The Vampire Diaries "Killer" Review - "You say it's complicated, but it's not."

Previously on The Vampire Diaries...

• Klaus and Rebekah told Stefan some family bedtime stories.
• Elena learned to "Snatch, Feed, Erase."
• Bonnie got hot for teacher.
• Damon & Elena got high,and dirty danced like it was 1999.
• Jeremy sketched a naked Connor's tattoo.
• Connor and the Professor are in cahoots.
• The Cure for Vampirism is the new Moonstone.

This week's episode was better than last week's, but that's to be expected. Last week was meant to set up next next several episode, and thus was filled with exposition. Much of which didn't make sense since we don't have all the facts. The Cure for Vampirism seems lame now, as did the Moonstone back in S2, but then we got a fabulous twist. As always, I'm sure the writers will have something just as awesome for us this season.

One of the wonderful things about season 4 has been watching all the characters get screen time, some development, and forging alliances we haven't really seen before. It's one of the things that make this season seem refreshing, and much like a reboot. 

"I apologize. Am I intruding?"

It's been a while since we've seen a jealous Caroline, and though I found it annoying, it was nice to see her be more well-rounded than she's been in a while. I love Caroline, but sometimes she just seems a little too perfect. The Caroline we saw this week was very much season 1 Caroline. The one I hated, but enjoyed getting a bit of a reminder. 

Just because I found Caroline annoying, doesn't mean I don't get where she's coming from. I, too, would have been pissed if a hottie was living at my boyfriend's. A hottie I had never heard of before, and who seemed a little too close to him for comfort. When the reveal came that Tyler hadn't been unfaithful I was happy. I love the idea of him and Hayley running an Underground Railroad for hybrids. I just hope the newly free hybrids are more powerful then the ones currently tethered to Klaus. Because let's be honest, this hybrid storyline has kind of been a bust. 

"Anybody gets in my way, they're dead."

I love Connor. It's a shame he had to die so early, but I also get why from a storytelling standpoint. Since Jeremy first learned he could see Connor's magical tattoo it was evident that Jeremy would/could wind up being the season's big bad. Or at least a serious complication. Now that Connor has gone to Slayer heaven, Jeremy is a member of the illustrious Five. Once Klaus discovers this fact, there won't be anything he won't do to use Jeremy for his purpose. Here's the flip side: What if Stefan and Jeremy climb aboard?

"If you're going to be like me you need to understand: vampires kill humans. Hunters kill vampires."

Of course both guys would do anything to save Elena from being vampire. Jeremy would do it solely to get his last surviving family member back the was she was, and to help alleviate all the guilt she will have from her first kill as a vampire.  Stefan will do it so he can get the girl he loves back. Though both men will have honorable intentions, I do believe this will be the straw that breaks the camel's back in the Stefan and Elena relationship. Despite Stefan being unable to deny Elena's attraction to his brother, it will be Elena's disappointment at learning her lover doesn't accept her unconditionally that will undoubtedly tear them apart.

In this episode we were reminded of what lengths Elena would go through to protect the people she loves. What the guys seem to have forgotten. I predict that Elena will not be happy with the idea of Jeremy killing vampires just so he can complete a treasure map on his body for Klaus to read. I believe Elena will be willing to sacrifice her own chance of regaining her mortality to ensure Jeremy never has to go through the guilt she feels from having killed Connor.

"No cell phones,or Internet during witch therapy."

While the Scoobies took on Connor, Bonnie was being distracted by Professor Shane. Right now she sees him as the man who took over her Grams teaching position, and has the answers of why her magic is gone. What she doesn't know is the professor has a plan, and Bonnie is just one of the pieces on his chessboard. What part she has to play, and what his overall plan is is still a mystery for now, but now that Connor is gone I'm sure we'll find out more. 

Though I found it alarming that Bonnie drank strange tea that "is better when it's smoked" from this guy she just met, and didn't bolt when she discovered he had removed a piece of her clothing without her knowing, I am hopeful that this will all lead to Bonnie taking a walk on the dark side. Klaus said that there should be 4 more of the Five walking about, but I wonder if Jeremy could be the only one left, and the professor wants to use Bonnie to recreate the original spell to create more. Something tells me if this is so, he may volunteer as a candidate. 

