THE VAMPIRE DIARIES: “Memory Lane”

Uh huh. THAT'S WHAT I SAID, Katherine. Not even a scratch or a stain or even much fading. Stefan has definitely NOT been using this photo for target practice. Photo Credit: Vampire Diaries Web.

Read on for my recap and review of The Vampire Diaries 2×04, “Memory Lane,” aired September 30th, 2010:

In addition to being absolutely entertaining and incredibly intense, “Memory Lane” was just … necessary.  There have been so many questions building about Katherine.  What is her connection to Elena?  What were her real feelings for the Salvatores?  What was her agenda with them?  What were her ties to Mystic Falls?  There have also been so many questions about the founding families, and their knowledge and understanding of the supernatural.  How much do they know, and how?  Do they have an agenda beyond the safety of the town?  Are they really the good guys, or something far less black and white?  “Memory Lane” marks a very important start to answering all these questions.  Now, don’t get me wrong, these questions about the fundamental relationships between our characters, and the mythology of the show, have been building since the pilot, and bits have been revealed, piece by piece throughout the series so far (and at a rather startling pace, actually).  Ultimately, the reveals in “Memory Lane” have been earned, which is what makes them so satisfying.  Additionally, I’m sure that there is so much more to the story—so many places to go from here.  And many answers that have been given are also still up for debate.  There are different ways to read everything that happens on this show, which makes for endless discussion.  But for now, I am just relieved.  Absolutely relieved.  It’s no secret that I was disappointed with some of the reveals in “Blood Brothers,” and the way that the mythology was dealt with in that episode, so I have been virtually holding my breath in terms of some of the unanswered questions brought up by that episode.  In some ways, “Memory Lane” is the sequel to “Lost Girls,” “Children of the Damned” and “Blood Brothers.”  But unlike other sequels, Part IV is not a disappointment.  In fact, it improves upon what came before.  So, what actually happened in the episode?  On to the recap …

We open on flashback (or so it seems) to the Lockwood Mansion, 1864.  Katherine, adorned in her stunning period costume and hair, and Stefan, wearing a white silk bow-tie and matching gloves (it looked better than it sounds), dance at the very first Founder’s Day party—the one that we’ve been hearing about since “Family Ties.”  Katherine: “Uh, no touching Mr. Salvatore.  Those are the rules.”  Yes, it is the very same dance that Elena danced with Stefan and Damon in “Miss Mystic Falls.” Stefan: “I thought you didn’t believe in the rules.”  Nice callback to their conversations in past episodes.  Rules, shmules.  He notes that his brother is still upset about him escorting Katherine, to which the Delightful Brat advises, “Well, Damon needs to concede that his younger brother is a better dancer.”  Stray thought: Is this the root of Stefan’s hatred of dancing?  I mean, we saw that he’s good at it in “Unpleasantville” and his aversion seemed to be just normal Mr. Darcy Syndrome, but perhaps there is more to it.  Anyway, as Damon’s name comes up, so does his visage, and Katherine notes, “I guess he found someone to occupy his time.”  And … gasp.  It’s Elena, in modern day dress.  Sooooo … not a flashback.  A dream?  Then, Damon leads Elena off …

And we cut to a confused Stefan, in the present day, at the Mystic Grill.  He sees Elena at the pool table, but she’s not waving and talking to him, but instead, to … Damon.  In fact, Elena even kisses him.  Okay, still a dream.  A dream within a dream.  Is this is The Vampire Diaries’ version of Inception?  Katherine, still dressed in 1864 garb, appears beside Stefan: “It hurts, doesn’t it?  Now you know how I feel.  Don’t fight it, Stefan.  You loved me once.  You can love me again.”  Cut back to the1864 scene and Katherine tells him: “I love you Stefan.  We’ll be together again, I promise.”  At this, Stefan wakes up, for real this time, in the present, and in his very own bed.  He holds Elena close, and tells her that he had a bad dream.  However, as we get a close-up on Nina Dobrev’s face, we see that she is wearing an awful lot of eye-makeup for bedtime.  If this show has taught us anything, it is that vampire gals go for the smoky-eye look, so: VAMPIRE ALERT!  Yep, it’s Katherine.  Tricksy little thing.  “You have to admit, I am getting better at this.”  We do admit it, Katherine.  We do.  Cue the title card.

Cut to Katherine, basking in her victory: “It was easy to get inside of your head.  Have you completely forsaken your nature?”  Aha!  So, Stefan’s freaky dream was like what happened in “Family Ties,” when Damon messed with Stefan’s mind, making him dream about Elena in danger.  So messing with someone’s dreams is just part of the vampire package—if one embraces one’s vampire nature and feeds on human blood, that is.  Stefan needs to build up his mind’s armor.  Maybe he can work on occlumency with Professor Snape Bonnie.  For the present, however, he is far more interested in violence, and attacks Katherine, which just kind of bores her, since she’s so much stronger.  She sighs: “Are we really going to do this again?  We both know I could rip you to shreds and do my nails at the same time.”  Ha!  Katherine, I love you so.  He then asks her why she’s back—for the first time in this episode, but definitely not the last.  In fact, if we made that a drinking game, I would not be in good shape to finish this recap.  Katherine holds up three of her fingers: “Three reasons: You, you, and you.”  Hee.  Stefan is not buying it (or in deep denial—you decide), but Katherine assures him that it is so.  And so begins a back-and-forth to last an episode, but totally worth it for the pay-off, in my opinion.

