Previously on The Vampire Diaries: Damon and Elena had hot-and-heavy makeout and Damon didn’t wreck it afterward, Evil!Alaric took Rebekah to find the hidden oak stake only to find out that the Original witch Esther was possessing Rebekah.
It’s time for yet another dance in Mystic Falls. Decade dance! Caroline is back in charge, what with Rebekah staked again compliments of Evil!Alaric and Esther. Elena is kind of back on Team Stefan. Tyler stakes his claim. And new evil plots unfold.
(Need to catch up? Visit our TVD recap index for links to past episode recaps.)
And now, on to this week’s episode, 3.20, “Do Not Go Gentle"...
**********SPOILERS**********
Stefan and Elena
I’d argue I’d rather see her make out with Damon again, but whatever. However, Elena does invite Stefan to the dance in what was a very sweet phone call. It’s nice to see her awkwardly inviting Stefan on a date. The hesitation makes the scene a bit fresher, but also I like to think she’s thinking about how this will affect Damon. Does she want to be with him? (Yes, please.)
It’s no secret I’m firmly in the Team Damon camp, but Stefan impressed me this episode. I think my heart did a full flutter when he tells Elena he can be fair about her needing time to figure out the Damon side of things and her feelings because “after everything I’ve put you through, I’m just honored to be your date tonight.”
Classy move, Salvatore.
Caroline and Tyler
One of the nice things about Tyler is he really is still an alpha wolf. He shows up at the dance to be with Caroline and stake his claim, refusing to wait in the shadows while Klaus is “macking all over” her. Tyler was decidedly less hot while using the word macking, but I loved him admitting he’s jealous and competitive with intentions to sweep Caroline off her feet.
The Originals
Esther uses Alaric’s – er, Evil!Alaric’s – ring to make the single white oak stake indestructible. That way they can use it over and over to murder her children. It’s nice they had this one a few weeks before Mother’s Day, no?
Esther comes for Elena, telling her it’s her only option to save Alaric. She’s also bound the Salvatore brothers within the high school so they can’t follow. Crafty witch.
Esther’s plan: Make Alaric into a new version of Michael. Because that turned out so well. This plot point just doesn’t play for me. She regrets ever tapping into dark magic to create her children, spent a thousand years waiting to come back to undo it, and now she’s like, “ Well, making one more won’t hurt?”
In the end, though, she gets hers. Upon waking from the transformation Alaric kills Esther.
Alaric/Evil!Alaric
Evil!Alaric works with Esther. He sets up the Salvatores; she sets up the Original vampires.
Well, Alaric tries to set up the Salvatores. Damon is smarter than that. He discovers that Alaric hasn’t been taking the herbs to keep Evil!Alaric at bay. This means bringing Meredith back into the loop. I had actually forgotten about her, and it feels a bit like Alaric did, too. I suppose trying to murder someone puts a damper on the relationship, but still.
Sometimes people don’t give Damon enough credit. Sure, we all recognize he’s good at figuring out the machinations of the bad guys, but what caught me here is how his first thought is not that Evil!Alaric likes to kill vampires. His first thought is Evil!Alaric’s need to take out vampire sympathizers, which for Damon equates to Elena. And when it comes to Elena’s safety, Damon’s ideas are of the no-holds-barred variety. In this case: Kill Alaric.
Acting continues to be impressive on Matthew Davis’ part. Alaric refusing to complete the transition was so well done. He refuses to unleash the Enhanced Evil!Alaric, and makes Jeremy and Elena accept it.
But with Esther’s spirit forcing Bonnie to come give blood to Alaric, Esther forces his hand and we’ll now have Enhanced Evil!Alaric on the prowl.
Other Mystic Falls Happenings
As much as I mock the dances, I love seeing everyone all dressed up, and I really enjoy ’20s style. Yay for dress-up!
Bonnie has a new dude. I enjoy this more than watching her deal with her family witchy stuff, but kept thinking it felt like filler. Not that I’m hating on kissing scenes.
Elena gets consoled, but Damon is left to sit with another friend while they die. They both deserve comfort, and again it’s so clear why Damon lashes out in relationships.
Favorite Quotes
Caroline: “It is Stefan’s turn.”
Stefan: “Given our dangerous dance karma, you sure you’re up for this?”
Stefan: “After everything I’ve put you through, I’m just honored to be your date tonight.”
Caroline to Tyler: “It doesn’t matter how many times I dance with him, I love you.”
Damon on Alaric’s refusal of his offer to snap his neck: “You’d just think a guy so used to dying wouldn’t want to drag it out.”
Damon to Alaric: “Sorry I killed you. Twice.”
Alaric replying to Damon: “So I have to actually die to get a real apology out of you.”
Bonnie: “A normal guy wouldn’t have said yes to a date with me.”
While Chelsea Mueller runs Vampire Book Club, she won’t turn down a sexy werewolf, demon or faerie. (Her husband often reminds her that she’s taken.) Bother her on Twitter - @ChelseaVBC — she likes it.
