Previously on The Vampire Diaries: Stefan is obsessed with the coffins (or from what I’ve heard on twitter, they’re actually just giant snickers), Damon kept one. Bonnie met her mother who may just be as useless as Bonnie is at times. Daddy Forbes still kind of sucks for making Tyler turn, and Dr. Fell cheats as a doctor. And Damon did the greatest thing he could ever do bringing back Elijah.

First scene back is fabulous. Elijah is fabulous. Remember the times when we thought Klaus was smart and had everything figured out? Yeah, well, not so much anymore. He looks scared and dumb right now. It’s funny he thought Elijah would just sit down, have some tea and discuss the last few months with him. I wish ELijah would beat him up forever. Klaus is really mad about all this, it took him some time to refurbish that house and Elijah just doesn’t appreciate fine craftsmanship. It’s a shame. Klaus threatens to kill him but he’s short a dagger and I’m sure he’d much rather have Elijah around than Kol. And then there’s that matter of that oath of loyalty Elijah made to Klaus. “Always and forever.” (Klaus is a Nathan and Haley fan. I knew deep down I liked Klaus.)

I didn’t know this happened when I first watched it. Elena and Alaric chatting in the kitchen. He lives there again? Oh. Also, Elena needs to change the light in her fridge. And wait, Alaric whiskey dialed Meredith at 2am? Oh child. This is getting to be too much. Someone take away all the alcohol from Ric. And apparently, Elena may or may not have staked that medical examiner the other night. (It’s Katherine!)

“You’re on speakerphone, dick” is the only line I care about here. (Btw, Damon thinks Meredith did it, of couse.) I lied! “I refuse to believe you luck is that tragic” is another line I care about. Just wait until later that night, Elena. You’ll see. Actually you know what, as I get further into this scene as I rewatch it, Elena really sucks and I also care about the fact she thinks it could have been STEFAN that did it. LISTEN. Now that Stefan has gone to the darkside this season, doesn’t mean he’s killing random civilians. If you haven’t noticed, which I’m sure you didn’t because you’re too busy screwing around with Damon these days, Stefan has a plan to get rid of Klaus. That’s what he’s working on! He doesn’t care about some random medical examiner he doesn’t even know! How dare her.

Sigh. Anyway, look at Elijah standing in that field looking all pretty. It’s sad Damon has a favorite Original but I’m sure none of them like him. Wait, did Elijah get a haircut before meeting up with Damon? Oh, that dapper man. But anyway, Damon met up with Elijah to conspire against Klaus. That might not end well. Damon’s plans always suck.

What cave is this? Why can’t Stefan go in any further? Why is everything vampire proofed now? I think I missed something. Anyway, kudos to Damon for a pretty good hiding spot. Bonnie and Abby have to figure out a way to open the coffin now, even though Abby says she doesn’t have any powers; Stefan isn’t buying it. Oh hey, look who it is. Elena. Let’s see what crap she’s gonna give Stefan now. She’s accusing Stefan of killing the medical examiner. I can’t even deal with you anymore! “Did you ask Damon if he killed anyone lately?” God BLESS Stefan Salvatore. Elena had nothing to say because it was completely true. Ever since Stefan started his revenge plan, or even before that, Elena has completely forgotten the guy Stefan was, and still is deep inside. If she keeps this up, I might start to ship Elena and death.

Caroline visits the hospital to check up on her father. But since he’s been threatening to revoke Dr. Fells medical license for the vampire blood “incident”, she checked him out early the night before. That scene was totally awkward. PLOT TWIST. Turns out Daddy Forbes might turn into a vampire!

(Look at the love the CW is giving Nina Dobrev lately! Commercials for her PCA win AND her Nylon mag cover? Whoa there.)

Poor Caroline. I never cared for this Bill Forbes storyline because he was a jerk and it just didn’t make much sense to me, and now I guess they brought him back to kill him off? I don’t know. If we think we’re confused about the goings-on in Mystic Falls, imagine the actors. Poor children. (Poor Paul). Anyway, he’s awake now.