Cut to Elena at the Mystic Grill, all by her lonesome, until Damon shows up.  She asks what he wants, to which he replies: “So this is where you spend your time when you’re not stabbing me in the back?”  And I will repeat my charge from last week: Oh, Damon, you delusional drama queen.  Sigh.  Elena: “I tricked you into telling me the truth.  That’s not stabbing you in the back, that’s using your own tactics against you.”  To which I say: WHY ARE YOU EVEN DEFENDING YOURSELF, ELENA?  YOU DID NOTHING WRONG.  NOTHING.  Honestly, I did not even see her as “tricking” Damon, or using Damon’s tactics, at all.  It is completely within her rights to withhold her friendship from whomever she likes, especially if said person is A VAMPIRE WHO KILLED HER BROTHER.  And it was also completely reasonable, if not TOO reasonable (I want a little fire from you, Elena), for her to take advantage of his help, when they were both stuck on the awkward road trip from hell.  Elena has been very clear about her feelings since “The Return”—brutally so–and didn’t spin any lies of forgiveness, only chilly silence.  Silence which Damon constructed into some type of magical forgiveness castle, with no basis in reality, so I want to hear no more talk of manipulation.  End rant.  Moving on, Elena once again makes it clear (for now—we know that someday this will change, and I’m fine with that, emphasis on the SOMEDAY IN THE FUTURE) that she wants nothing to do with him.  Classic Damon response to that brush-off: “I’ll see you at Jenna’s barbeque.”  Le sigh.  Elena is surprised that he even knows about it.  Damon explains: “It was my idea.  Jenna went to high school with Mason Lockwood, so I figured a social gathering would be a good way to get to know the guy.  So I told [Ala]Ric to tell Jenna and …”  Elena asks if Jenna knows he’s going, as she’s not a fan.  *High-five, Jenna*  Damon: “I’m hoping this peach cobbler will pave the way.”  Well, as a fan of cobbler, that is a very good bribe.  At least Damon is thinking on his toes.  Elena wonders what Damon is up to.  Oh, you know, just a plan to stab (the adorable) Uncle Mason with some silver.  Oh, yes, he is the one to judge Elena’s behavior and cast aspersions on her character.  Tell me more about all the necks you’ve snapped, Damon.  [Okay, maybe I didn’t move on from my rant as gracefully as I had planned.  Oops.]

Cut to the Lockwood mansion, where Tyler again tries to broach the subject of the yellow eyes and furry tails, but Mason brushes him off.  He is heading out to a “barbeque at Jenna Sommers’ house,” and he sounds pretty happy about that.  Jenna may not get much screen time, but she does get a lot of adorable men showing up on her front door, so at least there’s that.  But back to the scene at hand, Tyler is annoyed at all the secrecy.  Mason fires back: “Tyler!  What do you want me to say, man?  Yes, I turn into a wolf.  No, it’s not gonna happen to you.”  Hee.  Tyler asks how he knows.  Good question, Tyler.  10 points for you.  Mason explains: “Because you’re  not gonna trigger the curse.  Your dad didn’t know anything about any of this, and neither did I until it happened to me.”  Oooh, important reveal: the mayor did not know about the werewolf stuff.  Hmmm.  Also, not every Lockwood male has triggered the curse.  Interesting.  Tyler: “How does it get triggered?”  Oooh, another good question, Tyler.  You are proving the value of your presence here.  10 more points.  Mason doesn’t want to spill though: “Ignorance is bliss.  Trust me.”  Tyler pushes: “You blow back into town with some supernatural family secret and you expect me not to ask questions?”  Mason: “I can’t say any more.  Sorry, Tyler.  It’s just better for you if I don’t.”  As Mason turns his back, Tyler gets his attention: “You ever find THAT MOONSTONE?”  Oh, Tyler.  Mason: “Do you know where it is?”  Tyler: “What’s so special about it?”  Mason: “I told you, it was my mom’s.  It’s sentimental.  Listen, don’t worry about it.  Forget I even brought it up.”  Oh, Mason, no one believes you anymore.  But you look really good covered in mud, so look at the bright side.  As Mason leaves, and pretty much before he even shuts the door, Tyler markedly removes THE MOONSTONE from his pocket, and stares at it.  Thanks, show, for reminding us of THE MOONSTONE.  We totally forgot.  And yes, it makes total sense for Tyler to walk around with that huge thing in his pocket … oh, never mind.

Meanwhile, Stefan goes into the living room at Casa Salvatore to find Katherine reading his journal.  Hee.  Of course she is.  Katherine just couldn’t overcome the temptation to find out what Stefan has been up to.  Stefan makes note of what she’s drinking: “Damon’s private stock.”  Katherine: “That’s right.  You don’t do human.  I read that.  I also read about your recent werewolf sighting.  That must have come as a surprise.”  Stefan is curious as to what she knows about werewolves.  Katherine: “I know not to pet one.  Their bite kills, Stefan.  It’s best to stay clear of them during the full moon.”  If only Katherine had been around in the last episode.  I much prefer her exposition to Vanessa’s.  Stefan asks how she knows this.  Katherine asks, “Who do you think was responsible for ridding this town of vampires in 1864?”  Stefan: “The founding families.”  Katherine: “Spear-headed by?”  Stefan: “The Lockwoods.”  Aha!  Things become clearer.  See, this is how all the different supernatural elements fit together.  Bravo, writers.  Katherine continues to explain: “You remember the Founder’s Ball, don’t you?  The one that you were dreaming about?”  Stefan does, of course, as he hasn’t really suffered a head injury since the start of the episode.  Katherine: “That was before you and Damon knew about my little secret.”  And Katherine’s voice leads us into a flashback …

Back at the Founder’s Ball, Damon says a toast to George Lockwood, thanking him for “so bravely defending the south.”  George: “My honor, Mr. Salvatore.  After all, someone had to do it.”  This little interchange is a nice touch, since we know that Damon left the Confederate army, from “Lost Girls.” He would have been bound to receive some criticism and hostility for that, and honestly, it’s surprising that he was even invited to the party of a Confederate supporter, seeing as he’s a deserter.  This note about George Lockwood’s military service may also explain how he triggered the curse (which we learn about later).  As a soldier, he would have had plenty of opportunities to kill someone.

