[Warning: Major spoilers from Thursday's episode, "American Gothic."]
An Original returns, doppelgangers switch places and a surprising romance emerges on the latest episode of The Vampire Diaries.
It's been a long while since viewers last saw fan-favorite Elijah (Daniel Gillies) cavorting among the Mystic Falls crew, so when he popped in -- much to the surprise of Elena (Nina Dobrev), who is masquerading as the globe-trotting Katherine Pierce -- his return to the fold was met with some eye-opening revelations. For one thing, it's revealed during their unplanned encounter that he and Katherine are dating. Yes, you read that right. Dating. Things are so serious between the two vampires that by the end of the hour -- after Rebekah (Claire Holt) takes the fake cure -- it's Elijah who is now in possession of the real cure, all thanks to Katherine.
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In other news, the brothers Salvatore address their motivations for going after (or not going after) the elusive cure. Stefan (Paul Wesley) reveals that if he gets his hands on the cure for Elena, he plans on skipping town, leaving for good and starting his own life. (The likelihood of that happening? Slim.) Damon (Ian Somerhalder), on the other hand, is forced to really get deep into his anti-cure thoughts -- ultimately coming to grips with letting Elena have the cure. (Not after Stefan accuses Damon of wanting Rebekah to take the cure, you know, before they knew the cure was fake.)
But in a twist only The Vampire Diaries could manufacture, humanity-free Elena breaks the news to Damon and Stefan that she doesn't want the cure after all! And if they try and stop her, she'll go on a killing spree. RIP Random Waitress in the Diner who Elena kills to prove her point. "You need to accept it," new Elena says to the Salvatore brothers, demanding they stop fixing her. "If you don't, there will be consequences." Now what?
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There were also some mean Silas mind games being played with Caroline (Candice Accola) and Klaus (Joseph Morgan). In one scene (hot yet disgusting), Caroline attempts to pry a piece of white oak Klaus believes the all-powerful Silas -- who had earlier shifted into Caroline -- put into his body, explaining his unbearable pain only to realize that it was all a psychological mind-bender. Cruel, Silas, just cruel.
To switch things up a bit, below are the top quotables from Thursday's episode:
8:04 p.m.: "Why don't you just table your revenge fantasies for now?" (Stefan to Damon)
8:07 p.m.: "I couldn't agree more. You've chosen a beautiful place to die." (Rebekah to Katherine)
8:11 p.m.: "I feel bad for the boys, their special snowflake of human frailty? Gone." After Katherine spews this gem to Elena at the local diner, Rebekah stabs Katherine with a fork. Boom.
8:13 p.m.: "I'm supposed to be running three committees right now and you keep phone-stalking me!" Caroline certainly has her priorities straight.
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8:17 p.m.: "The bad haircut, the doe eyes .. you'll never pass for me." Katherine tries to sabotage the Elena-into-Katherine transformation, which prompts Elena to practice her best Katherine impression -- and it's pretty funny to watch.
8:19 p.m.: Who saw that Elijah and Elena-as-Katherine makeout coming?
8:29 p.m.: "My brother's dead. Your girlfriend killed him ... You didn't know? I hate to say I told you so, but .. duh." (Elena to Elijah)
8:30 p.m.: "No Katherine-ing!" When Damon, or anyone, starts to use your name as a verb, you know you've hit the big time.
8:30 p.m.: "A quilt and a fish aquarium? Who are you?" (Damon re: Katherine's "home")
8:32 p.m.: "Vervain water? Looks like we have a winner." Oh Damon. Just when he's about to secure the treasure chest from the aquarium that supposedly houses the cure, Katherine dunks his pretty face into the water. Ouch. Katherine escapes after forfeiting the cure to Rebekah. Too convenient.
8:45 p.m.: "That's the problem with being alive. I can kill ya now." (Damon) [Spoiler alert, Rebekah's still a vampire.]
8:47 p.m.: "I love you .. Elijah .. You don't believe me." (Katherine)
8:53 p.m.: "You don't have a smart brother. Turns out I'm just as stupid as the rest of you." (Elijah)
8:56 p.m.: "Are you going to let Tyler come back to town?" "You might have noticed I'm not exactly scouring the Earth for him, am I?" Klaus clearly wins at pick-up lines.
8:59 p.m.: "Ready to ride off into the sunset?" This, after Elena puts a wrench in the Salvatores' plan to convince her to take the cure.
The preview for next week's episode hints at the Salvatores manipulating Elena into wanting to take the cure. Safe to assume that won't produce the desired results. What are your thoughts on the new Katherine-Elijah romance? Where do the Salvatores go from here? What's Elena's next move?
The Vampire Diaries returns April 18 on The CW.
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