by Cassie Title
We could tell this was going to be a good episode from the minute the "Previously on 'The Vampire Diaries'" teaser began. With words like "Katherine," "doppelganger," "Klaus" and "Elijah," it was apparent that we were going to learn more about the curse of the sun and the moon. Plus, the episode summary foretold of Stefan’s past. I was excited to see "Stefan [tell] Elena about a dark time in his history and the surprising person whose influence changed everything," but, come on: Anyone who’s read spoilers or skimmed "Stefan’s Diaries: Bloodlust" knew it was Lexi.
Still, I can’t resist a flashback, and the past played an important role in this week’s episode. Elena finds out that Stefan almost killed her ancestor, Johnathan Gilbert. Stefan also ruthlessly murdered at least two of Johnathan’s friends/family members and staged some dancing/blood-sucking parties with a few of Mystic Falls’ young ladies. Which kind of reminds me of Damon, circa 2010, hanging out with sorority girls at the Salvatore mansion. (Like brother, like brother?)
In other flashback news, yep, it's Lexi. She was a pretty badass character, so it’s ultra exciting to see her again. We learn that she met Stefan in Mystic Falls during the Civil War and taught him how to be a good vampire…you know, one that’s still in touch with his human side, like…Damon? I’m really having trouble with this. When Lexi and Damon meet, it’s touching—he asks her to help Stefan because "he needs it."
Back to the future: Damon pays the greatest character on this show a visit in the tomb. Katherine basically confirms that it’s possible to kill an original, but freaks out when Damon mentions killing Elijah. That’s because if Elijah dies, Kat will be stuck in the tomb forever. Or will she? Damon’s now set on killing Elijah at a dinner party he cooked up, regardless.
At the same time that Damon’s plotting Elijah's death, Elena’s reading Johnathan Gilbert’s journals at the lake house. Turns out he had been researching the originals! Why? Still unsure, but he wrote that when the ancient white oak tree burned, all hope was thought lost, until the ash from the tree was saved and witches formed a dagger. And, ah! Here’s the catch: "The dagger must be brandished by humans alone, for it will bring death to all demons who wield it." Looks like John’s trying to get Damon killed.
Stefan warns Alaric (with hardly a second to spare), who saves Damon from himself. And then—OH.MY.GOD—Alaric kills Elijah. What about Katherine?! Is something wrong with me that this is the first thing I think of?
But Elijah’s not really dead, silly. Turns out that the dagger needs to stay in the body of the original for the vampire to remain dead. Oh, witches and their many rules. Elijah disappears to...the Martin household.
Luka already knew something was up (but couldn’t figure out what due to the "witch roofie"), but now Jonas finds out that Bonnie knows about Luka’s sister. Jonas hightails it to the Gilbert house, where Bonnie’s trying to practice some spells, and Jeremy’s trying to date her. And then Jonas takes her powers away. What?!
Oh, and Elijah shows up at the lake house! I’m not sure how much more excitement I can take in one episode. He’s (understandably) pissed, and Elena tries to reason with him. He tells her that their deal is off, and Elena fires back (she is one spunky chick!) by saying, dagger in hand, "Good luck luring Klaus to Mystic Falls after the doppelganger has bled to death." Elijah’s not buying it, even when she’s threatening to pull a Katerina (i.e. drink Stefan's blood and kill herself to become a vampire). Of course, Elijah calls her bluff. And then, she does it! ELENA STABS HERSELF! IS SHE GOING TO BECOME A VAMPIRE? Elijah is freaking out, tells her that the deal’s back on, and as she moves towards him so that he can heal her with his blood SHE STABS HIM. SHE STABS HIM! That dagger she used? The special, original-killer one. It stays inside Elijah, and for all intents and purposes, he’s dead.
With only a couple minutes left in the episode, we’re back with Damon at the now-empty mansion. Somebody’s in the shower. Something crazy is about to happen. And there it is! KATHERINE IS IN THE SHOWER! Once an original dies, the compulsion wears off. So Kat’s free. And claims that she’ll be sticking around to help them. Oh, man. Best. episode. ever.
Did Bonnie really lose her powers? Is Elijah going to stay dead? What’s Katherine actually up to? Did you miss Caroline? Are we going to see Isobel again? How good was it to see Lexi? Are Damon and Katherine going to hook up?! Tell us what you think in the comments and on Twitter!
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