Then someone named Henry (have we met him before?) calls “Miss Katherine” aside.  [Update: Thanks to @dieslaughing for reminding me that we have met Henry before, in "Blood Brothers."  He was the tomb vamp who lived in Uncle John's apartment, killed by Alaric and Damon.]  He explains that he looked at the attacks from the other night, and it wasn’t vampires.  He further states, “Those folks were torn apart in ways I’ve never seen before.”  Katherine notes that it won’t be long before there is an investigation, and he offers to tell the others (as in other vampires—he’s clearly one of them), so that they can flee.  She tells him to relax: “This town is our home, and the vampires are my family.  I won’t let anything happen to us.”  Aw, those poor tomb vamps … so screwed over by Katherine.  They really should have directed their revenge towards her, not the Salvatores.  Katherine’s voice than takes us into the present: “From the moment I met George, I knew he would be a problem.”

Back in the present, in the Salvatore living room, Stefan asks, “So, you’re saying that all the Lockwoods are werewolves?”  Katherine: “The werewolf gene runs in the Lockwood family, not that they’re all wolves.”  Hmmmm … so it’s a gene now?  Stefan still has more questions: “How many other werewolves are out there?  I mean, is it just limited to the Lockwoods?”  Katherine: “No.  There are others.  Not many, they’re practically extinct.  They mainly exist now in books and really bad movies.”  She then asks that question I pointed out in “The Return”: Why did Stefan keep her picture for 145 years?  Why didn’t he burn it or tear it up or use it for target practice?  Good question.  Stefan has no answer, but more on that later.  Katherine continues: “You want to know why I came back?  Well I have a better question.  Why did you?  For Elena?  No.  You came back here to fall in love with me, all over again, didn’t you?”  Ooooooh.  See what I mean?  Necessary stuff is brought up here.  So very necessary.  Stefan speeds over to her, so that they are standing verrrrrrry close, and  he strokes her face.  “What is it about you that makes me still care?” he asks.  And then the two kiss, but don’t worry Elena-Stefan fans, because then he stakes her.  [Correction: It was a vervain dart.  How I missed that, I can't tell you.  Maybe Katherine compelled me?]  Katherine collapses in pain.  Though, I’m beginning to think it was just emotional pain, because she seems pretty much immune to all forms of vampire torture, because Katherine Pierce, née Katerina Petrova, is just awesome like that.

Stefan takes Katherine down to the basement dungeon and chains her up, because this show can never have enough freaky basement scenes, nor enough torture.  Dark stuff, people.  Dark stuff.  Stefan thinks he has the upper hand: “Now, where were we?  That’s right, you were about to tell me why you came back to Mystic Falls, weren’t you?”  Katherine repeats (repeats repeats repeats): “I came back for you.”  Stefan not pleased with this answer, anymore than the last few times she gave it: “We’re gonna play by my rules now.”  He puts on gloves, and then he then tickles her with vervain.  Now, I say “tickle,” because there’s just something about vervain in its plant form that makes me giggle.  Also we know from a later scene that Katherine is immune to the stuff, because, once again, Katherine is just awesome like that.  Bravo for your acting, Katherine.  We really believed you were in pain.  This is why your plans work, and you deserve curtsies.  “Are you gonna torture me now?” she asks.  Yeah, I’m pretty sure that was apparent, but I guess the tickling threw you off.  Stefan: “I’m gonna do whatever it takes for you to tell me the truth.”  She then begins to tell him more about the Founder’s Day party, but Stefan doesn’t want to hear any more stories.  She assures him that he does, and we fade into another flashback.

George approaches Katherine at the Founder’s party: “She’s all alone.  Does this mean I can finally have you all to myself?”  Katherine makes small-talk: “Your father’s outdone himself.”  George: “Knowing father, he’ll want to throw a Founder’s party every year.”  Hee.  If you only knew, George.  If you only knew.  Katherine: “I must admit, I am rather surprised that you’d come looking for me.”  George: “Because you’re the rope in the Salvatore brother’s tug-of-war?”  Ha!  Katherine gets serious: “No, because I’m a vampire, who could kill you in your sleep.”  Dun dun dun.  George feigns ignorance: “I beg your pardon?”  Katherine: “Relax, George.  I know you know my secret.”  Wow.  He tries to leave, but she stops him: “And I know your secret too.  And I know that you’re extra strong, only not as strong.”  He’s listening now, and asks how she knows.  Katherine explains, “You think that I’d settle into a town without knowing my enemies?”  Good point.  George: “What do you want?”  Cut to the present, where Stefan asks, “What did he want?”  Hmmm … seems that he’s confusing pronouns, but that is a good question too, for later.  Oooh, 1864 motivations, you continue to intrigue me.

We then take a break from torture and flashbacks to move to the Gilbert home, where Elena and Jenna are getting the BBQ set up.  Elena thanks Jenna for letting her invite Caroline, and Jenna notes that Caroline is not the guest she’s worried about.  She asks her niece why Damon is coming.  Elena: “Because Alaric is a pity taker.”  Ha!  Alaaaaaric has a new nickname.  Elena continues, “C’mon, Jenna, be nice.”  Really?  Jenna: “I’ll be nice, when Damon learns to keep his paws off you.”  And you know, this scene was important because I think this was the first time I really thought about the fact that in Jenna’s eyes, Damon is this adult trying to mack on a high school student, which is super creepy.  If only she knew how much larger the age difference was.  But, whatever, we try not to think of such things in vampire shows.

