Yay, I’m back!  Big thanks to Bethany to covering last week, and thank you all for showing her the love!

Now, to be honest, I’ve found the last couple of episodes to be underwhelming.  This one was better.  I don’t know … this whole season has been a little weird, right?  Or am I insane?  I definitely have enjoyed it more than last season and I do love bad Stefan.  Of course I am totally on board the Klaus train … I think the biggest thing is that it hasn’t felt as twisty and surprising as it has in the past, and also?  I might be getting tired of the Originals and need a new villain.  I don’t mind if a couple of them stay (especially if they have a relationship with Caroline, and no, it doesn’t have to be Klaus or nothing for me), but I’m ready to wrap this up.  And of course, I’m always ready to lose Bonnie.

You all know I don’t really like to just rehash the plot for you guys, because we all watched this, but there wasn’t also an enormous amount of character movement.  But, like I said, I liked the episode and I do want to talk about it.  So I’m just going to share whatever thoughts I have and then we can talk more in the comments.  Cool?  Okay.  Let’s get things started on a good great epically sexy note:

Easily one of my hottest moments of television this year. DAMN.

Now that we’ve got our blood pumping, the first thing that we have to discuss is the making off the stakes.  Whittling seems like the absolute dumbest fucking use of time and resources in the world.  So time consuming and wasteful!  You mean to tell me that these bitches managed to acquire a chop saw, clear Alaric’s apartment, drag it up there, and then they have to finish the project by WHITTLING?  Goddammit, Bartles & Jaymes, this is the year 2012!  And apparently the world is ending and we don’t have time to waste.  Also, you only have one tiny sign’s worth of wood, so you don’t have that to waste either.  So pull your shit together, and get yourself a belt sander, and sharpen that bitch like a pencil with minimal waste!  And then gather up the sawdust and use it for something!  GOD.

I swear, why is everything surrounding White Oak #2 so dumb?  Anyway, the show tried to make it up to me by doing a very cool visual walk and talk with Klaus and Finn through a city.  (Did anyone catch which city?)  And I must say, absence makes the Klaus grow hotter, or something, because holy HELL.  Even Finn was looking hotter.  Oh, and how about Caroline asking why she always has to be Klaus bait?  Girrrrrrl, the real question is why you always GET to be Klaus bait.  That’s the best job in the group BY FAR.  And possibly the best job in the world.

In fact, the only better job I can think of might be the job of being Jeremy’s puppy.  OMG.  Those two are fucking adorable.  I ship them now.  I shall call them Juppy.  Also, as a show of good will for incorporating Juppy into it, I will not make fun of the AT&T product placement (this time).

As usual, Caroline makes everyone more awesome and her and Alaric hanging out was no exception.  Sadly, there was no alcohol involved, only repulsive Bonnie juice (is there any other kind?), and Alaric saying, “Mmmmm … disgusting,” cracked me up.  The line wasn’t really anything special, but the delivery was SPECTACULAR.  And that wasn’t even my favorite line in the scene!  That would go to Caroline, for, “Hear you had a run-in with Buffy the Vampire.”  Hee!  I would’ve used it for the title, but given the shoutout to fandom with the moonstone, I had to go with that.

Alright.  Let’s discuss Damon’s dream scene with Elena rescuing him.  First of all, we all know that Shirtless Dancing Damon is the best Damon.  Right?  We can all agree on that?  But Shirtless Damon, even Shirtless Bloody Damon, isn’t too far behind.  Although the bear traps were GROSS, especially when he was trying to pull his hands through them.  That was some straight up Saw shit right there!  Anyway.  So Elena comes in and just opens the bear traps ever so gently, while a soft golden glow gives her a halo, and then she gives Damon her wrist to drink her blood, which she seems totally into and he’s like, way in control and is, for once, not a disgustingly messy eater.  All of that is just sort of funny (in a good way, not a mockery way) because it’s Damon’s fantasy.  But what made me REALLY laugh was how Damon kissed her directly after sucking her blood.  You guys know EXACTLY where my filthy mind went.  And if you don’t … well … stay gold, Ponyboy.

I know I said I didn’t want to just run down the plot, but I lied.  Here’s the one paragraph summary (even just for my own info): Klaus made Bonnie break the linking spell, Stefan managed to kill Finn, and the gang found out that when an Original dies (like, DIES dies), all the vampires they’ve ever made die too.  This is problematic, because they’re having trouble going any further back than Katherine coming from Rose’s blood.  (Come back and fill us in, Katerina!)  Oh, and also?  Klaus made Tyler.  You know what?  I will step in MYSELF and take that stake because don’t you motherfuckers DARE ruin Caroline’s life any more than you already have!  Anyway.  Klaus and Rebekah have most of the stakes, and one is stashed away by Evilaric.  This is … a problem.  Damon and Stefan are supposed to give the remaining stakes to Klaus and Rebekah, Or Else™.  And Stefan is back to embracing his emo side and he’s super bummed that Elena wrote in “maybe” on the note asking if she LIKE likes Damon.  Hey Stefan!  I know what’ll cheer you up!  JUPPY.

Instant happiness and quite possibly the cure for cancer.

Okay, so next week there’s not a new episode, and then we have four more to go.  I feel like shit’s about to get real, and I’m looking forward to it.

What did you guys think of this episode?  Are you with me or not so much on this season feeling a little off?  Favorite quotes or moments?  Theories on what’s going to happen?  Anything I missed or didn’t get quite right?  Let’s talk about it in the comments!