TV Recap: ‘Vampire Diaries,’ “162 Candles”

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Some fresh new faces, a birthday party celebrating 162 years alive (er, dead), and some cool witching powers: this week’s episode was thrilling!

So I’ll admit it. With the crazy demonic Vicki dead, I thought this episode would take us back to the basics and give the action a rest. Clearly, I was wrong.

This episode introduces a new sizzling, savvy vampire-ess who, for all her charm and ability at bringing out the truth in relationships among characters in the series, ends up dying, stake-style. Sadness nonwithstanding, Lexi is her name, and she decided to surprise Stefan for a visit. Among other things, she got Stefan to admit his love for Elena and then bonded with Elena over her own lover, who happened to be human. This all took place in a series of funny, if not awkward moments, especially the one involving Lexi in a towel and a jealous Elena (what! Elena can experience unrighteous feelings? Yes sir!).

Damon, as usual, is stirring trouble. After sending Sheriff Forbes a box of that krpytonic anti-vamp plant stuff (aka vervane) – probably to become less of a suspect – he proceeds to mesmerize Caroline to throw a party at the Grill and then murders a female’s boyfriend. But here’s where it gets twisted, folks. Damon convinces the female (and we all know what I mean by convincing – mesmerizing), to say Lexi killed her boyfriend, so the sheriff, armed with a syringe of vervane, attacks Lexi with it. Lexi’s barely able to throw him off her when Damon leaps to the rescue with a stake to kill her. Doh.

But here’s what’s even more interesting, guys. Clearly, Damon is more complex than just pure evil now. After all, Jeremy hasn’t just forgotten about Vicki, he’s forgotten about his whole druggy past, and he’s now a healthy, good student! Consier also the fact that Stefan didn’t kill Damon precisely because Damon has saved his life before. We’re starting to see some complexity and duality to Damon’s character, which is great, considering the polarity with the rest of the characters.

Bonnie, unfortunately, still hasn’t grabbed the spotlight quite yet, but she did show off some awesome new powers. Notably, following a dream, Bonnie wakes up and finds herself in a graveyard — uhh? I am glad that next week’s previews seem to cast her in the limelight more, because I think it’s about time that the humans show off what they can do. I also hope the show introduces, at some point, a female vampire who is here to stay, because call me crazy, but I like to see some vamp estrogen in the show. I think it gives it a dynamic that it needs, and this episode demonstrated that potential for dynamics with Lexi.

Overall, the show is still keeping my faith a bit with this episode. I continue to loathe Stefan and Elaine, and I continue to enjoy Damon. Let’s introduce some characters I can learn to love and hate, eh?