In a hurry? Read the recaplet for a nutshell description! Finished? Click here to close.
Readying himself for his first transformation, Tyler calls Mason's house and leaves a werewolf-laden message. In life, Mason was a 20th century fox, so Ty's call goes to his answering machine, rather than a more private voice mail service. How convenient for the woman who looks like the third Hilton sister (THS), and is at Mason's place right at that moment. THS makes tracks for Mystic Falls, where she tells the Lockwoods that Mason is missing. Carol puts Sheriff Liz Forbes on the case. Ty's too preoccupied with the full moon to be of much help. THS makes a mysterious call, informing someone Mason is missing and that there is another werewolf about, then heads for the Grill, because there is no place else to go in town.
At the Grill, Alaric hears the scuttlebutt about Mason being "missing" so he fills Damon in, and they pretty quickly peg THS as Mason's friend who bore the bad news to the Lockwoods. The boys then play good cop/bad cop with THS, and get this -- Alaric is the bad cop. He's also really bad at pretending to be drunk. THS humors them for a while, until she takes a sip of the drink they spiked with wolfsbane. Then it's game on, pretty boys. She tells Damon she sniffed him out as a vampire from the first and now -- he is marked. Does that mean she peed on him? Sure enough, when the full moon crests, THS transforms into Furry THS and heads straight for Mossy Manse. She jumps through a window and attacks, sinking her teeth into the recently returned Rose. Damon stabs Furry THS with a sword and she leaves. When Rose doesn't die, she and Damon decide that the werewolf's bite must not be fatal to vampires after all. Rose then takes a shower and comes back downstairs in that rose-colored robe, and proceeds to tell Damon that she'll help him protect Elena, but she'll only be his friend, because she doesn't fall in love with me who are already in love with someone else. Damon flashes his best Evil Pixie Monster eyething at her, and she wastes no time clarifying that she means they'll be friends with benefits. But then, her shoulder wound (which had already healed) starts to ache. Damon pulls her robe off her shoulder to reveal that her bite wound has reappeared and the flesh around it is corroding.
Meanwhile Bonnie enlists Junior Manwitch to help her de-spell the moonstone. And it seems like it works, but when he returns to his apartment, we learn it was all a big fake-out, since he gives the moonstone to Senior Manwitch.
Down in the dungeon at the Lockwood ruins, Caroline stays by Tyler's side for as long as she can, during his agonizing transformation. When the wolf takes him over, she has to flee. But she returns later to find he never escaped. She finds him shaken, crying and naked, and tends to him the best she can. This is going to be one heck of a triangle. Oh, my poor, poor Pudding Pop. And? Oh, my poor Pudding Pup.
Having proven herself bent on martyrdom, Elena is magically sealed inside Gilbert Gables. Bonnie and Jeremy don't care that she's furious, and Damon kind of loves that she is. Since everyone's still keeping Aunt Jenna in the dark, she of course invites Elijah into the house in which Elena is TRAPPED, thinking he's volunteering on the latest Mystic Falls historical project. When Elijah gets Elena alone, he proposes a deal. She should stop trying to kill herself, and live her life, while he uses her to draw the reclusive, paranoid Klaus out of hiding. In return, he promises he will not harm her family and friends. Elena will agree with one small addition. Elijah must find a way to free Stefan from ye olde tomb, where, unbeknownst to Elena, Katherine has been coming on strong and hard, even invading his dreams. Elijah is a vamp of his word. He lowers the seal long enough for Stefan to escape, but raises it right in Katherine's face, and then compels her to remain in the tomb until he releases her. Stefan and Elena reunite, this time with kisses and joy, not tears and fear. Silly young lovers. I think everything's about to go straight to hell.
What a meaty episode. I'm still chewing it over, but right now, the main thought in my mind is that while Elijah may always keep his word, he's very clever with his wording. I don't recall him promising that he wouldn't harm Elena. And since Senior Manwitch obtained the moonstone on Elijah's behalf, I'm thinking Elena is more of a pawn than she fathoms in some sort of Originals power-play. And of course Katherine wanted a werewolf for the spell, and THS is tracking a wolf for someone. None of this looks good. But what's most distressing is that the show is now on hiatus until January 27, 2011. I can't take it, people. I can't take.
