though, is only the beginning. I'll hit all the details in the full weecap, so check back for it, soon. Until then come on over to the forums, where everyone's a Prozac poster child.
Want more? The full recap starts right below! Bonnie's back in town. Stefan spirals down. Elena wears a blue gown. And her "near touch" with Damon is the hottest thing around.The kids have been home on school vacation and it was my youngest son's birthday -- the celebration of which included having other little boys sleepover. My point? I'm running a sleep deficit, so you're getting the quick and dirty. Speaking of... I would have said that's what Damon was like in... intimate settings, but if that old saw about watching a man on the dance floor has any truth to it, then I stand corrected. I'm also getting too far ahead so let's start at the beginning. You ready? Okay!
MFHS; Exterior: A smiling Stefan Salvatore cruises into the Mystic Falls High School parking lot, in his Matt-repaired sports car. Think Edward Cullen on mood elevators. Elena is pleasantly surprised to see he's back. They kiss, and Elena points out that they'd better hurry into school. Stefan sends her ahead, so he can open the trunk of his car and get out his book bag, which is cushioned by several thousand (or at least 20) bags of blood! Oh beauty school dropout, I knew no one could be that happy about going back to high school. Addicts, here's a tip: if you don't want your classmates to see the stash in your trunk, keep your book bag in the front seat.
Mystic Falls Founders Hall: Sheriff Liz Forbes tells Damon that there's been a theft from the hospital blood bank. The guard was questioned, but he can't remember anything. In the future, they'll give the guards Vervain. For the present, Uncle John "Snark" Gilbert offers his services and Damon's (who is as thrilled as a tax cheat at an audit) to the Sheriff. They'll track down these blood-burglars by golly. Snark: "I think we'll make a good team. Don't you, Damon?" Damon: "John, whatever I can do to help keep the town safe -- even if it means spending time with you." Hee. After her "Jackass" comment last week, I'm miffed that we don't get to see Liz smothering a smirk.
The More You Know: Dr. Grayson Gilbert's name is Johnathan (sic, sic, I say sic) but they're calling him John. Don't get me started. Jonathan is not the long form of John; it's the long form of Nathan. If that's your name, or the name you've chosen for your son, or TV character, it's your right, none of my business, perfectly lovely, etc. I just want you to know the score. And now you do. The More You Know.
MFHS; Alaric's History Class: Since Mystic Falls is approaching Founders' Day (yeah, I know), Alaric has been instructed to set aside his lessons on WWII to teach his students about their high holy day, but that's not really the point of this scene. The point is that Bonnie's back, but although Stefan and Elena are thrilled to see her again, she barely looks at them. I love the friendship between the girls on this show, and yet? I'm so excited. I've been waiting for this since Grams died.
Mossy Manse: Anna visits Damon. She's sorry that Pearl's Suck of Vampires kidnapped and tortured Stefan, and is calling on Pearl's behalf, because Pearl doesn't "do" apologies. Damon thinks that's a swell coincidence, as he doesn't "do" forgiveness. He does offer a helpful hint, though. Don't hit the hospital blood bank so hard that even the stupid humans notice. Anna says they haven't been there in a week or so. Damon suggests maybe someone in the Suck did it. Anna explains that after the Stefan-Incident, Pearl kicked them out.
MFHS Exterior: Elena chases after Bonnie and gets frostbite as she tries to generate conversation about the family, Grams' death, etc. Finally Bonnie explains that once Elena told her the tomb spell failed, she just didn't want to come back, because it seems her Grams died for nothing. Elena understands, but didn't think it right to keep that information from Bonnie. Bonnie wishes she had. Just then Caroline runs up, embraces Bonnie, and tells her she missed her, even though they talked every day while Bonnie was at her aunt's. Elena's eyes water at that, but she doesn't cry. Anyhow, Caroline has the perfect busy work for Bonnie -- helping Caroline pick the perfect dress for the Founders' Court -- Miss Mystic Falls. It seems Elena missed the announcement and forgot she even applied or signed up, or did whatever one does to get named to a Founders' Court. When Elena is less that enthusiastic about the idea, Caroline asks (oh so hopefully) if perhaps she's dropping out. Elena can't. Bonnie explains that Elena's late mother is the one who encouraged her to sign up in the first place.