We are then distracted by the arrival of Mason, who is not covered with mud, but he is bearing shot glasses, so it’s a draw.  Elena exits, so that the adults can play.  Jenna notes, “I’m here 10 minutes and already it’s like I’m back under the bleachers at the pep rally.”  Awww.  Mason: “Just like old times, huh?  Only I didn’t swipe this bottle from my old man.”  Alaric then enters, and notes: “Oh, the expensive stuff.  I like you already.”  Adorable.  Mason: “I’m just happy to be invited.”  And did I mention adorable?  Jenna replies, “Well thank [Ala]Ric.  This was his idea.”  Mason is surprised, and perhaps beginning to realize that this is some sort of set-up: “Really?”  Alaric: “Yeah, you know, I thought it might be nice to meet some of Jenna’s high school friends.  Dig up a little dirt.”  Mason: “Oh, I’ve got dirt.  I’ve got dirt.”  Yeah, you do.  Muddy muddy dirt.  Jenna: “I have no secrets.  Only dirty, dirty shame.”  Hee.  It really is a shame that Jenna doesn’t get more screen-time, because she seems like she would be so fun to hang out with.  The group toasts to “dirty shame,” but the little party is spoiled by Damon’s entrance.  Alaric admirably tries to smooth things over: “We’re just doing shots.  Let me get you a shot-glass, buddy.”  Yes, he said “buddy.”  Team Blood & Beer lives on in our hearts.  Jenna downs her shot, and then passes her shot glass to Damon on the way out.  She is not thrilled with Damon’s presence, and after a hilarious shot of Alaric’s suffering expression, he follows his girlfriend.  Love.  The only thing that could have made that scene better was a longer pause on Alaric’s close-up.  (Also true for every other scene of the entire series.  But I may be slightly biased.)  Left on their own, Mason tries to break the ice with Damon: “I’ve heard good things about you.”  Damon: “That’s weird, because I’m a dick.”  Hehe.  I love this show.  Side note: I actually believe that Mason would have heard good things about Damon, since the Founder’s Council worships him, and Carol Lockwood is Mason’s sister-in-law

Outside on the porch, Elena calls Stefan, leaving him a message.  She seems a bit worried not to have heard from him.  I guess Stefan doesn’t get cell service in his torture basement.  Caroline comes out and takes a seat, snacking on something: “God, I can not stop eating.  Stefan says it’s a great way to ‘sublimate the cravings.’  It’s horrible, just fighting the urge for blood every minute of every day.”  First of all, I love that Stefan says “sublimate the cravings.”  It is just so Stefan.  Second, I love Caroline’s “Stefan voice.”  Hee.  Elena tries to be understanding: “I know that Stefan really hates that part of himself.”  Caroline: “Well, yeah, and you know, he hates that you’re a constant temptation.”  Smooth, Caroline.  Elena is surprised: “He said that?”  Caroline: “The desire to rip out your jugular, every time he’s with you—trust me, it’s there.  It’s why I had to break up with Matt.”  Now, Caroline was less than tactful there, but in the words of Cordelia Chase: “Tact is just not saying true stuff.  I’ll pass.”  At this point, Alaric comes out to tell them the food is ready.  Again, not a long enough close-up on Alaaaaaric.  Story of this episode.

Back in the Salvatore basement, Stefan continues his questioning: “You know, we can sit here as long as you want.  And then when you start to desiccate, there’s a tomb with your name on it.”  I wonder if he means that literally.  Hmmmm.  Katherine: “I’ve been doing all the talking.  Now it’s your turn.  Do you pretend to be human when you’re with Elena?  Is that the appeal?”  Stefan smugly responds: “Actually, I don’t pretend to be anything when I’m with her.  That’s the whole point.  I get to just be myself.”  Well, it seems like he does pretend that he doesn’t want to rip out her jugular, so I’m not so sure about that.  Katherine: “Does she know that you love me?”  Stefan: “I don’t.”  Katherine: “That’s where you’re wrong, Stefan.  Don’t you remember bringing me home that night?  Your family had taken me in …”

With her voice, we fade into another flashback.  Stefan escorts her home after the party, and asks how long she plans to stay in Mystic Falls.  Katherine: “As long as I’m wanted.  Your father has been very kind to give me shelter.”  Stefan is the perfect gentleman, and mentions his sorrow about the fire in Atlanta (mentioned in “Children of the Damned”) that supposedly killed her family.  Katherine: “So, I gather I’m wanted?”  Stefan: “Very much so.”  He then makes a speech, declaring his feelings: “I know we’ve only known each other for a short while, and I know I’m in competition for your affections, but uh … I’ve never met a woman quite like you.  I look at you and I see … an angel.  I touch your skin, and my entire body ignites.  I kiss you, and I know that I’m … I’m falling in love.”  For Katherine’s part, she seems really moved by this.  The two kiss, but she pulls away.  She seems to feel almost, dare I say it … guilty.  Stefan declares, “I am in love with you.”  Katherine: “There’s just so much you don’t know about me, Stefan.”  Stefan: “More to learn and love.”  Katherine: “I’m going to say goodnight.”  Stefan: “I’ve upset you?”  Katherine: “No, you haven’t upset me, you’ve just surprised me.  Until tomorrow.”  I find this fascinating.  Katherine seems genuinely surprised by his declaration of love.  So it seems that she did not compel his love (something that we learn more about soon).

When Katherine goes into her room, Damon is there, and comes from behind the door and kisses her.  She pulls away, and is not happy to see him.  She says that she’s tired and he should go.  Damon: “Did my little brother’s confession overwhelm you?”  Katherine: “You shouldn’t eavesdrop.”  Ha!  It seems that Damon’s penchant for eavesdropping was part of his personality before becoming a vampire, so his sneaky listening was amplified in his vampire state.  Hee.  But I really can’t help but feel compassion for Damon in this scene, as he is so rejected and pathetic.  “Is my love not enough?” he asks.  Katherine: “I told you, I’m tired.  I wish to be alone tonight.  Please leave.”  It seems that she compels him with that last part, and he says goodnight and exits.  Alone in her room, she touches her lips with her gloved hand, thinking of Stefan’s declaration and his kiss.  Even a fabulously evil vampire girl can love, people.  Back in present, Katherine states: “Go ahead, Stefan.  Torture me.  Keep me captive.  Drain me of my blood until my body turns to dust.  It will never change the truth.  I never compelled your love.  It was real, and so was mine.”  And honestly, I believe her.

