The title of this episode of The Vampire Diaries is not a spoiler as such, but it does give a clue as to what occurred in this excellent outing. There are different types of dead on this show so it is easy for this title to be a misdirect, and the entire episode felt a bit like a chess game between the Salvatore’s and Klaus (Joseph Morgan), with Elijah (Daniel Gillies) feeling like an unknown entity in the game. It was another week where family played a very significant role in all of the plot threads and as I have said before (and will no doubt say again) the real heart of the show is not the love triangle, but it is about family ties and the unbreakable bond that this brings.
Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) now seem to be able to work together in an effective manner even if the snarky comments are still there to some degree. Their relationship has always been one of the most interesting to me, especially when they can’t quite figure out the others motives. You would think by now that they would realize that they will each save the other no matter what the other has done and Damon rocked up and rescued his brother from Klaus’ fun fire game.
The question of Elena (Nina Dobrev) is obviously a giant wedge between them and Stefan shows his unease at the mention of her name from Elijah, who is unaware of what has gone down since his time in the coffin. Klaus of course finds this whole situation hilarious. The dinner party scene between the brothers reinforced the idea that this isn’t the first time a Petrova woman has got between brothers and we learn the origin of the doppelganger. That such a monumental part of the story should be dropped in as a dinner anecdote is kind of brilliant and we find out that the original Petrova was a woman named Tatia, who Elijah and Klaus knew before they were turned. In fact their mother used Tatia’s blood in the spell to turn them which seems like a big pile of twisted really, but explains the attraction and importance of the doppelganger. This cycle is obviously being repeated with the Salvatore’s and they both admit that they love Elena; where can things go from here?
The dinner party is wonderfully set up as it feels as if Klaus has the advantage as he is in his newly renovated home, but there is also the air of uncertainty as we know that there is another plan occurring with the mysterious locked coffin. Damon is wise to trust Elijah as despite the brother bond, Klaus really played him last time. When Damon and Elijah went out for air they seemed to be gone for a little too long, but I wasn’t expecting the entire family Original to be joining us at the end. This reveal was pretty darn fabulous; from Kol (Nathaniel Buzolic) and Finn (Casper Zafer) who we haven’t previously met, sporting the hair and clothes from the time Klaus daggered them, to the always wonderful Rebekah (Claire Holt) still looking ready for her first school dance in the red dress. Seeing Klaus vulnerable is always fun and as they rounded on him like a pack of animals he certainly looked this way, even if he can’t be killed they can still inflict some pain.
Klaus looked truly small when the last of the dead joined them, after the mystery coffin had been unlocked by Bonnie (Kat Graham) and her mother Abby (Persia White). So mother Original has returned and she doesn’t want to kill her son for his act of matricide, but she wants to forgive and to be a family again, simple right? Esther (Alice Evans) clearly will go to any lengths to save her family and to stop them from feuding with each other, so how will she take the threat of the Salvatore’s and Elena? This has opened up a world of possibilities between the two opposing groups and it seems unlikely that all be cordial for long.
The big mystery at the moment is who is killing Founder’s Council members? The weapons that are being used in these murders are from the Gilbert lake house collection, which Alaric (Matt Davis) has scattered all over town (for those emergency weapon moments). Only one of the attacks ended in murder straight away as Bill (Jack Coleman) has vampire blood in his system and Alaric isn’t killed outright (lucky that). Elena gets the delightful job of finishing the act as she is a supernatural being and Alaric’s ring brings him back to life. This scene in the darkened Gilbert house with bloody hand prints all over the walls, and with Elena and Matt (Zach Roerig) armed with torches and knives (Gilbert knives double as weapons as well as cooking instruments) was especially creepy and had a suitable horror movie vibe to it. Meredith (Torrey Devitto) is considered the main suspect but she has an iron clad alibi for Alaric’s attack as she was in surgery. Who do you think it could be?
Now to the point of the episode that brought the tears and Candice Accola is to blame for this because she is so devastatingly good. Bill Forbes was lucky enough to have vampire blood in his system when he was murdered, however thanks to his whole belief system he refuses to complete the transition and become a vampire. The moment when Caroline realizes that her father is going to die is a heartbreaking one, but it is when he convinces her that he still loves her despite his feelings towards vampires is what slayed me. Terrific performances from all involved.
Other observations
-Does Rebekah want to kill Elena simply to stop the bloodline or is this tainted with vengeance thanks to a daggering incident?
-Being a parent in Mystic Falls isn’t easy what with the high death rate, is Abby Bennett next? Bonnie is still (and rightfully so) mad at her mother for abandoning her as an infant, but this spells forgiveness followed by a heroic death by Abby.
-Considering how much Elena has been through it is a surprise as to how nonchalant she is by the lack of electricity in her house.
-Crazy murder theory: could it be Alaric? Sounds insane right?! But hear me out; he knows where all the weapons are and he was the only one attacked that wasn’t killed outright. The big flaw is that I can’t think of a motive for why he would do this.
-How many times has Alaric been killed now?
-Klaus suggests that Matt would be the perfect romantic choice for Elena (Damon does not agree) and it seems like they are bringing Matt and Elena closer together with events in the last few episodes. He is a comfort to her during the Alaric attack and he has been the voice of reason recently. Klaus of course wants the Petrova bloodline to continue so he really has a strong motive for wanting Elena to be in a relationship with another human.
-Will we get to see Nina Dobrev as Tatia in flashbacks? Also who is the original Petrova baby daddy?
-It’s really rather sweet that Elena wants Alaric to have a relationship that isn’t tainted with any of the supernatural bad events in the town.
The Vampire Diaries still manages to surprise with each episode and the big Original family reunion at the end was both a surprise and now also opens up a range of possibilities for the show. The murder mystery is also intriguing; will we see Elena et al turning into CSI: Mystic Falls? Is the Elena/Damon/Stefan dynamic going to shift after the events of tonight? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Next week; it’s fancy ball time. For promo photos and video head here and here.
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