'The Vampire Diaries': Double, double, toil and trouble...

Tonight's "Vampire Diaries" episode, "There Goes the Neighborhood," gave us a refreshing little break from Elena's mama drama and Stefan's hero complex. Of course, when you're 17, a double date can seem just as epic as a battle to the death. It ups the ante a little when your date is a vampire with a target on his back.

The play-by-play recap is back by popular demand (Yes, I got your e-mails!) so grab some popcorn and get your DVR ready for a re-watch.

8:01 p.m.: I'm still completely confused by how all these vampires escaped from the tomb, but I love the idea of them nesting with sweet old Miss Gibbons and learning how to live in 2010 after 145 years in the dirt. I guess a text message might blow my mind, too, if the last message I'd sent was delivered by a horse-drawn carriage.

8:02 p.m.: MATT! Here's one thing you never want to hear your mom say: "It wasn't a party. It was one guy. Stop being so judgy!" I get the shivers just thinking about it. I do, however, like the idea of Kelly Donovan taking over Ben the Bartender's vacated position at the Grill.

8:05 p.m.: How did Pearl end up being boss of all the vampires? I can't decide how I feel about her yet. She seemed to be relatively harmless in the flashbacks, but she had to have been hanging out with Katherine for a reason. Frederick doesn't seem like too much of a threat yet.

8:06 p.m.: Oh, Caroline. Why are you suggesting a double date? Haven't you ever seen a television show? If the Gilmore girls couldn't get through a double date without a Bop-It, there's no way this is going to end well for Caroline.

8:08 p.m.: Notable Quote: When Jeremy asked a chat room (really, Jeremy?) how to kill a vampire, someone responded with "The blood of Paula Abdul." So that's why Simon can't sit next to her anymore!

8:09 p.m.: Apparently, the vampires got out of the tomb because Bonnie's grandmother "screwed up her hocus-pocus." Most unsatisfying answer ever!

Speaking of Bonnie, I hate that we haven't seen her for two episodes. I would have liked to check in on her to see how she's dealing with her grief ... and the fact that her grandmother died trying to save Elena's vampire boyfriends from being trapped in a tomb that apparently was wide open all along.

Ouch! Don't mess up Damon's eyes. Take any other eyes on the show, but not Damon's!

8:14 p.m.: The last time Stefan was on a date it was " '72. Hef and the twins. I got Miss June." I hope that next season we get to see who Stefan's been for the last century and a half. It sounds like there was plenty of partying done before brooding booked up his schedule.

8:16 p.m.: When I recently spoke with Sara Canning, she warned me that Jenna would be letting her hair down a bit in an upcoming episode, but I didn't expect Damon and Kelly Donovan to be her partners in crime!

Chemistry is already brewing between Damon and Kelly. I have a feeling that the hookup creators Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec promised me at Paleyfest is going to happen within minutes.

8:25 p.m.: Is it just me, or is Steven R. McQueen bulking up? His neck is growing. He looks like a fun-sized Jared Padalecki.

8:26 p.m.: "My primary reason for existence has abandoned me," Damon slurs, "and after today's events, the remains of the shaky grounds that I walk on are about to go ka-boom. Let's get hammered." I wonder how much longer Damon can keep up his drunken wallowing! I'm kind of enjoying it.

I'm also enjoying Matt and Elena's trip down memory lane -- though I can't say the same for Caroline. It's nice to hear about how normal and happy their lives were before the Salvatores crashed the party.

8:28 p.m.: I think I said this after the third episode, but I really hope Matt and Stefan can be friends.

8:33 p.m.: When they get to the Salvatore boardinghouse, Caroline says, "I feel like I've been here before. It's weird." I didn't realize that she doesn't remember any of her fling with Damon! I thought he'd just compelled her into forgetting the messy parts.

8:34 p.m.: Kelly and Damon are trading cherry stems with their tongues ... and things officially just got awkward for Jenna! Kelly is so completely inappropriate. She's rapidly becoming my favorite recurring character ever. (Which probably means she'll go the way of Vicki and Lexi. Poor Matt.)

