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The Vampire Diaries Review: “Bring It On” (Season 4, Episode 16)

It's been two weeks since we've had a new episode of The Vampire Diaries and that seems to be just about the same amount of time that has elapsed since Elena (Nina Dobrev) flipped the 'off' button on her humanity. She's obviously had enough time to try out the 'fun' course of therapy, but with Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) trying to keep her tethered to a humanitarian version of the vampire life, she's reached her limits pretty quickly.

The Vampire Diaries

The Vampire Diaries

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Besides the whole Elena turned off plot twist, the hunt for the cure is still unfortunately meandering right along. Klaus (Joseph Morgan) is taking a less violent approach and is now providing asylum for Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin), the renegade werewolf. It looks like fate is setting up an alliance between the two in the interest of the upcoming spin-off, which I am curious to see the premise of, but I still wish anyone but Hayley was going to make the jump. Even when she pulls her whole “I’m an ophan and Katherine is sending vamps to kill me,” she doesn’t come across as someone that I want to invest time in. On the other hand, Klaus can do no wrong in my mind. The difference is that Klaus is likeable, and Hayley isn’t. Her insistent pleading for Tyler’s (Michael Trevino) pardon only amplifies the fact that she is ultimately the reason that he is in this mess in the first place. I will now be forced to spend the rest of this season trying to block out the image of the Klaus and Hayley in bed.

Despite her insufferable nature, Hayley is the obvious link to Katherine. As long as she is alive, Katherine will presumably send minions after her. Silencing her would be ideal because it would mean we wouldn’t have to see her anymore, but eventually the cure is going to come to the surface and I’m not opposed to Klaus having something to do with that.

On the other hand, Damon – regardless of his personal feelings about Elena’s undead existence – would be the ideal person to find it. He’s always had an odd connection to Katherine and he loves Elena enough to know that she needs the cure more than anyone. His sage advice to Rebekah (Claire Holt) may not have been welcome, but it was wise. Would Rebekah love being human as much as she thinks she would? Adjusting to life as a fragile human would be more difficult for someone who’s been alive as long as she has, but it also might be most appreciated. All I’m saying is that Rebekah might only think that this is what she wants in a very cliche ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’ way. The truth is that when it boils down to it, Rebekah has always surprised me. It wouldn’t be completely out of left field for her to pinch-hit at the last moment and give her chance at being mortal away to Elena.

This only leaves the elephant in the room, a.k.a. Silas, who is still lurking in somwehere in the background. We breifly encountered the problems that he is already causing for our favorite vampires by hijacking the entire blood supply surrounding Mystic Falls, but what is his ultimate plan? He may have been the first immortal even, but from what I remember of the story is wasn’t exactly his choice either. Will he go after the cure for himself with his mega monster reach or does he have another plan in store? We may be seeing the brink of a season five arc of The Vampire Diaries.

Final thoughts – the letter from Tyler to Caroline (Candice Accola) was completely expected yet tragically heartbreaking. Of course he can’t come home with Klaus still a threat, but it doesn’t make it any less sad that another member of the cast will now be absent from our television screens. Losing Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) was almost too much to handle for me too, Elena.

With season four of The Vampire Diaries starting to wind down and half the cast gone or dead by the end of it, are there any actors you’re dying to have join the show? I’d love to see Sarah Michelle Gellar come in as the new history teacher/vampire hunter! What about you?

Until next episode.