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I almost headlined this episode "Sacrificial Fam" because the Gilbert kids set out to die for one another, but then I got earwormed by Prince, so there you go. Elena snookers Rose into taking her to Slater's. Rose thinks they're looking for more doppelganger sacrifice information, but actually Elena's looking to give herself up to Satan Klaus via Slater's connections, in exchange for the safety of her family. Once Rose realizes what Elena is up to, she places a phone call, but more on that later. As you'll recall, Slater is dead, but his vamp-wannabe girlfriend, Alice, helps them hack into his computer and find his Elijah connection. Elena promises Alice that Rose will turn her for her troubles, but she doesn't mean it. Sneaky!
Meanwhile, Bonnie, Germ, Stefan and Damon scheme to get the moonstone out of ye olde tomb, without releasing ye olde Katherine. Bonnie creates a dry potion that will subdue Katherine long enough for Bonnie to temporarily lower the mystical seal and the tomb and let the Salvatores sneak in and grab the moonstone and then sneak back out. Jeremy's against this plan, since he knows the seal-spell could drain and otherwise injure Bonnie, so he breaks ranks first. Armed with an Alaric-made stake-gun, he beats the gang to ye olde tomb and shoots at Katherine, which doesn't kill her but does catch her off guard. , he throws the potion in her face -- and she's down! He's then ridiculously slow in finding the stone and scurrying out of the tomb, giving Katherine just enough time to revive and have a nice long drink of fresh, hot Jeremy (but only after he manages to chuck the moonstone past the seal). When Bonnie and the Brothers Salvatore arrive at the tomb, Damon gets a call from Rose. He remains outside to talk, because ye olde tombs don't get good reception.
As Bonnie and Stefan discover that Jeremy is Katherine's new chew toy, Damon learns where Elena is and what she's up to. He rushes to Slater's place, but by then Slater's connections have arrived to retrieve the surrendering doppelganger, and Elijah himself has arrived to confuse the heck out of everyone. Elijah is there thanks to a locator spell that Senior Manwitch cast for him. Once he determines that the connections have told no one of their mission, he dispatches them -- to death -- BY RIPPING OUT THEIR HEARTS and then walks away, leaving Damon and Elena confounded, if relieved.
There's another whole subplot with Caroline and Tyler (in which we get another look at Uncle Brick House -- yay) and it dovetails nicely with Matt and Caroline's residual feelings for one another. There's passion, tension and anger galore between Elena and Damon. Also, things heat up between Bonnie and Jeremy AND between Bonnie and Junior Manwitch. She even channels his power when she's trying to lower the seal on ye olde tomb and free Katherine in exchange for Jeremy. When the spell fails (thanks, I think, to Senior Manwitch's interference), Stefan ends up sealing himself in the tomb, WITH KATHERINE, in order to free Jeremy. Finally, there's some nearly nekkid Alaric action, but I'll save that for the full weecap.
On first watch, I say this was a strong, well-paced, twisty return. I haven't graded the episode, yet. I'm so happy to have the show back after a 3-week drought that I'm afraid I might give it an A+ just for existing. Don't let my hesitance stop you, though. I'm seeing mixed reactions on the boards and want to know what you think, so please grade the episode at the top of the page now, and, hey, grade it when you come back to read the weecap -- which I'll put up, ASAP. Until then, please join us on the boards. Don't make me throw you over my shoulder and carry you there, just click the link.
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Want more? The full recap starts right below!"Sacrifice" is another crackling episode. It gets a B+ mostly because there are a few moments that take me right out of the story. Okay, yeah, I know this is a vampire show, but within that context, there are some things I have a hard time believing and a couple are right at the outset, so let's get to it, shall we.
Night; Gilbert Gables: Someone is sneaking around Elena's house. The sound-effects crew wakes her, because they're helpful like that, but she doesn't catch the intruder, because he's Senior Manwitch. Even though he's magical, it seems to me there are real logistical problems with this scene, particularly Senior's hiding. See, Elena gets up, goes down the hall and then she runs into nekkid Alaric holding a bowl of ice cream. Don't worry. I haven't mistaken this weecap for my dream journal. There's truly an au naturel Alaric, holding a bowl of ice cream, which he deftly lowers to cover his...Alaric, which is just off-camera.