Sidebar: Lemme get that straight. Miranda and Grayson Gilbert died on May 23, 2009. This year's Miss Mystic Falls pageant is in April, presumably. From conversation I didn't bother recapping, it's pretty clear that Miranda was still alive when Elena registered for this year's pageant. So -- you have to register more than a year in advance for a local pageant? Really, Show? That's a little...dumb. I like everything that always happens at these founders events, and I know it's necessary to tie today's story back to the 1864 story, but the premise is nearly threadbare from overuse. It's less credible week to week. I hope it's less of an issue year.
Mossy Manse: Damon tries to get Stefan to admit that his new swagger can be chalked up to a change in diet and I don't mean Activia. Stefan lies with a smile on his face and a song in his heart, but Damon's not buying. "You spent the last century and a half being a poster child for Prozac, and now you expect me to believe that this new you has nothing to do with human blood. Nothing." Stefan swears he's clean. Damon: "You're lying." Stefan: "Believe what you want." Oh Stefan, insisting on that last denial is such a dead giveaway. Small nitpick: Because of this show's strong track record of characters sharing important information, I'm a little disappointed that Damon fails to tell Stefan that the Council is aware of the missing blood.
Later, Stefan is on the phone with Elena, who tells him about the forgotten Founders' Court commitment and asks him to be her escort. Miranda Gilbert was way into this stuff and was even Miss Mystic in her day. Stefan says they'll do it up and it will be fun, which should set off all her alarms. After they hang up, Stefan checks his bureau for more blood. When there's none to be had in his secret stash, he heads down to the basement to his enormous, refrigerated, double-secret stash. Sadly, for him, Damon catches him. Sadly, for us, there's a COMMERCIAL.
Busted Stefan's all, "So, I'm drinking blood again?" Then he deflects blame for good measure. "You're the one who shoved it on me." Then he tries on a little denial. "I have it under control." Damon points out that robbing a hospital isn't having it under control. I want to know Damon's definition of same. A couple of weeks ago, he was dining on a couple of pre-packaged liters of Soccer Mom, right? Where was he getting that blood? Where's he getting his blood, now? At any rate, Damon reminds him they're trying to keep a low profile. "Why don't you just walk up to Sheriff Forbes and ask her to tap a vein." Stefan smirks. "Have my actions negatively impacted you?" Hee. Okay, Damon's right, but he totally deserved that. When Damon can't get Stefan's attention, he tries a new tack. "What's Elena think about the...new...you." Stefan says nothing has changed, and Elena doesn't need to know anything, yet. Damon reminds Stefan that since he's been off the human stuff for years, it's going to take a while for him to adjust to his fortified diet. Stefan can't and won't hear him. "I know it pains you to see this, but I'm fine, okay? I'm fine. So please, do me a favor -- and back off."
Founders Hall: Carol "Mulva" Lockwood interviews the Miss Mystic Falls candidates. The dialogue jumps back and forth between the girls, so I'll give you the lowdown on the candidates of note. Caroline: involved in every school and community activity there. Elena: used to be involved, but has done squat since her parents died. Amber Bradley (Spencer Locke; Kylie on Cougar Town): token townie (i.e. not from a "founding family"). There's a brunette (possibly a Fell cousin) who already won once, but doesn't think that should disqualify her. Whatever. It's blonde Autumn Dial's Tina Fell who has the line of the hour. "Just because my DUI made my community service mandatory, doesn't mean I was any less committed."
Mossy Manse: Uncle Snark shows up because Damon hasn't returned any of his calls. Is it just me, or does Anders look like he's wearing an old lady's wig, placed a little too far back. Can he have his Sark-era hair back, please? Anyhow, he wants to know when they're going to start catching vampires. Damon doubts Snark's commitment to the task, since he's standing there talking to a vampire. He then does a little digging. "What did Isobel say about that? I mean, considering she is one." Snark (note his use of the present tense): "Isobel and I share a mutual interest..." A daughter? "The original Johnathan (sic) Gilbert had an invention that was stolen by a vampire..." blah blah blah. Original Johnathan thought it was lost when the vampires were burned in Fells Church, but of course, they weren't burnt, so the invention wasn't so lost. Snark wants it back, and says Damon's going to help him find it, if he wants to keep his secret safe. Damon claims he has no idea what John's talking about. Snark's point is that Damon knows what the ye olde tyme vampires look like, but when he specifically mentions Pearl, Damon shuts him down and kicks him out. Was having his baby blues gouged out the only reminder our bad boy needed, to keep him from messing up Pearl's sandbox? Nah. Damon only suffered Snark's presence in the first place, because he thought he and Isobel might lead him to Katherine. Ugh. He figures if Snark and Isobel were in contact with Katherine, they'd know who Pearl is, because Katherine and Pearl are best friends. When Snark threatens to tell the Council what Damon really is, Damon tells him to bring it on. "I'll kill every last one of them, then I'll sever your hand, pull your ring off, and I'll kill you, too. Do you understand that?" I already hate Katherine. Do you understand that? DUN!
