The Vampire Diaries continues down its path of high-paced compelling material with so many twists and turns you begin questioning if what you’re seeing is even real. It’s really about which side can out trick the other, even within the same side some are left in the dark. The audience is stuck between the two sides, knowing pieces of truth from both, but ultimately being blinded. This makes for a very exciting episode, pushing us towards the Klaus showdown where death is sure to follow; the only question is whose.
We pick up from the cliffhanger ending of the last episode with Klaus possessing Alaric’s body. Knowing this makes every moment creepier when Alaric shows up at school and show himself to Elena and the Salvatores. Klaus plays the part of someone who cares when really all he’s doing is seeing how he can end those that may stand in the way of his eventual plan for Elena. Meanwhile, he’s torturing Katherine, or I should say making Katherine torture herself, which is far more unsettling and oddly fitting considering Katherine‘s cruel actions. Just how demented Klaus trickery is becomes really entertaining, definitely adding some excitement and even humor in how devilishly cunning he is.
Just as Nina Dobrev really shines in her performance as Katherine, Matthew Davis as Klaus pushes his performance to another level. Maybe it’s just because I tend to be more intrigued by the evil or at least complicated characters. Either way any hint of Alaric is gone when his true form is exposed. He’s sinister, cruel, and conniving. He really seems like an ancient vampire, bringing out his distance from this era. Klaus thrives on torture, clearly showing the glee that this whole situation brings him. Davis does re-channel Alaric when he has to pretend in front of others. It’s really interesting to see him nail the dynamic of both of these characters that couldn’t be much different.
There were some great Damon moments in this episode. No surprise, but it seems like it’s been a little while since we’ve had the fun, sarcastic, sly Damon. He should come around more. Damon’s impression of the last dance where vampires attacked and horror ensued was hilarious. Some of comedy helped lighten the mood during some much needed moments. He still had his dark and intense moments, not afraid of being the bad guy if it meant saving Elena.
