Sure, The Vampire Diaries is a show about blood, stakes and endless fog in the forest, but lest we forget, the show is also about teen angst and last night (your regular recapper, Mandi, had the night off) we took a ride on the roller coaster of post-adolescent drama — best friends, unrequited love, loss, loneliness, the works. All you need to know is that meant tons of pensive, forlorn staring.
It was Stefan’s birthday (his 162nd, but he doesn’t look a day older than 25) and in town for the special occasion was one of his oldest friends — 350 years old to be exact — Lexie. Best friends they were, but she didn’t seem at all like Stefan’s type. She parties, uses her powers for some perks (i.e. free booze) and is clearly more outgoing than Stefan. Actually, she seemed way more Damon’s speed at first, but as the episode progressed, I realized Lexie falls somewhere between Damon and Stefan on the vampire scale. She has the cunning ways of the former but the sweet side of the latter. Plus, she doesn’t maliciously feed on innocent humans. No, Lexie goes out with a lobotomist phlebotomist and satisfies her cravings with blood-filled IV bags.
I didn’t know what to think of Lexie at first. Was she flirting with Stefan? Did she have an ulterior motive? Was she going to corrupt our good vampire? No. It was actually none of the above. With her time on the show so short (more on that later), she was merely there as a good friend (and there to further Damon’s plotting), one who clearly made Stefan happy. “Stefan smiles? Alert the media!” Damon says, observing the bffs playing pool. It’s all well and good to see Stefan happy, but I’d rather have the brooding (preferably shirtless) stares that he’s perfected over the season.
So Lexie made stone-cold Stefan smile and even helped bring he and Elena back together—at least a little more than before. After Elena’s awkward run-in with a towel-wearing Lexie in Stefan’s home, she had a heart to heart with Elena. See, the love of Lexie’s life was human, so she could imagine Elena’s pain. Elena was finally beginning to accept Stefan and a reconciliation between the two was in sight, but hopes of that came to a screeching halt with Lexie’s painful death. Too soon, I say. Lexie could match Damon’s verbal sparring and it would’ve been nice to see them have some word play action. Plus, if her strangling him was any indication, she could’ve totally kicked his butt back from whence he came.
Let me back it up in case you missed the staking. At a soiree at The Grill, Damon stepped out for a second to — what else? — feed a craving by attacking a couple making out. (Can you say c— block?) He killed the boy but left the girl scared and cowering outside. When the cops arrived and asked her to pinpoint the culprit, she pointed in Damon’s direction, but the sheriff went after Lexie—no!—and stuck her with a needle of vervain, provided to her earlier by Damon no less. The vervain didn’t really do the trick, though, so Damon put a stake through her heart. He clearly did the deed to cover his own butt and keep up the farce that he’s so totally normal, but ouch. Bigger ouch for Stefan, who went from mournful to vengeful in about 2.53 seconds, and with it, he left Elena in the dust, explaining that she should stay away from him since wherever he goes, pain (i.e. Damon) follows.
Then in very un-Stefan-like fashion, our good vamp basically busts a cap on Damon’s a– only to spare him a stake through the heart. Instead he drives it into his stomach (nice and deep — ouch again) to prove a point. OK, if this were real life (and by real life, I mean not a TV show and I mean a life with vampires), Stefan would’ve totally killed him. Thankfully, Damon will stick around, which is good because a.) he’s pretty, b.) he has some of the best one-liners on TV right now and c.) the show must go on.
But did anyone else think Damon’s evil ways reached new, scary heights this episode? Apart from killing Lexie, which was cruel enough, I really felt for poor Caroline. “Shallow”? “Useless”? That’s harsh, dude, and I know how much you hate the word dude. But the silver lining is that Candice Accola, who plays Caroline, showed us she has just as much chops to play the sad, lonely girl as she does to play the perky cheerleader. I’m not too keen on this potential Caroline-Matt hook-up, but we’ll see how far that goes.
My only gripe with the episode — not enough Bonnie! All we got this week was a confession to Elena about her witchery (snooze), a lame feather-raising trick and the glowing necklace. But it seems like next week’s is a Bonnie-filled episode. It’s about time! I know it’s really strange to see Jasmine Guy play her grandmother, but I’m oddly fascinated by seeing her go from A Different World to CW granny in what feels like an instant. So here’s hoping to more Jasmine, more Bonnie and more details of Damon’s “diabolical” plan.
What did you guys think of the episode? Did you like Lexie? What do you think Damon’s ultimate plan is? And are you ready for some Bonnie witchery? (I’m a wuss, but it looks kind of scary to me. Scary for CW primetime I guess.)
Photo: Guy D’Alema/The CW
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A phlebotomist is someone trained to draw blood, not a lobotomist.
Damon is definitely pushing the evil envelope. I really liked Lexie and wanted her to stick around for an episode or two at least if only as a foil to Damon.
