The Vampire Diaries - The Hybrid

*** / ****

Television has changed quite a bit since the days gone bye where a series would go through its very episodic storytelling, usually not connecting characters within a big seasonal arc, instead opting to bottleship and encapsulate individual character-centric plots week to week. Nowadays the medium builds over a season, connecting dots and creating new threads episode to episode. Instead of the big cliffhanger only at the end of the season, series now adopt throwing twists at us every episode. Falling into a holding pattern is almost considered a detriment, a no-no.

In The Hybrid, The Vampire Diaries has freshened up characters, detouring the likes of Matt and Jeremy away from the ongoing Klaus story arc into a paranormal development I admit to finding quite intriguing. While Jeremy sees Matt’s sister, Vicki, and the former vampire girlfriend, Anna, Caroline is kidnapped and held prisoner by a confidant of Tyler’s mother. Jeremy wants to help Vicki somehow, hoping Matt could be there because of her emotional connections to both of them. Matt is reluctant—for good reason—to contribute, particularly after seeing an old brother/sister photograph, but Vicki seems resilient and restless. When Anna tells Jeremy not to trust Vicki, the story involving all four leaves us a mystery. Why does Anna consider Vicki a threat? Why can’t Vicki be trusted? Why wouldn’t Jeremy help Vicki if he could?

This episode is significant in regards to werewolves, following Klaus’ mission of building hybrid soldiers in the Smokey Mountains (with Stefan as his aid) and Tyler’s transformation in front of his mother to prove to her that Caroline is not the only *monster*. Of course, Elena wants to know where Stefan is so she can *save him* while Damon resists because Klaus believes she’s dead. Klaus not knowing the doppelganger isn’t dead is what keeps Elena safe and sound…but how long can Damon and Stefan keep that knowledge from Klaus? At the end of The Hybrid, Klaus looks at a massacre that was supposed to be his new army while Stefan is in need of his healing blood due to a werewolf bite at the infected teeth of Ray. I had thought Ray died in the previous episode, but he was actually killed by Klaus so he could revive as a half werewolf/half vampire. Stefan was carrying this man on his shoulders within the Smokeys as Klaus was leading them to the werewolf pack in Tennessee. Elena made damn sure Alaric would assist her in investigating their potential location. The episode cleverly avoids allowing Stefan and Elena to reunite. Stefan understood Elena needed to stay away. She’s damned stubborn, but Damon realized that her willingness to leave into the night as the full moon was at its apex was because of him. That is what the series isn’t subtle at all about: the love triangle that becomes more and more obvious. Alaric asks Elena at the end if she realizes what is going on…she does, although it is clearly wearing on her. How to be in love with both brothers and avoid the complexities of it all?

Stefan rescues Damon yet again, too, in this episode. Ray is rabid and out of control, aggressively overwhelming Damon who holds his own for quite a time until the ferocity of the beast appeared to be overtaking him in terms of strength. Damon recognizes Stefan’s dilemma, and his role in it all. Damon assures Elena that he’ll be there to try and save Stefan alongside her. But Damon confronts Elena about their feelings for each other. It is awkward and unavoidable because Damon won’t allow Elena to just ignore those feelings. Elena, though, does love Stefan, but how will they be able to reunite if Klaus remains between them?

The werewolf pack in the Tennessee mountains are harmless, just in camp off to their own in the right kind of home that allows them to just be what they are without threatening anyone else. Klaus arrives to ruin their idyll. He forces them to endure the vampire bite and taste of his blood, but because the *curse* isn't broken due to Elena's life status they all bleed from the eyes and mouth, suffering from the imbalance within their bodies. So as long as Elena lives, Klaus cannot breed a flock under his command. Stefan sees no alternative but to follow, willing to do so (and allow Klaus to remain in the dark about Elena) if his family is safe. What will Klaus do without the master race master plan he had so devoted his dedication to?

*Involving Caroline's dad, revealed to be a vampire hunter, it just introduces yet another difficulty into the mix. Difficulty is the key ingredient this show thrives on, melodrama and obstacles stacked upon obstacles. Elena doesn't just get a day off...it doesn't work out that way. The Mystic Falls inner circle of Elena's can't just get a break. There must always be conflict. Alaric tries to just remove himself from it all but Elena simply won't let him. He's family to her and Jeremy now. He gets the Gilbert ring to keep him safe. Alaric realizes, even after summoning Damon, resulting in his push of her in a lake, that he is tied to all of this.