8:35 p.m.: I love the contrast between Caroline's reaction to Elena and Matt and Stefan's reaction to them. Stefan is so secure in his relationship; he's not shaken by Matt and Elena's history at all. I guess that's what 145 years of being 17 does to a boy.

8:37 p.m.: "I'm Matt's Elena backup, and I'm your Bonnie backup," Caroline says. "You don't get it. And why would you? You're everyone's first choice." After everything, Caroline is still, at her core, the insecure girl we met in the pilot episode.

8:40 p.m.: Oh, Jeremy. He not only cuts himself to check out Anna's reaction to the blood, but when she vamps out in front of him, he lets her feed off of him. Since when did he become so reckless and self-destructive again? This is just a supernatural version of the way he let Vicki use him for his drugs when she was still with Tyler. Next thing you know, he'll be begging her to turn him into a vampire. Snap out of it, Jeremy Swan.

8:45 p.m.: I'll admit it. The scene with Matt and Caroline fumbling over promises in Stefan's car melted me completely. Soundtrack junkie moment: "The Mess I Made" by Parachute.

8:47 p.m.: Okay, Damon and Kelly are just about the hottest thing ever, especially when he's obviously trying to hold back from biting her ... until they get interrupted by Matt. Why do Matt and Kelly keep catching each other in compromising positions? Gross! Kelly makes me want to write my own mother a thank-you letter.

8:49 p.m.: Speaking of maternal instinct (or Kelly's lack thereof), it's great that despite Pearl having been underground for 145 years, she still steps right back into the role of Anna's authority figure. Your mom is always your mom, even when she's Boss Lady Vampire.

8:50 p.m.: Oh, it's time for Stefan to give Damon some long-suffering looks! The Salvatore Brother Post-Game Powwow is my favorite part of every episode. Patronizing look, biting remark, lather, rinse, repeat.

As always, it takes a common enemy for Stefan and Damon to have each other's backs. Frederick hasn't sold me as a true villain yet; he's too much like Anna's disposable vampires from before the tomb opened. I'm sure that won't last long, though!

8:54 p.m.: In the midst of all the vampires and witches and 150-year-old grudges, it's nice to see some regular old family drama between Matt and his mom. It's not easy to make this kind of thing feel relevant when outside, people are getting staked in the heart, but the emotions resonate enough to keep me interested.

8:59 p.m.: And there it is: "I want you to turn me." No, Jeremy! No! Can he just go back to doing drugs? Compared with turning into a vampire, illegal pharmaceuticals are a much healthier way to fill up the empty space inside of you.

What did you think of "There Goes the Neighborhood," Show Trackers? I miss Bonnie, but otherwise, I was thrilled to see Elena and Stefan attempt a "normal" night. Of course, "normal" doesn't make for great TV, so Stefan did end up with a giant shard of glass protruding from his chest ... but no big deal.

Comment below to let me know what you think of Kelly and Damon's not-quite-hookup, as well as Jeremy's desire for a walk on the wild side. Don't forget to come back before next week's new episode for a fun feature on the fashion of "The Vampire Diaries."

--Carina MacKenzie (keep up with my TV tweets @cadlymack)

Related articles:
Damon's bender ends badly for Alaric
Sara Canning makes her own luck
Paleyfest 2010 honors "The Vampire Diaries"

Photos: (top) Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Kelly (Melinda Clarke) do what they do best. Credit: CW. (bottom) Matt (Zach Roerig), Stefan (Paul Wesley), Caroline (Candice Accola) and Elena (Nina Dobrev) on the most awkward double date ever. Credit: CW

Comments

[Happy it's back]

I think I get Caroline. Stefan isn't in the same boat as Caroline. She's always the second choice. Her dad picks his boyfriend over her. Her mom picks her career over her. Bonnie is clearly closer to Elena. She even tried to land Stefan in the Pilot and he picks Elena. Now she's with Matt, but Matt isn't with Elena by choice. Elena ended her and Matt's relationship and Matt clearly wanted her back. Caroline was to imagine (and she might be right) that if Elena told Matt that she wanted him back, he picked Elena over her in a heartbeat.

