The hospital isn’t the funnest place to start an episode of The Vampire Diaries, but our favorite Mystic Falls characters seem to be ending up there all to often these days. The crew is pulling together after recent events have everyone up in arms. The mysterious murders that don’t seem to be targeted at vampires as much as at the people that hate them give more than enough reason to stay on your toes. To make matters worse, someone is clearly following Elena (Nina Dobrev).
With everything going on, it dumbfounds me that Matt (Zach Roerig) leaves Elena to head home to an empty house solo. Have we learned nothing from leaving Elena alone in the past to not see something ominous coming? And, there it is. As Elena pulls out of her parking spot at the hospital she hits something and that something mysteriously disappears. Too bad it’s Rebekah (Claire Holt) waiting around the corner and things are not looking up for our damsel in distress.
At least one original is on Elena’s side. Elijah (Daniel Gillies) arrives in the nick of time. Elena doesn’t look as pissed off as we might have imagined after he, oh, left her for dead when he screwed everyone over at the sacrifice. Elijah has enough decency to fill Elena in on who the mystery fourth coffin was for.
The sight of Elena with both brothers brings back some nostalgia. The meeting of minds is interrupted by the doorbell which reveals an invitation. To a ball! Elena has been cordially invited to a ball thrown by the original family. It’s even been personalized with a note from Esther (Alice Evans), the original witch.
Speaking of the original witch, she seems more eager to forgive and forget than most of the family. She even tries to convince Klaus (Joseph Morgan) to bring a date to the ball, garaunteeing a “magical evening” for all.
The Salvatore Brothers almost made is through a conversation before they started with the squabbling. One step forward, two steps back seems to be the pattern. Especially when it comes to deciding who will accompany Elena to the ball. Stefan (Paul Wesley) steps up first, but Damon (Ian Somerhalder) uses his sound reasoning to secure himself the position – and when that doesn’t work, he steals it.
Tyler (Michael Trevino) finally calls Caroline (Candice Accola) to pay his respect. He’s convinced that he can “fix himself” and return home to her. Maybe love will win out afterall. A doorbell brings her out of that fantasy. She is even luckier than Elena, her invitation has come with its own dress! Another present from Klaus. Whatever it is that has attracted Klaus to Caroline makes him human in a way that is kind of cute.
Elena looks for another date for the ball, but explaining the lack of Damon from the equation doesn’t go well. Caroline heard the news of the kiss from Bonnie and she is understandably bruised. Too bad neither girl has enough time to get into it, when Rebekah walks in and solicits Matt with an invitation of his very own.
Everyone is dressed to the nines, and Damon almost loses his mind when Elena walks into the room in her amazing gown. The first person to greet her? Stefan! The brothers didn’t need invitations, apparently when it comes to Elena’s safety – nowhere is out of the question. Seeing her take both of there arms and float into the room sends the goosebumps.
Caroline’s arrival isn’t any less of an event. She looks absolutely stunning in her gown compliments of Klaus. That guy has good taste, but then again he’s had quite a bit of time to develop it. He is obviously taken with her as he wastes no time approaching her. She on the other hand isn’t sold.
Damon and Elena take the dance floor while Stefan broods. He takes matters into his own hands and makes his move on Elena. The tension in the room is unmistakable. Matt, Damon, Stefan, Klaus, Elena, Caroline, Rebekah – oh so much sexiness all under the same roof. Elena leads Stefan outside and makes her case for being left alone to see what Esther wants from her. The plan involves temporarily taking Damon out of the equation..ouch!
Rebekah is up to her old tricks and has recruited Kol (Nathaniel Buzolic) to aide her. Everyone has a sidekick tonight. Her target? Matt! Oh, no, he just can”t seem to meet a nice girl. Perhaps him and Alaric (Matt Davis) should form a club?
Elijah is on the fence about what to believe and makes his impression clear to Elena. Elena is not deterred from her meeting with Esther. Her curiousity has gotten the best of her more than 0nce, let’s hope this is not one of those times. Mother Original seems all too eager to spill the beans of how she is what she is, the Bennett bloodline brought her back to life and she plans to take full advantage of it by undoing the curse she put on her family. She recruits Elena to help in her crusade.
Outside the party Klaus makes his moves. He pushes harder for Caroline to give him a chance and her feisty nature comes out swinging.
The more Esther reveals about her plans, the more Elena begins to question them. To make up for her indiscretions, Esther is committed to killing all her children in order to set the balance of nature right.
Rebekah lures Matt outside but before she can kill him, he shows her his sweet side. It obviously does the trick and the two head inside. Inside Elijah corners Elena looking for information on his mother’s intentions. She decides to keep this secret to herself. Esther makes a toast that would be almost touching if it wasn’t such a lie. For a moment it looks like Elena is going to stop Elijah from drinking the spelled champagne, but that moment passes all too quickly.
Klaus hasn’t given up on his quest for Caroline’s affections. He tries to woo her with an art collection literally straight from a museum. His charm is starting to to wear at her, but she is just as strong as he accused her of being.
Damon breaks out the big guns. No more playing it safe. I distinctly heard the phrase “I love you” uttered and hearts everywhere may have stopped at this point. His feelings, once non-existent, have gone 180 and made him the weakest link. His urge to protect Elena is standing in the way.
Upstairs Matt is drawn to an open terrace where Kol is waiting. His volatile attitude gets the best of him and he tries to take some of his anger out on Matt. Damon shows up at the right time and sends Kol over the edge – literally. They end of punching it out on the main level which brings guests out to see what the commotion is.
Caroline heads home and returns Tyler’s voicemail. She finds a present on her pillow and this time it doesn’t shine. Klaus has drawn her a picture and puts it in a pretty box.
Back at Casa Original, Esther is furious at the scene her son has caused. Finn (Casper Zafer) is in on the plan and is the one that will be sacrificed when it is time.
Stefan escorts Elena home. He questions her about what happened to set Damon off, but lets her go without digging to deep. Elena takes a stab at reaching his heart, but he shuts down.
At the Grill, Matt licks his wounds with coffee and lack of insurance. Rebekah tries to apologize and it seems genuine, but he family history doesn’t sit well in her corner. Damon shows up to start the pity party. He does that so well. And, eww, they are getting their lust on. I can’t say this is the couple anyone would have seen coming – even if for one night. Damon is clearly in one of his self-destructive moods.
What does that mean for Elena? If Damon is off protection detail, and Stefan refuses to give in to his feelings, Elena might be left to fend for herself.