THE VAMPIRE DIARIES: “Family Ties”
Photo Credit: Quantrell Colbert/The CW.
Read on for my detailed recap & review of The Vampire Diaries 1×04, aired October 1st, 2009:
This was my favorite episode of TVD so far (I know, I say that every week). I have become completely unabashedly obsessed with this show, and am loving all the new mythology we are learning. Since a lot of this is very different from the books, it is exciting and surprising (though I do have a few tiny complaints about some of the changes here and there). Kudos to Andrew Kreisburg and Brian Young, who wrote this episode. Also, the Twilight cracks were HI-larious. I would also like to note that this is another long post–I can’t seem to stop myself. I hope that you enjoy the recap.
Elena wakes up frightened. She calls out for Jeremy, but no one responds. She goes to check it out. Since she has watched a lot of horror movies, she knows that you always check out strange sounds in the middle of the night—nope, that NEVER gets you killed. She sees a news story about her death on the TV, which reports her to have been killed by the same animal as the others. Suddenly, Damon is there. She runs, but he’s now at the other door. She’s very afraid. Then he bites her. Cut to Stefan waking up. Cheat! It was all Stefan’s dream.
Damon is pretty pleased with himself: “Do you know how easy it is to get in your head right now? You really need some human blood.” Stefan throws a letter opener at Damon, who agrees that he deserved that. They are such children for being 150 years old. Damon lets Stefan know that the animal that killed Coach Tanner and all those people was found, and it was a mountain lion. Damon: “Headline: ‘Deadly beast captured. All’s well in Mystic Falls.’” To really twist the knife, he points out that the vervain will keep him out of Elena’s head, but maybe that’s not his target. “Believe it or not, some girls don’t need my persuasion. Some girls just can’t resist my good looks, my style, my charm … my unflinching ability to listen to Taylor Swift.” Ha! Then he stabs Stefan, so that we can get the obligatory “Paul Wesley’s abs” shot. Cut to the title card.
A non-dream TV news story about the mountain lion airs. Poor mountain lion—it was wrongfully accused! Stefan writes in his journal about how he really needs to figure out how to stop Damon. Good luck with that.
The same news story is playing in the Gilbert home. Aunt Jenna calls the newscaster, Logan Fell, scum (which we later learn he definitely is). It turns out that she and said newscaster used to have a thing. It clearly did not end well. Elena is polishing a pocket watch to loan to the Founders’ Party. Jeremy is not thrilled with this.
Stefan shows up and he and Elena kiss, and decide to take it upstairs. As things are getting hot and heavy in Elena’s bedroom, Stefan notices in the mirror that his eyes vamped out, and pulls away. Despite not noticing that her boyfriend was vamping out, Elena interjects: “Maybe we should press pause.” She changes the subject: “How do you look in a suit?” He says that he can pull it off, so she invites him to the Founders’ Party. Clearly it was all riding on the suit—hope he didn’t lie. Stefan is honored to accompany her. Elena calls him his full name, and I can’t help but gripe that the pronunciation of his last name still bothers me. Damn waspy television producers. Grrrr.
Cut to Damon and Caroline. Caroline is trying on a yellow dress, which Damon hates: “No yellow. Jaundice. Go with blue.” At first she doesn’t want him to be her date, since her mother (later revealed to by the town sheriff) will be there, but he glamours her. He also makes her wear a different dress. Then the most hilarious part of the episode ensues. Damon is reading Twilight, and quips: “What’s so special about this Bella girl? Edward’s so whipped.” Caroline explains that he needs to read the first book, so that it makes sense. Trust me, that does NOT help. Damon: “Ah, I miss Anne Rice. She was so on it.” Caroline wonders: “How come you don’t you sparkle?” Damon: “Because I live in the real world, where vampires burn in the sun.” Caroline: “But you go in the sun.” Damon explains: “I have a ring. It protects me. Long story.” Hehe. As Caroline looks at her many bite-marks in the mirror, she asks, “Will these bites turn me into a vampire?” He explains that it’s more complicated. Unfortunately, he doesn’t quote Buffy’s eternally awesome explanation: “To become a vampire, they have to suck your blood, and then you have to suck their blood—it’s a whole sucking thing.” (Sorry, I will try to keep my Buffy-verse references to twice per recap.) She then asks if he’s going to kill her, and he says yes, but not yet. He wants her to help him a little problem first. Uh oh.