Totally Unspoiled Predication: Eventually, Katherine's going to have to come back, and eventually, Damon's going to have to be the one to kill her. It's the only way he's going to grow as much as he'll need to, in order to stay in the good graces of Elena and company.
MFHS; Interior: The young ladies of the Founders Court and their escorts practice dancing to Strauss's "On the Beautiful Blue Danube." If you only recognize one waltz -- that's the one. The partners begin their dance not touching. When Stefan and Elena break that rule, Mama Mulva stops them. "There's no touching during this part. It's about the simple intimacy of the near-touch." Stefan thinks the near-touch is overrated, but Damon will prove him wrong later. Don't you worry.
Ca
roline shows up for practice late. Bonnie's filling in for Matt, and listening more attentively than he would to Caroline's deep desire to win the Miss Mystic title. She figures none of the other girls are competition, but that she'll lose to Elena anyhow, because of the sympathy vote. She then remembers that Bonnie has just suffered a loss, and falls all over herself apologizing, but Bonnie understands. As she follows Caroline into rehearsal, I wonder, for a moment, if Bonnie is putting some kind of (good) hex on Caroline, so that she'll win the title, but if she is, she stops when she spies Elena and Stefan. When they greet her, she stands before them, silently. Finally, Elena asks to speak to her alone. Bonnie says there's not enough time, they have to practice, but Elena insists it will only take one minute.
Out in the hall, Elena wants to know what's wrong, but Bonnie tells her it's not worth talking about. Elena: "Is it Stefan?" In a word? Yep. Bonnie blames Stefan (who, I'll point out, tried to get Elena and the Bennett women to sit tight in Second-Sight Shack) and (more realistically) Damon. There's nothing Elena can do to make it better. Bonnie's not going to put her in a situation where she has to choose sides, but she is having a hard time with it all. Stefan is privy to the whole conversation, thanks to his super-hearing.
MFHS; Exterior: When Stefan exits, the first thing he happens upon is a group of boys in the parking lot. He's mesmerized by the one who is on the ground, bleeding from the shin. Stefan's fangs come out. He buckles and leans against a posting board as he tries to fight off his transformation. Suddenly, someone lays a hand on his shoulder. Before even looking, Stefan growls as he grabs his would-be assailant by the throat. It's Alaric, who somehow manages to free himself from Stefan's chokehold. Stefan apologizes and lies that he was feeling a little sick. He passes by the wounded boy on his way to his car. Alaric, who watches after him, starts to get the picture. Commercial.
Gilbert Gables: Elena opens the door to find Alaric, who cleans up better than your history teacher ought to. He asks her how Stefan is doing, but she still thinks everything is fine and he's bouncing back. Uncle Snark comes out and asks Alaric what he's doing. Alaric: "I'm the chauffeur." Snark thought he was driving, but Jenna disabuses him of that notion, even as she greets her handsome date. She turns back to Snark and tells him he can take the Germ.
Mayoral Mansion or Founders Fort or Somewhere Founder-y: Anna, who also cleans up well, arrives in a cute little black number, with her hair up in a carefully casual/messy updo that works because of her youth. How awesome is Malese Jow, by the way? She totally holds her own in her scenes with Somerhalder and makes you believe her Anna is his Damon's peer. She's also pretty savvy and good about staying in touch with the fandom. She's edited together a "Team Anna" video (to one of her own songs) full of notes and cheers from cast, crew, and fans alike. It's here. Ian Somerhalder starts and ends it, by the way. To those of you who thought the Anna character was too twee when she was introduced -- do you still feel that way?
