Episode 217: Know Thy Enemy

The Vampire Diaries

Betrayal is the common theme of this episode.  In fact, it’s hard to think of a character that wasn’t either being betrayed or doing the betraying.

Short but not so Sweet: Isobel certainly knows how to make an entrance.  Maybe it’s the blond hair; maybe it’s the lighting, but Jenna sure looks like an innocent victim next to Isobel and Elena.  The scene manages to draw parallels between two very different characters.  Both Elena and Isobel are in on secrets that Jenna has no idea about, which leaves Jenna feeling shocked and betrayed.  The most important people in her life have left her in the dark, and she is not okay with that.
                Isobel is playing anybody and everybody.  She wants John, Stefan, Elena, and Katherine to trust her.  In the end, none of them should.  Stefan falls a little too easily into her trap for kidnapping Elena (so much for being a bodyguard).  She’s genuinely sorry to Alaric, Katherine, and Elena for doing what she had to under compulsion.  Vampires are aware of what they’re doing under compulsion, but that doesn’t help avoid what they have to do.  Isobel has realized that life as a vampire is not what she actually wanted.  She has nobody left who trusts her, and she has settled her scores.  Her return was short-lived, but certainly game-changing. 

A Stake in the Back:  Matt, obviously, was not ready for the truth.  Life has had too many downs already; he can’t handle a vampire girlfriend on top of everything else.  Sheriff Forbes must have truly convinced Matt that the old Caroline is completely gone.  The Matt we know would not be able to turn on Caroline if he knew she was still there.  Hopefully when Matt asked her to tell him everything, she shared sparingly.  She probably didn’t out her friends, but I hope things can be resolved soon between all of these parties before somebody gets hurt.

The Secret Weapon:  Bonnie puts the Martin’s grimoire collection to use and wastes no time harnessing the power of the dead witches.  I suppose once a witch dies, they are never truly at rest since they can still torment a vampire.  Bonnie is now a real force to be reckoned with.  Though she may not always know how to use it, she is more powerful than Jonas was.  She tries to hide the truth from Jeremy about risks of wielding so much power.  She feels that killing Klaus will be her purpose for existence, but Jeremy feels betrayed when he discovers the danger.  He wants to protect his sister just as much as anybody, but it’s doubtful he will just stand by and watch Bonnie sacrifice herself. 

The Boy Who Cried Wolf:  John has continuously lied to and manipulated nearly everyone.  The one story he has stuck to, is that he wants to keep Elena safe.  Despite her incessant rejections and insults, he claims his daughter’s protection is his only agenda.  Should she believe him?  Just because he was screwed over by a compelled Isobel, doesn’t mean his intentions were pure.  Maybe it’s the fact that she just watched her birth mom burn to a crisp, but Elena is ready to look at him a little differently.  If a father-daughter relationship is possible for Elena and John, does that mean he’s nearing his end?  As soon as the impossible-to-like character becomes likeable, he may have a dramatic exit in the horizon.

Nobody’s on her Side:  Katherine is ready to jump ship for whichever side has the best deal on the table at any time.  She’s not willing to completely sever ties with either side, in case she needs to hop the fence again.  This doesn’t work out in her favor as it turns out she is being played too. 

It appears Katherine has done too much looking out for number one over the years, because now nobody is looking out for her.  How self-preservation became such a dominant part of her existence is still a mystery.  What does she have to live for after hundreds of years of running and hiding?  Rose at least had Trevor by her side.  Katherine has nobody.  She claims to love Stefan but she constantly pushes him away.  Perhaps she thinks that if she fails at survival, the death of her entire family will be in vain.  Perhaps she is just scared.  Whatever it is, it has to be a lonely world for Katherine Pierce. 

Now Katherine finds herself trapped again (though in much more comfortable accommodations than the tomb) and in the hands of the person she has been running from for hundreds of years, only Klaus isn’t in Klaus’ body; he is in Alaric’s.  Hopefully Rick is still alive somewhere in there.  What could his need for the swap be?  He has full access to the doppelganger, Katherine, and the moonstone.  Finding a werewolf to break the curse shouldn’t be too difficult for somebody that old, wise, and dangerous.  He must have a further agenda of some kind.  The question is what is it, and how does it involve Rick?

Most Heart-Braking Scene:

Isobel admits how much she wishes she could have met Elena as her human self, before she gives herself up to the sun.

Cutest Scene:

Maybe he’s still playing us, but John and Elena making amends was pretty sweet. 

Points to Ponder:

·         It seemed like Alaric was handling the Jenna situation rather well, until John received a well-deserved punch to the face :D

·         Elena’s arguments with her birth parents are the most “teenager-esque” qualities we’ve seen from her.

·         Is the Miranda Sommers Gilbert Scholarship Fund something Miranda Gilbert started or is it in her memory?

·         Bonnie seems pretty immune to burnt corpses.

·         Where is Tyler?!?!

·         Stefan has sure been evolving into more of a confident and tough character with every episode.

·         We should watch Damon clean up more often (but maybe minus the temper tantrum).

·         I’m very surprised John does not have vervain in his system.  For someone so anti-vampire, you would think that would be a priority.

·         If Bonnie were to survive killing Klaus, is the power harnessing thing a one shot kind of deal, or will she always have this extra power?

Notable Quotes:

·         Katherine: “I’ve been honest with you; time to return the favor.”
Damon: “Let me be honest with you.  Don’t mistake the fact that we haven’t set you on fire in your sleep for trust.”

·         Stefan (to Elena): “Maybe [Matt] will come around; you did.”

·         Isobel: “John told me Rick was dating Aunty Vanilla; I got jealous.”

·         Alaric: “Look, whatever jacked-up vampire amends you’re trying to make with me right now, I’m not interested.”

·         Stefan: “Isobel had the right idea with the safe house.  We’ll just stay here until it’s all over.  That way you can control who gets invited and who doesn’t.”
Damon: “Although, I’ll be super pissed if you lock me out.”