'The Vampire Diaries': A storm brings buried secrets to the surface

Tonight's "Vampire Diaries" episode is called "Let the Right One In." After last week's episode, Stefan and Elena are stronger than ever, as are Matt and Caroline, it seems. Though Bonnie is still mourning her grandmother off-screen, I'm looking forward to seeing Tyler in this episode. I also can't wait to see the continued power struggle in the vampire nest.

Without further ado ...

8 p.m. -- At the beginning of the season, Damon got in his Edward Cullen dig. Now, Anna takes a potshot at some more classic vampire lore: Dracula's fear of running water. "He was a complete wuss," she laughs. "Never showered, was always smelly."

I'm definitely on Anna's side when it comes to the "to turn or not to turn" dilemma. Jeremy can't even give her one good reason to sire him. Drinking blood isn't going to fill that lonely-orphan void in your heart, Jeremy.

8:03 p.m. -- Pearl points out that the Lockwoods, the Forbeses and the Fells are still the prominent families in Mystic Falls, 150 years later. I love that each family has such a strong history within the town, and that they're all so entwined with each other.

8:05 p.m. -- "I've accepted the fact that you're a self-serving psychopath with no redeeming qualities," Elena tells Damon. He doesn't even flinch. Classic!

8:08 p.m. -- As Stefan is heading out to ... er ... refuel, the elder Salvatore drops the Damonism of the night: "I have two liters of soccer mom in the fridge. No? Give my regards to the squirrels."

8:14 p.m. -- There's a marked difference in Damon's entire demeanor when he realizes that Stefan could be in real trouble. As usual, he'll crow endlessly about how much he doesn't care, until someone he cares about is in danger.

8:15 p.m. -- Whoa there, Stefan. How courteous of the big mean vampire gang to strip you down before stringing you up.

I haven't written much about Harper in my recaps, but I should say that I already love him and hope he sticks around. Sterling Sulieman hasn't had much screen time, but it's been just enough to catch viewers' attention. I'm looking forward to finding out more about who he was in 1864.

8:16 p.m. -- Though I understand why Damon is asking Alaric for help, I'm not sure why Alaric's giving it to him. I mean, I know he's generally a stand-up good guy, but Stefan is a vampire, and Alaric doesn't seem to have bonded with him to the degree that he'd risk his life to save him.

8:18 p.m. -- At the Grill, Anna tells Jeremy that there are four reasons a vampire might turn a human. The first reason explains Ben the Hot Bartender. "We need somebody to do our dirty work," she says. The other three are also things we've seen before: revenge, boredom and eternal love.

Tyler is back from yet another vacation! Cabo? St. Tropez? His father, the "alpha d-bag," takes a particular interest in Pearl. "Elections are coming. She's a constituent, and a rich one from the looks of it," he says.

Tyler isn't exactly charmed. "And you can tell all that by looking at her a**?" he asks.

8:20 p.m. -- Damon teases Elena about how worried she is about Stefan. "He's the reason you live. His love lifts you up where you belong," he says. "I know." Even as he's teasing, it's immediately clear that he does know how she feels. In fact, if anyone knows what it's like to live entirely for someone else, it's Damon.

8:26 p.m. -- Uh-oh. Caroline is stuck in the woods in a rainstorm with no service on her cellphone. No scary movies start that way. At all.

8:28 p.m. -- Exactly how much practice does Alaric have with killing vampires? He looks like he could teach Buffy a few lessons.

8:29 p.m. -- Pearl asks Mayor Lockwood about his family's land acquisition in 1865. Did the Lockwoods appropriate Pearl's land after the tomb? Somehow, I don't think hers is the kind of family you want to mess with.

8:30 p.m. -- I'm waiting for the "Mission: Impossible" score to start playing over these shots of Elena on the porch.

8:35 p.m. -- Poor Caroline, still stuck in the car. Now I'm waiting for the "Jeopardy" theme song. What's a girl to do when stuck in a torrential downpour with zero bars on your cellphone? I doubt even Bing would work in those conditions.

By the way, we're 35 minutes in and we still haven't seen Melinda Clarke! Hello, waste of resources!

Caroline's terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day continues as she slips down a steep hill and grabs a root to keep from slipping ... only to discover that the root is actually a human hand.