Actually, although they play it off like he's really naked, and he even says, "I'm naked," after an awkward scene with him, Jenna, and Elena, we get on-screen confirmation that he's wearing boxer shorts. But, during the bulk of the scene, it really does seem like he's naked, and he's not just Elena's aunt's lover, he's also Elena's very own history teacher, so I am just sitting here thinking that she's talking to her history teacher -- who is naked. Granted, Alaric isn't even the same species as my history teacher. I mean, if you have to run into your naked (or nearly so) history teacher, you'd be lucky to be Alaric's student. He's buff, bronzed and hasn't had his chest waxed. There's no bad there, is what I'm saying, except for the NAKED HISTORY TEACHER IN MY HOUSE part.
Anyhow, while our trio have their awkward scene, Senior Manwitch manages to sneak into Elena's room from wherever he was hiding. He's clearly going to do some mojo on her, because he collects some of her hair, a picture, some jewelry and other stuff. What, no eye of newt? [If you ask me, the newt name still means something. -- Willow]. Maybe he has some back home in his man-cauldron. And here's where it becomes even less believable that he's not caught, because he exits Elena's room to hide again, but she's heading to her room and I can't figure out how it works. All right, enough. I'll get to the rest of the story. I just can't get into this whole scene, no matter how many times I watch, which is a darned shame, given that there's nearly nekkid Alaric.
Sooooooooo then, Stefan and Damon head down to ye olde tomb to talk to ye old Katherine. And when thye leave, they fail to close the tomb door, which is necessary for the rest of the story to play out, but it doesn't settle well. Sure, the seal is keeping Katherine in, but what's to keep some innocent by-stander from wandering in and becoming her meal? Whatever, we're already on to the scene...
Morning; Gilbert Gables: Stefan and Damon appear at Elena's door and we flash back to their convo with ye old Katherine and ye olde tomb. They want the moonstone, so they can de-spell it. She wants out. She's dirty, starving and bored, but she still manages to compliment Damon's pretty eyes, because -- well just look at them. Katherine promises she'll leave Mystic Falls for good, if only they'll release her. Back in the Gilbert kitchen, they make clear to Elena that they don't believe Katherine. They plan to have Bonnie release the seal for just long enough for them to get in, get the moonstone and get out. Elena doesn't want them to do it. And she doesn't want them to de-spell the moonstone, because she thinks that will just bring Satan Klaus's wrath down on her loved ones. She can't bear the thought of losing anyone, just to save herself.
School; Exterior: Bonnie and Junior Manwitch have a magical moment. He takes her bracelet, gives her his dog-tags and teaches her how to channel another witch. It's all kind of sexy with the wind blowing and the leaves swirling around them, but it leaves me cold, because I'm already a little invested in seeing Bonnie with Jeremy. What can I say? The poor boy breaks my heart -- especially when his hair looks good. When he approaches the impromptu, mini-coven, he can't help but act a little proprietary, and Bonnie looks a little guilty. When Junior takes off, and Jeremy comments that he's weird, Bonnie immediately blurts out, "No he's not." It's then that she realizes (as does poor Germ) that she still has Junior's dog-tags. She can't do anything about it though, because Junior's gone and Damon is texting her.
Mossy Manse: Elena enters. From the other room, Rose calls out, "It's not nice to leave a girl naked so early in the morning." Ooops, awkward. When Rose (who isn't naked by the way either, she's in a robe) sees Elena, she excuses herself to get dressed and then they talk. Elena wants to make a deal. She'll have Bonnie make Rose a day-walker ring, if Rose will help her. Elena says she wants to go see Slater and learn more about Satan Klaus. Elena is lying.
School; Exterior: Matt meets up with Tyler. My poor Pudding Pop is tormented by guilt that he got drunk (Matt, you were COMPELLED BY A VAMPIRE BUT I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO LOVES YOU ENOUGH TO TELL YOU), and picked the fight with Tyler that resulted in Sarah's death. Tyler, who is always intense -- is far too casual in this scene. I mean after all, he's the one inadvertantly caused Sarah's death. He's all like don't worry about it, bro. Pudding Pop leaves him and runs into Caroline. They're both so sweet and full of longing, but Pudding Pop is struggling to hold back the tears because he's such a mess over everything that's happened. He excuses himself, leaving me and Caroline just bleeding for him. Oof.