I am also liking Caroline more, someone needs to give her a vervain necklace to protect her from Damon’s compulsion. I loved the back talk she gave him before he pulled the eyes on her. I think a Matt/Caroline hook-up could work…not yet, but eventually.
I am in favor of more Bonnie if only to find out what is going on with that necklace.
I am still bothered by the free and easy way that alcohol is used by minors in public places. At least sheriff mommy busted the bartender this week.
I hope that Stefan’s attack at the end means we will see a little more edge to him standing up to Damon instead of the sideline do-gooding. I would also encourage a little lingering on the shirtless takes, they are pleasant but brief.
What do we think Damon meant by “I took away the suffering”. Jeremy’s turnaround is pretty drastic. I think he planted something else.
i think what he meant was he took away ALL jeremys suffering, i.e since he parents died hes been suffering.
yes i too am liking the tough stefan, that just shows that if he really wanted 2 get rid of damon he could and he would.
i soo loved lexi as well wish she could have stayed 4 a couple of eps, she got rid of the broody stefan 4 us. hopefully we get 2 see more dark stefan yaay
Haha that was going to be my comment as well. It seems funnier though if she is dating a lobotomist. Anyway, this show hasn’t had a weak episode. I have loved every second of it so far. I am glad we are getting a Bonnie centered episode next week. Did anyone else realize the ghost Bonnie interacts with next week is Kendra the Vampire Slayer (imagine it being said in the Kendra accent) from Buffy? So psyched!!
Amy, I totally didnt make that connections. Good call! Also, I wonder what future holds for Jeremy and this new “suffering/pain” release?
Knowing Damon – I’m sure he did a bit mor thaqn relieve the kid’s pain. I’m just wondering how it’s going to fit into his diabolical plan. Hmmm. I do find him a lot less annoying now that Vicki is gone.
Loved Lexie! I had a feeling it wouldn’t end well for her though. She was just too nice I guess. Good episode though.
maybe we will get to see Lexis in flashbacks….she was awesome..that actress is super hot…
I was majorly bummed at her death as I too enjoyed Lexie’s character, with her zest for life as well as her ability to make Stefan smile and put Damon in his place. I heard that there might be a chance that she could reappear (perhaps in flashbacks) as it would be great to fill in the backstory more of how she met Stefan and possibly to provide a parallel of her relationship to that of Stefan/Elena’s… I keep hoping that she will come back (because she’s very powerful and someone removes the stake) at least in a recurring fashion but perhaps weakened (and therefore not as much of a threat to Damon as you he has to be the “big bad”… and I agree, Lexie was smoking hot- even vamped out..
I’ve pretty disappointed in the staking of Lexie – she was the most interesting and enjoyable character they had on the show so far. I also think Stefan and Elena are interesting and complex, but far less fun, but Damon is so dull and one note, it was fun to have a character (any character) could cal him on his crap and make it stick. Lexis would have made a much better recurring character than the red shirt of the week. I was also not buying that a 300 year old vampire would go down that easily. Ugh, bad choice on William’s part.
I’m with you Tarc…I just don’t see a 300 year old vampire going out without a fight or atleast fleeing wounded but later to return with vengence.
I agree! I am so disappointed that Lexie was killed – I felt her to be one of the strongest and most likeable characters so far. I can’t believe Damon really went that far. I had hope for him after he seemed to “help” with Jeremy, but now I think that he is pure evil. He has to go.
Yeah, but if Damon goes, where’s our story? For now, there’s no show without him since he’s the antagonist.
Damon makes this show, without him, I’d have no interest in it…and I wouldn’t be so quick to throw him in the strictly evil category–it’s been pretty clear that he has a range of emotions, that there IS good in him, at least to me. Stefan’s righteousness irks me.
are you kidding…kill him off..take show in new direction..too predictable this way..like all else about show send Ian back to Lost
I agree – I hate that the evil character lurks so closely to Stefan and Elena – because obviously I am pulling for them to find some kind of happiness together. It would be better if Damon weren’t pure evil and something outside of Damon and Stefan could unite them and they could fight it together. Much more inspiring.
I was wary of Lexie at first but she was awesome. I was sad to see her go and I was totally surprised by it! I really enjoy this show every week and I am excited about Bonnie’s upcoming episode.
So sad to see Lexie gone, really like the way she took Damon down. That is what I hate about shows like this, they always kill the ones you like right away.
Hate that they killed Lexie! loved ehr, loved how she wrangled Damon! And I know…I know I can’t be the only one who is longing for some kind of meaningful hook up between some interest characters! are Elena and Stefan gonna pull a twilight and never have the hot vampire sex? Whats with all the opposition to the hot vampire sex? (I’m looking at you Edward Cullen)
Huh. Maybe you should read the books….