Anna runs into Damon, and reminisces about the 1864 version of this event. She was going to enter until all the badness went down. Damon laughs that nostalgia's a bitch, so Anna tells him if he's just going to mock her, he can move along. He can't until he tells her that John thinks Pearl stole an artifact from Original Johnathan back in the day. Damon doesn't know what it is, but doesn't want Snark to have it. Anna says she could ask Pearl about it, but since Damon doesn't trust them, why should she. Damon points out that Snark's continued presence is going to make it impossible for Pearl and Anna to stay in town. "Find out where it is. He leaves? You can buy a welcome mat."
Upstairs at the venue, Jenna helps Elena curl her hair, in a very Katherine-esque do. They share a missing-Miranda moment, which Caroline can't help but overhear. When Elena leaves to put on her dress, we see Caroline's reflection in the mirror. She's deeply moved by what she's just heard. I mean, she doesn't cry or anything, because that would ruin her makeup, but you can tell she's actually considering it.
Outside: Snark gives an oil-slick some background on Original Johnathan. Oh, wait. That's Jeremy. The skinny: there are many more journals in addition to the one Jeremy's seen. "He had a lot of...demons." Indeed. When Jeremy asks Snark what he thinks of Original Johnathan's writings, Snark pauses and searches his nephew's eyes. Finally: "Crazy ramblings of a madman, of course." Jeremy wants to say something, but thinks better of it, and then he spots Anna across the way. He excuses himself to go talk to his...friend.
Upstairs: Amber Bradley is having a panic attack over the thought of being the center of attention and tells Elena she needs to go out for some air. Oh honey, as someone who has dealt with those nasty bastards longer than I care to remember, I'd usually tell you to breathe nice and slowly and remember it will pass, but since you're in a town full of vampires, your panic is actually warranted, so I've got nothing -- not even any Vervain.
Once Elena is alone, Damon shows up and squeals that Stefan is still drinking human blood. A month ago, Damon would have rejoiced, but with the Council on the alert, the timing couldn't be worse. When he tells her about Stefan's fridge full of blood bank blood, Elena gasps and sits down. Damon explains that since Stefan has spent so much time fighting his normal cravings, he's never learned to control them. Now that he's drinking the good stuff, he's not going to be able to stop.
Downstairs: Jeremy catches up with Anna who accuses him of trying to use her -- i.e. begging her to turn him. Jeremy plays tit-for-tat, and reminds her that she only befriended him so that she could enjoy the irony of using Gilbert blood to revive Pearl. When Anna asks how he knows that, Jeremy demurs, but he does brag that he knows everything.
Back upstairs, Elena is beating herself up for feeding Stefan her blood in the first place. Before Damon can respond, his brother walks in. Now that he's on full feed, Stefan seems less Zen about the idea of Elena being "their" girlfriend and wants to know what's going on. Damon admits straight up that he just squealed about Stefan's extra-curricular activities. When Stefan plays obtuse, Elena says, "I know about the blood, Stefan." Damon takes his leave. "I'll be downstairs, drinking." Once the lovebirds are alone, Stefan lies that he was going to tell Elena, that he's fine, that nothing's changed. He then plays the blame game. Why would he have willingly told her, considering how she's acting right now? Elena is not going to join in. She calls him on his crap -- stealing blood and lying. Stefan continues to insist he's fine. "Elena, I thought you believed in me." Before she can respond, Mama Mulva knocks and enters. Elena begs for just a moment, but Mulva is firm. "Escorts wait downstairs, Stefan."
Stefan retreats to a bathroom, vamps out, and then breaks a mirror with his fist. Poor Amber chooses that moment to enter without knocking. Use that panic, girl. Run! Nope. Commercial.
