A Few Good Mommy Issues – Vampire Diaries: A Few Good Men

First of all, happy birthday to me! The Vampire Diaries is FINALLY back. And back with a vengeance. I’m beginning to think of The Vampire Diaries the way I do Lost, in that it is expected that each episode will provide us with some serious answers, and this week’s didn’t disappoint. Although, like every good episode it also raised more questions.

Even thought the episode is called “A Few Good Men”, I’m more inclined to think of it as an episode about mommy issues. First off, we’re still missing Tyler and now Bonnie, but I’m glad to see Matt and Caroline sticking around. However, even I could have told you his erstwhile mom was going to dislike poor Caroline. This episode focused mostly on Elena’s birth mother and her connection to both Damon and Alaric. I love that Mia Kirshner plays Isobel in the flashbacks because not only does she look similar to Nina Dobrev, but she’s known for playing mysterious characters with some questionable actions. Just look at her role in The L Word. I also appreciate Jenna’s involvement as something other than “the person that’s supposed to make the living situation semi-viable in real life.” This week she actually contributed something, valuable information that was crucial to the plot. She tells Alaric Elena’s birth mother’s name was also Isobel. This led Alaric to question everything Isobel ever did or told him.

In the meantime, the Sheriff convinces Damon to participate in the eligible bachelor auction, which of course Matt’s mom Kelly also participates in. Welcome back Melinda Clarke in a role that was made for her. And I’m convinced Julie Plec and company find any and every excuse to get their hot vampire stars shirtless. Not that I’m complaining.

Throughout the episode Alaric thinks Damon killed Isobel, which was why he came to Mystic Falls in the first place. To kill him. But then it is revealed that Damon actually turned her, rather than killed her. Dun, dun, dun, Isobel is maybe, probably alive! And a vampire! Elena, what are you going to do now?!

In one of the flashbacks we see Isobel give Alaric a special ring she says will protect him. Up until this point, all we know is that she has a fascination with vampires, nothing more. Since both Damon and Stefan wear rings to enable them to walk in daylight, I’ve been under the impression Alaric was a vampire too with the same special ring. Apparently not. And it was this ring that saved him and brought him back to life when Damon ‘killed’ him. PS, when I thought Alaric was really dead I was insanely sad. I was like, I love Matthew Davis! Please keep him on the show forever! And then he came back to life and I felt such a huge sigh of relief.

So Damon is back to his partying ways, not caring about anyone or anything else. Always fun to watch Ian Somerhalder play with this material. I’m still confused about this vampire who also managed to escape the tomb and find his way back to Anna and her mother, two characters I thought we were done with. But when I saw Malese Jow and Kelly Hu’s names in the credits, my first thought was. “oh now, now what.” So, we’ll see. I can tell you one thing though, I am certainly very interested in what will happen next week!

What about you, fellow vamp lovers? Did you love this week’s new episode? Is Isobel alive? And what kind of havoc do you think Anna and her new friend will wreak?

Lauren Strupp is an NYU grad and New York City based television addict and media professional. She’s worked at several national magazines including Us Weekly and in broadcast news at CBS. Obsessed with television, Lauren is known as a walking IMDB.com by her friends. Not only does she love all things vampire, but she’s been following Paul Wesley’s career since his days at The Guiding Light. She is thrilled to be joining TheTelevixen.com as a reviewer!

Photo courtesy of The CW