The Vampire Diaries Review: Jenna Gets Her Head in the Game

It seems like I’m going to be starting every article that I write about The Vampire Diaries in a state of shock. I just finished watching this week’s episode and once again I’m lifting my jaw off the floor. This has officially become the show where just about anything can happen and lately – it does.

But before we get to this week’s stunner let’s start at the beginning. With Klaus now in town and ready to break his curse, the gang of heroes prepares their plan to save Elena. The reformed Elijah produces a magic elixir that will make Elena appear dead during the ritual only to come back to life when Klaus is gone and the coast is clear. Damon absolutely hates this plan and wants to find another way so when Elena tries to calm him down he repays her by force feeding her his blood. Yep, you know what that means. If Klaus sacrifices her now, she’ll be turning into a vampire!

For Stefan, this action goes over like, well…it goes over like when your arrogant brother turns your perfectly lovely girlfriend into a vampire. I shouldn’t have to say this but: they start fighting. They both get a few good licks in but Damon ends it by staking Stefan in the chest. By this time Alaric and Jenna arrive to help break things up. Jenna even pitches in for the first time by getting some bags of blood for Stefan to feed on to regain his strength. Damon leaves in a huff.

Meanwhile, Klaus is across town (I can’t really back that up; he might live next door.) preparing for the ritual. We know by now that in addition to the doppleganger (Elena) he needs to also kill a vampire and a werewolf. Mystic Fall’s favorite werewolf, Tyler (Michael Trevino), has vanished but Klaus lures him back by sending his witch henchman to toss Tyler’s mom down a flight of stairs Scarlet O’Hara style. Tyler comes back to visit her in the hospital despite his besty, Jules’s advice not to. While at the hospital, Tyler runs into Caroline who is shocked to see him. Jules reluctantly gives them some private time and a few moments later, Klaus’s witches show up and take both Tyler and Caroline prisoner. Guess we know who’s getting sacrificed!

Damon, in his rampage to come up with a Plan B, boldly goes to Klaus’s apartment and demands that Katherine tell him who the intended werewolf sacrifice is suppose to be so he can kill him/her prior to the ritual. Katherine spills the beans that its going to be Caroline and Tyler and they’re being held in the tomb. Damon races there where he confronts Klaus’s witch and kinda gets his ass kicked, but then Matt shows up with a shotgun and shoots the witch dead.

Matt, as we know, is in cahoots with Caroline’s sheriff mom to dig up info on the vampires around town but we can tell his heart is leaning towards Caroline and wants to protect her at all costs. Damon temporarily knocks him out and frees Caroline and Tyler himself. Together they all flee into the woods as the full moon rises…

While this has all been going on Stefan and Elena have been taking a walk in the woods to talk about their feelings near CGI waterfalls and mountaintop sunsets. Bottomline: they love each other and she doesn’t want to be a vampire. Duh.

When they return to town Elena willingly turns herself over to Klaus and minutes later Damon calls to say that he has Caroline and Tyler safely away so do not let Elena go. Oops. Little late on that one, Damon. But then, to make matters worse, Tyler turns into a werewolf in the full moon and goes on the attack. Damon distracts him in a vicious brawl while Caroline and Matt get to safety in the Lockwood cellar.

Damon then breaks free to tell Klaus that the jig is up with his intended sacrificial lambs now free. But Klaus manages to one-up him with his snooty accent by revealing that he has Jules being held prisoner as a backup werewolf. And just when we think Damon is going to be named the backup vampire, we learn that Damon is already as good as dead from a werewolf bite that Tyler landed on him so Klaus decides to make a new vampire…..

Can I get a drumroll please?

And the newest vampire is………AUNT JENNA!!!

If you saw this coming you are a liar. She has been worthless since almost episode one so we’ll see if this change makes her relevant or interesting from here on out. Then again, she could very well die next week. Who knows?! All I know is that next week is going to be INSANE so tune in and be sure to post your predictions below!

The Vampire Diaries: Season 2, Episode 20: “The Last Day” (originally aired April 28, 2011)

 The Vampire Diaries airs Thursdays at 8/7c on TheCW.

Images courtesy of Bob Mahoney and The CW.