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The Vampire Diaries Season 3-05 ‘The Reckoning’ Recap

The episode starts with a creepy, straight out of a horror film, scene. Matt (Zack Roerig) hears noises while he's working out, alone, after hours at the school - like teenage athletes do. He wanders around the vacant hallways until he comes across a classroom that perks his interest. Unfortunately for poor Matt, he's walked right into the middle of prank night and a room full of ready to snap mousetraps.

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This week on The Vampire Diaries, it’s senior prank night at Mystic Falls High and the gangs all here, even some surprise and unwelcome guests.

The episode starts with a creepy, straight out of a horror film, scene. Matt (Zack Roerig) hears noises while he’s working out, alone, after hours at the school – like teenage athletes do. He wanders around the vacant hallways until he comes across a classroom that perks his interest. Unfortunately for poor Matt, he’s walked right into the middle of prank night and a room full of ready to snap mousetraps.

The soon-to-be seniors – Caroline (Candice Accola), Tyler (Michael Trevino), Bonnie (Kat Graham), and Elena (Nina Dobrev) – are all in on the act.  After a rough couple months, there is no short of need for a night of normal teenage living.

The pack splits up to go have some more harmless fun when Elena runs into a party crasher, Klaus (Joseph Morgan), who is pleasantly surprised to see her still breathing. Elena doesn’t share his excitement as Klaus seems amused at this new development.

Stefan (Paul Wesley) wakes up in the back of the truck/crypt-on-wheels to find that he’s had a fun filled day of having his neck broken, over and over again.  Rebekah (Claire Holt) is in a particularly snarly mood now that she knows the doppelganger is alive and kicking, and that Stefan has spent all this time protecting the love of his life.

Katherine (also Dobrev) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) are still on a road trip to unknown parts when Damon wises up. He confronts Katherine who reveals the reason behind snatching Elena/Rebekah’s necklace and a special guest – an unconscious Jeremy locked in the trunk. Katherine plans to use Jeremy to contact Anna (Malese Jow) and find out about Michael, the vampire/vampire hunter that the originals are running from.

Back at the school, Klaus has Elena in the gym where he’s laying down the agenda for the rest of the night. Rebekah, having incapacitated Caroline for the time being, drags Tyler in. Klaus plans to up the stakes by making Tyler a hybrid, and giving Bonnie another reason to find a solution to the spell cast 1,000 years ago by the original witch. When Klaus feeds Tyler his blood and snaps his neck, things start to get a little tense.

Stefan joins the proceedings only to be compelled by Klaus to drink Elena’s blood when the gym clock strikes zero.

In a rush for time, Matt decides the best way to help with his lack of supernatural powers is to contact his dead, vampire sister. He jumps in the pool, strapped with weights, relying on Bonnie to save him. In the meantime, Vicky (Kayla Ewell) gives Matt a message for Bonnie. It turns out the original witch’s spell called for the blood of the doppelganger for hybrids to be created – not quite the story Klaus had been fed.

As the clock ticks down, Elena pleads with Stefan to fight against his orders and use their love for strength. He manages to slow himself down enough for Elena to escape, but this story doesn’t have a happy ending. Klaus catches up with Elena and forces Stefan to turn off his human feelings. A helpless Elena finds herself the damsel in distress once again, and this time there is no Salvatore brother there to save her.

Klaus feeds Tyler the blood of the doppelganger and becomes the first of his hybrid army.

Elena wakes up in the hospital where Klaus has compelled a nurse to take blood from her. He stands guard outside with a vexed Rebekah waiting on his valuable merchandise. After Rebekah slinks off into the shadows, Damon finally shows up. Per his usual style he has no problem getting in Klaus’s face, except this time he has some leverage – Michael. Damon then enters the hospital room, unplugs Elena, and walks off into the night with her.

Back at Salvatore manor, Damon and Elena have a touching reunion. When Damon volunteers to take away her memories, she maintains that she needs to remember everything. She is finally convinced that Stefan is gone, for real this time. Damon promises her that he will never leave her alone again. A heartfelt moment ruined by the entrance of Stefan. Yes, Klaus has now left town and in his place to watch out over the doppelganger – Stefan.

Things have certainly become interesting now, with Stefan gone over to the dark side and Damon taking over the role of the good brother, Elena sure has some rough water ahead.  How long will Stefan’s vampire nature be in control? My guess – long enough for Damon and Elena to make a go of it.

Let us know in the comments what you thought of tonight’s episode.