I'll be back with the weecap, ASAP, but in the meantime, 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 where we can ride out the long, dry spell ahead of us.
Join our vloggers in debating whether Diaries beats True Blood, below, then see why the show is so addictive!
What are people saying about your favorite shows and stars right now? Find out with Talk Without Pity, the social media site for real TV fans. See Tweets and Facebook comments in real time and add your own -- all without leaving TWoP. Join the conversation now!
Want more? The full recap starts right below!Well, babies, this is our last blast before the evil hiatus. Speaking as a recapper, I'm looking forward to having a break over the holidays, but I'm not just a recapper. I'm an unrepentant fangirl of this show and these characters, and I think I'm already going into withdrawal. Let's get right to it, and let the healing begin!
Tyler is trying to prepare himself for his first full moon since he transitioned into a werewolf. Since he's filled up Mason's cell phone's voice mail with pleading messages, he now tries Mason's home phone. He's fairly explicit about his werewolf predicament, but of course Mason's never going to hear this, thanks to the heartectomy Damon performed on him. Someone else is listening in, though -- it's a woman. The show tries to pretend her name is Jules, but they can't fool me. Jules is my sitcom best friend who always has a glass of wine ready for me. Look at this girl. She's clearly the third Hilton sister, so let's call her THS. Meanwhile, at...
Gilbert Gables: Bonnie talks to Elena about de-spelling the moonstone. Elena's worried that if Satan Klaus wants it, and gets it back de-spelled, he'll kill everyone she loves. She pretends to go along with Bonnie's plan, but when no one's looking, Elena swipes the stone out of Bonnie's purse. As Elena tries to sneak out of the house, Bonnie and Jeremy stop her. Leaving her alone with the moonstone was a test to see if Elena can be trusted to stop offering herself up as a sacrifice, and she just failed. Bonnie grounds her. With magic. Elena is mystically sealed in Gilbert Gables, even though everyone else can come and go. Uh-oh. I sympathize with you Bonnie, but that can't be good! Elena has cadre of Originals after her. You've just made her the cheese in your mousetrap. Eek!
Ye Olde Tomb: Damon brings Stefan a survival pack, including a bottle of blood, but Stefan won't take that, as he says Katherine would only end up drinking it, too. He's glad to desiccate as long as he takes her with him.
Lockwood Estate: THS arrives at the mansion, just as Tyler is heading out. She asks him and Carol where Mason is. The Lockwoods are distressed to learn that Uncle Brick House never returned to Florida. While Carol deals with THS and this distressing news, Tyler makes tracks to the Grill, because Caroline essentially lives there, these days. He fills her in on the fact that Mason is missing. Alaric, who had been lunching with Jenna, takes this all in.
Gilbert Gables: Damon arrives and is surprised Bonnie has gone, but knows she's got to work on de-spelling the moonstone. He informs the Gilberts that "Vampire Barbie" is to dog-sit Tyler, and he's there to watch Elena. Damon is pleased as punch to see Elena trapped and safe in her own home. Just then, Alaric calls to report that THS has officially declared Mason a missing person. He tells him about THS's visit. This town has a supersonic grapevine, yeah? I do wish these guys would take a course in burying their victims. Then they'd have fewer complications. I know I do. Damon tells Jeremy to sub for him on Elena duty, and then teases the captive that she should go out and enjoy the sun. The Germ laughs as plops on the couch and lays his head on the pillow lying across big sister's lap. Our girl has had enough. She throws a pillow at Damon (and misses -- poor E), then dumps Jeremy right off her lap and onto the floor.
Lockwood Ruins: Caroline drives up, the camera man gets the obligatory shot of the Ford Fiesta logo on the car's rear. Caroline tries to suggest that maybe Mason's just on a perfect wave quest. Tyler tries to buy into that, but he's concerned and distracted, and has enough trouble of his own, right now.
