The TV Chick

Hot damn guys, I love this show so much. Just when I think, yeah, The Vampire Diaries is awesome, it goes ahead and gets a little more awesome. And “Smells Like Teen Spirit” proved that 10 times over.

We start with Elena in bed (we start that way a lot, I sort of like it as a plot device). Alarm goes off early because school sucks, and they make you show up at a ridiculous time. She puts her makeup on her bite and greets Alaric in the hallway. Hey, look, now she’s doing some slayer training before school with Alaric as her teacher/watcher/inappropriate but awesome guardian. She does some moves, and Alaric tells her she’s not strong enough, but then gives her a ‘you can do it’ pep talk.

Our girls are at school now lamenting about their man troubles (boy talks to ghost girlfriends, boy is a hybrid, boy is sort of a monster now – Elena wins, especially when she realizes that it’s their anniversary).

Over at the SHBP (more Bachelor Pad, less Safe House), some yuck is going down. Damon comes down the stairs to find some dead bodies and ultimately finds Stefan on the couch watching some bloody compelled girls play Twister. Seriously, gross. Rebekah then breezes in and declares she’s staying there because her brother left her hanging when he heard that Mikael may make an appearance.

Jeremy and Bonnie argue some more about him seeing Anna (this happens a couple times). Matt also arrives at school all sad looking so Vicki pops in his truck and is like, hey, I can come back! But Tyler comes, and she makes off. Over at the cemetery, Katherine is trying to rouse Mikael with some mice blood. No dice, dude is not awakening.

Damon gives a call to Elena to be like, hey, don’t stop by. Things are weird here.

Now Caroline and Tyler are fighting because she sees the blood on him (Rebekah gave him a blood juice box to drink from). He’s all like, I’m excited to be a hybrid! Stop harshing my buzz, woman.

Yay, Stefan is at school! This should be rich. He’s all getting in Elena’s face and slamming Alaric into lockers. Oh boy, Rebekah has enrolled as well, fantastic. What a school year this shall be.

Matt visits the stoner hangout to see if Vicki will be there is – she is of course. Jeremy happens upon them when ‘looking for his lab partner’/spying on Matt. He pretends that he can’t see Vicki there, but he totally can and reports back to Anna immediately that Vicki has made some deal to be pushed over with the powerful dead witch’s energy. Anna knows she’s paid a price for this.

At football and cheerleading practice – Rebekah comes to taunt Caroline. Ty compels the coach to let them leave early. And Rebekah does some backflips. A good time is had by all. Stefan catches up to Elena running on the track at this time and calls her a human blood bag. He also pushes a dude who knocks into her accidentally. (I like to believe that Paul Wesley is honing his craft by watching lots of the classic TV movie ‘No One Would Tell’ starring Fred Savage and Candace Cameron Bure).

Back over at the graveyard, Katherine figured Mikael needed legit human blood, so she got him some. He wakes and wants the body away from him.

Elena is now lifting weights and Damon says ‘come on Buffy,’ hehe. And then there is some more ridiculous sexual tension. She also tells him that Stefan should be locked up (Akon style). So, they get the gang together to hatch a plan. Tyler is not on board because he’s now a member of the Klaus cult. Damon tranquilizes him and explains that he now feels a crazy allegiance to Klaus because he sired him.

Okay, so our town activity this week is the bonfire. Everybody who is anybody is there. Elena is getting her drink on hardcore. Lots of eyes between her and Stefan – but not lovey eyes, creepy eyes.

Back at Matt’s place, he’s doing the ritual to bring Vicki back. He spills some of his blood on a picture of them, there’s some candles (of course!), and he says, “I accept you.” Vicki is now there and can even touch Matt. Turns out Vicki hatched a deal with the original witch to kill Elena so no more hybrids could be made. She knocks Matty out and runs. Also, Bonnie is still annoyed about this Anna thing.

Elena is doing more drinking at the bonfire while Damon works his part of the plan by charming Rebekah. Elena watches on, and Stefan comments that she’s jealous. Rebekah figures out rather quickly that Damon is distracting her and stabs him.

Matt wakes up, and calls Bonnie. He’s like, uhh, I did something bad (ya think?!). Vicki is now at the bonfire.

Tyler and Caroline are back at his place, and she explains the siring thing to him. He apologizes for his nuttiness. And she tells him he needs to be careful because everything about his personality is now heightened. He says “Everything I like about me is you.” Uhh, love these two! (For now).

Elena is now chilling on the bleachers all drunk like and pretending to fall. Stefan is there as well telling her not to be stupid. She does end up falling, and he catches her. They have what sort of feels like a moment. But, Alaric shoots him down (the plan!).

They load his body into the car, and Elena gets in. Vicki’s there and spills some gas and throws a cigarette in to make things fun and fiery. Elena’s trapped in the car (as is Stefan, still knocked out). Vicki’s keeping the locks down so she can’t get out.

Matt and Bonnie start a reversal spell to send Vicki back and it zaps her out of the car to where they are. Matt tells her he has to let her go, Bonnie finishes the spell, and voila, Vicki is gone. Elena wakes Stefan who kicks the back door open, and they get out just in time.

Back at the SHBP, Damon does some first aid on Elena before Alaric prepares to take her home. Stefan is all like you guys need my protection. He’s also surprised that Elena thinks his humanity can be salvaged – he calls her pathetic. She’s like, nope, I’m strong. She then stabs him. Boo ya.

Back at Tyler’s, Caroline tells him he needs to earn the overnighter as she leaves. Once she’s gone, Rebekah comes with a girl to eat. Tyler tries to resist, but he’s unsuccessful. [Ed. Note: Don't do it, Tyler! Don't go to the dark side!]

Back to Katherine and Mikael, Mikael tells her that he can kill Klaus. He just needs something to eat. He’s like, I don’t feed on living things, and she’s like, well, what do you eat? Before she can finish, he grabs her and drinks. Niiice.

Jeremy calls Bonnie to straighten things out, but she doesn’t answer. Anna shows up because these two just can’t stop thinking about each other. They can now touch each other, yikes.

We end at the SHBP with some crap being tossed around. Damon assumes it’s Stefan as he begins to clean up the mess. But, he turns around…and it’s Hott Uncle Mason!!!!

Ahhhhh!! I loved this episode. So much awesomeness. Jeremy and Anna. Mikael drinking from Katherine. Tyler’s badness. Stefan/Damon/Elena ridiculousness. And Mason is back. Good golly, can’t wait to see where we go with this next time.

The Vampire Diaries airs Thursday nights at 8 PM on the CW.