IHTVD RECAP + Link: "The Last Day" by Danielle DuCré

Previously on The Vampire Diaries...catch up here.

The. Stakes. Are. Raised. So many new theories and the players are invested in the game. Oh where, oh where do I start?!

"If he breaks it, he will be a true hybrid."

At the EGBH, Elijah explains to Elena and Stefan that the final act of the ritual is draining the blood of the doppelgänger- 'til death. But, he has a remedy for that. A 500 year old elixir that was initially intended for Katherine. Damon, making an entrance, opposes the elixir proposal. I mean, 500 years? Either it's grown mold or that's a really long shelf life!

He still believes Bonnie is the best bet. "I'll write her a great eulogy." But Elena won't allow it. Looking to Stefan, he receives no assistance. Stefan's made his vow to allow Elena to act of her own free will. Therefore, if she's going to trust Elijah, he has to accept that. His reasoning is that of all people to put his faith in, he'll put it in the person who put her faith in him first. Damon's finds this logic idiotic. "I'm surrounded by idiots, I need all the help I can get."

"Jenna, put the crossbow down!"

There truly is a trust between Elijah and Elena. "There's a possibility this elixir won't work; I don't want to mislead you." Last week, the flashback scenes showed Elijah having some sort of admiration for Katherine. I'm eager to learn more of that, especially since he's built such an understanding with Elena, now. So, is it possible for Bonnie to do a spell check to see if the mixture is still potent? What exactly is this concoction, and will it give Elena magic blood like her book character?

Theories, theories. We'll just have to wait and see.

Besides, Alaric's about to get shot. By Jenna. He proves himself to be...himself...by recalling a Chunky Monkey experience with Jenna which gains awkward looks from everyone. Obviously the previews following last week's episode prevented Alaric's life status from being too much of a cliffhanger. But I'm glad he's back. Though, not too sure he's glad to have been saved to deliver such a devastating message: "The sacrifice happens tonight."

Shocked that Klaus just let Alaric go, he gives them an explanation and learns the havoc that occurred the past 3 days.

"It's my life, Damon. My choice."

Damon's absent from the party so Elena goes upstairs to find him. She needs him to understand her motives. "I can't lose you." Within 2.5 seconds he's acting on his solution- forcing Elena to drink his blood. Stefan arrives to throw him off, but it's too late. It's in her system. "How could you of all people take that choice away from her?" A serious brawl breaks out and ends with a wooden table leg in Stefan's abdomen. Alaric directs Jenna to bring a blood bag for Stefan. (She's diving into this supernatural business head first!) He'll recover, but will Elena? According to Elijah, eternity is a long time to wait for forgiveness. "She'll never forgive you."

"Please, Tyler, come home."

Maddox is compelling Ms. Lockwood to draw her son out of hiding. From her house phone she leaves him a message saying that she's had a terrible accident and is in the hospital. In order to make good on her word, Maddox charms her off the second floor balcony.

Across town, Caroline finds Matt at...The Grill.
They make plans to meet in one hour during his lunch break. As soon as Caroline leaves, he joins Sheriff Forbes at a table. How long has she been sitting there? Not long enough to upset the Mystic Falls taxpayers apparently. "I'm putting on the best show of my life, either she is too, or she is still the same Caroline." Matt is smart! No matter how confusing all of this is, he's still not able to take the supernatural at face value. But, he does suggest one thing, and that is to go after Damon. Sheriff Forbes realizes that she can't involve Matt any longer and dismisses him from his undercover duties.

Being the sweet girl that she is, Caroline decides to visit Ms. Lockwood in the hospital while she waits. As she approaches, Tyler and Jules are leaving. Jules leaves them to exchange salutations. "I left for a reason, Caroline." Tyler didn't explain why he left in the first place, and doesn't want to explain now. He turns to leave but Caroline, unsatisfied, follows him. Unfortunately, Klaus's muscle take them down. Maddox holds an aneurysm spell over them while Greta vervains Caroline.

"I screwed up."

Back at The Grill, Matt is leaving a message for Caroline who is late for their date. He stresses that they need to talk. As serious as his voice is, he's probably ready to tell her about the research he's been doing for her mom. He ends the call abruptly as he sees Damon walk in and sit at the bar.

Alaric joins him. These brothers have the blues, and a nice British accent inquiries as to why. Klaus. After thanking Alaric for the rental, he leaves with a warning for the man who fancies his doppelgänger. "If you want to live to see tomorrow, don't screw it up."

If Alaric didn't know any better, Damon's about to screw it up. Again. The wheels are turning as he tries to find a reason for Elena not to hate him, say by taking Klaus's werewolf out of the equation. "I think it won't matter because you'll be dead." Alaric is so go-with-the-flow that he agrees to help. This is gonna be badass.

First stop, Alaric's. After an invite, Damon's jaunty step takes him right into Katherine's prison. He's come to collect information on the whereabouts of Klaus's werewolf, and learns that it's Caroline and Tyler who are to be sacrificed. Katherine warns him about the horror that Klaus will inflict on his life- like he did hers many moons ago- and he warns her that she'll be competing with Elena for Stefan's affection for eternity. Answer: Tomb.

At this point, Damon's plan is to delay the ritual, but the moon's light is approaching.

