***½ / ****
The Reckoning is another of those episodes that feels like it belongs in the season finale. It updates Stefan’s character into a sociopath, essentially completely a shell with no redeeming qualities besides what Klaus wants from him. Klaus tells Stefan to turn off his humanity and bite Elena. Before this, Klaus orders Stefan to feed from Elena as the Ripper would when a basketball gym time clock for Mystic Falls reaches zero after about 20 minutes (unless Bonnie discovers a solution that will give him his hybrids). It seems like Klaus can just do whatever he wants. Previously, though, Stefan had realized that Klaus was running from something or someone but he just didn’t know what or who. Damon and Katherine force Jeremy to learn of how to stop Klaus, with Ana coerced to inform him in order to keep him safe from harm. Damon threatens Jeremy, of course, and so Ana complies. Mikael is that threat to Klaus, a vampire who actually hunts and kills his kind. Damon now finally has secured some bit of leverage, but Klaus wants his blood supply (Elena) “protected” so a cold-blooded Stefan is left behind to do just that. Klaus fled before once again nearly killing Damon at the mention of Mikael…Mikael, if released, according to Ana, will kill all vampires. So that risk, as Katherine and Jeremy voluntarily open his tomb and awaken him, will be tested. I’m all for Klaus being put in his place and brought down a peg or two. Up until this point, Klaus and his sister (in this episode she is just as insidious, although a bit more bored and unenthused) have been running roughshod without consequence. In The Reckoning, this is never more the case. Klaus mocks Elena and Stefan’s love by depriving them of it. Damon returning to Elena, taking her out of the hospital where her blood was taken for Klaus to use to turn werewolves into hybrids (this happens to Tyler, when Klaus forces him to feed from him, and then later a vial of Elena’s blood), promises never to leave her again. Stefan, this time, mocks them, not at all bothered by their talk about his loss of humanity, conscience, and feeling. Rebekah, realizing that Klaus is just afraid to be alone, confronts him about his reasoning for the hybrid army, and he admits to it in so many words.
Robbing Stefan of that love that keeps him from being an
absolutely rotten, predatory cretin, Klaus serves as a tried and true
antagonist of the highest order. Just for spite, Klaus compels Stefan to be as
he so wishes instead of allowing him to be who he really is. Klaus will not
tolerate Stefan choosing Elena over his own wishes. This robbery of that
humanity is, to me, a rape. Seeing Klaus suffer will be quite sweet. It is a
delicious bit of villainy, as is Rebekah’s dismissive nature of those in
attendance, friends of Elena preparing for a senior prank undermined by evil
vampirism. Because Klaus and Rebekah are Originals rarely are they ever at risk
against anybody, much less vampires. So to learn that there might just be a
threat out there that would challenge these two is a pleasant development.
Mikael being released upon the world adds a definite unpredictability to the
third season, considering how many vampires move about in the world, much less
Mystic Falls.
Matt has been the isolated supporting character in Mystic
Falls without a real tie to the supernatural. Caroline is a vampire. Tyler is
now a hybrid of werewolf and vampire. Elena is the doppelganger whose blood can
create a hybrid with help from Klaus’ own blood. Bonnie is a witch. Jeremy sees
dead people. What Matt wants is to see and communicate with his dead sister.
Jeremy can. Vicki has tried to talk to him, but Matt realizes he must die also
in order to actually experience what Jeremy does. Bonnie, thankfully, gives him
CPR and rescues him. Matt can now see Vicki! What this leads to interests me
because Ana had been persistent that Vicki represents an evil presence and
shouldn’t be trusted. Yet Vicki seems anything but sinister with Matt.
The episode clears up the constant threat to Elena’s life
due to her being a doppelganger and instead recognizes her blood as needed for
the development of hybrids. Bonnie’s magic is also established as limited due
to resurrecting Jeremy and calling on the dead witches to save him. Also, the
episode gives Tyler a unique stature as a character of both vampire and
werewolf traits, scooping up an elated Caroline who is relieved that he will
remain alive and all hers. Tyler remarks that he feels better than ever. Let
the complications of his new stature ensue!
Stefan’s turn to the darkside and Damon’s loyalty (and love)
to Elena should be an intriguing reversal of the ongoing love triangle as the
third season continues, especially since all three live under the same roof. Of
course, if Klaus ever were to release Stefan from the compulsion there is no
reason to think Elena could ever truly embrace him as she had before. His
biting her and returning to the Salvatore home no longer the Stefan Elena truly
loved will certainly further strain their relationship. Klaus’ handiwork, he’s
quite a pill.
Katherine always involved in matters that really shouldn't concern her (why not go far away and live it up without worry of Klaus following her?) includes her in serious developments that mold and shape almost everything on the show, regarding Elena and her inner circle. Katherine has inserted herself often right into the action...even endangering herself. It is like a roller coaster she wants to board and experience even as the meddling could be a detriment to her.
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