TV RECAP: The Vampire Diaries “I Alone”

By Chelsea Ballinger

Once again Vampire Diaries kept us on the edge of our seats with last night’s instalment “I Alone.” The episode featured long some awaited reunions and love connections and still managed to throw in a shock or two.

Let’s just start off with those shockers:

R.I.P Marah

We sensed a love connection brewing for Matt and Sarah and tonight’s episode continued that in a cute little flirtatious scene. We had hope our lonely blue-eyed quarterback would finally find someone, but it was not to be. Yes folks, it turns out the lost Salvatore relative was really at Duke University, and happy, thanks to Stefan who had always looked out for her. So when Matt introduced him to fake Sarah aka Monique, Stefan wasted no time compelling the girl to go away. But that was short lived. Enzo decided to test Stefan, attempting to get him to offer up  his secrets about the real Sarah Salvatore. However Stefan remained tight-lipped, causing Enzo once again to snaps another girl’s neck in front of him. This time we don’t think she had vamp blood in her system.

Be careful what you wish for Monique.

Liver!

Tyler and Liv finally kissed! Still, Liv is using her witty nature and sarcasm to guard her feelings. She even suggests that if she dies, he can date Luke instead. Tyler still manages to leave her speechless with vows to protect her. Tyler has really grown through this show. Do remember him in season 1? He was such a douche!

Damon and Elena sitting in a swing…. F-l-I-P-P-I-N-G?

That’s for flipping pancakes of course. Damon and Elena, with Liv’s help and a compelled Alaric (who used candles and liquor to get Jo to tell him where the ascendant was), went back to 1994 hell. Thanks to Kai leaving his pager with Bonnie they were able to contact her and we have to admit we loved Bonnie’s excitement over Elena’s voice over the phone. Damon and Elena bonded, building that lost love connection as they ate pancakes and waited for Bonnie to come to Mystic Falls, but Elena realized that Jo could never give up the key to Kai’s prison because her life depended on it. Finally, Damon also came clean and confessed to compelling Alaric and Elena admitting that wasn’t doing this for Elena but for Bonnie.

Damon has grown a lot over the course of the show. Yes,  he can still make a mess of things (which we will get into later), but he has demonstrated his ability to be a loyal friend, brother, and hopefully boyfriend again. Bonnie gave up her life for him and in being stuck with her for months, Damon came to realize how much he cared and loved her.

Pictured (L-R): Penelope Mitchell as Liv and Nina Dobrev as Elena — Photo: Annette Brown/The CW

Kai, the villain of the year!

Kai is seriously deranged, demonstrating time and time again that he really doesn’t care about anything … well, except becoming the almighty Gemini powerful, that is. Kai wasted no time in last night’s episode. The Evil parker sibling was out and not agreeing with skinny jeans and the no liquids rule through airport security. Oh, also instead of dine and dash, he pulled a, ‘I don’t have enough money for the taxi ride, so I’m going to strangle the cab driver’. Next up, a visit to little sis Liv, who surprisingly didn’t recognize him. Yeah, she was little, but I think most of us would remember the face of the big brother who tried to kill us. One flash of his ID, another absorbing her magic and Liv finally realized big bro was back, taunting her about how she sucked at hide and seek and how ironic the name Liv was for her, seeing as he planned on her not living anymore.

Ultimately Tyler saved her with the unfortunate consequence that they had to bring Damon and Elena back from 1994, as Bonnie was on her way from Portland. Kai attacked Damon and Elena and destroyed the ascendant, setting it on fire along with Elena, but Damon knocked Kai across the Mystic Falls border. You think that killed Kai’s chill vibe? Nope, not at all because he came to see the bright side of being in the anti magic town. No supernatural beings there to stop a serial killer. His last stop was Tyler’s house to proposition him – make a deal with the devil to save Liv’s life. I think we all know where this is going.

Newcomer Chris Wood is succeeding in bringing the Kai to life and as much as it pains me to say this, I like the character. Still want him dead, but he’s entertaining. But lets kill him before he hurts the Awesome Jo, and the cool Liv. Sorry Luke we still don’t know you.

Pictured (L-R): Nina Dobrev as Elena and Ian Somerhalder as Damon — Photo: Annette Brown/The CW

It all concludes with the rise of vampire slayers, shameless truth, and tears.

Matt has had enough of all vampires, in particular Enzo and seeks Jeremy’s aid in slaying him. This is not a good idea, Matt. Not smart, but Matt did point out some truths for us fans. Vampires bring nothing but trouble. Did we know that? Of course we did, but when it comes to a good show and lovable flawed characters we shamelessly root for the bloodthirsty creatures. We can’t really blame Matt for being fed up with the fang club. Vampires turned his sister and killed her. Most of his exes on the shows were vampires and he has seen most of his friends die at least five times each. The guy has officially had it!

As for the part about Damon sometimes having good intentions but going the wrong way about it? Yeah that was so this episode. Jo informed Alaric that his best friend compelled him to steal from her. It was quite an honest and perfect example of how much his relationship with Damon has grown, seeing as how he didn’t believe it as Damon is his friend.

Alaric threw punches at Damon, and the confrontation left Damon almost in tears. Not only had he failed Bonnie, but he betrayed his best friend. Vampire Diaries never fail to tell us the truth about the people we root for.

As an aside, Kat Graham delivered a stellar acting moment as Bonnie arrived to Mystic Falls, still stuck in 1994 and still alone. Her realization of her fate made us want to reach through the television and pick her right back up.

We’re left with several burning questions, some of which will hopefully be addressed in the upcoming mid season finale.

Will Tyler risk Jo’s life to save Liv? Will Bonnie get out? Will Jeremy and Matt succeed in killing Enzo? Will we ever meet the real Sarah Salvatore? Will Alaric forgive Damon? Where was Caroline? Will Enzo break Stefan? Where is Daddy Parker? Can you believe this is only episode nine and already there is a lot going on?!

No, me neither. It’s Vampire Diaries.