We pick up right where we left off last May. Vampress Katherine Pierce has just snookered the Gilbert family (and gentlevamp caller Damon Salvatore) into believing she's Miss Elena Gilbert. When the real Elena arrives at Gilbert Gables, she finds Uncle John sans a couple of digits, bleeding out on the kitchen floor. Upstairs, Jeremy Gilbert lies seemingly unconscious, dead or undead on his bed. Meanwhile, across town, car crash victim Caroline Forbes is fighting for her life at the local hospital.
Jeremy is still alive and human, and predicatably, he's all emo about it. Caroline's position is far more precarious, until Bonnie orders Damon to give Caroline some of his blood. Bonnie's all badass now, so Damon complies, despite Elena's objections. He soon figures it out it was not the fair Elena who kissed him, but rather the foul Katherine, and while he talks a good game about staking and beheading her, once he faces off with Katherine all alone, he cannot resist her. Unforunately for him and the rest of Mystic Falls, Katherine makes no bones about the fact that she has only ever really wanted Stefan (who makes it clear he hates her evil guts).
When things go to hell, like they will, Katherine visits Caroline in the hospital, gives her a "bring it" message for the Brothers Salvatore, then smothers Caroline with a pillow. WHAT?! I freak out until I remember Elena's objections to healing Caroline with vampire blood. Caroline must now be the newest member of the fang gang -- yes? Oh no, this cannot bode well for anyone, most especially her boyfriend (my Pudding Pop) Matt Donovan, who has been keeping vigil at Caroline's bedside.
Back at Gilbert Gables, Elena tries to have a heart to heart with Damon, but when she, too, says it will always, only and ever be Stefan for her, he tries to win her over by snapping her little brother's neck, as vampires are wont to do. Luckily, Jeremy is wearing the Gilbert family ring that protects him from supernatural death. This is where the mythology gets a little fuzzy. I will hit that in detail, in the full weecap. Anyhow, Elena now hates Damon, and Damon hates everyone, most especially himself, his brother and his brother's girlfriends. This is going to be completely and totally awesome.
In other news, Stefan has laid down the law with Uncle Snark Daddy and orders him to leave town. The delectible Mason Lockwood (Taylor Kinney) arrives for his Mayor-brother's funeral and gives nephew Tyler a semi-cryptic spiel about the Lockwood family curse, and the audience even more eye candy to ogle. What an embarrassment of riches, babies.
Why it gets an A-: The pacing is A+; I dearly appreciate that the premiere picked up right where the finale left off. The plotting gets a solid A, and the mythology (particularly the ring thing) is getting an B for the nonce. Damon's inner struggle is the meat of this episode, and it puts filet mignon to shame. I'm struck by how well his duelling natures are personified in Katherine and Elena. Were I wearing a hat, I'd tip it in Ms. Nina Dobrev's direction, for her nuanced portrayal of these two very different characters. Sharp, sharp work.
I'll catch you on the flip side with the full weecap. In the meantime, come on over to the forums. Katherine hasn't been invited in yet, so it's as safe as houses.
After visiting the forums, see why Diaries is so addictive!
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