Cut to the restaurant where everyone in town hangs out. Tyler is there with his parents, and we learn that his dad is the mayor. Vicki is working, and Tyler totally doesn’t acknowledge her. What an ass.
Bonnie and Caroline are there too, and Bonnie is mad that Caroline isn’t going to the Founders’ Party with her. There is a Twitter mention. Hehe. Will that seem totally dated years from now? Under the false cover of a secret, Caroline tells Bonnie that Damon has major issues with his brother. She urges Bonnie not to tell Elena, but we all know she totally will.
Meanwhile, Tyler approaches Vickie once his parents are gone. She is pissed, as she should be. He ends up inviting her to the party, but she had to guilt him into it. Jeremy notes this latter point, and continues: “You know you’re making the wrong choice, but you make it anyway. It’s sad.” Vickie walks away. Yes, lecturing girls on their stupidity is a GREAT way to get a girlfriend. Shut up, Jeremy.
Back at Casa Vampire, Damon is thumbing through Stefan’s homework and making hilarious observations. Uncle Zach decides to confront Damon about why he’s back in Mystic Falls. Not the smartest move, as he soon learns. Damon chokes him: “You’re in no position to question me.” Stefan interrupts, so Zach decides to take it out on an easier target, and blames Stefan for returning to Mystic Falls. He urges Stefan to take Damon down, but Stefan says that he would need human blood to compete. Zach reminds Stefan about vervain. Stefan gave all that he had to Elena, but Zach leads him down to the cellar, where he reveals his very own vervain garden. Zach tells Stefan that he trusts him, and Stefan makes his intense brooding-brow face. Zach explains: “It’s just something that’s been passed down through generations. Blood only runs so deep when you’re related to vampires.”
Cut to the Gilbert house, where Tyler shows up to pick up the stuff for his mom. Jeremy acts like a 5 year old. Tyler pretends that he really cares about Vicki. Today, maybe, but not during the attempted date rape in the woods. Shut up, Tyler.
Bonnie and Elena hang out in the Gilbert kitchen. Bonnie asks Elena where she stands on the crucial debate for every girl: Delicate flower vs. Naughty Vixen. Elena: “Tough call. Can we mix them?” There’s symbolism there, people! Anyways, the two are getting ready for tomorrow’s party. Bonnie blatantly disregards Caroline’s gag order, as Caroline and Damon knew she would, and she tells Elena that Stefan has an interesting back story. According to Caroline (aka Damon), Katherine chose Damon, and Stefan went mad. Bonnie is worried that Stefan is a calculating manipulative liar. Elena has enough sense to realize that Caroline’s version sounds very one-sided. If this were a day-time soap opera, Elena would immediately believe Bonnie’s version, and stop all contact with Stefan, so that Stefan would never be able to tell Elena his side of the story, and then this storyline would be stretched out for years. Thankfully, that is not the case here, but Bonnie is still doubtful.
Cut to Stefan getting ready and neither is wearing a lot of clothing. I don’t really mind this, at all. Damon reminds his brother, for exposition purposes, that they were at the first Founders’ Party. Stefan takes a drink (of scotch?), and Damon comments that he has driven Stefan to drink. Stefan replies: “Can’t seem to rid myself of you. What else am I supposed to do but go about living my life?” Damon: “See, therein lies your eternal struggle. You’re dead dude. Get over it.” And bam, we have our best line of the episode.
Cut to the Gilberts, where Tyler’s mom continues to stalk Elena about the pocket watch. Elena realizes that Jeremy must have taken it. She goes into his room and smacks him on the arm—maybe not the smoothest tactic, but it feels realistic to me, as someone who has a younger brother 
Jeremy denies that he took it, and gets pissed. He then pulls the watch out, and says that it’s supposed to be his. He talks about his dead father, and if he wasn’t so annoying, I would feel worse for him.
