10/8/2009

in

Stefan tries to reveal some of himself, Damon tries to lure Caroline to free him and Bonnie taps into her powers

Natalie Gregory

Vampire Diaries is heating up. Damon is still locked up in the basement of the Salvatore home, after Stefan successfully poisoned him with the vampire-weakening plant vervain. Damon is weakened considerably, and appears defeated.  
  
Meanwhile, Stefan attempts to patch up his secrecy with Elena. He mostly tells her about Catherine, the woman from the past whom both Damon and Stefan loved. After his exposition, Elena is appeased…temporarily.  
  
Caroline is still dazed from Damon's bite. She maintains high school normalcy, and organizes a car wash. But she is haunted by visions of Damon, who is actively getting into her head so she will free him from the basement.  
  
More suspicions are roused in Elena due to Stefan's reluctance to take off his ring, which we know keeps the sunlight from burning him. She also encounters an older man who swears he has seen Stefan before, over 50 years ago—looking exactly the same. This sparks a small investigation by Elena, ending with the question, "What are you?".  
  
In the meantime, Jeremy has issues dating Vicki, who seems more into drugs than anything else, while Bonnie further explores her supernatural powers, and seeks help.  
  
I'm enjoying "The Vampire Diaries" and happy to see it's less high school, more mystery. The momentum is gaining, which should help secure a second season.