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The Miss Mystic Falls pageant brings change in relationships, attempted murder, more questions, and one very big answer. Throw in a date that I’ve been waiting to see for a year, and this is one heck of an episode.
Let’s bitch it out… Well, at least there’s a reason. That’s all I can say. There’s a reason that Elena (Nina Dobrev) is betraying Stefan (Paul Wesley) and it’s not because she’s just a careless bitch now that she’s a vampire (as I had started to suspect…) I’m disappointed in myself that it never even occurred to me that Elena might be sired to Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and that’s why he’s been the answer to every problem she’s had since she turned. I’ll cut myself some slack and say that the show hasn’t made it too obvious and clearly the news is meant to be a cliffhanger (hence saving it for the final credits). Well, it certainly made my jaw drop, that’s for sure. When Klaus (Joseph Morgan) dropped some hints to Caroline (Candice Accola), I figured there was something bigger at play, but this definitely never occurred to me.
I’ve been very forthcoming that I’m on Team Stefan and, like Caroline, believe that he is Elena’s soulmate. I’m not sure I can describe to you the betrayal I feel when Elena and Damon start their little dance of love at the end of the episode. But, as Caroline has an epiphany, my heart grew with hope – there is a reason for Elena’s behaviour and I’m not just a fangirl (all this while I am accosted with images of Damon and Elena having sex. Seriously: I just want to listen to Caroline and Stefan drop the cliffhanger on me).
Seriously now, though, how can Stefan and Elena come back from this? Yes, I’m sure he will save her and break the sire bond (I mean, there’s a few pros at breaking sire bonds just hanging around town), but can Stefan and Elena ever come back from the fact that she just had sex with his brother? I dunno (funny how it doesn’t bother Damon…though I guess he’s been waiting for this for four years or so). While I’m happy that there’s a reason that she’s acting this way, I’m also sad because I know it is going to be a long time before my favourite couple can be together again. This show teases my emotions and my poor heart can’t always handle it!
‘My Brother’s Keeper’ is a very strange episode for Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) as well. I’m worried about him because he clearly isn’t himself anymore. He hates vampires, he praises Pastor Young (Michael Reilly Burke) for blowing up the council in the premiere, and (obviously the most disturbing) he tries to kill his own sister. Jeremy’s embrace of the hunter side of himself even leads him to attack Stefan. My fear is closely tied to watching another beloved character go the route of Alaric (Matt Davis), who was barely a shadow of himself when he died. The strange thing is that Jeremy does a complete turn-around in a single episode after he kills one vampire. Really? The writers could’ve drawn this out a little longer (especially the changes in personality) so that it isn’t so depressing when Jeremy completely loses himself. Instead it all happens in one fell swoop.
Courtesy of The CW
Perhaps I’m just nostalgic about how devastated I was when Alaric abandoned himself and became a crazed hunter. Honestly, I don’t want to watch that again, so I’m really hoping that this story goes another way. Now if all Jeremy’s hope rests on Matt Donovan (Zach Roerig), then we’re definitely in trouble. I love Matt and all, but he doesn’t have many discernible skills other than being the cute, nice guy next door. Being able to pull Jeremy back from the edge of wanting to kill basically everyone in town would be a tough sell right now.
A few other observations:
- So much Caroline tonight! Loved it. AND we got to see her date with Klaus! Finally! I’ve been waiting a year to see these two together and while she started off quite cold, watching them laugh and joke together is exactly what I was looking for. I know this began as a trick to keep Klaus occupied, but it’s clear that Caroline is enjoying herself by the end of the day
- Add another layer to Professor Shane (David Alpay) – big surprise. Naturally he has another secret: he’s working with the werewolves, specifically new girl Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) on something big. Damon isn’t joking when he says that the professor knows everything. How is it possible that this one innocent looking guy is the one holding all the cards?!
- No Bonnie (Kat Graham). That’s always a good thing, am I right?
If you can’t tell, I’m feeling really conflicted about the episode tonight. I think it’s a great episode, but I’m uncertain how I feel about the turns in the stories and I’m worried about the future. Am I alone? I know there are tons of Elena/Damon lovers who must have been ecstatic with that last scene, but I still have hope for Stefan. Anyone else with me? What do you think is going to become of Jeremy? Sound off below!
The Vampire Diaries airs Thursdays at 8pm EST on the CW.