Slater's Place; Richmond: Elena and Rose find Slater right were we left him -- lying dead on the floor with a stake through his chest. After the commercial break, the girls wander around, and then Elena tries to snoop around on Slater's computer, but it's password protected. Lucky for her, Slater's wannabe-vamp girlfriend, Alice, is wandering around. Surely, she'll come in handy.
Mossy Manse: Bonnie and Germ are with the Brothers Salvatore. She's going to create a potion (well, a powder -- must potions be liquid?) that will temporarily disable Katherine, so that the boys will have a better chance of getting out of the tomb without her killing them, or trailing along behind. She needs something that belongs to Katherine, so Stefan gives her that old picture. Of course Katherine had a picture of herself! Love it. Anyhow, Bonnie does the spell, and her nose starts to bleed -- which does not escape Damon's notice!
Grounds of the Old Lockwood Estate: Tyler and Caroline talk about her situation with Matt. He gets it -- she can't be with Pudding Pop because she can't be honest with him. Ooh, yeah, that's a budding triangle you're seeing. This show is overrun with them, but as long as they keep drawing them well, I'm fine with that. Anyhow, the kids go down into the Lockwood cellar, and inspect the restraints to see if they'll hold Tyler when he makes his transformation at the full moon. They also find Mason's journal in which he's chronicled his life as a werewolf. Can there be pictures? I miss Mason. There's a SanDisk tucked into the back cover of the journal that may contain even more information.
Mossy Manse: Bonnie's bloody nose didn't escape Jeremy's notice, either. While the brothers load up the car with weapons and what not, Jeremy confronts Bonnie, but she shushes him, by placing her finger over his lips, because she doesn't want anyone else to know about her weaknesses. And Jeremy knows that, but he still nearly kisses the finger and really kind of looks like he wants to bite it. They have a little moment. He doesn't want her to get hurt, but she can't let Elena die. He sends Bonnie off to get something to contain the magical ash, and then scoops some into his own pocket, all sneaky like. Oh boy, what are you going to do?
Slater's Place: Elena is feeling terribly for the poor, mourning Alice, at least until Rose informs Elena that Alice is just a vampire groupie who was just using Slater in hopes of getting turned. Once Elena knows the score, she approaches Alice in hopes of obtaining Slater's password. Alice tries to play the offended widow at first, but Elena persists and promises that Rose will turn Alice if only she'll do their bidding. Alice eagerly accepts, proving herself a heartless fake, and horrifying Rose who has no intention of turning this ninny, and I don't blame her. When they have a moment alone, Elena reassures Rose that she doesn't expect her to turn Alice -- she's just using Alice. Rose is impressed. Slater, a vampire, was obsessed with vampires, so his password turns out to be "Kristen Stewart." Ahahahaha. I love how this show tweaks Twilight all the time.
Anyhow, they discover Slater's Satan Klaus/Elijah contact is Cody Webber. It's then that Elena reveals she doesn't want more Satan Klaus intel. She wants to die. As brave and foolish as can be, she instructs Alice to email Cody. "Tell him we're trying to get a message to Klaus. The doppelganger is alive and she's ready to surrender." While Rose is horrified, Alice gets all fan-girly. "Oh my GOD! I knew I recognized you." Rose follows Elena into the other room and reminds her that if Klaus knows the doppelganger is alive, he'll kill her. And then it hits her: "...which is exactly what you wanted all along!" Elena explains that since it's either her or her family. She's the anti-Katherine. I love her so much, even if I want to slap her for trying to get herself killed.
Ye Olde Tomb: Jeremy arrives alone, shoots Katherine in the gut with a stake, using one of Alaric's handy-dandy weapons, throws the ash in her face, incapacitates her, enters the tomb, finds the stone, poses with it for an Indiana Jones kind of moment, and then takes far too long getting out. Katherine rises and sinks her fangs into his neck and drinks deep. Jeremy does not escape, but he does manage to throw the moonstone out of the sealed portion of the tomb.