OH. I see where they are now; they’re in that cave under the Lockwood mansion that we saw back in 3×08. I forgot about that. Anyway, Bonnie is explaining the cave drawings to Abby. But, if Abby knew about Mikael and the doppelganger way before, why is she wondering about who Klaus is and what can kill him? Plot holes everywhere. And I guess they’re going to try to unbind that spell on the coffin. I just know there will be incoherent babbling/chanting going on later.

STAY SHIRTLESS FOREVER, STEFAN SALVATORE. If there’s an unexplainable fire that happens on set but only burns all of Stefan’s wardrobe, it wasn’t me, okay. I swear. Let us take a moment of silence and stare at the pretty……………. Oh, what was I doing? Ah, yes. Okay, so, dinner party at the Originals then? (STOP RIGHT THERE STEFAN! Put down the shirt! Stop it!) Wow, Damon’s is being a huge douchewad right now. “Just remember, if it wasn’t for Klaus, you wouldn’t have become such a dick and that kiss wouldn’t have ever happened.” NO! STOP RIGHT THERE, DOUCHEWAD! If I remember correctly, which I do, YOU were the one that was bitten by a werewolf (Tyler) and Stefan had to go save your ass, AGAIN. So it was NOT at all Stefan’s fault because he was off saving you. Shut that nonsense up right now! I’m not saying this because I’m a Stefan fan, but because Damon is completely mistaken on that part. If Stefan did something really stupid and horrible, like what he did to Elena (although I understand WHY he did that to her, it was wrong of him to), I would call him out on it. Damon has yet to utter an actual “Thank You” to his brother for saving him so many times. I’m waiting on that day. (Don’t come at me saying Stefan has never said thank you to Damon for anything because he has, too. Just saying!)

(Anyone reading this that knows somewhere I can get HQ screencaps every week, please let us know, it would be great to have HQ caps of Shirtless Stefan! )

Okay, so back at the hospital, Caroline was trying to help her father deal with the transition, since she knows how it feels to have something like that happen. But Bill Forbes genuinely kinda sucks. He’s a twat along with Damon.

So back at the Gilbert house, Ric is taking inventory on all the vampire weapons. This doesn’t look like much. No wonder they all keep getting injured and dying. Either that or they’re all just stupid. I doubt Meredith did anything, but considering the characters Torrey DeVitto has played, maybe she is psycho.

Let the festivities begin! Such a wonderful, classy, full of pretty men, dinner party. This is going to be fun. The banter going on here is phenomenal! Didn’t I say I’d love an Originals spinoff, and maybe even with a Salvatore brothers appearance every now and again. Damon is trying to remind Elijah how much of best buds they’ve become now and I guess Elijah just isn’t having it since he gives off this annoyed look. And Stefan is trying to get Elijah mad at Klaus for killing their mother. Turns out Elijah already knows and Damon tries to keep Stefan in check by reminding him that he ate their father. This a is wonderful and very productive dinner party.

Over at Caroline’s house, her and Elena are chillin’ on the porch, having a very depressing and touching conversation. They talk about calling Tyler and seeing where he is, Meredith looking very suspicious of this murder crime, accusing Tyler of killing that medical examiner just like Elena would accuse Stefan (these people!), and Elena tells Caroline that she can’t make him feed because all he has is his choice. LISTEN. Tell that to Jeremy and he’ll disown you like he almost did in season 1. And when Caroline asks what it’s like to loose a father, that part is heartbreaking. Nina and Candice together are always fabulous. And, MATTY!

“So Stefan, where’s the lovely Elena tonight?” “I don’t know. Ask Damon.” This is great. And then Klaus and Elijah go down memory lane and talk about their own rivalry over Tatia. Which I thought her name was Charlotte. Either way, Klaus and Elijah fought over her just like Damon and Stefan have been doing over Elena. They later found out that it was Tatia’s blood they drank in the wine the night their mother turned them into vampires. Bummer. But, they came to realize that family should be put above all in the end.

