Vampire Diaries – S03E02 – The Hybrid

September 23rd, 2011 by Thomas

Posted in: Tales of the Supernatural • The Vampire Diaries • The Vampire Diaries: Season Three

106 Comments »

106 Responses to “Vampire Diaries – S03E02 – The Hybrid”

1. Dayna Barter says:

   September 23, 2011 at 8:11 pm

   Goddammit, Thomas, you just HAD to ask for Bonnie back. Can’t you just kick back and enjoy it with the rest of us?

   This episode was so, so good. Episode freaking Two, and Klaus has ALREADY tried and failed to raise his werepire army. Episode Two!! What other show moves at this pace all the damn time?

   Confession time: I LOVE the inappropriate Elena/Alaric relationship. Keep bringing the inappropriate, show! Although, maybe @ErnestoRiley could work on a little of that manscaping he was Tweeting about, because dayum! Matt Davis is HAIRY.

   All this show needs now to be utter perfection is to #pullthedaggerout!
2. MissZhaZha says:

   September 23, 2011 at 8:12 pm

   That was really good! I laughted so hard all the way. Best line was from Stefan: “Worst. Camping trip. Ever.” LOL! Keep up the good work man! Love it!
3. Ashley says:

   September 23, 2011 at 8:18 pm

   It’s too bad you are engaged and I’m married, because I love you.

   I also love the inappropriate Elena/Alaric relationship.

   I can’t wait for Damon to steal Elena from Stefan once he is back.
4. Anita says:

   September 23, 2011 at 8:26 pm

   Great recap, as usual. I missed these.

   Loved this part:

   Elena Gilbert: Wait! Up on that hill!

   Damon Salvatore: What?

   Elena Gilbert: Never mind. I thought I saw a rare Spotted Owl, but it was just Stefan.
5. Lauren says:

   September 23, 2011 at 8:27 pm

   Hilarious recap!

   Haha HRG hates vampires!

   The last scene scared me SO MUCH! It reminded me of Hostel. I WAS SO SCARED FOR CAROLINE!!

   I felt really bad for Matt. He’s really all alone. Hopefully he and Jeremy can become best bros.

   Also, I felt kind of bad for Klaus? He seemed really sad that his hybrid army thing didn’t work out, and it didn’t seem like an ego thing. He really wanted to chill with monsters who were just like him. Poor Klaus (?)

   Damon’s hair annoyed me less than it did last week. Progress?

   I’m kind of iffy about the Bonnie thing. I’ve always been torn about her. I really like Katerina Graham, but Bonnie is just so judgmental and useless. I’m with you, man. I hope that changes.
6. Rowan says:

   September 23, 2011 at 8:51 pm

   dude, they can’t bring her back, they need for extra product placement.

   I’m honestly just in love with the fact Klaus got so sad when his werepire babies died.

   I CAN’T BELIEVE CAROLINE’S DAD WILL KILL HER! IT WON’T HAPPEN!! Will it? D:
   Gay Vampire Hunter with Barbiepire daughter. I’m pretty sure he’s gay…
7. Mary says:

   September 23, 2011 at 9:01 pm

   I’m still laughing at Damon throwing Elena into the water. I feel like doing that every now and then. Totally didn’t see the ending in coming. Klaus is getting better and better every week. I hope he stays a long time.
8. TriniJax says:

   September 23, 2011 at 9:23 pm

   Great job as always Thomas; you never fail to entertain me. I liked this episode but I didn’t love it. There were no surprises for me. What I love about this show is the ability to shock, but I’d already worked out all the plot twists. Despite Rippah Stefan (GREAT!) I’m not in love with this season so far.

   BTW – Token human in a pack of werewolves on a full moon? Likely story
9. Valeria says:

   September 23, 2011 at 9:29 pm

   Why are the werealmostpires crying blood? Are they, by any chance, from Bon Temps-Louisiana?????
10. Sonia says:

    September 23, 2011 at 9:45 pm

    Hilarious recap as usual, Thomas! This episode was more like it, although Klaus and Stefan are beginning to bore me, now that the novelty of ‘ripper’ Stefan has worn off. How many more episodes of this do we have to endure, I wonder. I agree Damon was awesomesauce, as usual. Is it me or are Elena’s stupid plans getting stupider by the minute? I cheered when Damon threw her in the water LOL. She totally deserved it.
11. Jawly says:

    September 23, 2011 at 10:11 pm

    Here’s my take on things:

    Elena probably won’t choose Damon. Ever. He doesn’t seem so into it anymore, like he doesn’t want to bother with it anymore. Good for him! I really don’t see these two going far anyway.

    Jeremy needs to get rid of his dead GFs because this plot device is retarded.

    Bonnie…needs an epic redemption. If she wants a nosebleed, looking at naked Damon is the way to go. Not magic. What witch gets nosebleeds during spells?

    Caroline’s dad is obviously NOT gay. He probably divorced Elizabeth to fight vamps his own way, because I’m not convinced of his sexuality. At ALL. You ain’t fooling anyone. And killing your daughter, with no reason or REMORSE? Now who’s the monster. He needs to die the fiery plane crash of epic failerism. And he still gets called “Daddy?” Clearly she’s a naive, little girl. Not some mass murderer that needs to die some woodchipper-like death. He’s a faggot in a MUCH different way.

    Tyler finally proving another person wrong about Caroline is another win for the Scooby Gang. Also, I’m tired of this “supernatural=evil” plot device. There’s a difference between being a vampire and being a monster. As far as I’m concerned, Caroline is neither and Bill is BOTH.

    Matt is freaking useless as usual. Even for the spell he wasn’t needed, just sentimental items. The most useless tv character ever.

    Klaus isn’t going to go far with his Werepire army if Elena is alive, meaning Stefan will come back by the end of the first chapter. Meaning that…

    Elijah will eventually be found. How? Remember that locater spell Bonnie used to find Elena? How she needed Jeremy’s blood since they’re blood related? Elijah is interred with the rest of his family. Last time I checked, Elena still has the bottle filled with Klaus’s blood…

    Which means his failed army is no match for millenia-years originals. Klaus is going to fail epically! Also, once they find Elijah, she should drink that Elixir. If the ring doesn’t work, just use that.

    And Elena and Jeremy should get their hunter on already!!!! The Gilberts were an epic monster hunting family and these two are ruining it with their teeny-bopperism. Stupid teenagers. Alaric is no Indiana Jones, either.

    All in all, Stefan needs to come home. Mostly because Elena crying about it is getting on my nerves.
12. emily says:

    September 23, 2011 at 10:48 pm

    “I love that Alaric just totally owns his alcoholism”

    Agreed! And I love the bromance even more now! Did you catch it at the lake when Damon called Alaric “brother”? Fantastic! lol

    And what an end! Heart-broken too! Damn it! Poor Caroline, Mama Forbes, you better get out of the hole you’re hiding and soon!

    Great recap again!
13. Brian in Shortsville says:

    September 23, 2011 at 11:14 pm

    Thomas SNAP OUT OF IT DUDE! The best case scenario is Bonnie gets lost on her way home now that she has a level 3 resurrection spell in her grimoire. I’m still trying to figure out how a person can be “like paint that never dries.” At least let me work that bit out before you wish her back.

    Speaking of resurrection, isn’t Elena now powered by the life-force (not to mention genetics) of Uncle Daddy? John was a lot of mostly bad things, but recklessly stupid wasn’t one of them. He’d tangle with a supe, but only at the time and place of his choosing, with the element of surprise, suitably armed, and exit strategy planned out. And isn’t she also the great-granddaughter of Katherine, the character with the most finely tuned self-preservation instinct on TV? Elena goes looking for werewolves the one day of the month and packs paint chips for trailmix. Brains skip generations I guess.

    Damon survived were-rabies once. Is that like chicken pox, can a vamp only get it once? Because Klaus’ blood should be out of his system after two months, and so shouldn’t save him if he gets bit again. Nice of Elena to try to put him in that spot. AWESOME that he called her on it. Deathbed kiss scene again, Elena? Best scene this week. He’s the only character that can redeem her.

    Nice to see Alaric back in action, but -1 for giving the sword to a noob. If he’s going to go along with Elena’s suicidal not-plans, I hope she doesn’t get him killed before he’s had a chance to get even with Bonnie and/or Klaus.

    Trini caught one gigantic Mythology fail. Either that human was “Vampire Diaries Stupid,” planning on being a million miles away by dark, or Ray’s pack have all been to obedience school.