The Founders Court is introduced. First up is Tina "DUI" Fell. While she descends the staircase, Mulva asks Caroline and Elena if they've seen Amber. They haven't and Elena can't see Stefan. Caroline looks with her, but all she can see is her boring non-Matt escort. It seems Pudding Pop has to work (read: the CW is cheap) and won't be there in a tux. Boo. Elena decides she's not going through with the pageant. She has to find Stefan, and this just isn't her, anymore. Caroline stops her and reminds her she had her chance to drop out. "You're doing this because it was important to your mom." Aww. Given her (ju
stifiable, in some senses) jealousy of Elena, that was a lovely, mature, generous thing to do. Before, I was hoping she'd lose because I am a sucker for the DRAMA, but now, I hope Caroline wins. Besides, she deserves it. Just then, her name is called. She descends the stairs in her lovely green satin gown to meet her escort, Jeffrey Lockwood-Hamilton. Mulva tells Elena she's .
Downstairs, it seems Jeremy has told Anna about reading Elena's journal after all. Part of him is angry that Elena covered up Vicki's death and had his memory erased, but in a nice parallel to Bonnie's wish for the pretty lie, he's sort of glad big sister did what she did. "I don't want to remember Vicki like that." Anna cringes. "As a monster?" Germ: "No. As someone who wanted to hurt me." Anna confesses that while Jeremy was just a pawn in her strategy to get her mother back at first, things changed. She'd never do anything to hurt him, now. Jeremy says he knows that. Off to the side, Uncle Snark watches and maybe eavesdrops.
Parking Lot: Stefan drags Anxiety Amber out to his car and goes into a completely manic breakdown over the fact that Elena "knows." Clearly compelled, Anxiety Amber sounds like the Buffy-bot as she notes he seems sad. Stefan laughs and rubs his eye. "I'm not sad. I'M FREAKING HUNGRY!"
Inside, Mayor Lockwood introduces the member of the Court. "Miss Elena Gilbert, escorted by Mr. Stefan Salvatore." Yeah, not so much. As she rounds the curve in the staircase, Elena finds not Stefan, but some nameless boy who looks at her all Um... Panic flashes across Elena's face, but she takes a deep breath and continues her descent. It's then that Damon realizes her predicament and steps into his brother's shoes, or at least his place. He gives her a grim smile and as she asks where Stefan is, Damon says he doesn't know. They go outside, where Jenna whispers to Alaric, "What is she doing with Damon?" Alaric: "I don't know?" Pssst, guys. They're really hot, so shut up.
Outside; Dance Floor: The dance begins. The young ladies and gentleman honor their partners and Elena asks Damon what they're going to do. He tells her right now, they've just got to get through this. "This" appears to be proving Stefan oh so very WRONG about the effect of the near touch. My word, I don't know if I can recap this scene without swooning. People have been complaining about the use of Within Temptation's "All I Need" during this scene. Judge for yourself. In theory, I suppose they're right. In practice, all I can do is look at this beautiful couple. His tie matches his eyes which coordinate with her gown and the bejeweled comb holding back some of her hair. They circle one another like wary cats -- hands almost touching but not. Clockwise. Counter-clockwise. Clockwise. Oh FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, TOUCH ALREADY! The Within Temptation lead singer agrees with me. All my agony fades away, when you hold me in your embrace. And there, finally, he holds her in his arms. And that's it. That's the moment. That's the game changer. Somerhalder always has those pretty, flushed cheeks, so you really can't tell when he's blushing, but the olive-skinned Nina Dobrev is suddenly just as pink. They dance. They stare. Damon's gaze is mature, appreciative, flattering, and not at all a leer. He changes into the antebellum southern gentleman he was meant to be. When it's time for them to part, Elena realizes she's just had OMGEYESEX with her boyfriend's brother. She can't meet Damon's gaze. He can't take his eyes off her. Meanwhile, the Nielsen people try to figure out why the DVRs they monitor keep rewinding to the 8:40 PM mark.
Parking Lot; Sunset: You know, it's not so much a lot as a road, but whatever. Stefan is still freaking out on poor, enthralled Anxiety Amber, who ought to catch the bus back to Cougar Town. "I don't hurt people. I don't do that. I'm the good brother." Ha. When Amber asks if he wants to hurt her, he says he wants to kill her, rip into her skin, feed on her blood. He waxes poetic about her carotid artery. This is no OMGEYESEX dance, lemme tell you, but it manages to be tense and funny at the same time. Stefan says if he gives in, there's no going back. Amber tells him not to. Stefan then swears he just wants one taste. Amber parrots his last words. He gives in and drinks his way to COMMERCIAL.
