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 90210 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 next, 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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Want more? The full recap starts right below!
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.
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