You have been cordially invited to Elena Gilbert’s
eighteenth birthday party in the season three premiere of the CW’s supernatural
drama, The Vampire Diaries. Continuing in the show’s grand tradition of, no really how the hell did they pass enough
classes to even be seniors this year when every time they’re not in mortal
peril they’re having a party, Caroline is planning a huge blow-out of a raging
kegger for Elena’s big milestone day. But Elena’s too busy passing possible
Stefan whereabouts leads on to Damon for investigation. To her, he’s just
disappeared without a trace following the events of last season’s finale where
Stefan gave up his life in Mystic Falls to be Klaus’ ripper wing-man in exchange
for what was necessary to save Damon’s life from a deadly werewolf bite.
![](http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss76/pancakes4Sylar/tvd3014.jpg?t=1316245625)
So while Elena is having a miserable summer of unanswered questions and junior detective work to track him, Stefan is on the road with Klaus leaving quite the bloody trail in their wake. It turns out that Klaus has a nefarious plan (well duh he’s the Big Bad after all), and he’s attempting to put it into motion all while plunging Stefan further and further down into his old murderous ways. All for a bit of a laugh really—it’s clear that Klaus is getting such enjoyment out of things like Stefan literally ripping the head off of a frightened victim whose only crime was having known a werewolf.
![](http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss76/pancakes4Sylar/tvd3015.jpg?t=1316245422)
As the whole ripper Stefan story continues, I wonder how the
TVD fandom will take it. It’s been made clear over and over in the press that
this Stefan is here to stay for a while and it’s going to get so much worse
before it gets any better. It’s sort of this show’s take on the classic Angelus
storyline from season two of Buffy the Vampire Slayer except in this instance
there’s no price of true happiness curse
to blame—he considers it paying a debt to Klaus for helping to save his brother,
but it’s still his choice to be by Klaus’ side killing and torturing people. And
oh, does the show let him go to Jenny Calender-esque heights at least in the
big ‘he’s so far gone now’ act, as he compels Andie Star, Damon’s reporter
girlfriend, to fall to her death right in front of Damon. In this instance, doing something that
terrible was the best way for Stefan to show Damon that it’s dangerous to be
anywhere near him and he should stop trying to find him. Especially knowing
that Elena would likely tag-along the instant she found out that Damon knew
where his brother was. He doesn't want her to see him like this.
Yet, the big phone-call Stefan makes to Elena at the end
of the episode is just asking for so much trouble. He may not have said a word
to her over the line, but even just confirming that he was alive is going to
make our feisty heroine continue her hunt. Thought it’s plain to see that with
Klaus’ constant influence, the Stefan she knows isn’t going to be who she
finds.
One thing is for certain though for at least part of the
fandom, of which I count myself a proud member, the Klefan (Klaus/Stefan)
chemistry is off the charts. Paul Wesley and Joseph Morgan both bring a
smoldering dark allure to their roles and it’s clear that in the future, Stefan
is going to clash against Klaus and the fangs will come out as they say.
![](http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss76/pancakes4Sylar/tvd3016.jpg?t=1316245735)
I think special mention should go out to Joseph Morgan for his
performance in this episode. Following the brief portrayal of Klaus by Matt
Davis (the man who plays Alaric who had a bit more of his fun bromance in this
ep with Damon upon the discovery of Stefan’s latest crime scene), before his
body was ready aka before they found the right guy in Morgan—some people doubted
Joseph’s capability to be the Klaus they saw in their minds. Well judging
solely from the Klaus scenes in this episode I think those people can shut up.
He gave Klaus a reckless swagger and elegant arrogance from the first scene
where he got to bust out a gee golly shucks American accent to his casual
torture scene of werewolf Ray Sutton that took place in broad daylight in a bar
packed with compelled patrons. Morgan has a little bit of what Zachary Quinto
brought to Heroes in that, he plays a serial killing creature who could get
just about anyone’s guard down with his good looks and charm before they
realized it was far too late. Plus, it only makes sense that on this show the
bad guy be as ‘pretty’ as the good guys.
![](http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss76/pancakes4Sylar/tvd3022.jpg?t=1316245839)
Back to the party, how great was it that TVD didn’t mess
around long with just letting Caroline and Tyler happen? This show is known for
going through seasons of plot in just a handful of episodes and it was a smart
choice to buck the trend of ‘will they/won’t they?’ by just letting the young
vamp and wolf get it on. Trevino and Accola absolutely sizzled on-screen and I
loved that during their big scene, Caroline was as forceful and grr as Tyler.
When she threw him on the bed it was quite the nod to how empowered she’s
become in this new chapter of her life and I fear for her life so hard
following the gasp-inducing last scene of the episode. Mrs. Lockwood you’re
such a bitch and I swear you’ll deeply regret messing with Caroline—she’s got
very loyal friends in addition to your son who won’t rest until they find her.
![](http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss76/pancakes4Sylar/tvd3013.jpg?t=1316245554)
Oh and Jeremy is still seeing the ghosts of dead girlfriend’s
long since passed. Which so far has been very okay, are they going to hurt him
or do they need his help? Matt is still alive by the episode’s end as well. He’s
getting a chance from me at being useful but frankly I don’t think he’s going
to live up to my expectations that he find a way to not suck the life out of
whatever scene he’s in. Bonnie is apparently off on vacation for the premiere,
so there wasn’t any witchy fun to be had. I guess they wanted to save that for
the premiere of The Secret Circle following this episode.
Anyway, I’m looking
forward to another fantastic year from one of the best-written shows on
television. It’s way too easy to scoff at this and call it a CW teen vampire
show if you don’t watch or only watched part of the first season. It’s one of
the best in the genre and they can spin a plot like none other so I’m excited
to see all of the drama that’s going to unfold this season.
I'm always pleasantly surprised and impressed by the quality of the writing of this show. I'm glad to see it's still entertaining. The premier episode didn't have even a single dull moment.
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