Event: Caroline is crowned Miss Mystic Falls. Hooray! Even Elena is thrilled. Caroline can't believe it. Meanwhile, Liz misses her daughter's coronation. She's off with Snark in the bathroom. No, not for that. They're inspecting the broken mirror and the blood (which is just Stefan's, but they don't know that) Stefan left in his wake. Liz says, "Get me Damon Salvatore." Yeah, maybe he can do something with Snark's hair.
Outside; Nightfall: Stefan continues to struggle with his nature. Amber doesn't mind, she just tells him that time, he shouldn't do it so hard. He rushes toward her, babbling that he can't stop, but is distracted by the fact that she isn't afraid. When he asks her why, she reminds him, "You told me not to be." He's so messed up he doesn't even remember he compelled her. In a brief moment of sympathy, he orders her to fear him and run away, right now.
Inside: Bonnie overhears Damon telling Elena about the signs of a struggle in the upstairs bathroom, and the fact that Amber is missing. When Elena tries to convince herself that Stefan wouldn't hurt Amber, Damon evades the subject. "Let's just find him, okay." Bonnie follows after them.
Outside: Poor Anxiety Amber runs and runs and runs, until she runs right back into Stefan. "You said to run!" Stefan: "I changed my mind." He sinks his teeth into her neck. Her screams lead Elena, Damon and Bonnie right to the grisly scene. When Elena calls out Stefan's name, he lets Amber drop to the ground. Blood and saliva still drip from his bottom lip. He looks like a rabid animal. Damon moves in on his brother as he encourages him to breathe through it and get control, but Stefan hurls him through the air and into a tree. As Elena cries for Stefan to stop it, Bonnie realizes she must intervene. She gives Stefan the same sort of mystical migraine that Grams gave Damon when he showed up at Second Sight Shack. This is enough to call Stefan to his senses. As Damon assures him it's okay, Stefan looks at the girls and dies a thousand deaths. He takes off through the night. Commercial.
Amber's okay. Liz talks to her and then updates Damon and the girls that Amber can't remember anything. She asks Bonnie and Elena if they saw anything. Bonnie doesn't open her mouth, so Elena lies that they just found Amber like that and called Damon. Bonnie asks if Amber will be okay. Liz assures her she will and sends them back to the party.
Once they're alone, Elena tries to get Bonnie to talk to her, but Bonnie says there's nothing to talk about. When Elena pleads, Bonnie turns to face her. "I told you I wasn't going to make you choose, but I need to make the choice for myself. Please, just leave me alone." Elena watches as Bonnie gets in her car. We cut to...
Inside, Jeremy and Anna are still chatting with each other when Aunt Jenna asks him if he's ready to leave. When he asks for a moment, Jenna leaves them and smirks to herself, because she thinks her nephew is flirting with a cute young girl, instead of a cute, old vampire. Snark asks who the girl is. Jenna says she's Anna, daughter of Pearl, the woman who's trying to buy Grayson's building. Snark says he believes he already knows all about Pearl, because that won't make Jenna curious at all, will it?
Entry way, as Alaric leaves to get the car, he runs into Elena and gets a look at her expression. "What happened?" She looks up at him, like you look up at your daddy, when you very much need your daddy.
Outside: Pearl and Anna surprise Damon, who says, "All right now, this is getting weird." When Anna says they want to talk, Damon says he's not in the mood. "Today's been a no-good, very bad day." I
t's then that Pearl presents him with another Original Johnathan Gilbert original. Yep, it's another invention. It looks like a pocket watch, so at first I think it's the ACTUAL VAMPIRE COMPASS, but either the Salvatores or Gilberts are currently in possession of that, so it can't be, unless it's another one. And it's not. Pearl knew about the ACTUAL VAMPIRE COMPASS and thought she stole it, but realized she was wrong, once Gilbert used the ACTUAL VAMPIRE COMPASS to out her, back in 1864. Pearl has no idea what this new old gizmo is. Neither does Damon and he wants to know why Pearl is giving it to him so readily. "What's the catch?" Pearl says there is none. They just want to stay in town, and realize Damon refuses to trust them, so he should consider the Gilbert Gizmo an apology, but the words, "I'm sorry my Suck kidnapped and tortured your brother," never leave her lips, because remember, Pearl doesn't "do" apologies.