    The one that got me was, if Stefan’s vampire hearing could pick up Elena-Damon-Alaric’s conversation, why couldn’t Damon hear Klaus and Stefan’s at the same distance? And good thing KLAUS didn’t hear Elena’s voice, huh? He thinks she’s still dead. Whew. Anvilicious. Probably had nothing to do with the creation of the Ninja Zombie Pirate Robot army fizzling. Nothing to see here.

    I didn’t see the Tyler/Carol ‘watch this Ma, haven’t seen that since i was in diapers!’ scene coming, but that WAS well done. And yes, I double checked, (I think it was S01E11) it was established that Caroline’s Dad came out of the closet, then split. Can’t wait to see how Liz takes his being back, especially if she pledged allegiance to Team Salvatore over the summer. Bill trying to ‘cure’ Caroline is going to put Team Caroline on the edge, I’m sure.

    Stefan may have given his word to Klaus, and may have regrets, but I don’t see him looking all that hard for the loophole that’d get him away from Klaus and back home. Damon told Katherine there’ always a loophole (Damon said it, I believe it, that settles it). So I’m calling BS on his frowny face and his one-tear-at-a-time. He’s enjoying his little binge at least a li’l bit.

    Jeremy and Matt still bore me. I’d LMAO if they brought Vicki back for realz and she ate both of them out of bloodlust. That’ll teach you to be secondary characters!

    This one only gets a C- from me (the ep, not the recap). The 4th string writers from Smallville churned it out. Next week’ll be better when the A-team is back at the word processor.
14. Casey says:

    September 23, 2011 at 11:31 pm

    Once again a stellar recap filled with lovely insights from The Fiancee. And you may be my new favorite person simply because you refer to him as “Horn Rimmed Glasses”. While I thought that plot point was predictable, I’m really really excited to see how it plays out.
15. Alicia says:

    September 24, 2011 at 12:56 am

    Wow, that was only episode 2? Holy shit, we are in for a wild ride :) Kudos to the fiancee, she was super involved this week and always on point, rock it, girl! I am happy to see more Alaric interaction so far and I am cool with his mess of a life, but does he have to look so scruffy and dirty all the time? Do his alcohol binges make him not want to take a shower or shave? Stop it, man.
    Jerematt bromance = continued thumbs up :)
    Weirdly, it does feel like something is missing without Bonnie there…hhhmmm…hopefully she comes in and kicks some ass.
    Nothing better happen to my girl, Caroline, I swear! Is her Dad really willing to kill her? That is messed up!! When he first walked him and she said it was Caroline, I swear I just knew he was gonna be her Dad, I just had a feeling and boom, there it is!
    I also have a bad feeling that Klaus did figure out the doppelganger is alive, something about the very creepy way in which he looked at Stefan…gave me chills, now I’m a little bit scared of Klaus, finally.
    And I saved the best for last = as much as I am Team Dalena and loved that intense scene at the end, I loved, loved, loved him pushing her that cliff!!! I laughed my ass off and rewound that scene like 10 times – classic Damon! He needs to do that to her annoying little ass every, damn, episode :) LOL.
    Awesome recap as always, Thomas!
16. Eve says:

    September 24, 2011 at 12:59 am

    “Werewolf Flash Mob App”, Lol! Is that in the App Store?

    Dead ex-girlfriends plot: I agree with Jawly, it’s retarded and getting more so. And they’re fighting in vampire afterlife, wherever that may be? Too silly and that’s saying a lot.

    So Klaus can’t make new werepires because he didn’t successfully kill Elena. That is a good point and one he is sure to realize. I like it.

    Loved the fight with Damon and Ray, nice to see Damon in action. I’d like to see him have a new fake girlfriend, too.

    Love it that Alaric is back in action and I also like his weird, inappropriate relationship with Elena. Hey, she’s 18 now and fair game.

    Still don’t get Klaus’ motivation. For anything. Like keeping Stefan around and wanting to create an army. For what? His explanation made no sense.
17. Weird Vision says:

    September 24, 2011 at 4:37 am

    Damon Salvatore: Now? You pick now to start being all logical and insightful? Goddammit.

    So true. And I actually cheered when he kicked Elena in the lake. That’s my favorite scene from this episode.

    Also, The Fiancee has the best lines. :D
18. Sara says:

    September 24, 2011 at 5:29 am

    Hi Thomas!
    Great recap!
    I particularly enjoyed the Fiancée’s interventions today:
    “Generally, when your eyeballs are bleeding, “something’s wrong” is an understatement.”
    “Sure, NOW he wants to be an adult”.

    Also:
    Damon Salvatore: Super vampire throwing Elena like thirty feet through the air and into the river powers activate! (…) Mostly I wanted to annoy you as much as you annoy me”
    Sara: Standing ovation. Elena needs to get a few things drilled out of her head…her suicidal/homocidal-for-everyone-else-involved tendencies, for one. She really annoyed me today. That she wants to get Stefan back is understandable, but if she could put some brains into it for once, we’d all be grateful.

    Really liked the episode though, and I must say I like the new relationship between Damon and Elena. He’s not crying at her feet, he tells her things like they are and man, does she need the story to be spelled out for her. I also loved the whole “we’re out of here by moonlight unless you want to re-live that whole death-bed kissy thing”.

    So far, I wasn’t too much into the Jeremy/Matt plotline (mostly because I hoped to see more of the ghosts early on, and less beating around the bush, I know…TVD spoils us with too much action), but I really like the idea of Vicky and Anna going up against each other. And Jeremy’s confused face was priceless.

    Also, what the heck is wrong with the Forbes family? Do they hate their daughter so much that their first reaction is ALWAYS to try and destroy her? Seriously, this girl needs a break. Parenting in Mystic Falls really is not up to basic standards, I’m telling you.
    Although I was kind of taken aback when Carol Lockwood reversed to nice-mum mode and actually showed that she had more of a conscience that the whole Forbes family combined. To me, that was pretty unexpected. Good for her.

    I loved Klaus in this episode, and how we start to see the cracks in the facade. I also enjoyed the kind of banter that is starting to grow between Klaus and Stefan. But seriously, two major plot-holes in that arc today : 1. Would we really expect to see a whole pack of werewolves just stand idly waiting for the slaughter and NOT fight back (or at least try and flee?). Thinking back to Jules’ friends behaviour, I found it more than a little weird. Remember that the werewolves would have won the fight against the outnumbered Salvatore brothers if Papa-Witch hadn’t come to the rescue last time. (When Caroline was kidnapped)
    2. I also agree that Klaus not thinking about bringing human blood seemed a little “amateurish” of him (what would Elijah say, Klausie?). Because a human all alone in the woods with a full pack about to turn…quite the piece of luck, as Trinijax said.

    Well, sorry for being that long and thanks again for the recap. Now I’m looking forward to your TSC-recap…because this year we are spoiled as readers with a double-dose of Thomas-awesomeness every week! ;-).
19. Vic says:

    September 24, 2011 at 6:43 am

    Your recaps are the best. I wish a could sit in between you and The Fiancée one TVD night and listen to you discuss what’s going on first hand :)

    You’ve got so many great bits. Anything with Damon rocks. Him pushing her into the water, and what you said about him in an honorable way, not wanting to steal Elena (who is, right now the most annoying little pouty girl known to MF) behind Stefan’s back…

    Favorite quotes from this recap:

    Elena Gilbert: You gave up on Stefan!
    The Fiancee: He gave up on cutting his hair!

    Cause, omg. IAN SOMERHALDER DESPERATELY NEEDS A HAIR CUT.
20. Bee says:

    September 24, 2011 at 8:39 am

    Your recap was much better than the episode, Thomas. Great job sir :) The ep was…ok, I guess.

    The Door: BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG!

    Alaric Saltzman: Hi Damon! I’m-
    so, Ric’s first thought was that Damon’s at the door because…? I don’t even want to know… no wait, I actually do *innocent whistle*

    Jeremy Gilbert: Please! I just Binged “speaking to the dead” and printed out a seance ritual! What could go wrong?
    and we all know that’s EXACTLY what he did, because he’s Jeremy “I Binged it!” Gilbert. btw Jer-bear, believing everything you read on the internet=BAD idea

    Klaus: You know what the coolest thing in the world is? A vampire that can walk in the sun, mixed with a werewolf that can ignore the moon.

    Linda Lupine: …You’re describing youself.

    Klaus: Yes I am, and I’m awesome.
    he’s a narcissistic ass but I can’t bring myself to hate him. IMO, he *is* awesome.

    Damon Salvatore: Super vampire throwing Elena like thirty feet through the air and into the river powers activate!
    BEST. SCENE.

    Alaric Saltzman: Hey, should we try to be quiet, so that the pack of werewolves and pair of vampires don’t hear us coming?

