I can't stress enough that I HAVE BEEN THERE, with more than one show. There's no blame. Only love. If you're currently seething, here's what I hope you take away from this -- and you're sharp people, so you already know it. Watching TV is supposed to entertain. Remember? Posting on the internet about TV shows is an optional leisure activity -- a diversion. Remember? If you're not having fun, you're doing it...wrong. Either the material is wrong for you, or you are choosing to interact with the fandom in ways that do not work for you. If you want to keep watching and keep having fun (and I hope that's what you want), try giving up the spoilers for a couple of months. Try taking characters and storylines as they come, rather than spending hours per week trying to prove pet opinions are facts. Just take a breath. Have a glass of wine. Put your feet up. Eat something yummy. And let go. You will feel better. I have proven this to myself, multiple times. I started avoiding spoilers when I started writing for TWoP, because I didn't want to inadvertently spoil my readers. Happiness was my unexpected and totally welcome side-effect. I wish the same for you. And really, The Vampire Diaries is like New England weather. If you don't like it, wait five minutes and it will change. Done now. You ready? Okay!

Previously on The Vampire Diaries: Matt drowns himself and has Bonnie CPR him back to life so he too can see Vicki. Anna warns the Fellowship of the Falls about Mikael the Vampire Vampire Slayer (MtVVS). Tyler is Klaus's first successful hybrid. Damon tells Elena, "Stefan is gone, and he's not coming back." Elena tells Stefan he can "fight it." Stefan sneers. "Why, because I love you?" Elena yells, "That's right, Stefan, because you love me." Klaus evokes Stefan's inner Ripper. Klaus tells Stefan the only thing stronger than his bloodlust is his love for Elena, and tells him to turn it off. Elena looks on in horror. "What did you do?" Klaus: "I fixed him."