We move from this intensity to a game of Pictionary at the Gilbert home.  The picture Damon has drawn is a wolf, as he is continuing his torture of Mason.  After Jenna guesses, “Nothing but a hound dog,” Mason guesses correctly: “Dances with Wolves.”  How very anvilicious.  As Jenna questions, “How is that a wolf?” Damon goes out in the kitchen to pour himself another drink, and Elena enters.  Damon notes, “Aunt Jenna is getting tipsy.”  Elena: “Will you stop plying her with alcohol?”  Damon: “I want her to like me.”  Valid point.  Elena asks, “How’s Operation Lockwood?”  Damon whispers into her ear (creepy): “He’s my new BFF.”  Sigh.  Forgetting about Alaaaaric so quickly.  Jenna then enters, and Damon thanks her for inviting him.  Jenna: “Did I have a choice?”  Damon: “I know what you must think about me …”  Jenna cuts him off: “No, you don’t.  You’ve never dated you.  I have dated many yous.”  Hee.  Damon: “Well, I’m a work in progress.”  Damon is then distracted when he sees the silver on the counter, and after admiring it, he pulls out a silver knife.  Uh oh.  I really like Mason now, so this is getting stressful.

Back in the basement, Stefan and Katherine continue their trip on the merry-go-round.  Katherine: “Hearing the truth after a century and a half of denial must be overwhelming.”  Word.  Stefan, crying in a corner, because he can’t face the truth (okay, maybe he wasn’t “crying” per se, but I’m pretty sure that he was crying on the INSIDE), remains in denial: “It wasn’t real.  I remember you compelling me.”  Katherine explains that she only compelled him after he was already in love with her: “You were so scared of me.  I had to take away your fear.”  I love this reveal.  So much.  Stefan: “Well, whatever feelings I had back then, they’ve all turned to hate.”  Katherine: “Love, hate, such a fine line.  I can wait.”  See, now here is where Katherine reveals her crazy side, and I really look forward to exploring that throughout the season.  Yes, she is delightfully evil, and supremely selfish, but she’s also completely fixated on her twisted view of love.  This is going to make for some insanity down the line, methinks.  But I digress.  Katherine continues: “Anyway, George Lockwood was causing all sorts of trouble.  He used the vampires to cover up his own tracks—told the founding families about us.  But he was willing to strike a deal.”  Oooh.  See, I love this reveal too.  The idea that the hunt for the vampires was spearheaded by a werewolf trying to cover his tracks is just perfect somehow.  Also, a deal?  Intriguing.  Stefan asks, “What kind of a deal?”  Katherine: “A deal to rid the town of vampires.”

Cue another flashback to 1864.  Katherine goes for a stroll (in a red dress with a black parasol and black gloves, no less) and makes plans with George.  She insists that he do a body count: 27 vampires.  George tells her, “Once the flames create chaos, crawl to the exit under the choir loft.  I’ll be there to set you free.”  Hmmm.  Katherine: “Make sure you’re not followed.  I need everyone to believe that I perished in that fire.”  Ooooh.  Now, why was it so important for people to believe that?  That is the new question which this episode brings up.  But more on that later.  As we fade back to the present, Stefan asks, “You knew that they were going to burn the vampires in the church?”  Katherine: “I practically lit the match.”  Probably not the first fire she started, I’d venture to guess.  Stefan is very offended on behalf of the tomb vamps: “They were your friends.  They were your family.  And you just sold them out.”  Katherine: “Without blinking.”  Hmmm.  A moment of silence for Pearl.  It really is a pity that she was killed, because it would have been amazing to see Pearl and Katherine face off in the present.

Meanwhile, the barbeque is still going on.  Damon brings out the cobbler, with the silver serving knife ostentatiously sticking out.  Mason carefully turns the dish around, and grabs a piece with his hands, forgoing the silver utensil.  Hmmm.  As everyone stares at Mason and his cobbler hands, he gets self-conscious: “Oh, what am I?  I apologize.  I’m an animal.”  Hee.  And with that, he licks his fingers.  That’s it, I really don’t want him to die.  Too adorable.  Alaric decides to break the tension by asking about his dating history: “So, Mason, you and Jenna never dated?”  Nice.  Mason explains, “She was always lost in Logan Fell land.”  Poor thing.  Jenna: “Oh, my first mistake.  Mason was a catch.  He had girls lining up.”  Damon: “Really?  I always pegged you for a lone wolf.”  Ugh.  Really, Damon?  Mason responds in kind: “I’m sure I wasn’t half the lady killer you were.”  Too true.  Rest in peace, Vicki, Lexi, Bree, and countless others.

Cut to Elena and Caroline, in the living room.  Elena asks, “Would I be the worst friend in the world if I abandoned you and went to Stefan’s?”  This is a rhetorical question, of course, as Elena has absolutely made up her mind, and will not be swayed from checking on her boyfriend.  Suspiciously, Caroline tries to convince her not to go, and when that fails, offers to drive her.  Suspicion is confirmed when Caroline stealthily opens the air valve on her tire, ensuring that they will get a flat tire down the road.  Oh, Caroline, what are you up to?

