THE VAMPIRE DIARIES: A conversation about “Homecoming”
"Why isn't Caroline running this show?" we ask. Photo: Quantrell Colbert/The CW.
Spoilers ahead for The Vampire Diaries 3×09, “Homecoming,” aired Thursday, November 10th, 2011:
So … “Homecoming.” Klaus came home to face his father, and there was even a Homecoming dance that never happened. Some multiple meanings in that title, right? I liked the episode as a whole, absolutely LOVED parts of it, but was kind of left with a “And that’s how the sausage is made!” impression. You could actually SEE the writing on the screen, you know? Plot twist overload, a bit. It’s kind of exhausting. But still really entertaining, and I guess that’s really the point. TVD never fails to entertain. Also, KATHERINE! Kaboom! Ba-Boom! Whatever-Boom! I’ll go into more detail about my thoughts on these various twists, in my full recap. However, we don’t have a new episode until January, and I have a lot of grading to do this weekend, so this is NOT a full recap. Yet. (I promise, I will do one.) For now, I will share with you a conversation that I had with my sister Francesca about this episode, late last night. Some of you may know about Frani from the Heroine TV Podcast, my tweets about her, or her help with my San Diego Comic-Con coverage. She is the coolest. She is also basically the avatar for the average television viewer. She doesn’t read spoilers, casting news, recaps, message boards, Twitter, etc. I mean, I did force her to join Twitter (@cesfranca), but she checks in once in a blue moon. She just watches all shows I tell her about—occasionally out of order—and then I occasionally force her to talk to me about them. Me? I watch TVD episodes frame by frame to pick up all the little details, and write overly long recaps with intense thoughts, so you can see the difference. Here’s what we talked about last night. I didn’t record the call, so this is an approximation of what we said, not a transcript. Also, keep in mind that we had both only seen the episode once.
Lucia: “Did you watch The Vampire Diaries?
Francesca: “Yeah.”
Lucia: “What did you think about it?”
Francesca: “Uuuuuummmmm … it was confusing? Like, I wasn’t quite sure what was going on. But it was good.”
Lucia: “Oh yeah, there were a lot of plot twists.”
Francesca: “Yeah, like I didn’t get who knew what about what. And why did Stefan try to stop Damon from killing Klaus?”
Lucia: “[Giggles.] Okay. Yeah, so let me explain the whole plan thing. There were actually three different plans going. No, four … no wait, five. Well … there were a lot. Oh wow, yeah … it was complicated. So, first of all, there was the plan that Elena, Stefan, Damon, Mikael, and Rebekah were ALL in on. They would lure Klaus back to Mystic Falls by telling him that Mikael was dead. Then Mikael would kill Klaus. So the main plan was ostensibly to kill Klaus, using Mikael to do it. But then Damon had a secret backup plan that involved Katherine, that he didn’t tell anyone else about. Except Katherine, obviously. Then Elena took it upon herself to kill Rebekah, because she was a wild card and might turn on them. Then Damon and Mikael had a deal to leave Stefan out of it. Hence him draining Stefan and no one telling Stefan any of the details. Stefan had to know the least, so he couldn’t mess it up for anyone. Remember, the whole compulsion thing? But then Stefan was sort of a wild card himself, and made his own deal with Klaus to get free of compulsion. But THEN, we learned at the end that Katherine went behind Damon’s back to make a secret deal with STEFAN to save Damon’s life. So Stefan had to go back to the party and stop Damon from killing Klaus, all to save his brother’s life. But BONUS: he was given his freedom.”
Francesca: “Oooookay. Hmmm. I didn’t know anything about that saving Damon part. I missed that.”
Lucia: “Yeah, Katherine revealed that part at the end, in the car with Stefan. Klaus had revealed to her that he had a backup plan too—SO MANY DIFFERENT PLANS—in case he was killed. His Hybrids were compelled to kill Damon. But that seems kind of silly since Damon basically proved that the Hybrids were super easy to kill when he arrived at the party and just casually ripped one’s heart out. [Present day interjection! Oh, and I just realized that compulsion wears off after the compeller’s death. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, KAT AND STEF?!?! I’m confused. Oh wait, I guess this is a siring thing. Not compulsion. They are weirdly loyal to him ... and that tie will continue post-death? Fine then. But still!] Oh! And then there was another aspect of Katherine’s plan, because she is awesome. Convince Stefan to get angry and get revenge on Klaus. So Stefan stole Klaus’s family. Go Katherine!”
Francesca: “[Laughs.] I don’t get why they had to keep that a secret from Damon though. Why weren’t they working together?”
Lucia: “Well, Damon and Elena’s number one priority was to kill Klaus. Not Mikael. This part would have made it all for naught for them. Killing Klaus was the whole point of their plan.”
