After so many months of wondering just what was going to happen to Matt, he turned out to be the most important character in this episode – and proved that he loves his friends enough to make the ultimate sacrifice for them.
Matt and Bonnie accidentally happen upon Klaus in the gym, just after he’s killed “Not Now Dana.” Klaus informs Bonnie that he needs information from the Original Witch on how to make his hybrid army – and promptly forces his blood into Tyler’s mouth and snaps his neck to add a dash of urgency to his request.
The look on Matt’s face when Klaus snaps Tyler’s neck is priceless – go Matt!
Despite feeling alone and isolated, Matt determines that if Jeremy could talk to the dead after dying and coming back, so could he. He then trusted Bonnie’s skill with CPR and stepped off the deck and into the pool, with a big old weight hooked to his belt. He drowned, but before he is completely dead, Bonnie is able to save him, and he gives her a message from Vicki – so that Bonnie can save Tyler.
If Caroline is the character who represents cheerful perseverance, Matt is the one who represents genuine loyalty. It is going to be interesting to see what happens now that he can communicate with the dead. Vicki’s motives – despite her love for her brother – are clearly suspect.
Matt’s story arc – and specifically the information he gets from Vicki before Bonnie successfully revives him – provides key information for Klaus. And I am left marveling at how the writers have – once again – made the best use of all the characters to weave an irresistible story that, once disclosed, not only explains the past but moves the plot forward yet again, all while dropping yet more interesting clues as to what may happen next.
It seems that the Original Witch hated Klaus, and told him that the doppelganger needed to die in order for him to become a hybrid. Vicki tells Matt that Elena must die in order for Bonnie to save Tyler. But Klaus suspects the information and tries an experiment. Rather than killing Elena, he has Tyler drink her blood – and Tyler, unlike the other hybrid attempts – does not get the bloody eyes, go rabid, and die.
Rebekah reflects that the Original Witch is still screwing with Klaus after a thousand years. But Klaus says it makes sense if you look at it from her point of view. The intent was that Klaus would be alone for eternity. The Original Witch hated him. So this isn’t about balance at all – this was revenge.
But for what? I have a theory on that – read further please.
Now that he knows he can breed his hybrid army with Elena’s blood (a supply of which he is taking by compelling hospital staff), Klaus reveals to his sister Rebekah that the whole point of creating a hybrid army was not for power, but so he would not have to be alone.
The look of pain on Rebekah’s face is perfect. Klaus had a loving family – one that he apparently can’t completely abandon because he’s carrying them around with him. But Rebekah knows that Klaus destroyed it. And now he wants to turn around and create a new one. Klaus is ashamed in the moment and tries to hide his shame from his sister, who walks away – just as Damon shows up.
From Damon and Katherine’s road trip (with Jeremy in the trunk) we learn that Katherine’s friend Pearl knew about Mikael the Vampire Hunter, but did not divulge the information to Katherine – only to her daughter Anna – thus the need for Jeremy. Anna tells him (with a little persuasion from Damon) that Mikael is asleep and you don’t want to wake him. But Damon tells Klaus that Mikael is on his way to Mystic Falls.
Klaus is so terrified that he leaves, presumably with only the blood he’s managed to get from Elena so far, because he leaves without Elena and his new hybrid, Tyler.
Damon carries Elena home from the hospital, returns the Original Witch’s necklace to her, offers to compel her to forget (this is progress for Damon – he asked her permission), which she refuses, and tells her he will never leave her again.
But Stefan unexpectedly enters the room, takes a drink, and announces that he’s Klaus’s watchdog – and Damon and Elena are free to “carry on”.
I strongly suspect that Stefan has not “turned off” his emotions at all. I think it’s an act. Klaus is gone, but little sister Rebekah remains behind and will undoubtedly be reporting back to her big brother. Klaus himself said he’d never seen anything like the love Stefan has for Elena – and regardless of what Elena thinks she saw happen, I don’t believe Klaus was truly able to compel Stefan to turn off his emotions completely.
After all, Klaus’ test of the compulsion was for Stefan to feed on Elena – and Elena’s still alive. What happened to the Ripper? My suspicion is that Klaus – now a hybrid – has lost some of his Original Vampire power, including the power to compel another vampire. Or it could be something else?
Mind-control vs. compulsion? Where have we seen that before?
At the end of the episode, we see Katherine and Jeremy (how’s that for an odd pairing) at a crypt with the name “Pickett” on it, in the oldest wing of the largest cemetery in Charlotte, NC. Mikael was apparently entombed there in the 1990’s by a witch. (I’m betting that witch was Sheila Bennett, Bonnie’s grandmother.)
