'Vampire Diaries' Recap: Stefan & Elena Reunite Over A Tragedy

Another fanged fiend is on the loose in Mystic Falls -- and this one isn't looking to give Elena a hug! So, how are your eyes doing? Red? Puffy? I thought so. The April 26 episode of The Vampire Diaries more than made up for this season's uneven quality by delivering an incredible hour that took everything to the next level. Not only did Elena's (Nina Dobrev) love triangle become pointier than ever, but we've got ourselves a new Big Bad in Mystic Falls -- and I'm kind of terrified to see how it all plays out.

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Reading Time: 4 minutes
April 26, 2012 9:25PM EDT

For starters, we learned there’s way more to Alaric’s (Matt Davis) split-personality disorder than what we’ve seen so far. Esther, who gave up Rebekah’s (Claire Holt) body and returned to her own, explained that she communicated with Alaric every time he died while wearing the ring — from the other side. (OoOoOoOoh!) She planned to turn him into an Original-level vampire, but got a nasty little surprise when he knifed her from behind. (Bye, bitch!)

Sadly, Alaric decided not to complete the transition, which cued up one of the biggest sob-fests in the show’s history as all of the (non-vampire) characters gathered outside Alaric’s tomb to say their last goodbye. There were tears, there were candles, and there were more emotions than every season of Oprah combined. But wait… Just when we thought we’d seen the last of Alaric, Bonnie (Kat Graham) was visited by Esther in a dream, then hauled her ass to Alaric’s tomb to feed him her blood. So there you go, folks. Alaric isn’t dead. He’s not even a vampire. He’s the freakin’ ultimate vampire — and he’s got his eyes on Elena.

In less horrifically depressing news, this week’s episode also served up a big “f–k you” to all the “Klaroline” shippers out there. “It doesn’t matter how many times I dance with him,” Caroline (Candice Accola) told Tyler (Michael Trevino) after she and Klaus (Joseph Morgan) did the Charleston or whatever. “I love you.” Candice already disqualified the legitimacy of “Klaroline” in one of our recent interviews, but hearing the words actually come out of Caroline’s mouth made them stick.

Also, can someone please hand me a shovel? Because I’m totally digging Bonnie and Jamie (Robert Ri’chard) together. I was among those viewers who thought Bonnie and Jeremy made the perfect couple, but now that I’ve seen the alternative, I’m definitely on board. He’s a human who’s willing to stand by her side, and as far as I can tell, he doesn’t have too much emotional baggage to carry around. He’s definitely a keeper.

But what would an episode of The Vampire Diaries be without a little tension between Elena and her two favorite Salvatores? Whereas last week’s episode was all about Damon (Ian Somerhalder), this week’s tipped the scales dramatically in Stefan’s (Paul Wesley) favor. Not only did Stefan apologize for everything he’s done to Elena (again), but he reminded her she’s not alone in the world. “You have me,” he said after she cried about having no one to look out for her.

Let’s break down the episode and see just how each side fared:

  1. Elena ends up asking Stefan to the dance anyway. He accepts. (+10 points)
    x
  2. Elena tells Stefan he looks “dapper,” and he tells her she looks “very beautiful.” (+15 points)
    x
  3. Stefan talks about Elena finding her way back to him: “After everything I put you through, I’m just honored to be your date tonight.” (+10 points)
    x
  4. Stefan told Elena he regrets ever turning off his feelings, and thanks Elena for always sticking by his side. (+20 points)
    x
  5. Stefan tells Elena she’s not alone, because she has him, and she sobs into his arms. (+35 points)
    x 
  6. TOTAL: 80 points
  1. “I can’t ask Stefan on a date,” Elena said. “I just made out with his brother!” (+5)
    x
  2. I wasn’t sure if I should even count that last one — you know, since Elena ended up going to the dance with Stefan — but I decided to throw Damon a bone. Admit it: It was pretty ridiculous that last week’s huge hook up was barely addressed. Since when does Damon pass up on opportunities to rub his conquests in Stefan’s face?
    x
  3. TOTAL: 5 points

x
What did you think of this week’s episode? Did you ugly cry when you thought Alaric was dead? And now that he’s not, which character are you most concerned about? As for Elena, what did you think of her big moments with Stefan? Hit up the comments section with your opinions on tonight’s episode, and your theories about what’s to come!

— Andy Swift