We knew something was up with this episode before it even began. During the "Previously on 'The Vampire Diaries'" opening, producers finally acknowledged that we may have watched the series before! Yup, instead of opening with Stefan's "For over a century I have lived in secret" speech, the recap merely began with last week's events. OMG! Thanks for recognizing that we're devoted "TVD" fans who know by now that Stefan's a vampire.
Anyhoo...the flashbacks have returned, but this time we go back further and farther than ever before: Bulgaria, 1490s. Katerina gives birth to a child, but her father promptly takes the baby away before she can even hold it.
Stefan invites Elena over so Rose can tell her about Klaus. I know you hardcore book fans hate when I make "Twilight" comparisons, but Klaus is basically Aro—the oldest, most powerful vampire. Despite everyone’s concern, Elena appears unruffled and leaves for school.
In the school parking lot, Jeremy FINALLY asks Bonnie out. She’s hesitant at first, but just as she accepts, a new cutie, Luka, mysteriously appears. Much to Jeremy’s chagrin, it’s obvious Luka and Bonnie have instant chemistry. That evening, Bonnie runs into Luka with his father, Dr. Jonas Martin, at Mystic Grille. Jonas mentions knowing some Bennetts from Salem, Mass., and Bonnie admits that they’re relatives of hers. Interesting…Jeremy arrives and the two play pool, but Luka keeps popping in. Finally, he gets Bonnie alone and makes salt float above the table. Yup, he’s a witch! Er, make that warlock. Jeremy doesn’t stand a chance!
Meanwhile, Elena didn’t actually go to school; she went to visit our favorite tomb-stricken vampire bearing gifts of blood and Petrova heirlooms. Almost immediately, Katherine starts drinking and spilling (secrets, not blood). After having a baby out of wedlock, Katerina Petrova was banished to England. While there, she fell in love with a man named Klaus (OMG!) but ran like hell—moonstone in hand—when she found out he was a vampire. In fact, it was Trevor who helped her escape because (OMG!) he was in love with her! He directs her to Rose, who forces Katerina to drink her blood so she doesn’t die. Backfire: Katerina hangs herself!
Rose, Trevor and Katherine have been running ever since. Klaus killed Katerina’s entire family in revenge, though we bet he didn’t know about her baby. In an oddly poetic moment, Katherine slits her wrist and offers Elena the only other to escape sacrifice: eternity. Thankfully, Elena looks disgusted at the thought, and instead asks more about the curse.
Here’s the deal: The curse was bound by the sacrifice of Petrova blood. In order to break it, you need a witch, werewolf, vampire, Petrova heir and the moonstone. And the doppelganger? It was created as a means to break the spell.
Stefan finally finds Elena in the tomb and warns her not to believe a word Kat says, but we know, just as Elena knows, that everything she said is true. Now, it seems to be just a matter of time before Klaus arrives in Mystic Falls. Stuck in her tomb, Kat withers, "I’ll be the safest psychotic bitch in town."
Stefan takes a distraught Elena home. After all this time trying not to blame Stefan for what’s happened to her, she realizes that she’s the one who’s put everyone in jeopardy simply by being the doppelganger. Talk about a burden.
While that’s all going down, Damon and Rose pair up and set off to find Rose’s friend Slater, who could help them track down Klaus. I like to think that if I were a vampire, I’d be like Slater. He runs a coffee shop and keeps enrolling in various graduate and PhD programs to while away eternity. How epicurean! Slater also gives us this tasty morsel: If a vampire breaks the curse, the wolves must bear it forever, and vice versa. That could explain why Klaus would be so intent on breaking the curse first.
When Damon assures Slater that Elijah is dead, Slater says he can’t help them. Well, you’re in luck, Slater. Or perhaps not? Elijah is alive and well, standing outside the cafe. He uses a handful of coins to shatter the UV-proof windows, causing Rose and Slater to burn. Thanks to his ring, Damon is unaffected, and he gets Rose to safety.
Back at the mansion, the two drink heavily to get over the day’s events. "If you want to survive, you need to not care about anyone," Rose says. They vow to switch off their emotions, in order to protect themselves, then seal the deal by… getting it on. Damon shirtless! YESSSSS!!! Afterward, Rose tells him that she lied; there is no switch to turn off one’s emotions. Just then, she receives a call from Slater telling her that with just the moonstone and a witch, she can break the curse.
Don’t get too excited, though. It’s a lie. Apparently, original vampires can compel other vampires, so Elijah compels Slater to fib the whole story! Unfortch, he also compels Slater to kill himself. In another crazy twist, Dr. Martin (a.k.a Luka’s papa) appears to be in cahoots with Elijah.
And now we have to wait until December for the next episode! Agggghhhhhhhh!
Where does Isobel play in to the story? What happened to Katerina’s love child? How long until Klaus shows up in Mystic Falls? Will Bonnie choose Jeremy or Luka... or both? Will hooking up with Rose help Damon get over Elena? Weigh in, Crushers!
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