Back in the Salvatore basement, the object of Elena’s worry is too busy questioning and torturing his ex-girlfriend to answer Elena’s calls.  Not even a text, Stefan, really?  Stefan asks, “What did George get in return, for giving you your freedom?”  Katherine: “Something he wanted desperately.”  Oooooh, what could it be?  Stefan: “So you sent 26 of your friends to their death, just to fake your own?  No, you were running from something.  What was it?”  Oooooh, the suspense!  I must know.  Katherine, of course, doesn’t let this little secret go so easily, but she does offer a hint: “Everyone has a past, Stefan.  Mine needed to stay far far away.  Thanks to you, my plan nearly failed before it even began.  Once George told me that the round up was imminent, I made sure that I could see you one last time.  But your father used your love for me against you.  He poisoned your blood.  And then Damon, being Damon, nearly ruined everything.”  Hee.  This little explanation is accompanied by the flashback from “Blood Brothers,” when Stefan and Damon were shot.  Stefan protests, “We came for you!  We tried to save you!”  Katherine: “I didn’t want to be saved.”  Stefan: “So, then we died for nothing!  For nothing!”  Katherine: “No, Stefan, you died for love.”  Point goes to Katherine.

Back at the barbeque, Mason enters the Gilbert kitchen to find Damon pouring himself another drink.  A vampire and a werewolf walk into a bar … don’t worry, I won’t finish that sentence.  Mason is still trying to be friendly: “Jenna just brought out Guitar Hero.  It might be time to mutiny.”  Damon: “Well, I just happen to like Guitar Hero, so you, my friend are barking up the wrong tree.”   Mason has had enough: “Okay, enough with the innuendos.  You win.  You’re hilarious.”  Hee.  Damon: “Thank you.”  Mason: “C’mon, man.  You don’t think I know what this barbeque is about?”  Ah, cute AND smart.  I like Mason more and more with each passing moment.  Alas.  Damon: “How do you know about me?  Your brother was completely clueless.”  Mason: “Doesn’t matter.  I’m not your enemy, Damon.”  Damon: “You tried to kill my brother.”  Mason: “That was a mistake.  There was confusion.  I couldn’t chain myself up in time.  I have no control once I shift.”  Damon: “Ah, what?  No obedience school?”  Mason is not amused: “I’m serious.  Let’s not spark some age old feud that doesn’t apply to us.”  Damon: “You expect me to believe that you’re here in Mystic Falls planting peace trees?”  You know, Damon, not everyone has selfish motives like you.  Mason explains: “I lost my brother.  My nephew lost his father.  I’m here for my family.  Let’s be above this.”  Awwww.  They shake hands, but it’s clear that Damon is not letting this go so easily, as he pulls out a silver knife once Mason leaves the room.  Thus, my dreams of Team Blood, Beer, & Bark are dashed.  Sigh.

Cut to a very awkward car ride, where Caroline is being, as Elena terms it, “snippy,” as she passive-aggressively hints at all the problems for Elena and Stefan’s relationship.  Caroline: “It’s my own drama.  I’m sure that you two will beat the odds.  Not that there’s any study to pull odds from.  What is the ratio of success for vampire-human couplings?  I’m guessing nil.”  Oh, Caroline, you are now yourself, and the voice of the audience.  We love you so.  Elena is not pleased, so Caroline apologizes, and puts on some music.  This simple action involved some Ford product placement, which I don’t resent because I want The Vampire Diaries to have enough money to continue for many seasons to come.  Well, either that, or Caroline works for Skynet, and is ushering in the apocalypse, with her control over machines.  But I’m guessing it’s just a Ford ad.  As the music starts, however, the inevitable flat tire strikes.

Back at the Gilbert home, Mason says his goodbyes, as no one else wants to join him for drinks at a bar: “It’s like I’m with a bunch of adults here.”  Jenna: “I prefer the term role model.”  Ha!  Mason reminds Alaric about catching “that game next week,” so maybe we can at least have Team Beer & Bark.  Damon also decides to take his exit, and kisses Jenna’s hand in goodbye: “Jenna, you are a wonderful hostess.”  Jenna: “And you are a terrible artist.”  Damon: “Is that the only thing that makes me terrible?”  Jenna: “Still deciding.”  Of course, if her decision is one that Damon doesn’t like, he’ll accuse her of Katherine-like manipulation (yeah, still not letting that go).  As he exits, Damon comments, “Alaric, let’s not catch that game next week.”  Hmmm.

Cut to Elena and Caroline waiting for the tow-truck by the side of the road.  It is now dark, so I have to wonder how much time has passed since we last saw these two.  Caroline is clearly trying to delay Elena from reaching Stefan, and after a series of failed tactics, Elena explodes: “What part of ‘I’m worried about Stefan’ did you not understand?”  Caroline: “What’s the rush?  Why are you hurrying to get to a relationship that’ll never work?”  Ouch.  Elena: “Look, I know that you’re upset over Matt, but will you stop projecting it onto me and Stefan, please?”  Caroline: “I’m not projecting anything.  You’re a human, he’s a vampire.  You’re going to be 70 and in diapers and he’s still going to be smoking hot. And you will never have his children, Elena.  And you are too maternal to not have children.”  See what I mean about Caroline speaking for the audience?  Elena asks, “Where is this coming from?”  Instead of saying Katherine, Caroline answers, “I’m just trying to be your friend.”  Elena: “Well, do me a favor and stop trying.”  Caroline tries one last desperate move, grabbing Elena’s arm, and even quite possibly trying to compel her not to leave.  Elena is hurt and offended, and as the tow-truck arrives, Elena stalks off on her own.  Let’s just hope for the tow-truck driver’s sake that Caroline is not hungry.

We then have our inevitable Mason and Damon confrontation, each stepping out of his car and into the street.  Mason asks, “What?  More dog jokes?”  Damon: “No, that got old.”  And with that, Damon stabs Mason in the chest with the silver knife.  Ugh.  Luckily, however, that is not the end of Mason, as he seemingly heals, and stands back up: “You know, I think it was werewolves who started that silver myth.  Probably for moments like this.”  Damon is discomfited: “Duly noted.”  Hee.  A win for the werewolf.  Mason quips: “And I was really looking forward to last call.  Now you made an enemy.”  Oh boy.