8:36 p.m. -- Poor Tyler. He came back from vacation only to sullenly observe everyone else's misdeeds? After Vicki disappeared, Jeremy reached out to Tyler in a friendly truce. I hope their relationship gets explored more. In the meantime, Tyler can just watch like a stalker as Jeremy gets the text from Anna: "I'll do it."

8:40 p.m. -- Wait. Would Stefan drink Elena's blood if it were the only way to survive? Part of me thinks he'd rather die than do that, unless she was at risk too.

8:46 p.m. -- At this point, I've lost track of the body count. Alaric and Damon make a good team. Dudes are weird. They're all, "We killed a ton of vampires together! Bygones?"

8:47 p.m. -- Finally, Kelly Donovan!

8:48 p.m. -- Oh, no. The human arm was Vicki's?

8:48 p.m. -- Double whammy! First Vicki resurfaces, and then Stefan actually does drink from Elena. This is a moment we've been waiting on for a long time. Kevin Williamson even teased it when I spoke with him back in October. I hadn't expected it to happen until the finale, though. Paul Wesley told me that when Stefan finally drank, it would be like an addict falling off the wagon.

8:50 p.m. -- We've never seen Stefan hulk out quite this much, before. Before, when he's gone into vampire mode, it was far more toned down than it is now. I don't blame Elena for looking at him so fearfully.

8:55 p.m. -- Scenes like this are the reason that Melinda Clarke is so phenomenal. Kelly Donovan could easily have been a caricature. We've seen a thousand cougar-on-the-prowl, Stifler's mom types. Here, in a moment when sexuality and charm can't save her, Kelly Donovan's humanity is revealed.

Matt, sitting in Vicki's room, breaks my heart. This kid seriously can't catch a break. I feel sad for Caroline too, because no matter how she tries to help, it's too little too late. Matt finds comfort in Elena because she's been there for him all his life, and because she was with him during a time when Vicki was around.

8:57 p.m. -- Well ... bravo, Alaric. Damon certainly deserved that punch. I guess they're not about to start going out on slayer-vampire man-dates after all.

8:58 p.m. -- Jeremy's admission that he was interested in turning into a vampire for Vicki is one of the reasons I love this show. Just when I think someone is making an irrational, nonsensical decision, all the pieces fall into place.

9 p.m. -- Wow. When Stefan falls off the wagon, he falls straight to rock bottom. My favorite part of this scene is the look on Damon's face. Stefan has been the righteous one for so long that Damon has probably come to think of his little brother as infallible. I can't wait to see the fallout next week.

Were you as shocked as I was to see Stefan sink his teeth into Elena? How do you think he'll change now that he's got that extra fuel in his system? What effect do you think the discovery of Vicki's body will have on the already delicate relationships in Matt's life?

Let's chat in the comments below, and don't forget to check back in next week after the all-new episode!

--Carina MacKenzie (catch up with me on Twitter @cadlymack)

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Double, double, toil and trouble
Damon's bender ends badly for Alaric
Sara Canning makes her own luck

Photos: (Top) Nina Dobrev as Elena and Ian Somerhalder as Damon. Credit: CW  (Bottom) Stephen Martines as Frederick and Paul Wesley as Stefan. Credit: CW

Comments

[bethany]

I love your recaps for the past two weeks for two reasons:

1 - Jeremy Swann

2 - this line: "Whoa there, Stefan. How courteous of the big mean vampire gang to strip you down before stringing you up."

Thanks for picking things out here and there that I don't catch... You help enrich the story.

[Delenafan]

Well, if Elena now has two bad boys to choose from then please, ye gods of t.v. let it be Damon. Those two really know how to sizzle up the screen and they haven't even locked lips yet.

[Team Damon&Stefan or Team Damon&Alaric]

As an audience, would have been better to see killing and drink the fresh blood of a fluffy white bunny or a golden retreiver then some plastic bag? The woodland creatures of Mystic Falls must be rejoicing and Stefan's diet has probably been devastating for the ecosystem.

Elena lets Stefan drink her blood all the time in the novel series and surprised it was taking that long to do it. What I didn't get with Elena is that this is the third vampire she's witnessed Stefan killing (Vicki, Noah and Frederick). She's not exactly blindsided by this by now. Would it be it was nonchalant about stabbing Frederick? So Elena doesn't care that Stefan stabs human-looking vampires, but that he gets angry while doing it weirds her out?

I like that Vicki got her grieving scene from her bro, mom, and guys she banged, but it reminded of that news report from The Simpsons' episode Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part Two: "Dozens of people are gunned down each day in Springfield, but until now none of them was important. I'm Kent Brockman." Death in Mystic Falls isn't actually new but yet a man stepping in front of truck and getting killed outside the Mystic Grill doesn't even pause a Charity Bachelor's Raffle going on inside at the same time.

I think there was a line about Damon telling Alaric that Pearl knows about Isobel, but it's a poor explanation you're right about wondering why Alaric is into saving another vampire since Stefan hasn't been much help to Alaric. Plus why Elena even try the "this is for Stefan" card in the first place. I guess the writers wanted to pair up these two characters and they do have some chemistry together and did kind of work. I'm curious, would you say your a bigger fan of Damon & Stefan or Damon & Alaric as the in-house team of vampire hunters?

[Danielle]

There are a few things that I am nervous about for the remainder of the season:

1) Stefan: Remember the voice message for Isabel's phone number last week? It was one of a few references made to Stefan's pre-squirrel diet. I think the larger struggles of Stefan will be revealed to us! (As for now, can you blame a 150 yr old vampire for wanting something a little stronger than bambi?)

2) The Vicki Chapter: We thought this one was closed, but everyone finding out about her death is like salt to a wound. You're right, poor Matt can't "catch a break." Neither can Caroline. Matter of fact, neither can Jeremy...

3) Anna's P.O'd: I have a feeling she will be retaliating...

The previews for next week show a lot of Damon/Elena which means Stefan is recuperating. Also, Bonnie is back- and I don't think she'll be too fond of her best friend being fed on. Guess we'll just have to stay tuned...

[Danielle]

Oh yah... I totally meant to add:

Why did Damon bury Vicki so shallow?!! He clearly didn't put much effort into hiding the evidence of his boredom if Caroline 'fell upon' her in the rain.

This could have been avoided. Like I said, stay tuned...

[robyn]

Great recap :)

Melinda Clarke is so amazing and perfect. I love the Matt/Caroline dynamic but poor Caroline at the end, it was sad for everyone.

Paul did a great job with the falling off the wagon scene at the end. The reaction from Ian was perfect

[Vanessa]

I don't want Bonnie to come back, I don't like her. Damn, I thought Jeremy had forgotten all about Vickie!!! Damon, wow he actually cares about Stefan. Poor Matt!!! Elena and Stefan= So good together!!!

[Dina]

I think the episode tonight was amazing!!!!!!! By far the BEST episode ever!!! By the way I'm TEAN STEFAN and to see him being tortured like that was heart breaking. As much as Damon says that he does not care for his brother…obviously that is all talk all the time. That must be a “Brotherly Thing” only they can hurt and stake each other but nobody else can. By the way seeing Stefan w/o a shirt was awesome…just wish it were under different circumstances. Oh…Harper I love you by the way!

Now comes the rescue, Alaric was awesome but Elena took me by surprise the way she snuck into the house (you go girl…save yo man). I wasn’t surprised that Stefan took some of Elena’s blood because he was in bad shape anyway. That is what we all have been waiting for. Now it will be interesting to see what happens next. Now seeing Matt break down like that because he just found out about Vicki was awful (I almost cried). I feel bad for Caroline though…she just asked him if there was anything that she could do for him and as soon as he saw Elena he breaks down in her arms (poor Caroline). I know Anna felt hurt finding out that Jeremy only wanted to be turned because of Vicki and not because of her…she was really thinking that Jeremy liked her especially when she stood up to her mom.

Anyway great play-by-play…can’t wait for next week!!!!!!!!!!!

[mm]

The show is too scary for 8 pm. I am team stefan and elena, but i like that elena could possibly be turned off by stefan's true self. I am waiting for them to have a real lovers spat. Elena is seeing all this violence and needs to realize that she cant back away from it all, she is in it to the end. And her friendship with Matt is done because she lied about his sister. it will come out

Caroline is so refreshing. I miss Bonnie because she has powers and can decide if she for or against the vampires at anytime.

[tinasaldivar]

I love your recaps. its invigorating after watching the show to go over the good parts in a good review.

[Linda]

I love these weekly show recaps! Please keep them coming.

