Vampire Diaries - Miss Mystic Falls, S01E19

Excitement and anticipation are coming to full boil as the first season of Vampire Diaries rapidly approaches its finale. What exactly the focus of everything it has been building towards will be, I cannot say. Will Elena (Nina Dobrev)'s mother appear and bring chaos? Or will Katherine make her first appearance in Mystic Falls in 150 years? What about Johnathan Gilbert (David Anders)? And what will be the result of the relationship between Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) and Anna (Malese Jow)? So many questions, and we aren't even focused on our leads, Stefan (Paul Wesley), Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Elena.

At the beginning of the episode, Stefan seemed much more himself...well, mostly. He was more amusing, more charming, more fun than he had been, but he wasn't on edge anymore. Mostly, that was because he was giving into his cravings. The problems only came when he saw blood. And then he had a hard time controlling the lust he had let burst forth.

Despite Stefan's addiction problem, Vicki's death (so recently discovered), and Johnathan Gilbert's crazy and unknown plans, things in Mystic Falls continued to go along happily, as they do in small towns. Miss Mystic Falls had to be elected for the Founder's Celebrations, and Elena and Caroline (Candice Accola) had to go head to head in the competition. During their presentation, Stefan disappeared, kidnapping one of the girls whom he deemed would make a good snack, and Damon was forced to fill in for him. Despite Damon's ease at giving into his own cravings, he is in control of himself most of the time, and he is very very charming when he wants to be.

Stefan's issues were not the only painful confrontation Elena suffered through. Bonnie (Katerina Graham), finally returned after her lengthy absence, blames Stefan and Damon for her grandmother's death and has therefore removed herself from Elena's life. I can't help but consider this a little bit stupid. Bonnie's grandmother took the risk knowing the risk. She died, and perhaps she died in vain, since the rest of the vampires escaped the church, but she did not get involved expecting things to be easy. Bonnie's alienation of her best friend, whom she supported through the death of loved relatives, is only more ridiculous considering her developing powers and ability to control Stefan when no one else could. Then again, she's a 17 year old high school student. I should expect anything more from her.

And so the episode ended with Elena tricking Stefan into being pumped full of vervain and locked in the basement. We all know how well it worked when Stefan did the same thing to Damon...I just hope that whatever transformation Stefan goes through on his road to recovery - we've got to get him back at some point - that it is believable.

Otherwise, I'm just really excited to see everything come to a head. And to be annoyed that I won't get my answers or find out what happens for an entire summer.