Incoherent babbles happening. Bonnie is mad because Abby is probably not trying and she’s still blaming the spirits. They then had a super emotional 2-minute conversion on how bad a mother she was and that she wishes she can make it up to Bonnie. Then more chanting happened and the witchy juju may have worked! Bonnie was way too excited about the spell almost working that she had to run off and text Damon about it. Girl. Major side eye. After she left, the coffin busted wide open! Oh.

More dinner party pretty. The deal Damon proposes actually sounds pretty good. Klaus gets his coffin back, the Originals leave Mystic Falls forever and everyone lives happily ever after. But the problem Klaus has with it is that Elena is his own hybrid power source, so without her blood, he won’t be able to make more hybrids. And since these two fools, Stefan and Damon, believe they can both protect Elena, then who knows how long she’ll be alive for while in the middle of their constant feuding. Or, it may be a matter of time until they turn her into a vampire. Which makes complete sense actually. Maybe Klaus is smart. “The worse thing for Elena Gilbert is… the two of you”.

Matt and Elena are endgame. Watch you guys. I feel it. Oh look, the one time Elena wants to actually use the lights, they don’t work! And lights don’t just not work in Mystic Falls. There’s always a reason. And then, BAM. Blood everywhere! This suddenly became a horror movie. Did Kevin Williamson come back to write this scene? I wanna know WHY the writers think it’s necessary to kill Alaric all the time! Is there a quota they have to meet for on screen kills every week or? Then Ric’s crazy self decides that Elena has to kill him since she’s a doppelganger and so he’ll die a supernatural death and then come back. I have to give Elena some props for that because I would not have had the balls to just kill someone.

Back at the dinner party, more longing looks. And OH GOD, KLAUS SHIPS MATT AND ELENA. HAHAHA. You guys, that is so funny. And since when has Damon known Matt’s name? So, Stefan presses the No Deal button and everything hits the fan. Klaus pretty much breaks Stefan’s arm and leg, pulls his hand into the fire and burns his hand, while Damon rushes to try and save him but Elijah stops him. Now, is it just me or was that the WEAKEST “Stop!” I’ve ever heard!? I mean, really Damon!? It’s like he doesn’t even care if his brother is being charred.

This scene totally sucks. Caroline made one last effort to get her dad to change his mind, but nope. Candice Accola’s performance made me cry a little, but I don’t want to go too much into this scene because Bill Forbes is a jerk. (The man is DYING and he doesn’t even want Caroline to call the guy he’s been with for years!). Poor Caroline. (You is kind. You is smart. You is important, Caroline Forbes).

Back at the Originals Mansion, it really has hit the fan. Elijah has undaggered EVERYONE, and they’re all pissed! Kol is mad but he doesn’t do anything, Finn daggers Klaus in the hand, and Rebekah stabs him in the stomach. “You’re free to go. This is family business.”

Aw, Bill Forbes is gone. Good riddens. I feel really bad for Caroline, poor girl, but he was a twat.

Matt is such a sweety. I love him. (I also want to apologize again for saying Klaus should have taken him in his sacrifice ritual instead of Aunt Jenna, even though I miss Sara Canning TERRIBLY). Matt really is a good friend.

This next scene has me in a glass case of emotion! It’s good that Stefan acknowledged that undaggering Elijah was a smart move. And I’m glad Damon may finally start to pay back Stefan for all the times he’s saved him, but he still needs to be the one to say thank you, not Stefan. But, I do think Damon probably did it for Elena’s account. And excuse the tears from Stefan saying he loves Elena. Sigh. All the awards ever to Stefan Salvatore, and none for Damon, bye. (I kid, maybe one). Sort of off topic here, but in these last few episodes, I’m starting to hope that at the end of the show, both brothers say “Screw Elena”, patch up their friendship/brotherhood, and pick “bros over hoes”. Elena can end up all by her lonesome and the Salvatore brothers can travel the world together. But that might not happen.