Meanwhile, once THS leaves the Lockwood home, she calls a mysterious someone from her car to report that Mason is missing and that he lied about there being no more werewolves. I feel I must speak on the late Brick House's behalf. He didn't lie. He died before Tyler turned, Miss THS. She's not listening. Bah. Commercial.
Grill: Damon meets up with Alaric and soon thereafter, THS arrives and quizzes Matt about Mason. Hi, Pudding Pop! Damon and Alaric quickly twig to the fact that THS is Mason's girl, and speculate whether she's a werewolf. That's just what they need with the impending full moon! Fortunately, Damon has some wolfsbane on him, so they decide to find out.
Lockwood Ruins: Caroline doses Tyler's water bottle with wolfsbane as he hooks up his chains and restraints. And then he rips off his shirt. Hello, Michael Trevino. Please give our fondest regards to your trainer and your gene pool. Caroline is adorably blushy in this scene, averting her eyes and wondering if he's going to get completely naked. Tyler stretches out his waistband. "It's elastic. I don't think it's going to be like the Hulk, where I get to keep my pants." Ha.
Casa Manwitch: Bonnie returns Junior Manwitch's dogtags and apologizes for channeling him without warning -- and nearly killing him, like you do. Then he shows her his etchings! I mean, he shows her Senior's grimoire collection. Oh, my heart's about breaking for Jeremy right now, and I don't get how that happened, but it did. Anyhow, Luka agrees to help Bonnie figure out the right unbinding spell for the moonstone. While I try to cook up a delusting spell for these two.
Grill: Damon and Alaric play good cop/bad cop with THS. Well, good drinker/bad drunk. And Alaric is the bad drunk! Who'da thunk? Damon tries to shoo Alaric away, and then tells THS that Alaric is the town drunk but basically harmless. While THS is turned toward Damon, Alaric doses her drink with the wolfsbane. Sister never takes a sip.
Ye Olde Tomb: Katherine tries to freak Stefan out about desiccating. When that doesn't work, she slips out of her dress. In just her black bra and undies, she starts coming on strong, planting doubts in his mind about Damon and Elena. Then she moves in for the kiss. Stefan resists for but a second. The thing you know, he's throwing her up against the wall. STOP THAT, STEFAN! Oh, my bad. It's just a dream Katherine planted in his head. And Show? We've pretty much known that was going to be a fake-out since last week, when the scene was in the promos. There's no way Stefan sleeps with Katherine -- at least not this quickly. I think you tried a little too hard, there. When Stefan wakes, he orders Katherine to stay out of his head. She smirks and says, "Maybe I can do eternity in here, after all."
Gilbert Gables: Jenna is hauling out some old files for the historical society and tells Elena she's taking over a project to help out Carol Lockwood. When Jenna closes the closet door, Elena is surprised to see who's standing behind it. The man smiles, "Hi, I'm Elijah." At this point, I'm angry with all these characters for not telling Jenna and Matt about vampires. It's a security risk, for pity's sake. Ugh. Commercial.
Elijah has Jenna convinced he's doing a research project on Mystic Falls. As soon as he's out the door, Elena runs up the stairs and pounds on Jeremy's door to tell him Elijah has been invited in, but Elijah has somehow snuck back in and Stealth-Salvatored up the stairs. He cautions Elena to be discreet, so as Elijah hides behind the corner, she lies to Germ that Jenna needs his help with the boxes. Once Jeremy is gone, Elijah compliments Elena on her good sense.
Lockwood Ruins Dungeon: Tyler's half-naked with a chain wrapped around his neck. I'll give you a moment to enjoy the view. You ready? Okay, here's another moment. Enough, people. Rewind it on your own time. Tyler's starting to feel edgy and knows from Mason's journal that he can transform before the moon hits its apex, so he decides to drink the wolfsbane to diminish his strength and promptly pukes. As he chokes and suffers, he tries to warn Caroline off, but she stays right with him. Boy, this is going to be a good triangle.
