The Vampire Diaries 2.03 “Bad Moon Rising” Recap

We got another dose of mythology tonight on The Vampire Diaries for both the vampire and werewolf camp. Caroline made a shocking mistake and Damon might want to work on getting heart protection gear to avoid getting his ticker trampled on a repeated basis.

The Salvatore Brothers and Elena call upon Alaric to see if he knows anything about what’s up with the Lockwoods. They want access to Isobel’s research on Mystic Falls’ supernatural happenings. Alaric mentions that Isobel was also writing on werewolves, which Damon balks at. He says that in his existence as a vampire he has never came across a werewolf. I call bullsh*t. The foursome decides to visit Isobel’s old office at the university where she was a professor. I wonder why don’t they ask Bonnie if Grams has anything on werewolves as well? Oh… right.

Meanwhile, Tyler trails Mason into the woods and watches his uncle enter and leave a dilapidated cellar. After Mason leaves, Tyler enters the cavern and discovers a cage, chains and scratch marks on the walls. Take pictures, Tyler, so you can figure out how to decorate your new home away from home.

Getting Schooled…

Elena frets about going to Duke with Damon and without Stefan, who volunteered to stay behind and help Caroline. Alaric catches up with Jenna, but when he tries to apologize for being absent, she tells him not to.

Damon tries to get under Elena and Alaric’s skin, but mostly Elena’s, who is still on her “anti-Damon” schtick. He mentions that he knew Jeremy was wearing the ring when he snapped the kid’s neck. Elena thinks he’s lying, but Damon smugly insists that he’s being honest. Not buying this one bit, people.

When the trio reaches the school, they are met with Vanessa, who served as Isobel’s TA. After leading the group into Isobel’s office, she attacks Elena with a crossbow, which Damon blocks in the nick of time while Alaric subdues the woman.

Vanessa reveals that she thought Elena was Katherine and thought Damon Salvatore was dead. Despite apologies, Damon leers about itching to kill her, which prompts Elena to give Vanessa some vervain, just in case.

As the group starts looking for info on the Lockwoods, Vanessa gives Elena Isobel’s research on Katherine. It’s not much, but Damon claims to know something.

Now for the mythology dump. According to legend, Aztecs used to be terrorized by vampires and werewolves on a regular basis, which prompted an Aztec shaman to make Vamps slaves to the sun and werewolves slave to the moon. In other words, this is the genesis of the vampires and werewolves as we know them, The Vampire Diaries style. The werewolves are known to attack humans, but are “hard-wired” to track prey of their own, and they prefer vampires instead, which is why vampires hunted and killed werewolves to almost extinction. And the piece de resistance? A werewolf’s bite is lethal to vampires. Dun, dun, DUN!!!

After Elena calls Stefan to warn him of the werewolf threat, she asks Vanessa what’s the deal on doppelgangers. The TA explains that doppelgangers basically try to destroy the lives of those who look like them. Seems like Katherine is living up to her expectations it seems, eh? Damon plays coy about knowing more info on Kat, but won’t tell Elena since they’re not “friends.” Elena shoots back that friends don’t manipulate friends, they help each other instead.

As the group leaves, Alaric reveals to Vanessa what really happened to Isobel and realizes that the trip pretty much acted as therapeutic closure for him. Meanwhile, Damon makes another move on Elena, revealing that he found a book about Katherine under the vampires real last name Petrova. He then asks Elena if he has lost her forever in terms of friendship, which he says would really suck. She doesn’t answer him.

When they return home, Alaric plants a nice kiss on Jenna claiming that he should’ve done it earlier. Outside, Damon comes clean about not knowing Jeremy was wearing the ring. After this revelation, Elena answers Damon’s question about their friendship and, yep, he has lost her. Damon realizes that Elena knew that he was lying from gate, but manipulated him to get info on Katherine. In disgust, Damon tells Elena that she and Katherine are more alike than he thought. Ouch!

Caroline’s Story

Getting fed up that she can’t be with Matt, Caroline turns into a raging brat. Stefan calls upon Bonnie to make a magic ring like his and Damon’s so Caroline can be around those she loves in an effort to maintain her humanity. Bonnie whines about this, but ends up doing it anyway.

Stefan takes Caroline hunting in the woods, where more vampire lore is dropped on us. The most common character trait of a human is amplified when they become vampires, which was Stefan’s way of telling Caroline that she’s acting like an ubër whiny at the moment. Caroline wants to go hang out with Matt at Tyler’s swimhole party, which Stefan promises her they will attend.

When they get there, Caroline spots a girl named Amy hitting on Matt and compels the girl away. Matt is fed up with Caroline’s jealousy issues and the two have a spat. Stefan also is not fond of Caroline using her powers for personal gain, and tells her to cool it. After thinking about it Caroline and Matt make up, but Matt declares no more drama. After the party is busted up, Matt and Caroline find a spot in the woods to be alone, which is where Caroline loses her cool, vamps out, and feeds on Matt! Oh no!

In perfect timing, Stefan appears, pulling Caroline of Matt. But they got bigger problems to worry about…

Bad Moon Rising…

Tyler asks his mother about the cellar in the middle of the forest, which Mrs. Lockwood reveals is part of the old Lockwood estate. When probed further about what was it used for, Mrs. Lockwood says slaves, which she doesn’t want to discuss. I think she really thinks that’s what it was used for, because if she knew about the curse, then she would’ve been prepared for Mayor Lockwood to collapse during Founder’s Days. Anyway, Mason overhears this and ducks out.

At the swimhole party, Mason arrives to tell Tyler to make sure everyone is cleared out by night fall and take the party elsewhere. Later that day, Mason preps for the change in the cellar by setting up chains, ropes, and other items. He begins to change, but Tyler decides to “bring the party” there with a still compelled Amy. Mason escapes before Tyler and Amy discover him and makes it back to his truck, where he changes.

As Stefan looks for Caroline and Matt, he comes across Mason’s truck where Mason as a wolf leaps out at him and runs into the forest. Stefan finds Caroline after she has attacked Matt, telling her to run because the werewolf is on their trail, which could lead it from Matt. The two run to the entrance of the cellar, where they bump into Tyler. As Tyler asks what is going on, Mason the wolf attacks Caroline, knocking her over. Stefan gets the wolf off Caroline, but its about to attack again… until Tyler tells it to stop. The wolf hesitates before running away. And boy, TVD’s werewolves are FAST!

The next morning, Tyler finds Mason’s truck and the damage done to it. Mason appears nonchalant to Tyler, revealing that he was in fact the wolf from last night. Brilliance.

In Conclusion

Caroline compels Matt to forget what happened. She laments about hurting the one person she cares about, which Stefan bonds with her on about Elena. Later that night, Caroline sees Amy still trying to hit on Matt and she chases the girl away. This turns off Matt, who calls it quits. Caroline is crushed.

The next morning, Caroline awakes to a visitor. It’s Katherine, who comments on the plans she has for her and Caroline. Do tell, Ms. Pierce!

So do you guys buy the new mythology? Or would you rather the wolves go into extinction once and for all?