    Elena Gilbert: NAH. I THINK WE SHOULD BE AS LOUD AS POSSIBLE SO WE DON’T STARTLE THEM. IT’S LIKE GOING BEAR WATCHING.
    I give up, she’s too dumb to live. It’s not that like I hate her, cause I don’t, but lately she’s just so annoying… I don’t know, I suppose I miss Katherine and I’m taking it out on Elena.

    Damon Salvatore: Here doggy doggy doggy!
    best line :)

    Klaus: Hi Stefan! All of my werepires are dead!
    aaaaaaand I felt bad for him. Honestly.

    Caroline Forbes: Daddy?

    The Fiancee: Heart = Broken.
    So. True. :(

    Seriously, why Caroline? How can the most freakin awesome person in that town have such psycho parents? Ok, so Liz is on her side now, let’s bring her father back who wants to fix (wtf?) her! Really, show? I hate you. (jk, I still love you)

    Klaus knows that Elena’s alive, he totally knows. He said nothing about it because he doesn’t want Stefan to know that he knows (ugh) so that he (Klaus) can mess with his head some more.

    I loved Tyler this episode, he was great. He apologized to Matt, stood up for Caroline, showed his own mother that he’s a freakin werewolf. And she took it a lot better than *other* parents, so yay Carol Lockwood :)
21. charlie says:

    September 24, 2011 at 8:56 am

    Loved the recap !
    Stefan: Worst.Camping Trip.Ever.
    So true..that whole hybrid army thing couldn’t have gone more pear shaped if they tried.
    And it’s official Caroline Forbes has the worst parents ever. There’s been some tough competition from John & Isobel , The Lockwoods and Papa Salvatore…but seriously her Dad is messed up.
22. Girish says:

    September 24, 2011 at 10:55 am

    Goddammit!! Don’t ask for Bonnie!! I like the way the show is moving on without the bitchy little witch! Hilarious recap, I couldn’t stop laughing through the whole thing :)

    I liked how they gave a reason for Klaus not being able to create hybrids. And Damon pushing Elena was the best thing he has done in a long while! Glad that the moping is somewhat over. Horn-rimmed glasses Noah Bennet is on TVD, I really hope they don’t kill him off. He was awesome in Heroes! But what’s up with the Forbes family!! Everybody seem to have the sole purpose of hurting Caroline. Now Caroline’s new catch phrase will be – “Everybody needs to stop torturing me!”

    Alaric & Elina’s relationship is really weird now. I don’t understand why the writers would do that.

    They really should write a gay story arc for the brotherhood of meat packs. I felt exactly the way ‘the fiancee’ felt and anyway they cannot act to save their lives. A gay arc would actually do them good. When they are on screen and talking, this is what I hear

    Hey dude ;)
    Dudeeeee, your sis!!! :O
    Dude? O.o
    Dude she’s back :(
    DUUUUUDEEE :D
    Duuude I’m scared :’(
    *hugs & kisses* DUDEEEE I’m here for you <3 :'(

    Thanks for the awesome recaps Thomas :)
23. Ellyria says:

    September 24, 2011 at 10:56 am

    Argh, this episode~~~!

    I was dying to know where Caroline was ALL EPISODE, and then we see her at the end and she’s like “Daddy?” Ack! Broke my heart. I <3 Caroline so much, someone needs to save her, pronto! (And why the heck didn't they have Liz show up, being worried that Caroline hasn't been seen ALL DAY? Yeesh.)

    Thomas, I command you to stop wishing for Bonnie to come back. Some of us like her lack of presence… especially when she's offscreen! *ba-dum dum ting!*

    I liked this episode overall, it was good. Damon throwing Elena in the water was priceless, and Klaus' puppy eyes followed by a hissy fit when his Hybrid making didn't work, awesometastic. I know we're supposed to not like Klaus (he daggered ELIJAH for heavensake), but I love him!

    And finally, I'm with Dayna. Utter perfection for this show can only be achieved once they #pullthedaggerout. <3!
24. Nia says:

    September 24, 2011 at 11:14 am

    “Stefan Salvatore: Worst. Camping trip. Ever.” LOL. EPIC. Your recap is perfect like always.
    And THIS !!!! “Damon is officially out of his moping phase. Throwing Elena into the water was such a dick move, and he did it for no reason at all, other than maybe wanting to see her in a wet tshirt. I also loved that he just let the wolfsbane grenade blow up in his face, because why the hell not?

    And his little speech to Elena, about remembering how she feels when Stefan is back? Fantastic. It isn’t enough for Damon to hit that while Stefan is away… he wants to wait until Stefan is back, and he wants Elena to chose him anyway. That really, really speaks to his ego and, in a strange way, to his honorability. He won’t steal Elena behind Stefan’s back… he’ll do it right in front of him.”
    WORD!!!!!!!
25. The Fiancee says:

    September 24, 2011 at 11:37 am

    Dear Vic:
    If you follow us both on Twitter (@thomascgalvin and @caulkcrinolines), our feeds on Thursday nights are basically a transcript of what’s going on in our living room :)
    -The Fiancee
26. Martina says:

    September 24, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    Bonnie has to return, I miss her so much!!! and I wish a dark storyline for her, maybe with Klaus and Stefan!!!
    and you and your fiancè are really funny!!!
    Baci Baci :)
27. Sophi says:

    September 24, 2011 at 5:22 pm

    I’m so excited for Caroline’s subplot this season o: She is basically the most adorable thing ever in any case, but her dad’s been mentioned on and off thus far and I want to see him in action. Also fingers crossed only gay character on the show is not a total dick and it’s not his whole personality, but also acknowledged openly. I will kill if it’s magically revoked and never brought up again or suddenly retconned as “haha, JOKE YOU GUYS there are no non-straights on this show (except that one witch back in season 2, she was badass as hell) :D” Guys, we’re moving along on the equality front. It would be lovely to see some non-straight characters, especially characters who aren’t just gay or lesbian. Guess how disheartening it is to see that you just don’t exist in popular culture? :D It really damn well sucks.

    I know they put the Reveal last as the stinger to stir us into a frenzy and goddamnit it’s worked. I’m not sure I can wait.

    With you on the whole Miss Lockwood staring at her son naked, I was somewhat weirded out by that one. Lady, he is your son. Stop blatantly staring at his crotch pls
28. Flafly says:

    September 24, 2011 at 6:06 pm

    Great recap and The Fiancee was awesome.
    Ideally I’m with you about Bonnie BUT I’m not sure if I want her back…

    Just few words about ep.2:
    1)Please stop hurting Caroline! Discovering that Bill was her dad was heartbreaking. I really hope Tyler (or Matt) will rescue her for once;
    2)I really like how Joseph Morgan plays Klaus, at the end I was even a bit sorry for him.
29. Jez says:

    September 25, 2011 at 4:16 am

    Great recap, I think the postmortem is an awesome addition!
    I’m glad I’m not the only one sensing the sexual tension between Matt and Jeremy, these two need to hang out more, I don’t really care about the ghost storyline but knowing TVD, they’ll find a way to make it tie into the main storyline, I’m still hoping Anna will come back.
    I like the emotionless killing-machine Stefan, he’s a lot scarier than Damon, even when Damon was killing randomly, it was still fun to watch but Stefan acts so detached while doing the killing that it’s creepy.
    And Elena loses a lot of points for sheer stupidity this episode.
30. Cherie Barnett says:

    September 25, 2011 at 4:54 am

    Big Dramatic French Kiss Jeremy. Good God, I love The Fiancee! Your parts of the recaps aren’t too bad either ;) I wish I could watch the show with you guys, because hilarity clearly ensues with you both screaming at the TV screen.

    Damon’s “here doggy doggy doggy” was gold. His flippancy considering he was nearly killed by a werewolf bite makes it all the more hilarious.

    The rare Spotted Owl reference made me LOL more than just about anything else, not quite sure why, but my humor works in mysterious ways. Perhaps because it harkens back to the good old days when Elena actually went to school ;)

    Just a quick note – Tyler did not steal Caroline! When Tyler left Mystic Falls with Jules, he told Matt to be “good to her” after admitting he loved her, and stepped aside. Then Matt dumped her. Caroline and Tyler have done nothing wrong! Sorry, but I hate how there was a retcon in the first few episodes making it look like Matt and Caroline’s break up was mutual, and Matt “hated not being with her”, when he was the guy who said he couldn’t handle the supernatural stuff and therefore a relationship with her.

    Though, i the werepires are any indication, I shouldn’t be so quick to long for a T/C lovechild, because MY GOD.

