"When Stefan says blink..." - The Vampire Diaries Episode 3x11 Recap

Previously on The Vampire Diaries...

• Stefan and Bonnie play Hide the Original.
• Tyler drank the Kool-Aid.
• Jeremy became Van Helsing.
• Alaric died (again).
• Meredith arrived in The Falls.
• Rebekah woke up, then died 2 seconds later. Klaus cried.
• Damon kissed Elena.

"I didn't get any sleep last night."

Courtesy of Oh Warrior Princess

Open with soap, naked Damon and Elena Warrior Princess montage. Both of them handle "The Kiss" in different ways. Damon by using his array of bath products. Elena by going all Rambo on punching bag. 

Damon wasn't very good at hiding his happiness from a lurking Stefan. Alaric also picked up that Elena was in a mood. It didn't help she was inquiring about whether Alaric and Damon had talked that morning, and then being shifty about it. 

"The Hybrids are really bringing the neighborhood down."

Courtesy of Insolent Gilbert

While Bonnie attempts to open the mysterious 4th coffin, she feels a presence in the haunted, creepy witch house.  Go figure! Meanwhile, Stefan and Damon take out one of Klaus' lurking hybrids. After Bonnie heads to school, the boys do a little math. 1 dead brother + Klaus + Rebekah + Elijah = ...

At school Elena decorates Caroline's locker for her birthday, and filling Bon Bon in on Jer's departure. Bonnie was not pleased to say the least. When she was telling him good-bye, I thought she was about to squeal about his compulsion. 

"Friends don't strip friends of their free will."

Courtesy of Stefan & Klaus

Fearing the hybrids will discover where he has hidden the coffins, Stefan decides to rid the town of the unsightly pests. First, he pays Klaus a visit.

When Klaus refuses to comply with Stefan's threats (I'll drop your family in the ocean if you don't rid town of hybrids), Stefan demonstrates how far he's willing to go.

YES! YES! YES! I LOVE YOU STEFAN!!

Have I said Stefan Salvatore is a bad-ass yet? Beheading Mindy brings Elijah tears to my eyes. *sniffle*

After Stef leaves, Klaus asks (orders) Tyler to bite Caroline. He refuses. Is Ty fighting back?

The Falls, S'mores, Campfire, and Tequila

Courtesy of To Break This Spell

Matt, Bonnie and Elena surprise Caroline for her birthday, but she isn't in the mood to party after talking to Ty about breaking up. So the gang moves party to the Fell

Mausoleum.

It was nice to see them spending time together and bonding. They told Caroline to put to rest her human self, and go forward as who she is now. Unfortunately, the more the drank, the more things fell apart. 

• Caroline drunk texted Ty, who showed up, made out with her, and bit her. So much for free will. 
• Bonnie got on Elena's case for trying to control everyone, and stormed off. 
• Matt is alright with Forwood if Caroline is happy. All he wants is for his friends to find happiness in the horror show they call lives. 
• Elena admits she was wrong to have Jeremy compelled, but she can't deal with losing anyone else.

"I have a small list."

Courtesy of White Delias

Damon and Alaric attend a fundraiser at the Lockwood mansion. Don't know what the fundraiser is for.  Should I care? Doubtful. Any way, Alaric flirts with Meredith, and even saves her from her ex who happens to be the town medical examiner. Klaus butters up the Mayor much to Damon's surprise. Stefan goes kamikaze. 

I'm not sure if I get Klaus and the Mayor's deal, but here's what I think it is:

• Klaus will protect MF and Ty if Damon gets Stefan to give back the coffins.
• If Damon doesn't help get the coffins back, the Council will hunt Stefan.
• The Mayor knows Klaus turned her kid into a hybrid.
• Klaus will match the total contributions made at the fundraiser.

Luckily, Stefan showed up to kill more hybrids, so Damon was able to tell him the new deal. Stefan didn't care, and decided to be a better villain. He did this by crashing Care's b-day celebration, smashing Matt against the tomb, and kidnapping Elena.

Courtesy of TVD Art

Stefan figures that without the Blood Bag, Klaus can't make hybrids. Elena is Klaus' weak spot. He proves this by forcing her to drink his blood, and threatening Klaus to drive off Wickory Bridge, and turning her into a vamp. Klaus relents. Elena is saved, but mega-pissed! 

She's heart-broken that Stefan is doing all of this for revenge, and angry he thinks he's already lost everything. When she tells him that he had her, he tells her that he lost her the minute he left town. I could almost hear him say he knows she has feeling for his brother, but he didn't. 

After Stefan ditches Elena on the bridge, Damon picks her up and brings her home. They discuss why they shouldn't kiss, and why they should be together. I like how grown-up Damon is behaving. It won't last. 

"There's a whole world out there waiting for you."

Courtesy of Montague

Matt brings Caroline home to her mom, and they try to make her comfortable. Klaus later arrives to check on Caroline and save her, but only if Liz agrees to have his back. She invites him in. Caroline is frightened at first, but Klaus is pretty gentle and kind to her. He offers Caroline his blood, and she eventually accepts. 

This scene was so hot! After it was over, I could only think two things: 

• They make a cute couple. 
• Caroline is the only person (besides) Stefan that Klaus has ever seemed interested in.

The episode ends with Caroline waking up to a diamond bracelet Klaus left her for her birthday. Elena and Matt say good-bye to the old Elena. Liz and Damon investigate the murder of Ben, the medical Examiner. Looks like someone is trying to disguise a regular murder as a vamp killing. 

Questions, Comments, Wonderings..

• Elena: "I didn't get any sleep last night." Alaric: "Yeah, me either. Must be from dying."
• Elena: "Did you talk to Damon today?" Alaric: "Why?" Elena: "No reason."
• Damon: "Those hybrids are bringing the neighborhood down."
• Damn, Klaus has a sweet pad!
• Stefan: "Friends don't strip friends of their free will." Klaus: "Yeah, that was a little extreme."
• Alaric: "So you suddenly cares who lives or dies?" Damon: "I have a small list."
• Love friend bonding!
• Tyler: "Sorry, I didn't mean to crash the party." Matt: "Then don't!"
• Did Ty accidentally bite Caroline, or was that part of his sire bond request?
• Damon: "He's my brother. I know him better than anyone, and I have no clue what he is going to do. If he says blink, I say blink."
• Elena: "It's not right." Damon: "It is right. Just not right now."
• Was I the only one who thought Elena seemed a little disappointed that Damon didn't try to argue with her about not kissing again?
• Don't Klaus and Caroline look great together?
• I believe Meredith killed Ben. What were they arguing about anyway?
• Does Meredith think Alaric is supernatural? 
• Are her intentions bad?

Next week...

Bonnie and Elena take a road trip to find Bon's mom Abby. Ty gets chained up by Bill Forbes. Other wackiness ensues. Tune in next Thursday for "The Ties That Bind."

Source: Mil2aCle

"When Stefan says blink..." - The Vampire Diaries Episode 3x11 Recap