Things continue to move right along on “The Vampire Diaries” as Matt learns the truth about Caroline and Jenna gets a little deeper into the secrets that have been unspooling around her. Actually, this season is opening the eyes of a lot of previously unaware characters, which doesn’t bode well for their chances of future survival.
Matt’s reaction to Caroline’s vampy nature was crushing. There was every reason to expect that he would reject her as a creature of darkness (regardless of how ridiculously sexy she can be), but I never thought he would make the connection to Vicki’s death all the way back in the first season. (I mean, at this point, I didn’t even remember Vicki!) Caroline’s decision to compel him delays what appears to be the inevitable.
Jenna, on the other hand, pushes Alaric for answers, and he does everything possible to dance around the truth. And sure enough, it comes back to bite him the in the end. Isobel’s return is a nice little twist, and it’s always good to see Mia Kirschner on my television screen. That said, it definitely means that the overall situation in Mystic Falls just got that much more complicated and convoluted.
It wouldn’t be an episode of “The Vampire Dairies” without an addition to the body count, and things went badly for Jonas and Luka this time around. I figured someone would make a play to revive Elijah sooner or later, but they really should have taken Stefan’s offer and played for the anti-Klaus team instead. If you’re not going to be part of the solution, you’re not going to last on this show! But it should be noted that Elijah’s body is still technically intact, and so a return is not out of the question.
Having Katherine back in the mix was definitely a lot of fun, especially when it became harder and harder to figure out when she was posing as Elena. Damon’s drudging duty as researcher was mitigated by his interactions with Katherine, and I have to give him credit for not giving in to the obvious temptation of a slinky Katherine crawling into his bed. She’s made it more than clear that she (somehow) prefers Stefan, so it’s good to see him exercise some self-respect.
There’s often a balance of light and dark on this show, and Caroline’s little performance was just the right touch. I love the fact that she had to compel the band, which is a twisted detail given her intentions. And I suppose that the moments between Bonnie and Jeremy served their purpose, though I’m still not sold on them as a couple.
“The Vampire Dairies” is now on hiatus, with an extended break before coming back for the final leg of the season. There is some mild concern about the ratings, but the competition from “American Idol” is fierce and had to be taken into account at the network. Also, the network has been citing “The Vampire Dairies” when considering new pilots as potential companion pieces. I don’t think fans of the show have any reason to think we won’t be seeing more of the antics in Mystic Falls for a third season.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