Why is Mikael – a vampire – hunting vampires? I think he cultivated his reputation as a vampire hunter for the sake of fear, but that his true mission was to kill Klaus before he could remove the curse and become a hybrid.
I am also guessing that the Original witch hated Klaus because she was aligned with the Original family BEFORE they became vampires.
So here is my theory.
The Original Vampire Papa is Mikael, and his last name is Saltzman, and his descendants include Alaric Saltzman, Mystic Falls’ resident Vampire Hunter.
The Original Vampire Mama is Esther, and her last name is Petrova, and her descendants (through her daughter Charlotte) will be the Petrova doppelgangers.
Her best friend was the Original Witch, whose descendants will be Bennetts, and the origins of the Bennett animosity towards vampires is explained further below.
When they were human, Mikael and Esther had 7 children, but Mikael was not the father of one of them. Esther’s secret shame is that she sired a son by another man (who happened to carry the werewolf curse). This son was Klaus (who has inherited the werewolf curse).
When the family was still human, Klaus fell in love – with the daughter of the Original Witch. Klaus’s older brother was also in love with Original Witch daughter (the proverbial triangle).
Two events occurred that altered both families in profound ways.
First, the Original Witch discovered Esther’s shameful secret. Mikael – outraged by his wife’s betrayal, tracks down the other man and kills him and his entire family, thus creating the seeds of animosity between the werewolves and vampires.
Second, Klaus, as a result of being “outed” by the Original Witch, is now a virtual outcast from his family. He attempts to kill her daughter (who, once the secret was revealed, wants nothing more to do with Klaus, isolating him even further.) The Original Witch intervenes in order to save her daughter – who escapes. The Original Witch, however, is mortally wounded.
Feeling betrayed by her friend, and angry that her daughter had been put in danger because Klaus’ lineage and attempted murder, and knowing her end is near, the Original Witch puts a curse on the entire family, turning them into vampires.
But Mikael begs the Original Witch for help. He wants to know if there is any way to kill a vampire. He will take care of exacting revenge on Klaus. She tells him that she only way to kill an Original Vampire is with a dagger carved from the wood of a white oak tree.
Mikael, following the witch’s instructions, attempts to kill Klaus with a dagger carved from white oak, but because of his werewolf blood, Klaus is completely unaffected. Stunned by his Father’s attempt to kill him, and angry with his family, Klaus sets the white oak tree on fire.
Enraged, Mikael comes after Klaus again, but Klaus side-steps him and Mikael plunges the dagger into his wife, Esther, who dies instantly.
Now, knowing that her spell will be ineffective on Klaus, the Original Witch curses him further and very specifically. Although his werewolf blood is protecting him from death by means of the white oak dagger, the Witch suppresses his werewolf attributes with a curse, which she seals with the blood of a Petrova –Esther.
Klaus – knowing that she is dying – forces the Original Witch to tell him how to remove the hybrid curse. She reveals that he will need a vampire, a werewolf, a witch, and to drink the blood of a Petrova doppelganger (who will come from Esther’s Petrova lineage through her daughter, Charlotte) until she is dead. Klaus then kills the Original Witch and fleas his home, accompanied by his loyal brother Elijah.
Klaus, whose sister Charlotte had children, now begins a hunt for Charlotte in order to track the Petrova doppelganger – while the Petrova family members take pains to protect Charlotte and her descendants. In 1490, Katerina Petrova – a doppelganger – gives birth to a baby girl. The baby is immediately removed before Katerina can even hold her.
Katerina is banished and winds up in England, where she meets Trevor, who recognizes her as a Petrova doppelganger. Wanting to ingratiate himself with Klaus, he introduces her to his brother, Elijah, who immediately knows who she is, and who is struck by her resemblance to his sister Charlotte.
Klaus, believing he has found his doppelganger, makes plans for her sacrifice. Katerina thwarts his plans. Klaus goes on a murderous rampage, killing everyone in her family.
But he doesn’t stop there. He then starts killing off members of his, Original family. Believing Elijah has betrayed him, Elijah becomes his first intended victim. But Elijah escapes Klaus’s wrath.
Those in his family who can do so escape. Klaus spends centuries hunting them down and killing them with daggers dipped in white oak ash, but places them in individual coffins and carries them with him wherever he goes.) Due to his hybrid lineage, using the dagger and white oak ash doesn’t kill Klaus when he uses it to kill his vampire family members.
Mikael, however, eludes Klaus at every turn. Mikael becomes the first in a long line of Vampire Hunters, tracking Klaus across the centuries in order to get his family back, and to prevent Klaus from becoming a true hybrid and creating a hybrid race.