Up above, Stefan and Damon are waiting by the steps down into the tomb. And even with their super-vamp hearing, they don't notice that their girlfriend's brother is screaming in pain down below. Allow me to roll my eyes: @_@. There. That's better. Anyhow, Bonnie arrives with the grimoire, and is surprised Jeremy isn't waiting for her. Oh, but Bonnie, he is. As she and Stefan descend the stairs, Rose calls Damon and tells him he's got to get to Richmond and Elena, right away. Down below, Bonnie and Stefan find the moonstone, and discover Jeremy suffering in Katherine's clutches.
Casa Manwitch: Elijah is totally working with Senior Manwitch! They're using all the stuff Senior stole from Elena to do a locating spell on Elena. It works. Elijah sees her with his mind and knows exactly where she is. Meanwhile, down in Richmond, Elena sees Elijah's reflection in the window and nearly jumps out of her brave, if suicidal skin.
Ye Olde Tomb: Bonnie starts the unsealing spell so that Stefan can get in and save Jeremy. She needs more power though, so she channels Junior Manwitch who has just arrived home. And the show keeps jumping back and forth between scenes, but I'm not going to. Not only does Bonnie's nose bleed. Junior Manwitch's does, too. He reveals to his father that he allowed Bonnie to channel him, so once it's clear that Junior Manwitch is in severe distress, Senior does something that seems to clog the channel and free his son.
Fortress Forbes: Tyler and Caroline download the contents of the SanDisk. Oh look, there's a recording of nearly nekkid Mason. Brick House, my love, why did you leave me so soon? Why isn't there better resolution on Tyler's laptop? Anyhow, it seems Brick House recorded his initial transformation. It takes hours and hours and is excruciatingly painful. Tyler is understandably freaked. He can't go through this. I don't blame him.
Slater's Place: Damon shows up and gets quite stern and a little rough with Elena. Some people are bothered by this. And I -- champion and cheerleader of Elena's agency? Well, I have to be honest with you people. I find it smoking hot. I mean, she's essentially trying to kill herself and Damon loves her. What's he gonna do? Were Elena your sister, daughter, mother, or heck, brother, son, father -- what would you have Damon do? I know what I'd want him to do -- exactly what he does. And he does it with finesse. "Get your ass out the door, before I throw you over my shoulder and carry you out, myself." Throughout this, Elena remains steadfast and ready to lay down her life for her loved ones. She does not want to be saved at their expense. She struggles with him and tries to strike him. Damon grabs her fist, and easily overpowers her and oh my word, they almost kiss. My knees just got weak and I think I'm blushing. Instead, though, he warns her never to do that again.
Tomb: In the aftermath of the failed spell, Bonnie is unconscious. Stefan rouses her and she realizes she has failed, even when channeling Junior's power. But of course, she doesn't know about Senior's interference. When Katherine hears Bonnie say she can't do it, she shoves a weakened, bleeding Jeremy against the wall and prepares to sink her fangs into his tasty neck, again. Stefan Stealth-Salvatores her, though. He rushes into the magically sealed chamber, tosses Jeremy out and pushes Katherine against the wall. Katherine smiles like the cat who has caught the canary. Meanwhile, Bonnie cradles poor Jeremy in her arms.
Fortress Forbes: Caroline and Tyler have a moment after his freak-out over his upcoming transformation. Tyler doesn't understand why she's helping him or why she cares, as they've never been all that close. Caroline explains she identifies with him and tells him what she can about when she was turned. Oh dear, my heart is so fickle, because you know I love my Pudding Pop and don't want him to have to watch his best friend hook up with his girl, but Trevino is winning me over, big time. Crap, I've been found out. Matt's at the door. I'm sorry, Pudding Pop. Caroline answers the door and goes out on the porch rather than invite him in. He misses her, and when she beams at that revelation, he beams right back. So of course it's then that Tyler comes to the door. And even though nothing romantic has happened between Tyler and Caroline, it's clear they feel awkward, and it's clear Pudding Pop is worried that something's going on.