    Alaric should be the Gilbert guardian if for no other reason than that the man loves his gadgets, like the wolfsbane grenade. John Gilbert the inventor has nothing on that man!
31. zoe says:

    September 25, 2011 at 10:10 am

    This episode was great, although Caroline aka best thing on this show, was only in it for one heartbreaking scene, it still managed to be amazing.

    Credit where credit is due, and the credit is due with Stefan. He is AMAZING this season. Badass and completely awesome, yet you can sympathise with him. That small scene of him looking at Elena, Damon and Alaric leave was really depressing, and I just wanted to hug him. Hell in the episode, I started to sympathise for KLAUS of all people. I just LOVE Stefan’s story line this season. Paul Wesley really is a tremendous actor and I hope that he finally gets recognised this season for his work. I personally can not wait for him to go into FULL ripper mode in the later episodes, much like Angel with no soul, just no emotions or guilt. Wesley, Plec and Williamson have already confirmed that Stefan will turn completely to the “dark side” if you will, it is just a matter of when. And apparently when he goes bad, he goes really BAD.

    I freaking love Damon. Him pushing Elena into a lake was just epic, it made the episode. However, here is probably the world’s least popular opinion and I am probably going to get attacked for saying it, but I simply do not want Damon and Elena together. I just don’t. I like their scenes, and they have chemistry, but them being together just wouldn’t work in my opinion. And I would be lying if I said I wasn’t uncomfortable in the last scene when Damon told Elena or insinuated that he was going to go for her when Stefan is back. I just rubbed me the wrong way, seeing you know, Stefan did all this for Damon to protect Damon because he loves him and then he is going to get with Elena when Stefan comes back? It just feels weird I guess seeing as Stefan has done all of this stuff for Damon, sacrificed himself his relationships and his humanity and that is what he gets in return. I mean I know Damon is a dick (I love him because he is a dick) but still. I just don’t really want Elena with either of them.

    Tyler was great this episode too. I really do love that he cares about Caroline so much that he would risk his mother knowing what he is in exchange for her safety. I hope that his determination continues into next episode, because by the looks of the previews Caroline needs some help seeing as she is being tortured by her own father. Another storyline I am looking forward to this season is the Tyler/Caroline Romeo and Juliet inspired plot. It looks like it is going in super interesting direction, and this storyline really could have gone either way, it could have completely failed or so exciting that it could be one of the most interesting storylines of the show. And by the way everything is going, it is definitely looking to be extremely exciting. Plus the actors have great chemistry and so far I have really enjoyed the Tyler/Caroline storyline.

    Matt and Jeremy is okay. I mean, the idea is intriguing, but at the same time, with all the other action that is unfolding around them (see hybrid armies, dad’s torturing daughters, shows hero slowly becoming a villain, Romeo/Juliet plot lines, budding romances [see Damon and Elena], Elena being thrown into a lake for shits and giggles) it just seems to fall short in comparison of everything else that is going on. I think it somehow needs more action maybe. So far it just seems like a whole lot a talking and confused and wondering looks.

    All and all great episode. I am not missing Bonnie to be honest, she just seems like a useless character and/or plot device that will judge all those around her. Not to mention, her character just does not have any spark to me. She is just a witch who hates vampires. That is it really, you don’t know much about her actual character attributes, qualities, flaws etc. She is just a plot device. And to be honest, I don’t know if I want her having screen time, because if they do give her an arc and it fails, then that would just be a waste. And even if she did benefit from the storyline/arc, it would still suck seeing other side characters that are always awesome would lose screen time to a character who is just there.

    Can’t wait for next week with flashbacks to hardcore ripper Stefan and Caroline’s SL.
32. Mona says:

    September 25, 2011 at 11:09 am

    It’s like life has returned to normal with TVD and your recaps, Thomas!

    Damon pushing Elena into the lake was my favourite comedic TVD scene EVER. Possibly the BEST.
    As a person who loves reason and logic, I just wanted to whack Elena in the head for her bat shit crazy non-plan (because following a werewolf pack on a full moon does NOT count as a plan. Plan indicates thinking, of which Elena seems incapable of at the moment if its not ‘Stefan! But Stefan!’).

    To comment on the possibility of Delena happening, I must admit I’m torn. I love the chemistry they have together, but I don’t think she’s mature enough to have a relationship with Damon. Not that he’s a shining example of maturity… but Elena seems to be in denial about the whole vampires-killing-people thing, and I guess she needs the maturity where you accept people/vampires for who/what they are. I think that will eventually be an issue with Stefan. She expects the vampires to be human, and I think that’s ultimately going to be her downfall in a way.

    At the same time, I certainly don’t like the other extreme with HRG and his extremist vampires-are-monsters thing. STOP HURTING CAROLINE!!! Goddamn it, writers, let someone else be tortured for a change.
33. Elina says:

    September 25, 2011 at 4:50 pm

    ok I probably don`t have to tell how awesome your recap as usual was, you never let down even in worst times of tv :)
    Maybe this episode didn`t get me too excited but it had good moments, setting up nice future plot.
    Matt and Jeremy are just weird, we need Bonnie back just so Jeremy wouldn`t jump kissing Matt, that boy seems seriously desperate! And please don`t bring back Vicki, she kinda annoyed me…Ann on other hand rocked!
    Was it just me or Klaus seemed really lonely for a moment?
    Everyone in this town has some deep and serious family issues! Creepy…
34. EleanorPalimore says:

    September 25, 2011 at 6:31 pm

    THIS WHOLE EPISODE. EPIC WTF AND OMG.

    Caroline and her ‘… Daddy?’ broke my heart. Obviously. I was actually suspecting that the moment Bill arrived. (William Forbes, we can assume?)

    Stefan and Klaus and their banter amused me to no end. I like that Elena isn’t just sat around moping – as ill-advised as her werewolf-hunting idea was, at least she was *doing* something. I find that I understand Damon less and less nowadays. And Ric was actually interesting and amusing in this episode!

    Matt and Jer are gorgeous and adorable and pathetic all rolled into one. And Tyler just keeps getting hotter and hotter. IDK what’s happening here. Season 1 and 2, I barely gave a damn about him, and now… O_o

    Excellent recap Thomas, as per usual!

    – Ellie.
35. Steph says:

    September 25, 2011 at 8:31 pm

    I really enjoyed this episode. There were several teasing Elena/Damon moments. And the scene when he pushed her in the water priceless lol. I love how Alaric is an alcoholic lol. I did think both Alaric and Damon were stupid for going along with Elena’s plans. Matt/Jeremy storyline I’m not too bothered about but at least the two most pointless characters are friends now lol. I feel sorry for Caroline, I hate seeing her hurt and couldn’t believe that was her dad. When Klaus’ army failed, he was generally disappointed this showed another side to him, and as much as he knows Stefan is only with him to protect Damon I think Klaus sees Stefan as his only friend in a weird way. And the “kill Elena” plot this season will be for Klaus to create his army. I was glad Bonnie was still supposedly visiting family lol, but when she does come back, like you said, I hope they give her an interesting storyline, maybe then I could like her. Love your recaps :)
36. Melissa says:

    September 25, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    So help me, the teamwork on this show, regardless of how stupid the actual plan may be, is one of my favorite things about this show. Elena should have easily died 10 times over by now in this series if it were no for her boys. Damon’s entrance of throwing Elena into the lake was hilarious, as was Alaric’s one-go weapons kit. I’m still not sure what Elena’s actual plan was. Go into the werewolf infested forrest and just walk out with Stefan?

    One of my favorite parts had to be watching Klaus acting like a big baby when his hybrid friends all died on him. Such a lonely one man wolf pack. I do find it curious that the same ritual that turned Klaus into a hybrid, was the same ritual that failed to let him create more hybrids. I would think that if the hybrid army plan didn’t work because the doppelgänger was still alive, Klaus’s hybrid transformation wouldn’t have worked wither.

    As for Matt and Jeremy doing magics based on internet research- I can’t wait for that to go horribly wrong.

