"The Descent"

The descent of frustrated emotions was definitely satisfied by last night's epic return of The Vampire Diaries.

We left poor Rose on her death bed, but apparently she wasn't the only one harmed during the full moon.

Jules was hungry last night and the remains of a camp outing gone awry proved just how hungry. Attempting to cover her tracks by disposing of the lifeless bodies in the fire, she's interrupted by a police officer. He doesn't suspect her because she shows emotion over the loss of her "friends." He also doesn't expect that 2x4 to the back of his head.

Aaaaah, gotta love this show.

"Your easiest option."

At the Salvatore Broodinghouse, Elena greets Stefan warmly in his bedroom. Instead of enjoying the moment, Stefan wants to discuss how Elena will not become Elijah's pawn. (What a bore!) He seals her protests to dismiss the topic with a kiss.

It's also Stefan's first day willingly consuming vervain. Like Katherine, he will consume a small dosage everyday in order to build up tolerance. Although it's probably worse, the agony he goes through is what I imagine taking a grand swig of rubbing alcohol would be like. Not fun.

Elena didn't, however, offer him blood. I wonder if he's over that need.

Meanwhile, downstairs Rose is suffering from her bite wound. It's getting worse and her physical state is rapidly descending. She justifies her death because she has lived a long life. Rose is a sweet character, but I'd have to agree that 1450 to 2011 is a great run.

Stefan leaves to begin Operation Stop Elijah. Since Damon, too, has his own agenda to accomplish that leaves Elena to look after Rose.

The wound is causing an array of symptoms to wash over Rose. The first being fever.

Elena gently tucks Rose into Damon's bed. (Damon has a room- yay!) Rose begins to question Elena as to why she's so willing to sacrifice her life. She encourages her to keep fighting.

Soon, the casual conversation ceases as Rose begins to go through fits of pain. Elena hands her a glass of blood to drink in effort to calm the pain, but it's like toxic fluid and she spits it out. Eyes aloof, hunger building, Rose lashes out at Elena as a result of mistaken identity. "It's all your fault, Katerina!"

Instantly, Elena begins pleading with Rose to see that she is, in fact, Elena. She's probably never wanted someone to recognize her so badly in her life, and luckily Rose calms. Still in pain, and slightly delirious, Rose states she wants to go home. In order to keep Rose's mind focused, Elena inquires. "Tell me about it."

"I really want to thank you."

Meanwhile, the school is preparing for yet another fundraiser. The once budding friendship between Tyler and Caroline is definitely in full bloom- and I like it! Especially because Tyler's rageful demeanor has calmed since Caroline has become a significant part of his life. During their conversation, Caroline reveals to Tyler about the deadly wolf bite. "It would be curtains for me." It mesmerizes him more than Caroline's fancy eyelashes. But before he can inquire further, someone else who finds Caroline a significant person in their life arrives. Matt "Can't Catch A Break" Donovan.

He's not jealous, but covers all basis with a kiss. Their relationship has been up and down as a result to Katherine's plans and Caroline's incessant need to withhold the truth. So, the kiss only prompts Caroline to do one thing. Run.

Not satisfied with that choice, Matt tracks down Caroline in the school corridor and confronts her about the disappearing act. Clearly holding back, she has no answer to share with him other than the truth. "I feel like...I love you." A cheerleader summons Matt, but he's too focused on this learned information that he calls over his shoulder that it can wait. Unfortunately, Caroline took that split second to bail.

Poor Matt. Even after the hiatus he still can't catch a break. But, with everyone in football uniform the team may be recuperating. Is their a new coach?

"Promise."

The Grill is a hot spot for vampires and werewolves alike. Stefan finds Alaric just as he's wrapping up a brief conversation informing Damon that Jules is in the building. Stefan asks him for a phone number that could potentially lead him to Isobel. Alaric agrees to go look for it and says he'll text Stefan his findings.

Shortly, Stefan receives that text. "Isobel 919.399.2507."* He leaves a message strongly asserting that the matter is urgent as it involves Elena's well being.

Enter Damon. Immediately spotting Rose's attacker, he puts his head down and puts on his game face. Stefan's not on board with this strategy and cuts off Damon before he "rip[s] her spleen through her back" in public. The older brother assures him that the conversation will be cordial. A phone call sets Stefan onto his next mission, leaving Damon and his vices to persuade Jules to share the cure to the werewolf bite. In return, he promises not to kill her. Jules is very confident for someone who doesn't have the power of the moon for another month. "Bite me." (You know, Damon, she has an attitude, I really wish you would.) Alas, Jules gives in to sharing the cure: "Take a stake and drive it through her heart."