Slater's Place: Damon has compelled Alice, so he's ready to drag Elena and Rose back to Mystic Falls, when Cody and his company henchvamps burst in. Elena's all, "Thank you for coming." Damon stands in front of her like a ferocious guard dog, so when Elena tries to pass him, he grabs her. "I will break your arm." I love that I can't blame either of them, here -- no, not even Damon. If I had his strength and someone I loved was trying to give themselves up as the sacrificial not-exactly-a-virgin to a cabal of evil vampires, I'd break my loved one's arm too, if that's what I had to do. And I'd surely threaten it.
But it doesn't matter, because just then, Elijah arrives to shock and confuse the hell out of everyone. He kills the vampire standing guard at the door, and then approaches Cody and his bud. Rose wastes no time Stealth-Salvatoring right out the door, which is hilarious. Damon's all, "I killed you. You were dead." And Elijah's all, "For centuries, now." Elijah then questions Cody and Co., determines they've told no one of their mission, and then rips their hearts out. As Elena gasps, Damon approaches slowly, but then Elijah Stealth-Salvatores right out the door, too! Leaving us all wondering what game he's playing. My speculation sucks, but right now, I'm going to say he and Katherine have been working together, somehow -- maybe from the time she was turned, back in England. Oh, Show. You're too much for one girl. My brain is dribbling out my ears. Commercial.
Casa Manwitch: Elijah meets with Senior Manwitch, and we learn that he spared Damon because he knows both he and Stefan would die before he let anything happen to Elena. "She'll be kept safe." Senior says, "For now." Elijah says that's precisely what they need her to be -- safe. THIS IS SO INTRIGUING!
Gilbert Gables: Bonnie follows Jeremy in the house. As he tends to his wounds, he tells her he doesn't need an escort to his room. Bonnie says she's not so sure. He might do something incredibly stupid on his way up there. Ha! She can't believe he did what he did. Jeremy's face goes all soft as he explains he didn't want her to get hurt doing the spell. Bonnie knows why he feels that way, and says he can't feel this way about her. Jeremy tells her not to act like it's one sided, or that he's just a kid who has a crush on his sister's friend. He caresses her cheek and says, "You could have died, today." Bonnie: "And you almost did." He moves in to kiss her, but she pulls away, and as a tear runs down her cheek, she says she can't. YOU CAN TOO, BONNIE. LOOK AT HIM. HE'S SO CUTE. Dummy.
While she's leaving out the back door, I guess, Elena and Damon are on the front porch. Elena asks him why Elijah killed the henchvamps and let her go. Damon shrugs. "If I had a dollar for every time some evil vampire surprised me..." Elena nods and heads toward the door, but Damon pulls her back and chides her for being so incredibly stupid, today. Elena pulls her arm back from his grasp as she insists the only stupid part was getting caught. She wants to know why it's okay for him, Stefan, and everyone else she loves to risk themselves for her, but it's not okay for her to risk herself for them? Just as she tells him goodnight, Jeremy opens the door and tells them about Stefan.
Tomb: Elena rushes down and almost in, but Damon stops her. Katherine and Stefan are listening, but are somewhat further in, so Damon and Elena can't see them. And oh what an earful our trapped vamps get. Elena and Damon argue about everything that's been happening and she struggles and shouts for him to release her. Their breath comes hot and heavy, and if they had eye-sex during their dance last season, they just had angry eye-sex in that tomb. Finally, Elena leaves and Stefan reveals himself. He makes Damon promise to keep Elena away from the tomb, and to protect her, no matter what. Damon promises and leaves. Then Katherine slithers out. "That right there was the biggest mistake you ever made." Stefan brushes past her and heads further into the tomb.
Well, despite some problems, "Sacrifice" is an intense, intriguing, entertaining hour of TV, and I can't wait to see what happens . To which -- I'll be back Friday morning with my recaplet of "By the Light of the Moon," which must be Tyler-centric. Until then, please join us on the boards. Don't make me throw you over my shoulder and carry you there, just click the link.
Join our vloggers in debating whether Diaries beats True Blood, below, then see why the show is so addictive!
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