The Vampire Diaries - Let the Right One in

I consider Let the Right One In a game-changer type episode. It is a pivotal episode that shows lives altered and a big storyline angle created moving forward involving Vicki’s death, its ripple effect on those she knew and were her friends/family, and how her body being found will shape what lies ahead. But the major angle going forward certain to change the dynamic of the show is Stefan feeding from Elena’s wrist, revisiting the taste of human blood…and this side of him Elena sees is ferocious and violent. What Stefan does to Frederick once he is full of Elena’s blood is a side we (or her) have not seen. Keep this in mind: Stefan, in all the previous episodes up to Let the Right One In, was in control, in a peace of mind that allowed him to be friendly and affectionate, and had a clear direction that wasn’t muddied by “the hunger”. Now that he tasted human blood again—after being considerably weakened by Frederick and his brood with use of a Vervain rope and wooden stabbing, held hostage in the basement of the human Miss Pearl had glamoured—and emerged totally different from the Stefan we have seen over the duration of the first season, it appears to be a shift certain to complicate matters. Especially potent is that final moment in the episode when Damon returns home to find Stefan on his knees in the floor with blood on his mouth and blood bags emptied all around him. Damon has that look on his face of, “Oh, shit.”

This episode finally arrives back to Vicki. Her death had gradually faded from importance. Jeremy had been glamoured by Damon, with the pain of her loss removed from memory, rescuing him from the agonies that would have driven him perhaps over the edge. Matt just thought she had left town. The mother (Melinda Clarke) just figured she went away to find a better life elsewhere. Stefan and Elena knew they had to stop her before she turned Jeremy. Damon was responsible for turning her and causing all of the drama. Burying Vicki’s body far away, they thought that maybe doing so would keep the secret of her fate from those who loved her. And the irony of Caroline finding her body while getting stuck in the mud as she was driving to meet her dad, however implausible and coincidental in its plotting, only adds to the drama of the discovery. Caroline wanting to be Matt’s romantic love, with Elena’s presence still casting its cloud (Matt tells Caroline he just needs to be alone, and Elena arriving to give him a big, comforting hug that is reciprocated right in front of her doesn’t do the relationship any favors) is certain to doom what they do have. How long will Caroline tolerate this? And what now in regards to the investigation that will soon follow regarding how Vicki died? Jeremy and Tyler both stunned by Vicki’s demise, with Annabelle realizing Jeremy wanted her to turn him so he could be with Vicki when he found her also ruins the potential for that possible romance. Anna did like Jeremy a lot. Despite Miss Pearl warning her to stay away from a descendent of the Gilberts, Anna was willing to turn him, but with the knowledge of Jeremy true intentions, she isn’t so keen to follow through.

Alaric convinced by Damon and Elena to help them, revealing his vampire hunting gear (Vervain hypodermic weapons, stake shooters, etc.), joins forces with them to effectively dwindle down Frederick’s force in numbers at the house Miss Pearl had commandeered, makes for some real exciting action. Damon and Alaric were a surprisingly successful team. Damon had used Isobel as a means to talk Alaric into helping them. The poor human woman who was “convinced” to let Miss Pearl use her home is “put to rest” by Damon as she was essentially not much help to him (Frederick made sure she wouldn’t allow Damon to cross her house’s threshold to save his brother). Because Frederick seemed to leave the tomb with nothing but revenge on his mind, he was damned. The Brothers Salvatore are survivors, sometimes thanks to each other, and other times thanks to luck and fate. Stefan twice was rescued from certain death by Damon and then Elena. But what this encounter with Frederick does to his life going forward could be to his detriment.

Pearl is serious in that she wants to assimilate with the town and patiently gain the trust of humans. Frederick was too hot-headed and unfocused. Harper tried to be the voice of reason but Frederick and his pack overturned his objections, subduing him with wooden stakes in his legs. Stefan recognized his efforts and demanded the stakes removed while being carried out of the basement by Elena (who just couldn’t stay in the car no matter how dangerous the situation might be towards her). Pearl didn’t condone their actions and assured Damon to follow through with her plan to get info on the council. She is a focused woman with a clear line of sight…infiltrate this town and usurp them.