One the best acting moments for me of all the episodes so far when Steven McQueen crying Vicki gets staked. I bought it totally. So while I was expecting Jeremy to become the new Jason Stackhouse, it's a neat twist that he wants to be a vampire. Although there's always something pathetic about a human on TV who wants to be vampire, I think McQ might pull it off.

While she was flirting with Frederick the Vampire, I realized that Aunt Jenna has no type and will got involved with ANYBODY. Aunt Jenna is basically the Kate Hudson of Mystic Falls.

I swear, President Obama is supporting offshore drilling just to supply Paul Wesley with grease for that hairdo. I don't buy him as a car guy. The wind from the high speed might ruin that hairdo. I'll give the production folks credit. They've listen to some reviews or general feedback that Stefan is a lame character (I know that EVERYBODY thinks that, but there are certainly enough anti-Stefan folks out there) so the "Sounds like a dick" was appreciated. It failed for me because Stefan's flaws are still there, but at least they are listening and trying. Plus I'm not a fan of this Stefan's backstory where he is Forrest Gump and involved in major historic events. I mean Stefan is support to have double date a Playmate? I would buy him dating June 2010 Playmate, let alone June 1972. And whenever he talks about segregation or nuclear arms race or protesting USA's involvement in Vietnam, my first thought, "What about our social ills?" I mean our society isn't perfect and if Stefan was involved in all these big social movements and partying with "Hef," Playmates and rock star like Bon Jovi, why isn't he doing that still? Beyond the 1864 stuff, really disinterested in Stefan's "I was JFK assination" or "I was Kitty Hawk in 1903 with the Wright Brothers" type backstory.

I guess I was disappoint. I had a cooler mental image of 27 vampires escaping and destroying Mystic Falls, but the vampires are out and not much has happened expect they're going a "Real World"-type living situation by all staying in the same house and gripping at each other. I get the show isn't that big budget with only 44 minutes each week, but they spend so much time on these State of the Union speeches about everybody's relationship. Yes, that happens in real life, but out of all these things to be realistic about, I wish they wouldn't spend SO MUCH time on it. I think it was slightly more bearable in Dawson's Creek because the dialogue was more interesting although I wouldn't want a rehash of D'sC.

[Michelle]

I thought the episode was great! What do you think will happen in the next episode?? IT looks really good!

[Vin]

Damon's drunken wallowing is currently the my favorite thing, next to Melinda Clarke's face, of course.

I agree about the contraposition of the double date relationships; and it's refreshing to have a show with vampires where the vampire isn't the insecure one because of the human ex.

Excellent play by play.

[Dureem]

Your Jeremy comments were the best. I almost spit out my drink when I read Jeremy Swan.

[cherry]

I miss Bonnie too :'( she's by far the best female character!! The hole Damon/Kelly thing just gross me up!! Are they gonna make Damon into a manwhore, seriously! the double date was really awkward and sweet at the same time, is good to see a more lay back Stefan and also see how he is not insecure about his relationship.

Next epi looks so promising *_* and bring back Bonnie soon

[Chloe]

why can the tomb vamps go out in sunlight? Like Anna & her mom...I thought only the Salvatore's had those spiffy rings that gave them that ability??

[Happy it's back]

I guess those vampires also have daylight savings rings? There are too many sunshine immune vamps. At this point, the vamps might as well sparkle.

What is Pearl's ultimate motiviation? Is all that she really want is to re-open her apothecary's shop which I'm guessing is basically a pharmacy in the present-day? Seems like un-vampy goal. Maybe Pearl will join the Mystic Falls Jaycees?

[Sunny]

omggggg... i totally loved the brothers having each others backs. its nice to see that damon cares to a certain extent. and i cant wait till next week when damon's gonna have to go to the rescue and save his little bro!

[clc]

Haha, there ARE too many sunshine immune vamps at this point.

I think Pearl's motivation has some sort of tie to Katherine..I mean, if Katherine is still around somewhere in the world---she's bound to make an appearance in Mystic Falls soon?!

BTW I saw a pic of the April 22nd episode, looks like Damon and Elena are getting a little closer! I definitely am all for the Damon/Elena storyline...even if I think Stefan and Elena are the golden couple of the show.

[Alice]

Some really violent, surprise moments this week! The scene with Pearl suddenly lunging on Damon and gauging his eyes - wow! I was cringing. So, I guess her being the oldest vampire makes her the strongest? Even little Anna was a match for Damon when he tried to choke her in the hotel room. And from the previews for next week, looks like the Salvatores are in for a major whipping!
We are so used to Damon being the undesputed bad-ass, that it is disconcerting to see him thrown off his game. Looking all broken and disheveled. But the drunken wallowing is pretty great. And random hookups - I'm sure he will be re-visiting Mrs. Donovan sometime soon. They had some crackling chemistry.
Jeremy is looking taller, hunkier, love the new hair. He is pretty beautiful, with shades of his grandad you can see sometimes in his expressions. But you're right, Carina, he needs to snap out of the Swan-syndrome and get his hands of some blissful RX stat! Maybe he better talk to Mrs. Donovan.
Where IS Bonnie? And Alaric? Please, you can't have an episode without Mr. Saltzman. It's just not right.

[Heidi]

Bear with me, please, because I don't have all the show's lore in my head, but wouldn't Jeremy, like Jenna, be full of vervain, and if so, then why didn't Anna recoil after she drank from him?

[Nat]

I thought the hottest scene in the entire episode was in fact when Jeremy started teasing Anna with the blood in his hand. It was very "Oh...? You want some of this?"

The fact that I found it sexy aside, I happen to like that Jeremy represents the "addict" in The Vampire Diaries. It's good to see a character like him go through addiction, then rehab, then relapse, and add layers to that by tying it up with the possibility of turning into a vampire. It shows you consequences, it shows you possibilities and it shows you why it's even alluring in the first place!

It's the fundamental question of any vampire story! Will you risk becoming addicted to blood eternally for the sake of "escaping your life" or for "love" or for... what? And why?

I think Jeremy is fascinating to watch, and he acts his age! He looks out the window and realizes there are ghosts and instead of being afraid of them, he wants in, he wants to know, he's curious, he's thrilled, his life suddenly has purpose, he is not just the depressed lonely boy, he knows a secret!

To me this isn't the same as when his parents died, he wasn't lost in a void then, he was catapulting headfirst knowingly. Right now, it's just not the same vibe to me. And it's very exciting to watch, but maybe that's just me.

When he was teasing Anna, he had the sly smile of a boy who realizes he has power over a mythical creature (really, if this were a show about dragons, he'd have that same smile if he'd discovered the catnip equivalent) and then when she pushes him against the refrigerator and subsequently drinks from him, he is in shock, then awe, then ... well, rather pleased. It's a very intimate moment.

And, um, this isn't a show about dragons, so that intimate moment was, well, with a hot girl. SO IT'S SEXAYYY.

To me there were layers and layers of good material! Do not compare him to Bella Swan! Bella only craved Edward (almost like a zombie going Eddddduuuuuuuuuaaaaaaard) while Jeremy craves answers, a raison d'etre, zest, change... things that are a bit more substancial... maybe the sense of finally belonging somewhere, the love that comes with being the only one in on a secret... drug gangs... covens... theater groups... churches... don't tell me they don't have the same thing in common: Belonging to a team, a community.

If Jeremy were a real-life addict you encountered on the street, saying something as dismissive as "Snap out of it Jeremy Swan", is the equivalent of telling a suicidal man "oh just jump already Jack!".

I could go on, ... but I'll just babble at this point. (Or hath I in facteth babbleth from the beginninth?)

I just really loved the scene and disliked seeing it reduced to "Jeremy Swan" ...

-_- AM UPSET! Yes! Am also horny teenager who simply loved seeing some hot "oh noes, I can't resist your blood gimmeeeeee" moments, which I hope keep repeating themselves between Jeremy and Anna... or HELL ... at least some vampire and SOMEONE.

The dark side ain't so bad, hopefully Elena will fall too #TeamDamon (Shameless plug over)

[brenda]

it wasnt my fav. but i liked it it was so cool
i loved damon he is just MMMMMMMMMM
i love vampire diairies