Gilbert Gables: Elijah tells Elena he killed the vampires at Slater's last week because he didn't want her to be taken. Satan Klaus is the most hated and feared Original, and other vampires are desperate for his approval. Elijah's goal is not to break the curse. He says that Satan Klaus is a paranoid, obsessive recluse, and Elena figures out pretty quickly that Elijah doesn't know where Klaus is, and is trying to use her as bait. He tells her that if she lives her life and stops fighting, then when the time is right, the two of them can draw Klaus out, together, and then Elijah will kill him. He promises none of her friends will be harmed. Like her, he has magical friends and says together they can protect everyone. When he asks if they have a deal, Elena says she needs one more thing before she'll agree.
Casa Manwitch Rooftop: Bonnie and Luka light a gajillion candles, and then Bonnie produces the moonstone, but won't tell Luka what it's for. Then they do a spell. And yeah, it's sort of a lot like a Tara/Willow spell, if you know what I'm saying, and I think you do. Candles flicker and flare. The moonstone floats and seems to explode like fireworks. Oh, this boy is crooked, I'll tell you what.
Lockwood Dungeon: Tyler is in absolute agony. I want to wrap him in a blanket and feed him warm chocolate pudding. So I guess I'm calling him Pudding Pup from now on. He cries and moans. And just -- I have to tip my hat to Trevino here, and not for his fine physique, this time. It's his acting. He reaches a really vulnerable place in this scene as he's crying out, "It hurts." He sounds so young and scared. Not a lot of guys his age would play it this way. It's perfect. Kudos to the director, too.
Grill: Damon's still trying to get THS to drink. When she finally agrees, the camera cuts away, so it's not clear to me if she just sniffs it, or not. Her lips look like she took a little sip, but reader Erin (hi Erin!) is pretty sure she just sniffs it. Whether or not she drinks it, Damon's plan sort of works, because THS slams the drink down on the bar, calls Damon a fool, reveals she sniffed him out as a vamp right away, and outs herself as a werewolf. She repeats that she wants to know where Mason is. Damon sneers that she probably won't find him, and then warns her to leave town. THS is not amused. "Are you threatening me? On a full moon? How stupid are you?" Oh, THS, he is very stupid. Actually, he's more impulsive than stupid. But his impulsiveness makes him do stupid things, so I can see where you'd get that impression. Alaric wanders back over still playing drunk guy, but it's too late. THS warns that it's not the night to pick a fight with her, and says, "You've been marked." And I've taken an informal poll of two other friends who watch the show (hi, Tippi and Mary Beth). We all agree that we immediately thought, "What are you going to do THS, pee on him?" Was it just us, readers? Was it just us?
Lockwood Dungeon: Caroline continues to try to help Tyler, but there's nothing to be done. His transformation gets more violent as even his skeleton starts to change. Tyler warns Caroline to get out, but she won't leave him. She holds his head in an effort to mitigate his suffering.
Grill: Damon and Alaric are leaving. Damon is pissed (ha) about the marking comment, but Alaric tries to reason with him by pointing out the full moon, and reminding him that just one bite might be fatal to him. He tells him to go home and lock his doors, and they'll deal with it in the morning. Right. Like a werewolf can't crash through a window.
Dungeon: Caroline encourages Tyler to fight through it and Tyler insists that she leaves, but she holds onto him until he breaks free of his chains. Then she flees and locks him in the cell. I was so afraid through this whole scene that he was going to bite her. As Tyler struggles to get out of the cell, Caroline cries and says she's sorry. Finally, she shuts a wooden door behind her and waits outside and Tyler continues to transform. This is the best werewolf transformation I've ever seen. Way better than Jacob Black's fursplosion. Outside, when Caroline can no longer hear Tyler struggling, she rises to her feet. Then he starts biting through the wooden door. She props a branch up against it and speeds back up above ground, and watches from a safe place. I tell her to climb a tree, but she ignores me.
Mossy Manse: Damon arrives home to find Rose has returned. He gives her crap, but she apologizes for bringing Elena to Slater's last week, and points out she tried to make things right by calling him and telling him, once he figured things out. Also? She has nowhere else to go. Damon tells her there's nothing there for her, but before they get much further, a werewolf bursts through the window and attacks. At first I was thinking it was Tyler, but it's TSH. She doesn't get Damon, but she does sink her teeth into Rose. Damon sticks a sword into Wolfy TSH's side and she tucks tail and runs. When he examines Rose, they see her wound is speedily healing. She cries in relief, because she, too, always thought a werewolf bite was fatal. Damon takes her in his arms and comforts her.