    I miss Caroline.
37. Estela says:

    September 25, 2011 at 10:32 pm

    Hey, Thomas! Great recap!
    Oh God, this episode. I don’t even know what I ship anymore. One part of me is all “I love you Stefan, hold onto that”, the other part of me is all “I want you to remember the way you felt while he was gone.”
    I can’t.
    Also, this happened
    Elena Gilbert: Hey, Damon, catch this grenade! “Aww, he would catch a grenade for her!” (God, I hate this song)
    I felt bad for Klaus, all pouty and lonely and “you’re my only friend :((“, but then I remembered he killed all his family, but still, I think he just has a lot of daddy issues.
    I miss Bonnie and (again) Kat. And Caroline, she only got one little scene (a scene that broke everyone’s heart, sure, but Caroline is Caroline and she should be on, like, all scenes, right?)
38. boochan says:

    September 25, 2011 at 10:33 pm

    Damon throwing Elena into the pool was sort of understandable but I think he forgot how much harder it is to win arguments against a girl in a wet t-shirt. Rather disappointing that vampire hearing is so obviously plot driven, it can be hand waved in cities with lots of people talking but in a forest setting if Stefan can hear them talking Klaus should have as well. Rather silly for Klaus to attempt to turn an entire wolf pack. Yes people want to be on the winning team but they like leading the winning team even more. So getting your underlings from a single spot were they would be a cohesive group means it that much easier for them to act against you after you make them unkillable. However, if the hybrids are merely a joining together of vampire and werewolf then probably their strength/speed would be based on their age meaning that Klaus could conceivably handle them all without any trouble. Stefan also probably should have kept the excess blood in the bottle for obvious reasons.

    Yes visiting a werewolf pack changing spot right before the full moon is probably not the safest time to do it but it is the time you know that they will be there. That’s why Klaus went at that time so it actually isn’t all that stupid for Elena to want to do it. Of course, the logic does require her to place seeing her former boyfriend over unimportant things like continuing to breathe or the lives of the people she takes with her. I hate to say it but that is getting sort of into Twilight territory. Especially since with Damon she acts semi-reasonably, she may be attracted to him but he does occasionally murder people so she isn’t exactly running into a relationship. Which in turn makes Delena scenes more interesting than Stelena scenes.

    I really liked Elena’s “Seriously… are you drunk” on finding Damon in her bedroom. By repeating the scene from the start of the second season it really shows how much Damon has changed. Honestly, he hasn’t randomly killed anyone since midway through the second season. If he isn’t careful Stefan’s going to catch up to his kill total which would be a little weird.
39. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 8:36 am

    Hi Dayna :-)

    Oh, I’m enjoying it… I just want to see if I really have magic make-things-happen-on-TVD powers or not. Sorry if I ruin it for the rest of you ;-)

    The plot turnover rate on this show is amazing. I seriously wonder how they keep it up all the time.

    I also love Alaric/Elena… and now I kind of want Alaric to hook up with Katherine, just for the extra weird. And yeah: body grooming, dude. There’s no shame.

    #DaggerFreeInSeasonThree!
40. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 8:36 am

    Thanks MissZhaZha :-)
41. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 8:37 am

    Thanks Ashley :-)

    I honestly don’t think Damon is ever going to hook up with Elena. It would ruin the main source of angst on the show, so I expect them to tease us with it for… let’s say the next five years or so.
42. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 8:37 am

    Thanks Anita :-)
43. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 8:40 am

    Hi Lauren :-)

    When HRG showed up, I was like “It’s HRG! It’s HRG! It’s HRG!” And The Fiancee was all like o_0

    I support Maremy. They aren’t annoying, and it breaks up the pace of the show a bit.

    Klaus is very, very well played. He does kind of leave you saying, “well, I really don’t want you to destroy the world, but… well, I guess I’ll help you out, if it’ll cheer you up a bit.”

    I hope Bonnie changes. If she doesn’t, though, I’m okay with murdering her in my recaps every week.
44. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 8:41 am

    Hi Rowan :-)

    That’s funny. “Sorry, we can’t get you on-screen this week, Caroline has to do a feature-by-feature breakdown of the new Taurus.”

    Klaus is amazing. All of these people are amazing. Best cast on TV.

    And yes, unless they retcon it, HRG is a big, vampire hunting homosexual.
45. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 8:42 am

    Hi Mary :-)

    Damon remains awesome.

    I probably should have seen the ending coming, what with the way the show loves to hurt Caroline, but I missed it.

    Klaus = awesome.
46. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 8:43 am

    Hi TriniJax :-)

    Yeah, the human-hanging-with-the-wolves things was a bit dumb. Dumb on Klaus’ part, and dumb on the Guy Who Shall Be Eaten’s part, too. That was going to end with him dead even if Klaus stayed away.
47. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 8:43 am

    Hi Valeria :-)

    I blame the werepire Ebola variant. :-)
48. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 8:45 am

    Hi Sonia :-)

    I really think they should have Stefan “flip the switch” and go a little darker for a while. His haunted, emotionless killing spree in the first episode was epic.
49. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 8:50 am

    Hey Jawly :-)

    I agree re: Damon and Elena. He can do better.

    I actually like Jeremy and the Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. It doesn’t annoy me, and they need something to break to in between the main scenes. This is serviceable.

    Also agree re: Bonnie. Though if Damon ends up with her, I may cut a bitch.

    I hope they don’t retcon Daddy Forbes’ gay away. That would just be pointless and dumb. But yes, he is a monster. Poor Caroline. She should have picked better parents.

    I think that’s what the show is actually saying: being a monster a choice, not… genetic, or whatever being a vampire / werewolf / witch is. That’s actually one of the old horror movie tropes: the monster within being worse than the literal monster you’re facing.

    I cannot wait for Elijah to be brought back and unleashed. That well-coiffed man if going to be pissed.

    I still think Elena needs to become a vampire. Then she and Stefan can have all kinds of crazy vampire sex, and she’ll be a legitimate physical threat to the monsters she meets on a daily basis.
50. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 8:52 am

    Hi emily :-)

    I can only imagine what that phone call was like.

    Alaric: Hey Damon, I’m with Elena, and-
    Damon: Oh Jesus, another batshit plan? I’ll be right over.

    Caroline is perfect. The world needs more Carolines.
51. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:01 am

    Hey Brian :-)

    I actually understood the “paint that never dries” reference. Like, even the bare minimum of activity has been sapped away. Nothing is happening. I never would have written that line, but I understood it.

    I think John-for-Elena was more of an equivalent exchange thing, not a “my soul now abides in my daughter/niece.” Until they decide that they’re out of plot lines, anyway. But yes, Elena got all of the looks and none of the brains.

    I wish Damon’s interaction wasn’t so much “Hey, your plan is awful and it’s going to get me killed. Let’s do it!” I still think the best way to redeem Elena is to vamp her and have her channel her inner Katherine.

    See, that’s another reason to bring back Bonnie! So Alaric can kill her!

    I’m going with “Vampire Diaries Stupid.” That dude was gonna die by morning whether Klaus showed up or not.

    Yes, Klaus, being a bajillion times older than Stefan, should have heard all of the chatter, and then ripped everyone’s hearts out. The magic hearing powers are the least consistent on the show, I think.

    I just wish Tyler had found a way to win his mother over that didn’t involve him showing her his pecker.

    “There’s always a loophole” was in reference to being compelled, I think. If Stefan found a loophole and split on Klaus, Klaus would just head over to Mystic Falls and rip everything and everyone Stefan loves to pieces. He needs to die before Stefan will be free.

    I would totally be in favor of Vicki eating those two. I actually like them, but that would be goddamn hilarious.

    Fucking Smallville. Why couldn’t they go ruin 90210 or some other unimportant show? They’re fucking over Secret Circle, too, I think.
52. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:02 am

    Hi Casey :-)

    I love pretty much any plot with Caroline, and I am also looking forward to this. :-)
53. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:05 am

    Hi Alicia :-)

    Alaric could really benefit from some professional grooming. Manscape, dude. You’re going to be on TV.

    I love Caroline, and putting her in danger is a sure-fire way to draw the audience in. I’m looking forward to this plot. And to Daddy Forbes getting eaten.

    Klaus is going to be pissed when he finds out Elena is still alive. That’s going to be fun.

    Damon throwing Elena into the lake was gold. Well played, sir. Well played.
54. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:13 am

    Hi Eve :-)

    Well, I still have to see if the app name is available… ;-)

    Yeah, “hey, let’s kill Elena (again)!” is looking to be the focus of at least a good chunk of this season.

    It’s always nice to see Damon in action. Alaric too.

    It kind of looks like Klaus is just lonely, actually.
55. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:14 am

    Hi Weird Vision :-)

    That was the best scene, and The Fiancee is awesome :-)
56. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:17 am

    Hi Sara :-)

    Elena really does need to be beaten with a cluebat. Her plans are uniformly terrible, and dangerous to everyone around her. Girl needs to be put in time out.

    Damon does have more balls around Elena these days. That’s definitely an improvement from the end of last season.

    Anna being against Vicki was a great idea. It’s a good twist on the story, and I was already kind of interested in it.

    Caroline should have picked better parents. That poor girl.

    Yeah, having a human around the werewolf pack was dumb. He was going to be dead by morning regardless. Klaus should have stopped at a bar and picked up a waitress or something.
57. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:17 am

    Thanks Vic :-)

    Elena really is… just not right for Damon. He could do so much better.