I can hardly wait for the next few episodes for those breadcrumbs that the writer put into each episode as they continue to weave the story of these people and their families. I don’t care if I am right or wrong about any of my speculation. The Vampire Diaries is like a great book that you can’t put down.
Best Show On Television!!!!!
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Redemption and Hope – TVD Episode #307 – “Ghost World”
by Bonnie on October 28, 2011
I know it’s only October, and last night’s episode of TVD was a Halloween special, but to me it felt like a Valentine.
According to a tweet from Julie Plec, “Ghost World” was a gift to viewers. And it was very, very special.
I know that today’s technology – social media in particular – makes it possible for fans and producers/directors/writers/actors to interact in a new, immediate and powerful way. But there is nothing compelling (no pun intended) the creators of TVD – or any show – to act on fan
feedback. The fact that they did shows just how much they appreciate the fans, and who doesn’t love that?
Moreover, TVD is some of the best television ever, with its rich characters and complex plot-lines. Yet these people took the time to weave into this incredible tapestry some of the most beloved former characters in a way that closed out the past, included just about everyone (Tyler was the
notable absence last night), and not only did not destroy the integrity of the current story line – Klaus and the Original family – but enhanced it.
And because of that, I continue to be awestruck by the production, writing, and acting on this show. That it doesn’t get recognition from The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences or SAG is criminal. This show defines the term “ensemble”. But the acting and writing stand on
their own merits, individually as well as collectively.
In a season that has so far been marked by one standout episode after another, this one was particularly sweet. And if you didn’t cry – at least once – you have my deepest sympathy. This show is superior because of the way it makes the fans care about the characters. Their happiness – and their pain – is ours as well.
So what happened? For me, it was a story of redemption and hope.
Vicki is gone. But Anna is still there, and Mason has appeared. And Mason appears to be out for revenge against Damon. So Damon finds Bonnie and gives her an order – “fix it”. Bonnie is concerned because if Mason is here, things are much worse than she imagined. Vicki and Anna are bad enough, but just how many ghosts are there?
Her grimoire drops and falls open to a page with a manifestation spell to reveal “veiled matter”. Say what? In a word – ghosts. Bonnie and
Caroline are off to the old witches house (the one where Bonnie brought Jeremy back to life) and Bonnie starts chanting the spell.
Suddenly, ghosts start to pop up everywhere. And they are corporeal – they can touch people and people can see and feel them!
Lexi appears to Stefan, and she has one of the best moments of the night. When Stefan is less than happy to see her, she cracks his head against the side window of an SUV and knocks him out! Lexi was beloved for her spunk as much as her humanity. She’s the kick-ass precursor
to our beloved Caroline! She is there to help Elena get rid of the Ripper and get the “feeling” Stefan back.
Mason shows up at the bar next to Damon and Alaric – and Ric can see him! Mason is not there to mess with Damon – he just wants an apology, and to help. He knows where there is information on how to kill Klaus, and that will free Tyler. He even accepts the left-handed, half-assed apology that Damon offers up! I always liked Mason.
Elena enters the restroom at the Grill and sees Jeremy – kissing Anna – she can see Anna!
And Sheila Bennett shows up in the abandoned house. Grams!
Bonnie starts to cry but Grams tells her there is no time for that. When Bonnie brought Jeremy back from the dead, she upset the balance of nature. Grams is going to help her to get the balance back.
In an unexpectedly sweet moment, Caroline greeting Grams with “Hi Miss Shelia” and it had just the right touch of southern gentility and respect for her elders. Anyone who is not in love with Caroline has a hard, hard heart.
Grams explains that the Original Witch gained a foothold into the human world when Bonnie opened the door for Jeremy to enter. And then she used Vicki, knowing that Bonnie would send her back – which only opened the door wider. Basically, anyone with unfinished business can come back now. They need to destroy the OW’s talisman (the necklace) to send all the ghosts back and close the door between this world and the next.
It was very fitting that Grams was the one who got to explain what’s going on, including the information about the Original Witch, the necklace and the warning about staying out of Original Vampire business. Jasmine Guy nails the part of Grams once again. Sheila Bennett is the perfect combination of maturity, beauty, wisdom, compassion and love. She is stern, but in a way that conveys love and concern. It is why she is so beloved.
Caroline calls Elena and tells her that Bonnie needs the necklace – the OW is using it to draw power from the living. Elena says she doesn’t have the necklace – Damon does. Bonnie and Caroline are off to Casa Salvatore to look for it (even in the soap dish), but it’s not there.
Mason sets off on a hunt on the Lockwood property with Damon, looking for something that will help Tyler – information on how to kill Klaus.