Back to the vampire brothers. Damon: “It’s cool not growing old. I like being the eternal stud.” Stefan: “Yes, being a 150 year old teenager has been the height of my happiness.” Ha! A rival for the best line of the episode. Damon is impressed that his brother made a joke. He describes that first Founders’ Party, and gives a little Katherine back story. According to him, Katherine was seeing both at the same time. He then pretends that he’s about to drink the vervain-laced drink, but then pours it out at the last minute. “I’m not some drunk sorority chick. You can’t ruffee me. […] I’ll have to go to the party angry. Who knows what I’ll do.” I can’t do that last part justice—it’s all in the delivery.
Finally, we see the much lauded Founders’ Party. Tyler sees Vicki and ushers her through the side entrance. He clearly doesn’t want to introduce her to his parents, so she’s pissed.
Back at Casa Vampire, Zach and Stefan share some exposition. It turns out that Stefan knew that his brother wouldn’t fall for the drink trick, but that this was all to lower Damon’s guard.
Meanwhile, Elena looks at the pocket watch before leaving to the party, sighs, and gives it to Jeremy. Aawww. I would totally have done that too.
Back at the party, Caroline and Damon arrive. Mrs. Lockwood greets her by name, and we learn that Caroline’s mom is the Sheriff! Awesome. This makes Caroline more interesting. Caroline comments that her dad is in Memphis with Steven. What’s the story there? Did I miss something in a prior episode?
In a different part of the house, Stefan approaches Elena, and they gaze at her parents’ wedding rings. Elena: “There’s a lot of history here.” How prescient of her. So much more than she knows.
Aunt Jenna is ambushed by Logan, her ex. She makes me like her more and more with her insults. Logan says that she hasn’t changed, but she disagrees: “Yes I have. I’m meaner now.” Ha! I love her. Then she walks away.
Meanwhile Elena and Stefan are still looking at the artifacts, and Elena reads the original guest registry. Damon and Stefan are on the list. Damon interjects: “The original Salvatore brothers. Our ancestors.” Stefan tries to change the subject, but Elena is intrigued. Caroline “asks” to dance with Stefan, so Damon and Elena have some time together. Damon apologizes for being such a “world class jerk.” He gives her a half-baked speech about sibling rivalry, and Elena swallows it.
Meanwhile, Stefan and Caroline dance, and Stefan gets her a drink. She is worried about her mom, but drinks anyway. This will be important later.
Back to Damon and Elena. Damon explains, “The Salvatore name was practically royalty in this town, until the war.” Elena knows all about the Battle of Willow Creek, because apparently she paid more attention in history class than I gave her credit for. I thought all she did was moon over Stefan during class, but clearly I was wrong. Damon gives Elena some back story that was left out of the history books. The people burned in the church were burned intentionally, as they were said to be union sympathizers. Stefan and Damon were ostracized after trying to save “a woman” (i.e. Katherine) from the fire. They have a moment, and Elena says that she can’t interfere. LIAR.
Cut to Tyler and Vicki. She is mad, and makes a well-deserved scene. Tyler’s mom interrupts, and tells her to forgive her son’s rudeness. Vicki: “That’s OK. Tyler and I were just saying goodnight.” She walks off, and Mrs. Lockwood snarks: “That’s what you get when you bring the trash into the party.”
Back inside the house, Bonnie is all alone. All this Bonnie neglect is why Meredith is a necessary part of the books—I know she’s supposed to be included at some point this season, but it can’t come soon enough. Bonnie notices that she can start fires. Hope nobody pisses her off.
Stefan and Elena dance, and Caroline comments that they make a cute couple. Damon tells her not to talk.
Jenna and Logan meet up again. The party is clearly too small. Logan: “Don’t shoot. Jenna: “Shooting implies caring.” Ha! “I’m over the banter, Logan. I’d really rather you just left me alone.” Instead of giving her what she wants he decides to try another tactic. Logan says that he’s sorry about her sister, and that he came to the funeral. He thought maybe he could have a second chance to make things right. Jenna’s response? “Her name was Monica, wasn’t it?” Go Jenna!
