Vampire Diaries - The Return, S02E01

Vampire Diaries continually has me on the edge of my seat. The season finale left me so concerned about what the return would bring, and it brought me excitement and surprises which I did not expect. I'm not surprised that Kevin Williamson continues to write so excellently, but it is quite a delight to get to watch it all.

It started with the surprising survival of John Gilbert (David Anders). We were convinced Katherine (Nina Dobrev) had succeeded in killing him in the finale, but when Elena (also Dobrev) found him, he was still alive and, indeed, survived the entire episode. Next, we discover that Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen)'s attempt to become a vampire was unsuccessful, and that, instead, he is still alive. I cannot express my relief over this as I think it would have been a waste to so transform him. That left only Caroline (Candice Accola) still in danger, but after Damon (Ian Somerhalder) gave her blood at Bonnie (Katerina Graham)'s request, she too would live.

None of these survivals took away from the continued dangers of the show. After all, all the tomb vampires were killed, as well as Anna and Mayor Lockwood. I haven't stopped believing that we could lose someone unexpectedly at any moment, a feeling which makes me want to continue watching since the likelihood of something surprising me continually looms.

As for the body of the episode, with Katherine succeeding in F-ing everything up for Damon and Stefan (Paul Wesley), I was again most pleased with Damon's continued reactions of anger and vulnerability. Sure, Katherine can get under anyone's skin, but her comments to Damon found their mark all the more easily. And when she told him that it had always been Stefan, it was the perfect set up. Elena loves Stefan, not Damon. Notice I do not say "too". Who knows if Katherine is even capable of love. She is far more capable of destruction.

The final moments of the episode, I was not expecting. Damon's anger, his attempts to make himself hated, his regretful move of breaking Jeremy's neck, all these things were so powerfully portrayed. I was so grateful that Jeremy was wearing John's ring. I did not believe he would remain dead, but was glad that he did not become a vampire either. And for that to be so quickly followed by Caroline's murder, which would result in her being a vamp. Frankly, the part that hurt the most about that was how hard it will be on Liz Forbes (Marguerite MacIntyre) if she ever discovers her daughter has been turned.

It looks like we will have a second season that is equally intense and equally unpredictable. I can't wait till next week.