Did read the books….all of them…multiple times…no hot vampire sex…allusions to the hot vampire sex…but no actual hot vampire sex
Of Twilight, I mean.
No clue what happens in the Vampire Diaries books.
There was no hot vampire sex in Twilight. There was ::fade to black:: but no hot vampire sex. Some hot make out scenes though.
chruch
*Church
Hate that they killed Lexie! Loved her, loved how she wrangled Damon! and I know…I know I can’t be the only one who is longing for some kind of meaningful hook up between some interesting characters! Are Elena and Stefan gonna pull a Twilight and never have the hot vampire sex? What’s with all the opposition to the hot vampire sex? (I’m looking at you Edward Cullen)
Twilight has plenty of hot vampire sex, but you have to read them all.
I read them all and didn’t see any of that. I saw an allusion to it, but none actually occuring.
Um…breaking dawns “fade to black” didn’t exactly whet my apetite. stephanie meyer is the worlds biggest best selling literary tease
Great episode, again!
DAMON: His face when he called Caroline “shallow” and “useless”…could he BE hotter than this? This guy is wearing me out! I love to hate him and I hate to love him. Miss him, love him, Damon is poison!
STEFAN: Finally, Stefan smiled and relaxed now he can go back to his brooding habits, with a little help of his devilish brother. I love the fight, team Stefan (for the fight only)!
ELENA: When she said to Stefan she didn’t care about Damon…what a liar, you go, girl! If I were her, I would definitely keep both hotties close to me too! Is it me or will she become just like Katerine one of those days?
CAROLINE: I love the fact she and MATT are getting closer, but I gotta feeling Damon won’t let her move on so easily. She’s her toy (lucky bit*h).
BONNIE: Like you said Archana, upcoming episode is Bonnie’s. Maybe Damon will find out who her secret. And about Grandma Whitley, when would we see Grandpa Dwayne Wayne too?lol
JEREMY: Jeremy? Homework? Focus? Omg, is it TVD’s Jacob Black we have here?
LEXIE: I thought she had some interest for Stefan but as soon as she befriended with Elena, I knew her time was up. Too bad, she was interesting as the vampire-in-the-middle.
In the end, one word: Damon. I can’t believe we have to wait till next week.
Glee+The Vampire Damon = Epicness
That is epic indeed.
he stinks..get rid of Ian…take show down an interesting path..this will be boooooring
No way! Ian’s the best part of the show! Granted, last night he did irritate me quite a bit by killing Lexie (she was so likeable!), but otherwise I love the dude. There’s so much more to Damon than destroy spread misery, destroy some more.
You are totally nuts! He is way hot and plays the bad guy to the hilt! This role is so much better suited for him than his role on Lost. I love this show but it works b/c of the good vs. evil element. Ian is one hot vamp. Stephan is too but I really prefer Damon b/c of those eyes. I’d do anything he said without the power!
No “team Stefan” crap please. This ain’t Twilight. This is WAY better.
michka – About Elena…I was thinking that too! When she was saying it’s not about Damon, a little voice in my head was like, liar! The look she had on her face when Damon told her he took away Jeremy’s suffering was soft, like she was seeing something else in Damon other than (insanely hot) murderous psychopath. Her being against killing Damon definitely had to do with something she was feeling towards him…gratitude, and the beginnings of something else maybe. Which I like, as I’m very interested in seeing the Damon/Elena dynamic develop.
lol. Agree on everything you said.
Damon, BITE ME.
Phlebotomist, not lobotomist! Phlebotomist is someone who can draw your blood, I’m guessing a lobotomist is someone who performs lobotomies, which really wouldn’t be too helpful for Lexie!
Loved this ep–but Lexie said she was dating a phlebotomist, NOT a lobotomist. A phlebotomists are trained to draw blood.
Really liking the show but Elana & Stefan need to hook up already. The “I don’t know what to do” from her is getting old fast! How long does she expect Stefan to hang on for??
right?
another 150 years..lol…he needs to hook-up with bonnie..now that would be hot!..witches and vampire sex….holy crap batman!
I’m thinking that Damon might make a play for some witchy lovin… if at very least to get the crystal…
I’m there!
Another great episode. I’m so sorry to see Lexie go. I liked her character. She was a great bridge between Damon and Stefan as she was well adjusted with her afterlife. As soon as I saw Damon wrestling with that newcomer nugget dropped by Caroline’s mom I knew Lexie would not be staying. I hate that we won’t see more of her but then again there are always flashbacks. I’m enjoying the slow build of Bonnie’s story and next week looks like the secret of the necklace is about to be revealed so I cannot wait. Also why do I hope that Damon will either start playing house with Caroline’s mom or Tyler’s mom. Vervain or not these women definitely are charmed by Damon’s killer smile and his helpful act so I can’t wait to see if anything develops.