Back in the basement, Stefan and Katherine are still at it.  Stefan asks AGAIN why Katherine has returned, and Katherine notes: “Have you not heard a word that I’ve said?  I’ve answered that question 5 times over now.”  Hee.  Stefan doesn’t care: “Good, well, make it 6.”  Katherine: “I want what I want, Stefan.  And I don’t care what I have to do to get it.  My list of victims is a long one, and I have no problem adding one more name to that list.”  Shiver.  Katherine is hard core.  Stefan: “C’mon, Katherine.  If you wanted Elena dead, you would’ve done it by now.”  Katherine: “I still can.  If I have to, I will snap her neck like a twig, and you know it.”  With that, Stefan comes at her with a stake, full of rage, but he puts it down without hurting her.  Katherine: “I guess you don’t hate me as much as you thought you did.”  Agreed.  And again, I love this angle of the story.  Katherine continues: “I don’t want you seeing Elena anymore.  If you don’t remove her from your life, I will kill everyone that she loves, while she watches, and then I will kill her while you watch.”  Oooh, see, this is where the crazy comes in.  It kind of reminds me of Angelus, and the way that he tortured Drusilla, before turning her; and also, how he tortured Buffy and the Scoobies in “Passion.” I could so see Katherine pulling something like that.  Hide your goldfish, friends of Elena.  [It was at this point in writing the recap that I got distracted by Buffy fan-vids.  I’m so predictable.]  Stefan, after being unable to kill her, states: “Don’t you ever think for one moment that I won’t kill you.”  Suuuuure, Stefan.  You really proved that.  But Katherine quickly gets the upper hand and easily snaps her chains.  That’s right, snapped her chains.  She was totally faking her weakness.  Hard-core.  Katherine: “I have been sipping vervain every single day for the last 145 years.  You caught me by surprise once.  I wasn’t going to let it happen again.  It doesn’t hurt me, Stefan.”  Wow.  I totally undersold Katherine in my “Facts about Katherine Pierce,” post.  She’s so much cooler than I even suspected.  Stefan is shocked: “What?  Why?”  Katherine: “I told you, I missed you Stefan.  I just wanted to spend some time with you.”  So, what was torture to Stefan, was a date for Katherine.  She’s so delightfully twisted.  I have no words.

This reveal is interrupted, however, when they hear Elena’s voice.  Katherine stakes Stefan in the leg, and goes upstairs to confront her doppelgänger: “You must be Elena.”  Uh oh.  When we come back from commercial, Elena asks, “How is this possible?  How do we look exactly alike?”  Katherine replies, “You’re asking the wrong questions.”  Oooh, so what are the right questions?  Theories?  Stefan finally makes his way upstairs at this point, however, before we get a hint, and Katherine disappears.  Stefan asks if Elena is okay, to which she replies, “Not really.”  She then asks if Stefan is okay, to which he replies, “Not really.”  They’ve been Katherine-d, and it’s even more intense than being Gilmore-d.

Cut to Caroline, in the bathroom at the Mystic Grill.  Katherine sneaks up on her and is less than pleased: “Care to share how you couldn’t follow through with one simple task?”  Caroline: “I tried, okay.  But I couldn’t exactly kidnap my best friend.”  Oh, Caroline.  Katherine: “Occupy her, that’s all I asked.”  Caroline: “I told her that her relationship was doomed, and you know, all that mortality stuff.  And I think … I really think that I got to her.”  Hmmm.  Katherine: “I hope so.  Because let’s not forget, I already killed you once.  I can easily do it again.”  Uh oh.  So is poor Caroline doomed to become the puppet of yet another vampire?  Let’s hope she can get out from under Katherine’s thumb.

Back at the Lockwood mansion, Tyler is on the laptop, holding the moonstone, presumably researching its properties.  Mason comes home, and he quickly hides the rock.  Tyler asks how the barbeque was, and Mason answers, “Not great.”  He leaves out the part about a vampire trying to kill him, and asks, “You still pissed?”  Tyler: “You still keeping secrets?”  Mason: “Yep.”  Tyler: “Then I’m still pissed.”  As Mason turns to go upstairs, exhausted from his stabbing, no doubt, Tyler catches his attention: “Hey, you know, I was thinking about that stone you were looking for.  I might know a couple places it could be.”  Mason: “Do you think this is a joke?  If you know where it is, then tell me.”  Tyler: “Tell me how the curse is triggered.”  Mason: “Well, if I tell you, you won’t be able to think about anything else, and I don’t want that for it.”  I think this is a valid concern, especially once we find out what the trigger is.  What if the curse becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy?  (Or what if I have just read too many Harry Potter books?)  Tyler does not agree: “I think I can handle it.”  Mason: “Oh, you think you can handle it tough guy?  You have no idea.”  Tyler: “Do you want that stupid rock or not?”  Mason: “Tell me where it is.”  Tyler: “Tell me what triggers the curse.”  Mason finally caves: “Human blood.  You take another person’s life away from them, and the curse is yours forever.  Can you handle that?”  Good move, writers.  I really like that the curse has to be activated by spilling someone’s blood.  It works very well into the existing story, and it also adds necessary drama.  Plus, “it’s always gotta be blood,” as Spike once said.  And poor Tyler, now this threat will be hanging over his head for the foreseeable future; though I’m guessing he will kill someone, unintentionally or not, before the season ends.  Just don’t let that someone be Alaric.

Cut to Elena and Stefan walking into the Mystic Grill.  Elena stops to talks to Caroline, who is seated at a table.  Caroline apologizes: “Oh my god, I am so sorry about earlier today.  I don’t know what came over me.”  Elena: “It’s okay, Caroline.  Everything that you were saying was right.  It’s just hard for me to hear, you know.”  Hmmm.  Something is fishy here.  Caroline: “So, you’re not mad at me?”  Elena: “You’re just being a good friend … in your own way.”  Caroline: “In my own head-case horrible way.  [Pause.]  Elena, I really am sorry.”  And I believe Caroline, but I also think sorry doesn’t quite cut it here.  She needs to tell her friend the truth.  In her defense, however, I’m betting that Katherine is threatening the lives of those she cares about, in return for her help.

