The Vampire Diaries – Recap & Review – Miss Mystic Falls

photo: cw

The Vampire Diaries
Miss Mystic Falls

Original Air Date: Apr 22, 2010

Meg – TwoCents Reviewer
meg@thetwocentscorp.com

Tonight things heat up during the “Miss Mystic Falls” pageant, with Stefan succumbing to his bloodlust, Damon stepping up to help Elena, and Jonathan giving us some clues to his mysterious master plan.

Previously, Jeremy discovered dear sis Elena had been lying to him about the existence of vampires and that she had asked Damon to wipe his memory. In other news, Uncle Jon (David Anders! Swoon!) showed up in town with a magic protective ring (seriously, I have got to meet his jeweler) and Stefan fell off the blood wagon…

Stefan and Blood (Lots of blood)

Stefan is stealing blood from hospitals and secretly “juicing” (ew). He shows up back at school, claiming to be fully healed from his ordeal. Of course, the second Elena turns his back, he reveals his massive cache of blood bags in his trunk (again: ew). He also freaks out anytime he sees blood (well, duh) and starts shuffling around like a gimpy Renfield clone. Damon quickly realizes that Stefan is back on the (bloody) sauce and confronts him. I have to say Stefan-on-blood is kind of douchey. He insists he “can handle it” and tells Damon to back off.

Bonnie’s Back!

In news that makes me very happy, Bonnie is back! She clearly feels uncomfortable around Elena and avoids talking to her. Elena is confused and tries to connect with her. Bonnie finally comes clean and tells Elena that she can’t pretend everything is okay. Bonnie’s Grams tried to protect the town from the vampires in the tomb, but the vamps are all out, which means “Grams died for nothing.” Bonnie says that she blames Stefan and Damon, and that she doesn’t want Elena to feel she has to choose between the boys and her. Credit to Bonnie for being very measured and mature with this scene.

Miss Mystic Falls

Mystic Falls is hosting its very own beauty pageant (why is it that all small televisionland towns seem to have their own beauty pageants?). Elena entered the competition at her mother’s behest, back before the accident that killed her parents. In honor of her mom—who herself was once Miss Mystic—Elena decides to stay in the competition. Caroline is bummed, given that Elena might win from the “dead parent sympathy vote.” Way to be sensitive, Caroline.

We get some cute humorous moments as they show the Miss Mystic candidate interviews—Caroline rattles off her myriad credentials, while another girl claims that “just because my DUI made my community service mandatory doesn’t make it less meaningful!”

The Miss Mystic gala is a classy affair (also if anyone recognizes the song the string band is playing, let me know in the comments—it’s been driving me crazy!). As Elena gets ready, Damon shows up to tell her that Stefan is still drinking human blood. He points out the sad irony that a month ago he would have rejoiced with this development, but now he’s just concerned. Elena is predictably devastated. Of course, Stefan shows up and begins to spout all the old lines – “I was going to tell you!” “I can handle it!” “Why don’t you trust me?” Can it, Blood Boy!

Amber, one of the contestants has a panic attack and runs off to calm herself. Of course, she runs straight into Stefan who is smashing mirrors and wigging out in the bathroom. Uh oh… It looks as if things will end poorly for Amber.

Just as the Miss Mystic contenders are about to be formally announced with their escorts, Elena starts to freak out. Caroline endears herself to me greatly by telling her that she knows she can’t beat Elena and that she originally wanted her to drop out, but that Elena is doing this because it was important to her mom and she needs to go through with it.

Elena descends to meet her escort, Stefan – who is, of course, not there. However, Damon shows up to help her save face. I really like their friendship. They dance together outside and I can’t help but note their excellent chemistry. Caroline wins the competition and seems genuinely surprised and gracious (where the frijoles is Matt this week?!).

Anna and Jeremy sulk around each other and Jeremy tells her that he read Elena’s diary and knows that Elena erased his memory. He says part of him is glad he doesn’t remember Vicki as someone who almost hurt him. Anna claims that she would never hurt Jeremy. Creepy Uncle Jonathan is eavesdropping and starts connecting the (bloody) dots to realize that Anna is Pearl’s daughter and very likely a vamp.

Stefan and his Snack

Stefan has compelled Amber to accompany him into the woods outside the gala. He monologues awkwardly, telling her he wants to kill her and rip her throat out and so on and so forth. As she’s under his compulsion, she seems rather okay with it. I can’t help but feel this scene would be more meaningful or suspenseful if Amber was a character we’d actually spent some time with before.

Stefan finally bites her and Amber tells him to feel free to continue (what is wrong with this woman?!), despite her gaping neck wound and the oozing throat blood and all that. Stefan chases Amber and is about to finish her off when Elena, Damon, and Bonnie swoop in. Bonnie works some witchy mojo on Stefan that makes him freak out. I think it is supposed to be scary, but it’s just sort of awkward.

The Sheriff tells the gals that Amber will be okay (except for the criminal stupidity) and Bonnie and Elena are quick to respond that they didn’t see anything.

Uncle Jon reveals to Damon that Jonathan Sr. Sr. Sr. (aka the original Jonathan Gilbert) invented some sort of magical contraption that he thinks Pearl or another vampire stole from the tomb. Pearl and Anna close out the episode by surrendering the mysterious orb-like gadget to Damon in exchange for them being able to stay in Mystic Falls.

Back at the ranch, Stefan is a total mess. Elena goes to see him and treats his self pity and blathering with a giant injection of vervain. She and Damon lock him in the vervain cellar. Elena sits watch outside the door. Damon quietly sits and stays with her. Aww….

Only two more episodes left this season! And next week it looks as though Stefan has a death wish (or would that be an undeath wish?). What did you think of tonight’s episode? Do you think Stefan can recover? Leave some comments and let me know your two cents on the episode!

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