Throughout the day's events, Damon has been working really hard to mask his emotions. His need to save his friend is absorbed in his every movement.

"I'm not Katherine!"

His friend, however, is gone. Again.

Elena finds Rose having a buffet with the private stash of contraband blood. Once again, Rose is in a delirium and mistakes Elena for Katherine. She's covered in blood and her eyes read crazy. This time Elena is scared. Pleading with Rose that she recognize who she is, Rose hesitates giving the illusion of calm recognition. But then we wouldn't be watching the phenomenon of The Vampire Diaries, would we?

In a sequence of OMG! escape moments, Elena's successful efforts to flee- and fast, boil down to her quick wit and resourceful decisions.

She is tackled near the window and pulls the curtain down to allow sunlight to cover Rose's back. Then, racing to the door, she's pinned once again. Rose bares her fangs, but Elena isn't done fighting. Digging her nails into Rose's wound, Rose is stalled by the excruciating pain. Elena sprints to Stefan's room, locks the door, and creates a blockade with the desk.

But she doesn't stop there. Breaking the back of the wooden chair, she creates a stake. Then, opens the balcony door so that in the event Rose breaks through the barricade, she can step into the safety of the sunlight.

On the other side of the door, there's a shift in Rose's tone. But, Elena's on guard. She won't give in. Because this time, she may not be so lucky.

"We need to talk."

Tyler is waiting for Caroline at the Forbes's residence. It's a huge deal that Caroline willingly helped Tyler during his transformation with the knowledge that his bite could kill her. She confesses to him that because they're friends, she cares for him even though he has a wall built up around him. Then, he kisses her. Twice. Long and sincere. But she can't embrace this, after all she loves Matt. "Everyone just needs to stop kissing me."

Following his visit with Caroline, Tyler heads over to The Grill where he has been summoned by Jules. She tells him that Mason's been murdered by vampires and that "there are others like us; and they're on their way." Throughout Jules's protests against vampires, Tyler defends Caroline. Nonetheless, he's learning more about himself, Caroline, and the potential of other supernatural beings in Mystic Falls. Although he is unsure about Jules, he knows he can learn something from her. "Hey, I can help you."

Night has settled and Elena is still held up in Stefan's room. The house seems to be quiet, is Rose out there? Or, is she going to come through the veranda!

Elena slowly pushes the desk away from the door and turns the lock. Peering down the hall, the coast seems to be clear. On guard with her stake in hand, Elena slowly travels down to the parlor. So far, no sign of Rose; but she's not alone. Damon. "Where's Rose."

The fundraiser, where else? Damon is able to subdue her after she kills her third innocent victim. He carries her back to the the Broodinghouse and she profusely apologizes. Elena forgives her because she knows that she's sick. Still, I find it odd that Elena has become so comfortable with the idea that supernatural death occurs in Mystic Falls (Bonnie would have none of that!). Rose insists that Elena doesn't give in to becoming a sacrifice. "You need to fight."

Damon dismisses Elena so that he can take care of Rose as she goes through another fit of pain. "I got this." And, surely, he does. Holding her closely she falls asleep in his arms. It's a flashback to her home outside of London. In an open grassy area with horses, a lustrous tressed Rose frolics about with the sun gently kissing her skin. Damon has recreated Rose's favorite memory, the memory she shared with Elena earlier. As in real life, Damon sits and holds his friend, and in the dream they discuss family and life. Soon, Rose, with childlike enthusiasm, suggests they race. On her mark...

They stand preparing to bolt to the finish.

One...

Damon lifts a stake over his sleeping friend.

Two....

Tears flow down his face as his only option is most unbearable.

Three.

"That is my secret."

The torment that plagued Damon's face was heart-stopping. This time he killed out of protective love.

Calling the sheriff, he shows her Rose's body and lets her know that he'll dispose of it. Indeed, it may be his most meaningful burial. Once he arrives back home, he finds Elena waiting. "Doom, gloom, and personal growth." He's clearly upset over the fact that the bite was meant for him. She embraces him, encouraging him to let go of the remorse, but not the feeling of humanity.

Now, in a drunken state. Damon's pulling the ol' 1864 lay-in-the-middle-of-the-street-to-afflict-death on-innocent-samaritans trick. The lucky participant is Jessica. He spills his existential dilemma about how much he misses humanity. But he knows he can no longer embrace it because he's not human. And as though to reassure this to himself. He kills her.

Back in town, Elena reaches her home to find Stefan. Stefan clearly forgot how to use his cell phone because he's been MIA since he took that phone call at The Grill. Appearing a little too cheery when he greets Elena, he explains why.

Surprise! Uncle John is back.


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Photos: CW
Director: Marcos Siega Writers: Sarah Fain & Elizabeth Craft