Well That Was Unexpected... Review: The Vampire Diaries - "Down the Rabbit Hole"

The Vampire Diaries, S4 E14

Air Date: Thursday, February 14, 2013, 8/7c on The CW

RATING: ★★★★★

“So, who wants to go down first?” – Professor Shane

We finally get a glimpse of the infamous Silas in his grotesquely fossilized form. Can’t say I’m impressed, but I’m thoroughly creeped out. I have a few minor issues with “Down the Rabbit Hole,” like selective vampire hearing while eavesdropping on phone calls, and how easily a hunter can get a drop on one of Mystic Falls most fearsome vampires. These issues do not outweigh the delight I take in viewing yet another great episode of The Vampire Diaries. The writers have found their stride and I hope things continue on the same path. That means more spectacular reveals and shocking plot points for us!

Observations and thoughts:

The key to finding the cure to immortality conveniently lies in the hands of a disgruntled Klaus (Joseph Morgan). I love that he has regained the upper hand. Just when you think he’s lost, Klaus has something hiding up his sleeve, turning the tables on his foes.

He’s so darn good at being evil, isn’t he?

“There is only one dose.” Well, there’s goes the idea that any vampire who wants to become human again can. Now, how will Scooby and the gang handle this catastrophe? Quite the unexpected twist thrown in to shake things up. Now I’m intrigued. I want to know who will end up with the dose, why they’ll use it, and how it works. Has anyone contemplated being turned into a human being after being a vampire for decades or centuries even? It probably wouldn’t hurt Elena (Nina Dobrev) if she were reverted back so quickly, but Rebekah (Claire Holt) is over 1,000 years old. I doubt she’d retain her youthful glow.

The production value of this episode is pretty decent. Usually you can tell when a scene is being shot on set and what not, but I was pleasantly surprised to find I believed there was a cave, and the jump a few characters have to make from frightening heights didn’t look like a bad CGI job.

Professor Shane (David Alpay) is not above using threats to get what he wants. In fact, that’s all he does. Too bad his threats don’t amount to much. Here’s the other thing: Shane has everyone so worked up over finding this cure that they haven’t considered why Silas is buried in that tomb in the first place. No one’s has a second thought about what will happen when Silas rises. I’m thinking there’s more to what Shane is telling them about why Silas was buried. Eventually, we’ll find out what that is.

So will “Shrek” become a nuisance or a helping hand to the group?

I like the overenthusiastic member of The Five, Vaughn (Charlie Bewley), or “Shrek,” as Damon (Ian Somerhalder) so lovingly calls him. This hunter is kind of a crackpot but it works. I think being a hunter ingrains the one track mind mentality on the new prospect, and Vaughn doesn’t waver from his goal for a minute. Again, why is that? What does he know about Silas that everyone else seems okay with ignoring? Vaughn hasn’t been neutered like Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen), because let’s face it, that’s the truth of the matter. Jeremy hasn’t been allowed to show us what he can do because of Shane and Bonnie’s (Kat Graham) interference. I know she means well, but I happen to enjoy the fact of the younger Gilbert coming into his own.

Tyler (Michael Trevino) gets another boot to the backside, yet again. I’m curious if Trevino is working on other projects or if the writers are finally realizing what’s happened with the character and know that the tide has turned. No one cares about Tyler anymore. He has no purpose other than to piss Klaus off, and to be someone for Caroline (Candice Accola) to hang out with now that she’s been tossed to the side. How swiftly everyone forgets about her. I’m disappointed Accola doesn’t get to shine in more episodes. I love the chemistry she shares with Morgan and look forward to seeing them battle it out on screen. Their characters are playing an intense game of cat and mouse, and Klaus is making it difficult for Caroline to want to love him on her own accord. He constantly shows her both sides of the coin: the good guy he can be and the bad guy he is. Talk about building sexual tension. When those two come together (and they will one day), it will be explosive. I think Klaus and Caroline have a way to go but they’ll get there. “Because of you, Caroline. It was all for you.” That is, if he doesn’t kill Tyler.

Memorable lines:

Bonnie to Jeremy: “But if Shane tries to lift a finger on his hand to hurt either one of us, I’ll kill him myself.”

Klaus to Rebekah: “No more fooling, no more games; I hope you get to live… and die, as you wish.”

Vaughn to Damon: “I reckon there is someone else on this island.”

Klaus: “We’re the same, Caroline.”

Caroline: “Then show me.”

Will Stefan ever trust Rebekah again?

Somerhalder and Morgan show the reason they are best at what they do. They show up everyone they work with, with the exception of Accola. She can hold her own against Morgan when it counts, and their characters’ dynamic give them plenty of fuel to start a bonfire. I’m excited to see what happens in th next episode now that we know Shane wasn’t entirely at fault for this fruitless expedition. Silas is a lot more dangerous than I could have imagined and I’m curious to see who portrays the immortal witch. Hopefully, we’ll get to see him soon.

Tune in to The Vampire Diaries Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW.

For more on the show, visit http://www.cwtv.com/shows/the-vampire-diaries.

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Follow The Vampire Diaries cast on Twitter: @ninadobrev, @iansomerhalder, @josephmorgan, @katgraham, @paulwesley, @michaeltrevino, @candaceaccola, @claireholt.

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