So, Elena then goes over to sit with Stefan, who is “starving.”  Elena snarks, “Well, spending a day with your jealous ex will do that to you.”  Yikes.  That’s very un-Elena-like.  Something is up.  Stefan: “Listen, I know you’re upset [UNDERSTATEMENT ALERT], but we have to take her seriously.  Today was all about the lengths that she will go to.”  Elena points out, “If she was going to hurt me, she would have.  I was standing right in front of her.”  Good point, but there is more to hurting than killing—just ask Angelus.  Stefan: “Elena, you caught her off guard.  It doesn’t mean that you’re safe.”  Elena retorts, “I’m not afraid of her.”  Really, Elena?  I thought you were smart.  Fear the crazy vampire!  Stefan, “Well you should be.”  Elena argues, “If Katherine had her way, we’d be breaking up right now.”  Stefan: “And if today taught me anything, it’s that Katherine is used to getting her way.”  True.  Elena is offended by this: “You’re not actually saying that we should do what she says?”  Stefan: “Listen, she’s sadistic, okay.  She threatened you.  She threatened everyone.”  Elena: “Yeah, no, I get it.  She’s dangerous.  But every day that we’re together, it’s dangerous.  Why are you giving her so much power over our relationship?”  Hmmm.  Stefan: “It’s just the reality of our situation.”  Elena: “Well, reality sucks.  This is what she wants.  She wants us to fight.  She wants to get between us.”  Too true.  Stefan: “She already has, Elena.”  Of course, Caroline has been using her super-vamp hearing to listen-in on this “fight,” and then the last shot of the scene pans to Damon, also eavesdropping.  Vampires are so snoopy.

Cut to sometime later, as Damon exits the grill, and encounters Katherine on the sidewalk outside.  “Bad day?” she asks.  Damon: “Bad century.  Heard you were on the lo-ooooo-se.”  Katherine asks, “What’s a matter?  Jealous that I spent the day with Stefan?”  Damon: “I don’t do jealous, not with you, not anymore.”  Hmmm.  He does do jealous of Elena though, I’d care to wager.  Katherine: “Then why so pouty?”  Damon: “I tried to kill a werewolf and failed.  Now I feel like I’m not living up to my best self.”  Hee.  Poor Damon.  I mean, I don’t approve of killing Mason, but you got to feel for the vampire.  Not his century, indeed.  Katherine: “Well, werewolves aren’t easy prey.”  Damon asks, “What do you know about werewolves?”  Katherine: “Why don’t you ask your brother?”  No need to be cruel, Katherine, the guy is already tortured.  She adds, “Don’t try to be the hero, Damon.  You’ll end up dead.”  Damon: “Been there, done that.  At least this time it will be worth it.”  How do you take that line?  That if he dies to save Elena, it would be worth it?  Or that if he dies trying to mete out revenge on Katherine it will be worth it?  Or that any form of death would be better than dying for Katherine?  I’m so confused by Damon lately.  Hmmm.

Cut to Elena arriving home, when Stefan uses his vampire-stalking powers to sneak up behind her.  But instead of screaming, she hugs him.  Elena: “I hated that fight.”  Stefan: “I know, me too.  It felt too real.”  Aha!  Sneaky sneaky.  The two love-birds kiss.  Elena asks: “Did you see Caroline?  We were right.  Katherine got to her.  She was hanging on to every single word.”  Stefan: “And it won’t be long before Katherine gets a play-by-play.”  Elena: “I wish I was wrong, but I know Caroline too well.  It was so obvious that something was up today.”  Stefan: “You’re not wrong.  It’s pure Katherine.  She’s always finding somebody to do her dirty work.”  Okay, this scene makes me happy, because I always appreciate when characters are not idiots, so this is a relief.  Also, if Stefan and Elena have a real fight about their relationship, I would like it to be better than the one we saw at the Grill.  Elena adds: “I think that Damon was listening to us fight too.  Are you going to tell him that it wasn’t real?”  Stefan is not: “The only way Katherine is going to believe it is if everybody believes it.  It’s the best way to let her think she’s getting what she wants.”  Elena muses, “All this, just to get you back.”  Stefan takes another whiff of the denial he’s been smoking and says, “That’s not why she’s here, okay.  No matter what she says.  I know her.  Katherine doesn’t care about anybody but herself.  She never has.  She’s incapable of love.  She’s here for another reason.”  There is definitely more to Katherine’s story than loving Stefan, but I’m also convinced that she does love Stefan, and that Stefan is at least one of her reasons for returning.  As Stefan speaks, we see a flash of Katherine in the present, and then move into a flashback of Katherine in 1864.

Damon and Stefan’s dead bodies lie in the dirt road, and George tells her, “Your carriage is waiting.”   He adds, “Now on to your part of the deal.”  Katherine: “If anyone learns of your part in my escape, I will kill you.  Don’t think that I won’t.”  She then gives him THE MOONSTONE.  Oooooh.  George tells her, “We shall take each other’s secrets to the grave.”  He then tells her to hurry, but she runs back to Stefan’s dead-soon-to-be-undead body.  “I love you, Stefan.  We will be together again.  I promise.”  And with that, she kisses his dead-soon-to-be-undead mouth.  Cut to Katherine in the present day, strolling in the moonlight, as she touches her fingers to her lips, and remembers.  I have to admit, my eyes got a little misty there.  This may make me as dark and twisted as Katherine, but oh well.

So, what did you all think about the episode?  Reactions?  Theories?  Questions?  Comment below.  Also, check out an entry from Katherine’s diary, from later that night:

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