The Vampire Diaries Review: “Stand By Me” (Season 4, Episode 15)

I’m glad someone else had the guts to say it out loud, but Bonnie was certainly sounding crazy for the better part of this episode. Clearly Silas used his ability to make people see those they love who have died to manipulate her, but still. The idea that she has to kill 12 people is completely unlike anything Bonnie would back. Especially considering the consequences. Bonnie may be in grief mode major, but even Elena had the good sense to just burn her own house down instead of taking it out on innocent people. What Bonnie is proposing would be a big mistake and it seems like she’s the only one that can’t see it. I wonder how many more hallucinations of Jeremy she’s going to need to keep her convinced of this path. Even without her humanity, Elena won’t stand for this. And, with promises from producers that another character will be exiting before the spring hiatus – Bonnie better find something to help her move on or my money’s on her being the next TVD regular to bite the dust.

Although, it’s quite possible that this exit might be in the form of a literal exit as opposed to a death. Damon and Rebekah found out from Vaughn (Charlie Bewley) that Katherine (also Dobrev) got her information from Professor Shane’s (David Alpay) accomplice, our least favorite werewolf Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin). Since we already know that she’s going to show up on The Vampire Diaries spin-off, The Originals, it wasn’t surprising that Katherine found her in New Orleans. Or, that Klaus (Joseph Morgan) and Rebekah are planning to relocate there. This is of course assuming that they think Katherine will eventually surface there and want to keep an eye on things.

Even though this is setting everything up for a very convenient backdoor pilot set to air in April during a regularly scheduled TVD episode, it doesn’t make the transition any easier. Klaus isn’t hiding the fact that he is in love with Caroline (Candice Accola) and it’s not exactly like she loathes him, and now it looks like it will be just another plot line left fully unexplored. I’m crossing my fingers that eventually Caroline with join him in New Orleans, if for no other reason that fufilling my own personal “what if” curiosity. Let’s face it, the Tyler (Michael Trevino)/Caroline/Klaus saga has not been done justice.

Klaus and Tyler were both missing in action this episode. Tyler for obvious reasons, and Klaus, well, he was probably off licking his wounds somewhere in a dark corner of his foreboding mansion – perhaps consulting a travel agent for where someone running as far away as possible from Mystic Falls might be hiding out. Caroline will definitely be in need of some consoling after Jeremy dying, Bonnie going crazy, and Elena turning off her humanity – do you think Klaus will take advantage of the recent string of sad events to woo her or will his compassion for her get the better of him?

So many possibilities and just enough episodes to make at least a few of them come true before the end of this season of The Vampire Diaries. What’s one thing you want to see before the season ends? Let us know in the comment section below!

Until next episode.