Francesca: “Oh, okay. But I was kind of relieved that Klaus wasn’t killed. I’m glad his dad was killed instead. He was way worse. He was the real bad guy.”
Lucia: “Awww, you’re feeling sorry for Klaus? His lil’ tear-stained face got to you?”
Francesca: “[Giggles.] Yeah! I mean, it’s his dad who was REALLY the bad guy! I’m glad Mikael died. But I don’t get why they didn’t just kill him when he was in that coffin for all those years. I mean, if he was really so terrible …”
Lucia: “Good point. But did they know he was there? Well, I guess in the flashback episode Elena mentioned the tomb location to Rebekah, and it seemed like she DID know. Or maybe she was just scared? Either way, they should have found out. I see your point.”
Francesca: “I mean, why put him in a tomb? Why not kill him if he’s so bad?”
Lucia: “Oh, I don’t think the Originals were the ones who put Mikael in the tomb. I think he put himself in there. To stop the blood cravings. Remember, he didn’t want to kill innocent people? Although … I guess he found a solution to that by drinking vampires, so that would be kind of odd … hmmm.”
Francesca: “Hmmm … put himself in there? [Tone of extreme disbelief.] That doesn’t seem like something he would do at all. He is THE EVILEST EVER.” [I am paraphrasing here. Basically, Frani thinks that Mikael was REALLY bad news and is a major Klaus apologist.]
Lucia: “[Giggles.] Okay. I guess we just don’t really know. But it does seem rather silly that no one killed him when he was in that tomb. Or at least stole the Original-killing stake. I mean, the stake is just locked up with him? That is some valuable property. And if Mikael was so determined to kill Klaus, why would he just take himself out of the game. If he didn’t want to take himself out, then who made him? Witch involvement, perhaps? Whatever. Let’s talk about Caroline. Once again she was not part of the plan. I hate when they leave her out of things.”
Francesca: “Yeah. I think there was even A WHOLE EPISODE before this one where there wasn’t even ANY Caroline. [She says this in a tone of outraged disbelief.] THAT WAS TERRIBLE.”
Lucia: “[Giggles.] Yeah. That was the flashback episode. But, I mean, it makes sense for that episode because …”
Francesca: “Don’t take their side!”
Lucia: “[Dies laughing.] Okay, fine. Fine. You’re right. Caroline needs to be in every episode. What did you think about what Tyler did to her?”
Francesca: “Oh yeah. Well … I could see it from his side. He thought he was just protecting her.”
Lucia: “Yeah, but Caroline is the awesomest ever. If she had been part of the plan, maybe Klaus would be dead right now. Why does everyone keep trying to protect her, leaving her out of the game? They are probably just jealous. They don’t want her to steal the show.”
Francesca: “Right. But I think it’s because she’s not directly involved in those things. It’s all about Elena.”
Lucia: “Yeah. But then even though Tyler shot her with that needle to protect her, what about Caroline’s reaction? She was not happy with him.”
Francesca: “What? She didn’t break up with him did she? I think I missed that part.”
Lucia: “Well, she was just like “You are a slave to the bad guy. This is a problem!” And then Tyler was like, “Well, this is me now. Deal with it or …” And Caroline was kind of like, “Or … well …” and Tyler left in a huff. I love that Caroline, even though she is a vampire, is still clear about her morality. Klaus is THE BAD GUY, case closed. Tyler is now working for “the bad guy,” and this is a big problem for her.”
Francesca: “Yeah. Hmmm.”
Lucia: “Oh, and let me tell you about how when I watched the promo, I totally thought I saw Katherine. But then, people were like, well, Elena probably is just having a good hair day. But I mean, has Elena’s hair ever had curls like that? No. Even when she goes to dances, she usually bumps-it. You know, with the puffy tease Snooki thing? Plus, that makeup! Very un-Elena-like. I knew that had to be Katherine! Oh and this reminds me, we didn’t get to see Alaric in a suit! So sad. There were suits to be worn, but no Alaric!”
Francesca: [[Rolls her eyes. Yes, I could see it through the phone. Then laughs at me because I’m silly. Yawns.]
Lucia: “And why were Damon and Elena making homemade wolsbane grenades all by their lonesome? You know Alaric probably has like 20 of those things in his closet. Plus lots of other weapons. I mean, use your resources, people.”
Francesca: “[Giggles.] Yeah, he totally does. That was weird. [Yawn yawn.]”
Lucia: “Okay, well, that was the last episode until January. Same for The Secret Circle. I guess I should let you go since it’s so late and you’re tired.”
Francesca: “Hmmm. Okay. Goodnight, Cia.” [Click.]