It looks like Meredith Fell didn’t actually do anything to anyone then. She was called into surgery 6 hours before and that’s her air tight alibi. And Ric wakes up! Looks like that poor little ring still has some juice left in it. But please, along with the torturing of Caroline, can we stop killing Alaric?

Okay, last scene at the Originals Mansion. I’m so happy Rebekah is back, I want her to confront Elena about that backstabbing back in the Homecoming episode. Poor girl never did get to go. I think it’s great they all decided to leave Klaus behind, he deserved that. But turning around and saying he would hunt them all down was wrong, and I’m glad Elijah called him out on it, saying he’d be just like Mikael! And then, the biggest surprise of the entire season probably, Esther was the one in the coffin! (If you were spoiled on this like I was, then you already know this would happen, and I might be just as bitter as Julie Plec is about that.) This scene is definitely in the Top 5 most greatest scenes of the entire season, in my opinion. The score was absolutely beautiful and (I don’t her actual name, don’t kill me!) the actress who plays Esther brought a strong presence that ties it all together; all of her kids stood completely still in silence. It was great. Where’s my Originals spin-off, CW! (And how great is it that Esther didn’t even need Bing to find Klaus’ new pad.)

Next week: The Originals have a classy ball at their new mansion!

Now to announce MVP: All the crying awards go to Candice Accola. All the classy awards to Daniel Gillies. (All the overall fabulous human being awards to Paul Wesley. All the great friend awards to Matt Donovan). But in all seriousness, I think Candice Accola won this time. She’s such a magnificent cryer! It hurts me to see that girl cry, acting or not.

See the rest of the images here.

Canadian Promo

Stefan/Elena (89%, 635 Votes)
Caroline/Tyle (4%, 29 Votes)
Alaric/Jenna (2%, 11 Votes)
Stefan/Rebekah (2%, 11 Votes)
Caroline/Matt (1%, 9 Votes)
Bonnie/Jeremy (1%, 9 Votes)
Damon/Andie (1%, 8 Votes)
Total Voters: 712

Thanks to @DianaPounds for the heads up.

If memory serves me correctly (annnnnnnnd it does) ohhhh mighty head master of dick land Damon.. If your ass would have not gotten bitten and your brother was not such a loving brother willing to do anything for the sake of his brother. Stefan would not have sacrificed all to go away with Klaus and get the cure to save your life.. Annnnnnnnnnnnnnd he saved your ass again (from the Hybrids) from Klaus if he would have died.. Annnnnnnnnnnnnd you repay him for all this by MORE guilt to Stefan and kissing the one woman he has ever been in love with. This scene proves yet again Damon only ever cares about Damon and what HE gets out of helping Elena. Please also remember that Stefan’s plans have worked.. So the fact Damon has failed in almost every plan. Stefan WHY OH WHY go along with anything he has to offer??

A FLIP OF THE COIN — After starting her day with a startling discovery of Damon’s (Ian Somerhalder) latest indiscretion, Elena (Nina Dobrev) is frustrated to find that none of her friends agree with her on how they should react to the Original family’s internal power struggle. Once again caught up in the destiny of the Bennett witches, Bonnie (Kat Graham) and Abby (guest star Persia White) find themselves playing a part in a ritual to appease the spirits of nature. When Elijah (guest star Daniel Gillies) gives Damon and Stefan (Paul Wesley) a dangerous ultimatum that puts Elena in danger, they turn to Alaric (Matt Davis) and Meredith (guest star Torrey Devitto) for help with a plan that leads them to a terrible choice. Candice Accola also stars. Directed by Pascal Verschooris and written by Evan Bleiweiss & Michael Narducci.

Short Promo:

Extended Promo: