Well it may come as a surprise or a shock to most people, but the show actually followed through on what it never really does: killing off a main character and leaving them dead. There have been plenty of deaths and resurrections in this show since season 1, but usually they return with the help of a spell, a ring or get turned into vampires, are given vampire blood. (Lucky Tyler (Michael Trevino) got out whilst he could or he may have suffered the same fate, not that his freedom is conclusive or could even be long lived.) Elena (Nina Dobrev) has lost many a relative in her life, her parents, Jenna, Alaric, even John whom she mentions here at the end, but it's not quite black and white in this show. We even got to see Elena plunge off the bridge and die last season only to be re-vamped!
But I just couldn't get past her whining and denials this episode. She's annoying at the best of times, so self righteous even (maybe if anyone had to go it should have been her) but watching the show I was expecting them to come up with some nonsensical ritual or spell to bring poor Jeremy (Steven R McQueen) back. Did he really deserve this fate at the hands of Silas/Katherine. Why was Silas even mentioned if it was going to be dealt with so abruptly. Though he's got Bonnie under his spell. Even when Elena took off Jeremy's ring, thought maybe he'd come back to life now (sure I spotted Jeremy breathing a few times when he was on the bed) but alas it wasn't meant to be. Then she set the house on fire to banish all memories of the Gilbert name and any attempt at any future legacies being sealed or memories being made there.
Through it all there wasn't much anyone could do even Bonnie (Kat Graham) was useless with her spells so much for having the magic of expressionism. This it seemed remained expression-less. It brought about a reality check for Elena and her selfishness, all she wanted was to see Jeremy safe, sent him away by compelling him, then brought him back again even when he was in danger. Forgive me weren't hunters meant to be in expendable? Too busy trying to sink her claws into both Salvatore brothers. She believed Jeremy would be brought to life cos of his ring and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) were content into letting her believe this. She needed to realize for herself this wasn't going to happen and for reality to surely and swiftly sink in. She was going to be alone without any immediate family. She is oblivious to the smell of his decomposing body but wants him there to find any way to bring him back.
This she trusts Bonnie will do, but Bonnie is nowhere to be found so Damon sets out to search for her. When he does find her he actually hugs her, that's a first for someone who doesn't like her or even gets on with her. Especially since she's always the first Vic/sacrifice if Damon has a choice to make. He doesn't care about this witchy. Bonnie however has taken a leaf out of Shane's (David Alpay) book and has been manipulated into thinking she needs to kill 12 people to bring back loved ones, Jeremy. Even after Jeremy told her Silas was trying to get into her head last ep and she should only listen to him. Alas now she can no longer listen and never will hear his voice again. Hey he can come back as a ghost, yes?
But there's always a but in that Jeremy will be hounded by supernatural beings and monsters. Caroline (Candace Accola) and Matt (Zach Roerig) see the futility and uselessness of this. Still Elena doesn't give in. Hang on Elena wanted to kill all of Kol's lifeline to make the tattoo grow and actually went though and did this without remorse, so what's another 12 lives in the scheme of things. Maybe losing Jeremy was payback for killing Kol, a life for a life and all that.
What was sad was Matt's reaction to seeing Jeremy and how he too has been through the ringer. Now he's lost one of his best friends and effectively remains one of the only humans around out of their group.
Elena finally smells Jeremy's rotting flesh and loses it even more. There's no room in the Gilbert plot so she douses the house with gas and wants to set fire to it. She can't even be talked out of it by Stefan when he says one day she may want to return. She'll never come here again. Stefan even encourages Damon to help her, re their sire bond and to talk to her. He seemed reluctant to do this. He compels her to "turn it off." To turn off her feelings and the thing is if she does turn them on again she'll be caught up in the same pent up anger and rage all over again. But for now this seemed to be the only option available. Last time feelings/humanity were turned off, Stefan being compelled by Klaus (Joseph Morgan) he went off on a killing spree. What will Elena do?
Perhaps it was only fitting Jeremy got a hero's send off: a Viking's funeral. A fitting farewell to a brother, friend and loved one.
Naturally or unnaturally Damon turning off her humanity means she won't feel anything, no love, sadness, so how will this fare for him? Especially when she finds out what's really happened. Damon was in love with Elena the human than someone without any feelings, all cold and dark, so will he still feel the same? Mind you Stefan wanted him to do this too to help her so he's just as much to blame. It was easier than to see her hurt, but being a vampire doesn't mean she shouldn't have accepted what has happened. There's no easy out from facing up to death and particularly the death of a loved one, so maybe she should have been left to bare her cross. Even Meredith (Torrey DeVitto) couldn't help Elena who just went for her juggler, ha.
Damon telling Rebekah (Claire Holt) they need to find Bonnie after spilling how Katherine has the cure. But her wanting to go after Katherine. Then warning her about Silas being awakened. Great 'scenes' between them too for vamps who dislike each other so much.
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