    Maybe he could date a hair dresser!
58. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:23 am

    Hi Bee :-)

    I kind of love that Jeremy was all “what, I don’t need no girl witch to tell me what to do! I’m a grown-ass man with an internet connection!”

    Klaus is a lot of fun. And I kind of felt bad for him at the end. Great villain.

    The answer to “why Caroline?” is “it will drive the fans insane, and then they will watch next week.” It’s the stuff good drama is made from.

    Tyler is definitely growing on me.
59. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:24 am

    Hi charlie :-)

    Yeah, the whole werepire army was a catastrophe. But it was fun to watch lol

    The Forbes family is the most dysfunctional thing on the planet. Just horrible, horrible people.
60. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:25 am

    Hi Girish :-)

    Hurting Caroline is one certain way to get the audience spun up, so she’s kind of a go-to character for pain. As long as they don’t overplay their card, I’m good with it.

    Julie Plec even said that there is a lot of stuff in this season where, if you didn’t know better, you’d be like “are those two dudes together?”
61. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:26 am

    Hi Ellyria :-)

    Caroline is amazing. Love her so much. I think actually finding Caroline will be part of the problem… though maybe the Sheriff knows where all the good torture huts are.
62. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:27 am

    Hi Martina :-)

    Evil Bonnie would be awesome. You heard it here first. :-)
63. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:39 am

    Hi Sophi :-)

    Agreed, Caroline is adorable. I love pretty much every moment she’s on screen.

    I really hope they don’t retcon his gay away, but I also hope they don’t redeem him just because he’s gay. We can have evil gays, too. But, yeah, as a whole, Mystic Falls is plenty straight.

    What witch was gay? I somehow missed that.

    Tyler/Carol is just.. weird. I do not approve.
64. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:40 am

    Hi Flafly :-)

    They hurt Caroline precisely because it will get us angry. Those little vixens.

    Klaus is fantastic. I really enjoy watching him.
65. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:42 am

    Thanks Jez :-)

    The Post Mortems give me a place to get my actual, serious thoughts out, and hopefully answer a few of the questions I’m pretty sure would end up in the comments anyway. I like writing them.

    Bonnie’s gonna be pissed when she sees Matt making moves on her man. ;-)

    Evil!Stefan really is more frightening than Damon. Damon was unhinged, but Stefan is… ruthless.

    Elena is already out of points due to stupidity. I think everyone just smiles and nods at her now.
66. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:45 am

    Hi Cherie Barnett :-)

    The Fiancee is awesome. She linked to our Twitter feeds up above… they’re pretty much word-for-word what’s happening in our living room.

    I do love that Damon just doesn’t give a fuck. Maybe he thinks he’s too pretty to die? Which may be true, actually.

    Haha, Elena in school. They’re, what, in the first week, and she’s already skipping? How the hell did she make it to senior year?

    Oh right, I forgot that Matt “gave” Caroline to Tyler. That was such bullshit. Now I’m angry at Matt again.

    Just Say No To Werepire Puppies.

    You know, the Gilberts do have a history of gadget-making guardians…
67. Anita says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:52 am

    Thomas,

    I don’t think it’s possible to make 90210 any worse…
68. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:54 am

    Hey zoe :-)

    It really is awesome that Caroline could win the entire episode with five entire seconds of screen time.

    I am really happy that PW has so much to work with this season. Evil!Stefan is so much more fun to watch than Stupid!Stefan. I can’t wait to see him go full ripper.

    I love that Damon doesn’t seem worried about winning or impressing Elena any more. And she really does need some sense beat into her. Terrible plans are terrible.

    I want Katherine and Evil!Stefan together, actually. I think that would be amazing. There’s no one on the show right now that would work with Damon.

    I am enjoying Tyler/Caroline way more than I expected. I could see a Romeo & Juliette thing working.

    I still say that an Evil!Bonnie plot would be amazing.
69. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:56 am

    Hi Mona :-)

    The best part about Damon throwing Elena into the lake is that there was no reason for it, other than Damon being sick of Elena’s lame ass plans.

    I honestly don’t think Damon would work with Elena. But the potential and the chemistry is great, so I approve of them keeping that up. But Damon needs someone who’s… stronger than Elena. I miss Rose.
70. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:57 am

    Hi Elina :-)

    I do think that a lot of this episode was setting up future plots. Klaus going after Elena again, Evil Gay Daddy Forbes, and Evil?Vicki primarily.

    Klaus was lonely. It was a great moment.

    Poor Caroline. Worst parents ever.
71. Christina says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:59 am

    I love the fiancee’s comments in this one.
    This is my favorite:

    Elena Gilbert: You gave up on Stefan!

    The Fiancee: He gave up on cutting his hair!

    This episode was so fantastic. Definitely one of my favorites of the whole series I think. That final scene between Damon & Elena was just simply wonderful. It made me love Damon so much more, which I didn’t think was possible.

    I even felt bad for Klaus in this episode. I mean…he’s just lonely & wants to have others who are like him around. Even if he is attempting to build an army for a war that won’t happen until he builds his army?

    I’m continuing to love Stefan. I liked Stefan before, but there wasn’t much to him. I love what the writer’s are doing with him this season.

    It is so incredibly messed up & heartbreaking that Caroline’s dad is the one who is going to be torturing her. I’m hoping that since she’s Caroline & she somehow manages to charm almost everyone she can persuade him to change his mind about her. But it’s really worrisome that he didn’t even flinch at the fact that he was going to have to hurt his only daughter. I mean even her mom showed physical signs of being conflicted when she found out Caroline was a vamp, but her dad was just like eh whatever. & it is so so wrong. Talk about heartbreak.

    & I’m honestly not missing Bonnie at all. If the writer’s are going to improve her & make her more interesting yeah bring her back. But I don’t see them improving her or what they would do to make her better. I really only liked her around last season because she made Jeremy happy, & that kid has had enough sadness in his life.
72. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 10:02 am

    Hi Ellie :-)

    Caroline… oh, Caroline. I was totally surprised by the “Daddy” development, even though I should have seen it coming.

    I love Stefan and Klaus together. And I agree, at least Elena is doing something. I just wish that something wasn’t “getting me and all of my friends werewolfed to death.”

    Alaric’s stake-knuckles and werewolf grenade were awesome. So much love.

    I am surprised by how much I like Tyler this season. I hated him for what he did to Caroline, but if she’s forgiven him… well…
73. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 10:04 am

    Hi Steph :-)

    I kind of love how everyone calls Elena on her idiot plans, but then just totally goes along with them. It’s like they’re saying “well, we could just leave it at that, but then we wouldn’t be able to fill the rest of the hour, so… let’s do this.”
74. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 10:06 am

    Hi Melissa :-)

    Yeah, the teamwork, and the way the cast works as an ensemble, really is terrific. And yeah, I’m pretty sure the sum of Elena’s plan was “find Stefan, pout at Stefan, leave with Stefan.”

    I couldn’t date a girl that dumb.

    Klaus being all sad when his werepires died was fantastic. And yeah, I’m pretty sure Elena is going to have to die in order for Klaus’ plan to work. Maybe that’s how they’ll vamp her.

    Jeremy: I Binged voodoo, and it says we need a chicken…
75. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 10:08 am

    Hi Estela :-)

    Damon really does have a way of dropping little lines here and there that draw the audience – and Elena – back to his side. It’s never very overt, and it’s not very often, but every once in a while, he proves that he has romantic chops.

    Caroline should be in every scene ever. She could hold an entire TV show.
76. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 10:12 am

    Hi boochan :-)

    Damon’s – kind of – seen Elena naked already, since he’s banged her identical twin. I don’t think he’s effected by The Power of the Boob.

    The hearing… I’m not going to even bother trying to hand-wave it. It’s just broken.

    I guess maybe Klaus still would have been able to compel the new werepires? But yeah, I wouldn’t have gone making an entire army of unstoppable killing machines. I’ve read the Evil Overlord List.

    The thing is, even if Elena’s “plan” worked, and she found Stefan… then what? She had no exit strategy. No goal, even. She just wanted to see Stefan.

    And they really are downplaying Damon’s murder-spree tendencies. They kind of have to, to make him sympathetic. But he’s still got it in him.
77. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 10:13 am

    Anita:

    I have never, nor will I ever, watch 90210. Which actually makes it the perfect place for Smallville refugees to go.
78. EleanorPalimore says:

    September 26, 2011 at 10:15 am

    I was… sort of dreading it. I think I knew that they’d do something like make her dad a big old douchebag, and they love to torture Caroline, so this seemed like the best way to go about it… *sigh* Damn them.