[looktotheoutside]

I like your recaps :D
The hole Jeremy wanting to be turn is making sens, after a lot of speculation from our part XD I so want to see what Anna is gonna do with him, is she gonna be hurt or revengeful?
The Alaric/damon collaboration was great, I like this two dynamic, even if Alaric helping was a little to force!
And this week Elena disappoint me :( she can take a simple instruction and the she is all freak out with Stefan when she knew who he was and what he has done. If this is a way of putting Elena and Damon, it sucks!!! They are so forcing this two :( They are making everything Elena center!! And poor Caroline!!
I just hope Bonnie is back soon! Miss he!

[Catherine]

Oh my god I basically screamed when I read: " I'm waiting for the "Mission: Impossible" score to start playing over these shots of Elena on the porch."
Because the first thing that popped into my head when she ran up on the porch and slid down with her back against the wall was MISSION IMPOSSIBLE!

Hahaha so freaky to read that you thought that too.

[Nat]

Looooooved this episode. I loved it when Damon was explaining to Elena that he can't protect her, because he was so genuine about making her understand that she's IMPORTANT DAMNIT and can't just become a casualty, because he knows what it's like to lose someone, he knows what Stefan would feel. I just LOVE the brotherly love there.

And that Elena went in and was actually USEFUL... I mean, wow, THUMBS UP.

Seriously, everytime a girl goes into the danger scene the director always makes her become a distraction that makes the main guys get beat up. To actually see a girl decide for herself and for that to have POSITIVE consequences is extremely empowering and I applaud this show for it. Had she not gone in Damon wouldn't have been able to get the ropes and they'd all be toast.

That Jeremy wanted to turn into a vampire for Vicki? OUCH that's gotta hurt, but not more than what Anna's gonna do to him. He's already on her mother's black list... not boding well, but could be epic if he ends up liking her for real.

Poor Anna, she was so enthralled by this boy. Reminds me of some books I've read where vampires are the ones that find humans charming and irresistible and often fall in love more quickly due to their heightened sensibilities (though, of course, the fact that they can make a meal out of you is still, um .. well... I'll let you know when I want to marry my cheeseburger)

That Stefan is about to go bad bad bad to the bone. Awesome. Because I've always wondered what he was like in the past, what Damon knew, what Stefan's "other face" is. And well, maybe Damon isn't the baddest of the brothers after all...

Am I the only one who's Team Damon/Elena/Stefan? Like seriously, I like them BOTH and whomever she ends up with is fine by me and if anything I hope she alternates CONTINUOUSLY?

I want more bad/good Stefan and Elena angst/sexy-time

I want Damon/Elena liplock LAIK NAU because without kissing those two SIZZLE already so imagine when they do.

Heck I want both brothers to drink from her at the same time at some point. Why not? Let's make it the Kinky Diaries!

And I want Damon to find Katherine, make her fall in love with him and then abandon her in a tomb to suffer eternally. That B***h.

[Alice]

So great, I had to watch this episode twice! Thanks DVR! I really loved Ian's performance in this episode. It was a little different, a little off than we are used to. He was showing concern for his brother, and even Elena, and not doing much to hide it. The intense looks, the little mouth twitches, he was very controlled in what he wanted to let out. He did show the nasty bits when he told Alaric to shove the farmhouse owner out to the porch and then...snap! That was really unexpected, but I was afraid that's where he was headed when he started asking her sweetly "are you alone here? anybody else on this property?" because of the "if the owners are dead, come on in vampires" rule. Damon and Alaric were really kick ass - that's why it was so funny at the end when he was trying to get on Alaric's good side and he just stood up and punched him! And Damon's response, barely a flinch, then a smile and drains his drink. "It happens..." So classic.

Malise Jow is just fabulous as Anna. Love the emotions in her eyes and face. She was definately not pleased by Jeremy's play. Watch out.

Caroline - she is getting the short end of the stick all around. I thought Matt really cared for her, but he obviously is just spinning his wheels waiting for Elena to come back to her senses.

The scene with Stefan biting Elena's wrist was shocking! I was expecting a polite little Twilight like nibble, but he got down! And wasn't looking all tortured, was looking like it was tasty! And Elena, too. At first, not liking it at all, then getting into the groove. Think she may becoming a bit of a junky herself...