"I don't want to be a vampire, Stefan. I never wanted to be one."

Elena woke up thinking that it may be her last day of living, by noon she learned that she'd live forever. They've never talked about the possibility of eternal life, and Stefan wants to reassure her that although it's inevitable now, she can still express her concerns. "I just want you to know that it's OK to tell me." They spend the day hiking, talking about the pros and cons of vampiric living. Elena's still not ready to talk about it. She doesn't want to hurt Stefan with the words that express her true feelings. They climb.

Beautiful scenery stretches out before them. First a waterfall, then a view from the top of the mountain. Stefan knows that the sun will set soon, and that this is her opportunity to let go. Telling her that if it were up to him, he'd want to be with her forever. Elena's puzzled; he's never mentioned this before. "Because if I knew it was an option you would've." Wow. I wonder how deeply this bothered him. Has Stefan been looking at their relationship with an expiration date, or just patience and hope?

As he tells her that Damon's actions were out of love, I'm not sure if she realizes the significance of him being in love with her. The only time Damon sincerely expressed it, he compelled her to forget. She does, however, recognize that she’s only 17 which can play a major part in her lax acceptance. Elena knows the future is inevitable and doesn’t want to hurt Stefan with her feelings of despair, but the emotions climaxed with the climb. The hurt over not being able to make choices in her life, from children to growing old, flood out of her in speech and tears. Stefan, supporting her throughout.

“Tell me what you’ve been doing.”

Klaus returns to find Katherine pouring a cup of brew. His super Original senses are triggered and he compels Katherine to fess up. The vervain saves her from reporting Damon’s visit. Still, just to be sure, he tells her to remove her charmed bracelet and stand in the sunlight from the window. Sizzle now, live tomorrow. Finally satisfied, Klaus gives her a task.

Underground, in the tomb, Caroline and Tyler sit chained. “Tyler, you shouldn’t have come back here.” She explains the situation of the curse, Klaus, and their impending doom. No better time than the present to resume their conversation outside of the hospital. “Why did you leave me?” Tyler clarifies his reason for leaving and what he’s been learning from Jules.

Above ground, Damon has arrived to save the day. However, every hero has their challenge and this time it’s Maddox. Lucky for Damon, someone just shot Maddox in the back. MATT!! Lucky for Matt, his reward is an upgrade from death- being knocked unconscious. No good deed goes unpunished.

By the time Damon frees both Caroline and Tyler per her protest “Don’t make me forget this,” the sun has gone down. (I guess gradual transition was left on the floor of the editing room.) As they make their way out of the woods, Damon receives a phone call. “Saving the day, figured you’d understand.” It’s Stefan, terrified and nervous.

“Close your eyes.”

When Stefan and Elena arrived home, Klaus was there to collect his doppelgänger. Stefan stands in front of her in protest. One threat from Klaus and Elena steps into motion. “There’s no reason for you to get hurt.” Kisses and I love you’s are shared, then Stefan closes his eyes on his worst nightmare.

Upon learning that Klaus has Elena, Damon is ready to go all out. One problem. So is Tyler. Caroline is trying to comfort him, while Matt stands shocked and confused. His transition is happening fast and he lunges at Caroline. Damon tackles him midair, getting bit in the struggle. Now, Tyler, he told you not to make him regret letting you go!

Damon insists he’s fine and orders Caroline and Matt to go lock themselves in the Lockwood cellar. He leaves, and Tyler fully transitions into a wolf. Tracking his friends down, will the locked chain hold him out? If it does, Matt and Caroline are going to have a night of serious conversation…

“It was all me.”

Surprising Klaus at his headquarters, Damon confesses to all his actions, sans giving Elena blood. With his confidence, he is trying to save his brother and friends from being harmed. Although bothered, Klaus doesn’t seem worried. He shares with Damon the importance of a backup plan: Greta, witch; Jules, werewolf; and Damon, vampire. Then, tackles Damon unconscious.

When Damon finally comes to, with the help of Katherine, he learns his werewolf bite garnered him useless to Klaus. So, why keep Damon alive? Perhaps allowing him to suffer is his punishment for crossing Klaus. Problem for tomorrow because Katherine reveals there’s another player involved. “He made me call her to lure her out.”

Who?

Greta is dragging Elena to the ritual grounds. Small talk or Elena’s thoughtful nature forces her to share with Greta that her family was looking for her. I never had much compassion for the Martin warlocks, but the fact that Greta doesn’t even care that they died puts her on a whole other level. “I wasn’t lost.”

Elena has some sort of confidence. She never said goodbye to her loved ones in case the ritual, or transition, went awry. But she’s not alone now as she realizes Jenna lay immobile on the ground in front of her. According to Greta she’s in transition. Into?

A vampire.



For the sake of the show, we know that if the ritual happens, Elena will become a vampire. But will she choose it, or will it be forced on her- and by who? Is Uncle John on vacation? Will Matt and Caroline come to an accord and help their friends stop the sacrifice? Will Damon survive long enough for Elena to forgive him? Will Jenna complete the transition? Share your OMG moments and theories below, then find me, Danielle DuCré on Twitter @msdanielley, we can discuss Diaries in 140 characters or less...

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Directed by: J. Miller Tobin
Written by: Andrew Chambliss and Brian Young
Photos: CW