    I’d love it if Stefan actually grew to… not *like* Klaus, exactly, but feel loyal to him, or started to understand his motivations, or something. It’d make for some great extra drama!

    Yeeaaah. Elena’s plans suck. She needs to consult with Bonnie and Caroline more, or even just Tyler! He could have given her more useful info, I think, if she’d asked. That said, she’s right about not giving up on Stefan. I just wish she’d be a bit smarter about it!

    I found Damon pushing Elena into the lake funny. But then it occurred to me – as strong as Damon is, and as high as he pushed her, how could he have known she wouldn’t be hurt? That lake was unfamiliar to him. There could have been *anything* under the surface of the water. Thoughtless, but very classically Damon.

    I think Ric should take some time to teach Elena and Jer the basics of anti-vamp and wolf weaponry. They should be carrying that stuff around on a daily basis if they want to keep living in Mystic Falls!

    I still haven’t forgiven Tyler for the whole Caroline-torture thing, but I think he’s redeeming himself already this season. I also think that he’s due a big heroic rescue – busting Caro out and getting her away from her pyscho dad would certainly go a long way for me!

    And her dad… is a creep. Seriously. It’s like the moment she became a vampire, she stopped being his daughter, but even the *other* council members had to pause to adjust. He was basically already in KILL THE VAMPIRE mode, without even considering the alternatives. UGH.

    – Ellie.
79. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 10:16 am

    Hi Christina :-)

    I do love Damon and Elena’s every-once-in-a-while bedroom romantic declarations.

    Klaus is fantastically played. He’s another character we shouldn’t root for, but we end up feeling bad for him. It’s awesome.

    I agree re: Evil!Stefan.

    Daddy Forbes is just pure evil. That’s the power of bigotry, though.

    I stand by my statement that an Evil!Bonnie would be fantastic.
80. Anita says:

    September 26, 2011 at 10:18 am

    I watch it sometimes to laugh about how terrible it is. But then it hurts my brain.
81. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 10:21 am

    Hey Ellie :-)

    Yeah, the do love to hurt Our Favorite Vampire. I still didn’t see that coming, though.

    I think we’ll see some actual Stefan/Klaus bonding when Stefan finally flips the switch.

    She is right not to give up, but… I just wish she’s rub two brain cells together every once in a while before pulling all of her loved ones into the fire. Again.

    Honestly? Hitting Elena hard enough to throw her that far would have been like getting hit by a car. The stuff under the lake would be an afterthought, since Damon’s hands would have been protruding from her chest.

    You’re right, there really is no reason for The Gilberts to not be heavily armed all of the time.

    Tyler rescuing Caroline would definitely be a good step toward redemption. And I kind of hope he kills Daddy Forbes. But then I root for murder as a default.
82. EleanorPalimore says:

    September 26, 2011 at 10:33 am

    ‘But then I root for murder as a default.’

    It’s funny. I never did until I started watching TVD. And now, whenever a guest character annoys me or hurts Caroline, I’m like ‘KILLLLLLLL THAT FUCKER. DAMON? STEFAN? ANYONE!’

    But yeah, I could be fiiine with Tyler ripping Daddy Forbes’ heart out of his chest. Double points if he does it as Daddy Forbes is about to stake his daughter.

    – Ellie.
83. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 10:38 am

    Damon is kind of the reason I root for the bad guy now. I blame him for the fact that I find Faye the most interesting character on Secret Circle.
84. Sophi says:

    September 26, 2011 at 3:29 pm

    I want him to be a person more than anything else; it would be extremely unfortunate if the only gay character was a total bastard, though slightly more acceptable because half the cast are quite bastardy.

    She was very flirty towards Katherine–which I can understand–and I took that to be a subtle hint? Probably one of those we’ll-never-know-because-she-was-a-one-episode-lady things. Perhaps I’m just reading into it my desperate attempts to ~identify~ with the characters. I want moar GSSM characters on otherwise excellent shows. And realistic stories with people who own it and fumble about trying to figure out relationships like any other teen, rather than the coming out stories, which are incredibly important but seem to be dwarfing the narratives so far. I came out when I was 13, the interesting stuff has happened -since- then.
85. Thomas says:

    September 26, 2011 at 4:55 pm

    Sophi:

    That must be very frustrating. In my own writing, I’ve been a bit shy about including gay characters just because I don’t really have a frame of reference. Since I’m not gay, writing with a gay voice would be difficult, and I’d kind of afraid of sounding… hollow? Inauthentic? Stereotypical? I’m not sure.

    Of course, I have written from female voices, and the lady friends I gave it to said that sounded authentic enough, so maybe I’m worried about nothing.

    Also: could you expand GSSM for me? I’m not familiar with that acronym.

    TVD-wise, Kevin Williamson is gay himself, so while Daddy Forbes might be an utter bastard, at the very least we can be pretty sure that he won’t be an utter bastard because he’s gay.
86. Brian in Shortsville says:

    September 26, 2011 at 8:12 pm

    I actually kind of hope Bill Forbes hangs around for awhile. His character has a lot of back-story he can tell about Team Salvatore. That job is vacant with John gone. Once he’s done that, THEN a vamp can eat or, better yet, TURN him. That could be fun. Doubt HRG is haning around that long though.

    I just hope they aren’t going to turn Season 3 into a re-match of Season 2. Mostly, these writers are capable of better than that. But it seems they’re foreshadowing a whole “Klaus has to kill Elena (again) in order to break the curse (again, this time without the asterisk).” We’ve already seen “the oldest vampire of all time is coming after Elena”.

    I realize that the source material is largely “Klaus menaces Elena,” but they’ve shown that it’s not going to be canon on the show. I just wish they’d let “get Stefan back” be the reason Team Salvatore has to engage Klaus with the shoe on the other foot (good guys after Klaus instead of Klaus after the good guys) and not re-take the same territory.

    But for THAT to happen, the good guys need a way to kill/defeat Klaus. So far, they’ve tracked Klaus and Stefan both episodes, with no real idea what they were going to do to/with them IF they caught them. All they have is, again, Season 2′s grand plan the failed just as it was about to work.

    When they’re good, they’re going to new, unexpected places, when they’re bad, they’re writing circles, and ending up back at the same place.
87. Hayley Hamilton says:

    September 26, 2011 at 11:29 pm

    Oh the “Tyler Lockwood: Sure do! Just let me pull up my Werewolf Flash Mob app and see where they’re camping! part made me laugh our loud.” Very funny.

    Loving the Post Mortem (as i said before) great addition, you may have done this preioviously but not on any re-caps that i’ve read.

    Love Caroline so much. She’s possibly my favourite character right now. I wanted to punch Elena so hard in this episode, seriously, what part of going to ‘save’ stefan was a good plan? What was the plan? urh, i’m so glad Damon pushed her into the water!!
88. Pat says:

    September 27, 2011 at 12:51 am

    Loved this episode.
    The Damon throwing Elena in the water was HILARIOUS. Elena has shown repeatedly that she is not scared or too dainty for rough stuff so I think that is why Damon wasn’t scared or didn’t hesitate to do rough stuff with her.
    Damon and Elena have always been “physical” with each other so. HMMM now my mind is in a dirty place.
    The Klaus/Stefan storyline is growing on me. I just need more action and reasoning.
    When Klaus was listing all the things he did to become a hybrid and wondering why it wasn’t working he looked at Stefan in a considering way. It didn’t help that Stefan had that look on his face that to me said, “I am hiding something la de da da….”. I was yelling in my mind “Fix your face Stefan to look more inscrutable”. LOL
    Truly Stefan just had that look and Klaus is not stupid even if he was upset at that moment.So now he is suspicious, I bet.
    Alaric and Damon is a great team. I guess I wasn’t looking for the “romantic” or chemistry in Alaric and Elena scenes because I didn’t see it.
    Now Jeremy/Matt scenes are kind of weird and have that vibe. Don’t know about the seeing ghosts storyline. Not feeling it yet.
    Hope Tyler steps up and actively look for and save Caroline. Liz needs to be in on it too.
    Caro and her parent issues just keep coming.The girl can’t catch a break.

    Now to the Damon/Elena last scene. I like their chemistry much better than Elena/STefan. I get too easily bored in the SE scenes. I like action, angst, passionate intensity in my TV romances.
    Anywhoo Damon will not “go after” Elena while Stefan is away because he has learned his lesson since the Kat/Stefan/him fiasco in the past. He is looking for a more real, upfront, out in the open relationship with Elena. I also don’t think he wants to be considered second best since he was that with Kat or only looked at since Stefan is gone. His dysfunction with his bro doesn’t help in that either so I see him truly waiting. Even then I don’t think he will be gungho going after her. I think he will take his cues from Elena.He has been burnt too many times in the past with Elena.