What if Damon was never really in danger from a hybrid army death after staking Klaus? Katherine told Stefan this to get him to do something for her. Why did Katherine want Mikael dead more than Klaus? (Besides her being smart.) What is Katherine planning? What does she know that we don’t know? Will Katherine and Stefan become the new members of the RIPPAH road trip and make all of my season three dreams come true? Yay for sister commentary.
But seriously, Damon facing off against some hybrids is a normal danger level for him and his life choices.
Yeah, Katherine definitely wanted to get Stefan in revenge mode. Interesting that maybe her goal was to kill Mikael. Why does she want Stefan to take revenge on Klaus, but stopped him from killing him? I mean surely a combo of Kat, Damon, Stefan, Mikael, and Bonnie could have stopped the rag tag Hybrid band? Or should we take the saving Damon thing at face value, despite the plot difficulties? I don’t know. I mean, I do believe her about the whole humanity thing, so that was certainly a motivation. But like you, I think it seems that there is something more. I wonder if it involves the identity of who is in the coffins? Crackpot theory: The original Petrova is in one of the coffins!
Also, I loved that the guiltiest Kat ever looked was telling Damon that he had a good plan. She respects a good plan, and she ruined the ONE good one that Damon has ever had. Poor Damon. (But get better at your aim, Mr. Salvatore. That’s not where the heart is.)
lol at the last comment of your reply
i think we should take the whole save damon thing at face value
kat wouldnt want mickael dead as he is no threat to her.
also i think they thought about the immediate danger towards damon, like
damon stakes klaus hybrids jump on him right there and then.
anyways i just loved the part kat woke up and said hybrid boom or something like that.
the gal is awesome sorry to say this lucia but she is 10 points ahead of caroline in the awesome department
Well, I think they’re BOTH awesome in totally different ways. Both Kat and Care are my favorite characters on the show.
As for the killing Mikael thing, I’m starting to think that there was a reason Kat wanted Klaus alive and the coffins taken out of his possession. Not necessarily that she had it in for Mikael. Take a look at Amanda’s awesome comment. Hee. Also, could Kat be working with the Original Witch, perhaps? Could this be part of something larger?
LOL! You guys are hilarious. So obviously sisters.
Hmmm, I feel like Anna told Jeremy that Mikael was trapped in the tomb by a witch?
Maybe he had the stake hidden somewhere and the witch couldn’t find it? Yeah, the question of why the stake wasn’t taken by whoever trapped Mikael seems like a giant plot hole.
Thanks, Livvy! “Hmmm, I feel like Anna told Jeremy that Mikael was trapped in the tomb by a witch?” Yes! You’re right. In my recap for “The Reckoning,” I wrote, “Jeremy explains to Katherine that a witch entombed Mikael here in the 90s.” So … hmmm. That doesn’t necessarily tell us much. Under whose orders? Or for what reason(s)? So much more to learn. I was kind of thinking maybe this is why Bonnie’s mom is going to come back in the picture. Maybe she was involved? The timeline could explain her running out on Bonnie.
im still hoping on the bonnie mom theory too.
maybe another elena-isobel type of ending?
lucia have you noticed that Rebbecca did wear the dress from the episode before
also kat is becoming way to good at playing elena, i know its the same actress and when she plays kat pretending to be elena she can just play elena. but if you rewatch the episode you can see traces of kat here and there. like when matt mentioned how weird it was for them to be going to the homecoming dance together and she had a look of confusion for like a Milli second and didnt reply.
also elena would have never gone with matt to the dance more like tell him to go home as it will be safer for him.
Did you guys come up with any theories of what Stefan plans to do with the coffins/dead originals? Off the top of my head, I can’t come up with why he would steal them. Here’s what would happen if the show followed logic:
1. Klaus would kill Damon, Elena, and all of Stefan’s friends
2. He would then find Stefan and compell him to tell him where Stefan hid the coffins.
Stefan could pull the daggers out of Elijah and the two other Original siblings..but they’re wild cards. Who knows if they’d want to side with Stefan or remain loyal to Klaus? After all, he’s family. Stefan would have to rely on them being mad that Klaus offed their mother, I suppose. But why didn’t he just pull the daggers out already and have a plan in place BEFORE he provoked Klaus and sicced him onto Damon and co? Seems like a pretty foolhardy thing to do.
If this is actually Katherine’s plan, and she’s doing this to distract Klaus while she gets the hell out of Dodge…I’ll laugh soo hard. That’d be totally in character too. LOL
“If this is actually Katherine’s plan, and she’s doing this to distract Klaus while she gets the hell out of Dodge…I’ll laugh soo hard. That’d be totally in character too. LOL”
So in love with this idea!!! Ha! Yeah, you bring up good points about Stefan’s foolhardy plan. Sigh.