Back to the Stefan and Elena dance, during which, apparently, Elena looks like Amanda Bynes. She says that Damon was on good behavior, and that he explained that everything goes back to Katherine. She asks Stefan to tell her about Katherine, but he won’t. She urges again. She then says what she’s been dying to say all week: “Open up to me already, you mysterious jerk, or else I’ll dump your ass!” (OK, maybe not exactly in those words.) She logically explains that if he doesn’t tell her his side of the story, all she’s left with are rumors and gossip. Stefan fails to see her larger argument, and tries to pin it all on Damon.
Cut to Elena and Bonnie. I’m glad that Elena remembered that her friend existed, even though she’s only hanging out with her to talk about her own problems. Elena says what we’re all thinking: “I said that I wouldn’t get in the middle of it, and then that’s exactly what I did.” In her defense, she was not left much choice. Mrs. Lockwood comes over and reminds Elena that she really wants the pocket watch. Does it have mystical properties or something? Also, stop stalking Elena already, Mrs. Lockwood.
Upstairs, Damon and Caroline meet up. He drags her to a room, so that she can block the door, while he steals a crystal. Apparently, he hid it there himself, but as he won’t answer any of Caroline’s questions, we’re left wondering about its properties.
Across the party, Logan and Jenna exchange glances, and he approaches. He talks about “persistence, groveling, and commitment.” He explains: “I was young and stupid. Then things changed—they got real.” She softens a bit and asks him how he would make things right. He charms her into smiling. Oh Jenna, I expected a better emotional wall from you!
Meanwhile, Mrs. Lockwood is mad that the flames aren’t lit on the candles. Bonnie gripes, “bitch” as she walks by. Hehe. She’s not wrong. Then Bonnie lights all the candles with her mind. Since no one else is around, no one else cares. Poor Bonnie.
Elena and Caroline are both primping in the bathroom. Elena notices Caroline’s marks and is very concerned. She assumes that the bites were caused by Damon. True, but it is a bit of an assumption. She confronts Damon and tells him to stay away from Caroline. She then goes to Stefan and apologizes for not trusting his side. She tells him about Damon and Caroline. It is very obvious that Stefan is not surprised, and this concerns Elena. For all she knows, Stefan’s sheltering his abusive brother. Elena wants him to explain, but Stefan says he can’t. He says that he just needs her to trust him. Elena: “Trust is earned. I can’t just magically hand it over.” Instead of trying to earn her trust, Stefan is distracted by the sight of Damon and Caroline walking off together, and excuses himself. Team Elena.
Back at the Gilbert home, Jeremy is playing video games, when Vicki knocks on his door to make out with him. One teen’s fantasy fulfilled. Personally, I think it’s a bit unfortunate, as Jeremy isn’t the greatest influence on Vicki. Also, she probably needs to learn how to feel good about herself on her own, rather than through the mirror of whatever guy she’s kissing.
At the party, Damon torments Caroline a bit more. She is worried about how he’s going to punish her, and he tells her that he’s over her and bites her. He then chokes and passes out. Stefan walks over to state the obvious: “I knew I couldn’t spike your drink, so I spiked yours.” Having seen Angel, I know this storyline well.
Cut to Caroline alone, and she finds the crystal in the grass. Elena walks up and is worried about her. Caroline is out of breath and shaking, but she purports to be fine.
Cue the Stefan voice-over, as he locks Damon in the vervain filled basement: “I did what I had to do to protect Elena, to protect everyone. Yes, Damon, the headline reads: ‘Deadly beast captured. All is well in Mystic Falls.’” I will excuse this cheesiness on behalf of the rest of the awesome episode.
Cut back to the Lockwoods, and the Sherriff and Logan are there. They are clearly all in on the same secret. They are still looking for the Gilbert watch, which definitely must have some kind of vampire-killing properties. Logan says that he can get it. Poor Jenna. The Sheriff confirms that they’re going to need it: “5 bodies all drained of blood. I’m certain.” Logan: “They’ve come back.” Uh oh. The End.
What did you think of the episode? Did I miss something crucial? Agree? Disagree? Comment below.
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