Mossy Manse: Elena finds Stefan, who is not shirtless, but once again in a tank-style undershirt. Elena tries to give Stefan credit, saying "that" wasn't "him." She blames the blood for making him that way, but Stefan says he's always that way, the blood just brings it out. He wanted to drain Anxiety Amber dry. Elena shakes her head and says he can't scare her off. She blames herself for making him drink her blood, but Stefan says all she did was expose who he really is. When she insists this isn't him, he slams his hand down on a table and tells her not to get any closer. She insists, even as he yells stop, and finally, he shoves her up against the wall. Elena tries to regain her breath as she deals with this shock. Stefan, for his part, realizes immediately what he's done and apologizes. Elena hugs him as he sobs into her shoulder, and assures him he'll be okay. And then, she stabs him in the back. Literally. With a Vervain dart. HOORAY!
Damon walks in and asks her if she's sure she wants to do this. She's sure. They lock the still unconscious Stefan down in Damon's former dungeon accommodations. Damon can't guarantee that this will work but Elena says, "It has to." It's clear he plans to leave and asks Elena if she's coming. TMI, Damon, and probably not, since you're not currently dancing. OH! I told you that you were getting the quick and dirty. I was determined to be half right. Actually, Damon just wants to know if she's leaving the dungeon corridor. Elena says she's going to stay there, and sinks to the floor. Silently, Damon sits down across from her and settles in for a long night. They're still looking at each other as we fade to the title card.
Before I close, I have to hand it to Paul Wesley. He showed more range tonight than I imagined he had. I mean, I was already impressed by his ability to act/seem older when talking to an older character, but his manic, suffering Stefan is also a thing of beauty and really, he owns this episode. What's more, his swaggering Stefan is so different than the other versions of Stefan we've come to know and love. He showed us immediately that something was up. He's hit every note in this addiction arc. Bravo.
It will be interesting to see how this resolves itself. If Stefan goes cold turkey (or squirrel, as the case may be), he'll lose his powers and strength. Is Damon's way the right way? For a vampire, blood can't be like crack, or heroin. I guess it can be likened to booze for the alcoholic (because there are other things to drink), but really, it's closer to food for an over-eater. Humans cannot stop eating, or we die. These vampires can't forsake human blood without giving up their strength. I hope the writers continue to handle this arc as deftly as they have up until now. I was more worried, until Damon's speech about vampires having to learn control. Now I recognize that this seed was planted during Vicki's story, and it's flowering in unexpected ways. Again I say Bravo.
I can't close without getting into the ethics of OMGEYESEX with your vampire boyfriend's vampire brother. Some fans have been a little disappointed in Elena and Damon (more morally speaking, than anything else), but not me. Overall, I understand that Stefan and Elena are the anchor-couple and I usually root for them. Once they got off that break-up/make-up carousel they were on at the beginning, they really grew on me. And yet? During that dance, all I could think about was Damon and Elena. I've probably rooted for both sides of a triangle before, but never at the same time -- and not like this.
I think what's different here is that neither Elena nor (even) Damon meant to burn up the dance floor. They were both preoccupied with Stefan, and were just going through the pageant to keep appearances up and suspicions down. And then BOOM! Spontaneous combustion. It's real and right that they would only feel the heat, only let themselves feel the heat, when Damon wasn't leering at, flirting with, or otherwise pursuing Elena. She'd never fall for that crap, and if she did fall for that crap, he wouldn't respect her. He's easy to turn off when he's being a drama queen, or setting her up to button his shirt and what have you. But determined, understated, serious, considerate, concerned Damon? In a tux? Elena isn't made of stone, and neither am I. Whatever. I'm finishing up now, so I can go watch that scene, again. Lord have mercy.
See you Friday morning with my recaplet/review of "Blood Brothers," in which we (and Elena) learn more about the Brothers Salvatore. I cannot wait. In the meantime, hop on over to the forums, where everyone's a Prozac poster child.
Cindy McLennan is wasting away in front of the TV. Try to break its thrall by e-mailing her at CynthiaMcLennan[at]gmail.com, or following her on Twitter. Speaking of Twitter, check out her "TVD Cast and Crew" reading list, in the righthand sidebar of her Twitter page, to follow the good people who bring us our vampire crack, week after week.
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