"No, Damon, I didn't tell him I got high like a crackhead, and dirty danced with you."

Stefan has been acting cagey ever since his deal with Klaus, and Damon believes it has to do with him and Elena getting freaky at the frat party the night before. When Elena confesses she never told Stefan about her indiscretion, Damon gleefully teases her about being in a shame spiral which she denies, or course. If Elena should be ashamed of anything, it's blaming Damon for her actions. Yes, she was high. But as someone who's been drunk before, I can honestly say everything I've done under the influence was something I wanted to do. It's time for Elena to put on her big girl panties, and own up to her actions. Crying whenever she does something "bad" is not how real women get out of jams. 

"If you can't count on him? You just vervained him!"

I was glad Elena didn't buy into Stefan's shenanigans, but hated when she backed down once he planted a wet one on her. Even though I prefer Delena, doesn't mean I hate Stelena, and so with that in mind I have to say I was disappointed she forgave Stefan so easily for going on a killing spree, and hurting her. Many of his unforgivable actions happened when he wasn't compelled by Klaus. Now that she's a vampire, they still aren't addressing these issues. It seems to me that this should be the thing they have difficulty overcoming in their relationship, not just Elena's transformation.

"You say it's complicated, but it's not."

Courtesy of Heart Killer

Besides character growth, "The Killer" also showed what happens when you keep secrets from the people you love. Unnecessary ones at that. If Stefan had just followed his instincts, and told Damon about the cure, his brother could have helped him keep Elena in check. Hell, Stefan could have told everyone, and Elena would not have killed Connor at all.  Even though Elena is clueless to Connor's importance, what she says still rings true. Elena trust Stefan, and once again he proved untrustworthy. Yes it was for a good reason, but this is just one more time that either Stefan or Elena has keep a secret from the other. The funny thing is: Elena is keeping secrets of her own.

"Do you want a cure because she's a vampire, and not cut out to be? Or do you want a cure because she is one?"
"I'll always love here, but she's not cut out to be this person. I don't want her to be."
"Well, if I'm going to to ride this fairy tale to its conclusion, I want to be clear about one thing: I'm fine with her either way, brother. So if I do this, I'm doing it for you."

I always love anything that happens with the Salvatore brothers. Doesn't matter if they're fighting, or teaming up. Even since season 2 I have said that Damon is the one who loves Elena unconditionally. I do believe Stefan loves her, don't get me wrong, but he's in so much denial over what went down with Katherine, that I don't think he can love Elena completely. In this episode, he all but admitted that. 

Courtesy of Gypsy Heart Love

What Stefan loves about Elena is her humanity. I think he's afraid that being a vampire will mean she will become like Katherine. He may be right. Stefan keeps saying he never loved Katherine, but it's a lie. Ans what's worse, everyone knows it but him. Why else would he get involved with a woman who looks just like her? In my opinion, Elena represents the woman Stefan thought Katherine was when they first met. Before he learned the ugly truth. Now that Elena is a vampire, the woman he fell in love with is disappearing right before his eyes. 

Damon, on the other hand, always loved Katherine. He loved the innocent, naive girl she pretended to be, and the vicious vampire she truly was. When Damon first met Elena she was much like the innocent girl Katherine pretended to be, but over time Damon has seen Elena's fiestiness. He fell in love with her without any preconceived notions about her. Finding out she was Katherine's doppelganger was like a confirmation that Katherine was once like the girl she masqueraded as upon her arrival in Mystic Falls. Before Klaus and his temper changed her. 

Out of all this, what I loved the most was how Stefan felt comfortable enough with his brother to admit his true feelings, and that Damon didn't condemn him for them. Even when Damon admitted his own, Stefan didn't get jealous. These men have accepted that they will always be attracted to the same women, and have decided that no matter what, they're relationship will stand the test of time. Neither Katherine, Rebekah, or Elena will tear them apart. Do I think Stefan will be ok with Damon and Elena getting involved? Hell no! But I do think his love for the both of them will will allow him to step aside and let them be happy. Besides, I think he knows that Damon is just as damaged as him, and neither of them are cut out for being in a lasting relationship with anyone. In the end, the only relationship wither of them will have is the one they've forged with each other. Or else they wouldn't be tragic heroes.