The Vampire Diaries - Klaus

**½ / ****

Klaus’ emergence from his coffin, in his own body, freed from the weaker human form of Alaric, thanks to two allied witches has been inevitable since Elijah’s arrival in the second season. What the episode, Klaus, does is give him background and further emphasize just how evil and sociopathic he is. Humans, as he explains to his *brother* Elijah centuries prior, are insignificant to him. Human lives are nothing. Katherine is a doppelganger he plans to kill but, as already revealed previously, she made sure to be turned vampire by Rose. Klaus needs the moonstone, to kill Elena, and within him the werewolf laid dormant by witches will be freed. Klaus will be even more dangerous and hard to kill if he is able to accomplish this. We learn from Elijah, in a conversation with Elena when the two discuss a new alliance, that Klaus had a different father, their mother committing adultery. That father was a werewolf. So Klaus is a hybrid, but the witches would not allow such a creature to roam the earth. But if Klaus can kill Elena, he may finally be able to walk the earth as he so desires. Elijah, however, appears to be a different Original than Klaus, wanting to kill him before unleashing the werewolf so ready to surface. And that is the lead story arc. But also gaining great relevance is the increasing rift between Stefan and Damon, paralleling Klaus and Elijah’s own estrangement, Elena (instead of Katherine), once again the source of their anger towards each other. Elena has to scold them for nearly tearing into each other when Damon has a problem with Stefan…Stefan informs Damon that Elena doesn’t respect him, which is like a lit fuse setting off the stick of dynamite. Andie, the current “distraction” for Damon just wants to show him affection but he’s not pleasant to be around when really angry.

And then there is Jenna learning of vampires and werewolves from Klaus, in Alaric’s body, while Stefan keeps an eye on him (Stefan was hoping to tell Jenna himself to “lessen the blow”). Jenna doesn’t understand why she wasn’t told about all of this, but Elena tries to get the point across that it was for her own protection. Jenna is just in shock considering Klaus, in Alaric’s body, planned to harm her with Stefan, assuming his vampire form before her, stopping this attempted attack. Jenna learning of all of this, and that even Jeremy is aware, is a lot to process.

Elena and Elijah joining forces again does seem far-fetched on its face, but because Klaus is an even bigger problem they will need to be on a united front. Stefan is willing to comply but Damon is defiant as always. Elena’s safety is Damon’s top priority but Stefan confronting him about his true feelings for her stirs up serious animosity. So as Damon deals with his rage and harsh feelings, he needs to be alone.

Elijah harboring affection for Katherine doesn’t sit well with Klaus who presses him about feeling anything for humans. Much like Damon, Klaus prefers to bury any remaining human that might exist if he “turns it on” so he can just do what he wants, on impulse, at his leisure. Leaving his coffin, the show builds the grandeur of Klaus’ true arrival in Mystic Falls, seemingly ready to put his plan in motion. Will anyone be able to stop him? Elijah seems to think so, with help from Bonnie, he promises Elena she will be spared.