Lexi gives Elena lessons on how to rid Stefan of his Ripper impulses and restore his humanity and emotions. It’s basically a course in tough love. Turns out that the necklace was a symbol of hope to Stefan in his darkest time. (It’s perfect that a talisman that represents hope wound up with the character who, among all the characters in Mystic Falls, best represents hope.)
But not every ghost who has appeared is there to help someone. Frederick and some of the tomb vampires appear in the square, ready to resume their vendetta against the founding families, and they start with a Fell – of course. (Those Fells just can’t catch a break.)
And it turns out Anna, who really does love Jeremy, loves her mother too. She took the necklace because she doesn’t want the door to close before she can find her mother. And if she can’t find her mother, she wants Jeremy. She doesn’t want to be alone. She can’t quite believe that
there are people on the other side who have found peace because she hasn’t.
Elena tells her she is not being fair to Jeremy, but Anna knows that. Jeremy tells her he believes there is peace on the other side, and she gives him the necklace. He takes it to Bonnie (who –now that she knows about all the love between Anna and Jeremy – is really pissed.)
Bonnie takes the necklace, throws it into the fire – and starts to chant, and suddenly Grams is beside her, slipping her hand into
Bonnie’s hand and chanting along with her. With a crack and a pop, the necklace disappears.
And suddenly, Damon is alone. Mason is gone.
Mason provided one of the key moments of the night with his “revenge versus redemption” speech. He understood he made bad choices in his
life, but they are over. He wants to help Tyler. His part in the story was the key to what is going to happen in the next episode, because he leads Damon to the location of information on Klaus and the originals – information that may provide a way to kill Klaus – and free Tyler from his grasp.
Lexi passes the “de-Rippify” torch to Elena, and she is gone.
Lexi got to offer Elena hope – that Stefan is still in there somewhere, regardless of what Klaus has done. And now Elena knows how to knock the Ripper out of him, if she is so inclined.
Grams tells Bonnie “You’re stronger than all of this. I’m proud of you.” And she’s gone.
Bonnie finally gets closure with her Grams. Sheila passed away unexpectedly in Season 1 and Bonnie spent a good deal of time away from
Mystic Falls mourning her loss. Sheila is one of those earthy characters that ground everyone around her, and that her last words to Bonnie were words of encouragement felt so right – yes, it was one of the crying moments.)
Finally, the sweetest moment was with Anna. As the ghosts disappear one by one, we see Pearl in the middle of the road. (I’m getting teary-eyed thinking about it as I write this…) Anna sees her and they run to each other, pure joy radiating from their faces. And they disappear together, holding each other. Best moment of the episode – in an episode that was full of best moments, as always.
But we’re not done yet. Because this is- after all – The Vampire Diaries.
Ric has found his way to the Lockwood caves and Damon. And discovers some interesting writing on the walls!
With a flash, crackle and pop, the necklace suddenly reappears on the hearth! It would not make sense for something that represents hope to simply disappear. Besides that, if you cheated (like I did, naturally) and saw the pictures of Original Mom wearing that necklace in next week’s
episode, you know it’s not really gone.
Looks like the Original Witch is one powerful Bitch! She will not be stopped. She must really hate Klaus.
(WARNING: If you have not yet seen the promo for next week’s episode, you might not want to read further. If you can’t stand the wait, carry on!)
Next week? Well, it is impossible for me not to comment on next week’s eagerly anticipated episode about the Original Family back before they were vampires. When the short promo was posted, it wasn’t long before we had screen caps to show details of who we will see – some old
friends, some new.
And apparently, these people have a Viking heritage. As usual, a hint of this was dropped in a past episode by Rebekah. Everything on this show is done with deliberation. Nothing is wasted. Rik tells us the writing on the walls of the cave is Viking script – and it includes the names of the Original Family members.
Original Mom, in episode stills, is wearing the necklace, so either she is the Original Witch (play on words?) OR she is wearing a gift from someone else. While she may be a witch, I still think she’s a Petrova. There are no Viking Petrova’s as far as I know. Mikael may have picked
her up on a previous journey across the seas. And I don’t think she’s the Original Witch (mother’s don’t hate their children, no matter what they do) - but I do think she’s the OW’s BFF.
It also looks like presumed youngest Original sib is dead (in Klaus’ arms). We don’t know really if he’s the youngest sibling of the Original Family, or the child of one of the Original siblings. We just know that he sure looks dead in Klaus’s arms. Did Papa Werewolf and his clan
attack the Original Family Settlement? Is Original Dad Mikael sword fighting with Original Werewolf Dad – or Klaus?
And I think I see a tree burning in the night sky? The oak?
As usual, the anticipation is killing me. Let the countdown begin.
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