    So all in all this was a great episode. Need more badass, “don’t care as long as I drag my bro back, kill anyone in my way” Damon. Team him up with Elijah and Alaric and I am in HEAVEN.
89. Thomas says:

    September 27, 2011 at 8:05 am

    Hey Brian,

    Yeah, there is the potential for a repeat of Season Two. Hopefully, what with Klaus being unkillable and a pack of Originals ready to be woken up, they’ll find new beats to hit. I think that’s pretty likely.

    For shits and giggles, I read through the Wikipedia summary of the latest TVD novels. Apparently, Stefan gets taken to Faerie hell by a pair of Japanese demons, and Elena uses her magic faerie wings to rescue him. Damon gets turned into a human by a magic flower, then back into a vampire by an evil faerie, but then a magic tree falls on him and he dies. But he wakes up on a faerie moon, and kinda-sorta remembers his name.

    This shit could be a lot worse, is what I’m saying.

    My take on this season? A good chunk of it will be spent finding and de-daggering the Originals, and then the Witches will come to town and wail on Klaus until someone can give him a cardioectomy.
90. Thomas says:

    September 27, 2011 at 8:06 am

    Hi Hayley :-)

    Nope, the Post Mortems are new. I was going to do them for True Blood, but I didn’t want to waste the effort on that show.

    Caroline is the best person in the world. She deserves her own holiday.
91. Thomas says:

    September 27, 2011 at 8:09 am

    Hi Pat :-)

    I really like that Damon kind of doesn’t give a shit around Elena anymore. Klaus and Stefan are a lot of fun together, and I’m looking forward to seeing that develop.

    I didn’t read anything “romantic” about Elena/Alaric… just inappropriate. That guy would be fired on the spot if anyone saw them together.

    Damon + Alaric + Elijah = the best idea anyone had ever had.
92. Sophi says:

    September 27, 2011 at 2:13 pm

    Harmful writing can be even worse, but if you’re worried and making an effort then that’s definitely a good thing! The thing to remember is, shock horror–we’re just like everyone else. We’re people. We just have to take some weird shit; that makes some people bitter, some angry, some flippant and some just end up with much thicker skins. The biggest thing is coming out, I guess? That might be an experience that straight people will never have anything like, won’t face the same fear of where being open with a basic truth about yourself can lead to complete rejection and harassment on a social and legal level. They have that basic security in their own sexuality that they never have to consider how wrenching it is to have to worry about it and how to express it or who knows or who’s spreading it without your consent, as happened to me recently, a whole mess that’s now mopped up.

    GSSM is relatively new one, but I like it a lot better; LGBT does not nearly begin to cover even some of the identities people have, and personally it doesn’t include me, identifying as a queer asexual. It’s Gender, Sex and Sexuality Minority. There are some problems with it but it’s so much more inclusive.

    Ooh, I didn’t know that, thanks for that particular piece of knowledge!
93. Brian in Shortsville says:

    September 27, 2011 at 2:33 pm

    Uh-oh. You said his name and now he’s gone off and done something insane:

    Dis gives me a sads:

    ‘Vampire Diaries’ exec Kevin Williamson for Fox serial killer pilot

    Kevin Williamson

    © WENN
    Kevin Williamson has sold a pilot for a new serial killer drama to Fox.

    The project – to be written and executive produced by the Vampire Diaries showrunner – has received a put-pilot commitment, according to Deadline.

    The potential series will focus on an FBI agent and his pursuit of a murderous villain who is using technology to create a cult of serial killers.

    http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a342572/vampire-diaries-exec-kevin-williamson-for-fox-serial-killer-pilot.html

    This is original writing, not an adaptation, or a ‘based on…’
94. Alicia says:

    September 27, 2011 at 8:08 pm

    Thomas, every day should be “Caroline Day” :) :). I would wear the t-shirt, for sure!
95. Thomas says:

    September 28, 2011 at 8:22 am

    Hey Sophi :-)

    I kind of think coming out as an atheist is similar to coming out gay. Especially in the social circle I used to belong to, which was very centered on the church and Jesus. That was, like you said, wrenching.

    Sexual politics is complex enough that I don’t know there is a catch-all phrase that isn’t broad enough to be kind of useless. In a lot of cases, I think it’s helpful just to put things in terms of “this is what it’s like not to be a straight, white male.”
96. Thomas says:

    September 28, 2011 at 8:22 am

    Hey Brian,

    Yeah, I saw that. I’m not to worried about it, though. It’s on Fox, so it’ll be canceled within twelve episodes.
97. Thomas says:

    September 28, 2011 at 8:23 am

    Hey Alicia :-)

    I really need to set up a cafe press some time ;-)
98. Ana says:

    September 29, 2011 at 2:16 am

    Great recap!
    I laughed so much! I always look forward to reading your recaps everytime I see a new episode, especially this one. While watching the episode I died when i saw bill because I knew him from heroes as Noah Bennet a.k.a horn rimmed glasses. When I saw him I thought to myself, oh my god if thomas writes a reference about bill being from heroes I will die. and then you did. I died. I think i may have fangirl squeed as well..

    Carol Lockwood: Nope! And I certainly didn’t shoot her with a poison dart and then lock her in a dungeon and then call a that guy from Heroes to come and murder her!

    Me: OMG YES YESSSS WIN.

    *when you referred to him as HRG

    me: *dies*
99. Thomas says:

    September 29, 2011 at 8:08 am

    Hi Ana :-)

    Sorry I killed you ;-) Hope you get better :-)
100. The_Void says:

     September 29, 2011 at 9:34 am

     It makes me laugh that Jack Coleman is literally playing the exact same character. On Heroes he worked for a secret organisation that hunted down mutants, but then he found out that his daughter was a mutant. Now he works for an organisation that hunts down vampires, and he’s just found out that his daughter is a vampire.
101. Neil says:

     September 29, 2011 at 9:36 am

     liked the plot development more than I probably liked the episode – though I far from hated it (a solid B).

     Not much to add that hasn’t been said – glad the werepire army plan failed, thought Bill Forbes was potentially a good new addition, and the vampire-limbo ghost thing actually got interesting (shame it’s attached to the two least interesting characters). I’m rather hoping that the failure of Klaus’s scheme isn’t down to Elena still being alive though I’m happy for Klaus to think it is when he inevitably discovers she’s still alive (or as close to alive as Elena ever gets).

     Mostly uninterested in the Damon/Elena ship tease antics (I’m totally in the wrong demo), but enjoying Stefan and the way he’s applying his usual calm, mildly upbeat, demeanour to the business of being the Complete Monster’s side kick. I also like that they are making Klaus out to be a petulant, childish dick; evil is not cool kids.

     The barbie-pire in danger thing is going to out stay it’s welcome soon – worked well this time for the shock value of the daddy line but it will get stale. Still think Caroline needs to get some edge back and do something vampire-ish – been nearly a whole season since she’s killed anyone. How about security suddenly gets improved at the handily well stocked local blood banks? I vote for Caroline eating Tyler’s mom.
102. Thomas says:

     September 30, 2011 at 8:46 am

     Hey The_Void :-)

     He really kind of is. That’s a hell of a typecast lol… I can’t imagine roles like that come up all that often.
103. Thomas says:

     September 30, 2011 at 8:49 am

     Hi Neil :-)

     I would probably give it a B as well. It was good, not blow-my-mind amazing, but still serviceable.

     I’m kind of glad they’re giving two of the least interesting characters something interesting to do. That’s how they’ll become interesting, hopefully. I still have hopes that Bonnie will receive the same consideration.

     Delena really does nothing for me, and Damon is more fun when he’s snarking at Elena / throwing her into lakes. Damon needs to hook up with Faye.

     You’re right, Caroline dose need to eat someone. Her “Hi mommy” with the bloody mouth was amazing. She needs a reprise.
104. L. says:

     October 14, 2011 at 8:22 pm

     This is just brilliant. Werewolf Flash Mob app? Genius.
105. Carolin says:

     October 30, 2011 at 3:40 am

     Yay, the last word of this episode got me really gasping in shock. Caroline’s father… OMG.

     Again, I totally agree with your Post Mortem. Damon’s all kind of awesome with that, wanting to get Elena when Stefan is back and also not holding back of his annoyance with her and pushing her into the river.

     And Alaric, poor Rick, what would he do without alcohol? As a human, that’s probably the only way to stay remotely sane in this town…

     Maybe you’re right about Bonnie. She’s my least favorite character too, but maybe that will change.