Luka arrives back at Casa Manwitch, and he's got a smitten look on his face until he finds his father waiting for him. There's a lot of tension in this scene. It seems clear that Luka is not happy about using Bonnie for his father and Elijah's sake, but he hands over the moonstone, and tries to retreat to his room. Senior Manwitch stops him, though. There's one more thing they've got to do for Elijah, while the moon is full. WHAT? WHAT?
Ye Olde Tomb: Katherine wants to talk. Stefan suggests they talk about how she's made his life miserable. She's all blah blah blah self-preservation cakes. Stefan is all noble and Stefan-ly. She insists she loves him, though, so he tells her to prove it by showing there's something inside her worth trusting. Katherine thinks he's playing her, but Stefan keeps his poker face. Katherine doesn't know where Satan Klaus is, but says he should start his search with Elena's bio-mom Isobel. "She was a research expert. She found me."
Elijah bursts into the tomb and announces Stefan is free to go. He's had the spell lifted. Oh, that's what the Manwitches had to do. As soon as Stefan is out, Katherine rushes for the doorway, but Elijah rushes right at her. When I first watched, I thought she ran into the steel, but now I think it's just the force of Elijah's approach that knocks her back. Elijah then compels Katherine to remain in the tomb until he says so. "When Klaus comes, he'll want to know exactly where you are." He then tells Stefan that Elena will explain the bargain he made with her and takes his leave. Katherine begs Stefan not to leave her there, but he just looks at her and says, "Goodbye, Katherine." Cold.
Woods: Caroline makes her way back to the dungeon. A crow caws, making me miss Damon's old pet. I miss the fog, too. Is anyone going to teach Caroline how to do the fog thing? Anyhow, she makes her way downstairs, and listens at the door. Finally, she calls Tyler's name. When he answers she rushes in to find him naked and curled up in the fetal position. She lays his pants over the lower half of his body and tells him it's going to be okay. He cries that it's not and hugs him. Oh, poor Pudding Pup -- and poor Pudding Pop, for that matter.
Gilbert Gables: Stefan arrives and Elena greets him with a passionate kiss. Oh these two crazy kids. I really like the Elena/Damon side of this triangle, but the Stefan/Elena side is just as delicious -- it's just another flavor. Kiss you two. Kiss some more. Oops, they've just fallen on the bed. Let's leave them their privacy.
Mossy Manse: Damon tells Rose (who's in her rose robe) that Tyler remained locked up, so they know TSH was the attacker. Rose seems to be all healed up and they figure the werewolf legend was fake. When Damon runs his fingers up Rose's leg, she announces she's going to stay and help him protect Elena, because she likes him and she needs friends. When Damon asks, "Just friends?" Rose says yes, so he turns on her and kisses her and asks if she can handle that. She agrees that she is fine with being "special friends" with him. As they kiss again, her shoulder starts to ache. When Damon pulls back her robe, he finds the flesh all around the site of her wound is now all bumpy, veiny and inflamed. And the writers leave us there! They leave us there until January 27, 2011. ARGH. Can't take it. Can't take it. When it comes to this show, I'm like Stefan is about human blood. I guess I'm going to have to take small doses every day, and build up my resistance, or feed the beast, or something.
I'll be back January 28, 2011, with the recaplet. In the meantime, please have a wonderful Christmas, New Year and whatever else you celebrate. Stay safe and warm, and I'll see you year. Please grade the episode at the top of the page and join us on the boards where we can ride out the long, dry spell ahead of us.
Join our vloggers in debating whether Diaries beats True Blood, below, then see why the show is so addictive!
What are people saying about your favorite shows and stars right now? Find out with Talk Without Pity, the social media site for real TV fans. See Tweets and Facebook comments in real time and add your own -- all without leaving TWoP. Join the conversation now!
Cindy McLennan needs your help staying out of trouble over the long hiatus, so e-mail her at CynthiaMcLennan@gmail.com, or follow her on Twitter.