So that’s how you make a heretic (and a baby)! A heretic origin story! A drunk, partying heretic! Credit: Quantrell Colbert/The CW This episode had it all! But the biggest reveal of the episode was meeting our (likely) new Big Bad: Julian. We first meet Julian in a flashback to 1863. Before leaving with him, Lily wanted to ensure her boys were safe. So she sent Valerie to check on Stefan and Oscar to check on Damon....
So THAT is who the fiance is… We asked for answers; we got answers. Lets start with that shocking revelation: Alaric is Carolines fiance. What are the chances that Stefan watches local Dallas news? Credit: Tina Rowden/The CW Im guessing not high, but well have to find outthatanswer in a future episode. We dont get to see the end of the dream/memory, though, because Caroline wakes him up. She doesnt want to stick around and see how he retaliates to her setting him on fire....
(See what I did there??) As with all things season 7, we have to start in the future. Three years from now in Chicago, Stefan shares an apartment and a kiss with Valerie. Credit: Eli Joshua Ade/The CW (Steroline fans around the world just died a little bit inside.) Back in the present, Damon, Stefan, Nora, and Valerie are burying Lily. As Stefan lowers Lily into the ground, he promises to make things right....
Its not looking great. Because not only did we lose Nora and Mary Louise, but Stefan is trapped in the Phoenix Stone. But before we get to all that, lets backtrack to the start of the hour. Credit: Richard Ducree/The CW In present day a.k.a. Just like that, Stefan escapes with Raynas sword, and Damon knocks her out. (She also knocks him out but thats not important right now.) (Stefans only interested in travel if it has a purpose....
Damon is in hell …. quite literally Welcome back from breakTVDfans! What better way to launch back into season 7 than with flashbacks and terrible wigs? Except its not exactly a flashback. Credit: Guy D’Alema/The CW This is Damons prison world, and were just living in it. to go help his brother, Damon asks for leave. But when the two deserters come out guns blazing from the cellar, everyone but Damon ends up dead....
An anniversary, an engagement, and a death just another day in Mystic Falls. Thanks goodness for the “previously on.” Oh, and Caroline is carrying Gemini twins in her vampire womb. Credit: Annette Brown/The CW Lily is awake in bed with Julian beside her. It seems like the thought of him lying inches away from her makes her skin crawl. But he’s blissfully unaware of this or the plot to destroy him....
Coming back to life it’s all the rage. We finally know the answer to the mystery! No, not the mystery of whom Carolines fiance is. Credit: Bob Mahoney/The CW Or what made Damon and Alaric enemies. Or where Alarics TWINS came from. And, no, not whom the mysterious vampire huntress is. Or where Bonnie is three years from now. None of those mysteries are solved. We know why Damon drinks bourbon and thats a step in the direction of solving all these mysteries....
Their relationship, however, has always had its flaws. And its biggest flaw? The fact that both Damon and Stefan seem to put Damon first. Credit: Annette Brown/The CW And as a result, Stefan has suffered time and time again. Thats not to say Stefans perfect. As Ian Somerhalderrecently pointed out, Damons in this mess because his brother forced his vampire life on him. And then there was that whole Ripper Stefan thing....
Damon makes a selfish decision… or did he? Tonight we saw the cause formostof that division is because of a decision Damon made. Although, Matt takes a fair share of the blame, too. Credit: Annette Brown/The CW But before the flashbacks made full sense, we started back in the past (present?). Fresh off herOriginalscrossover, Rayna emerges from the ashes again. She makes a quick trip to Mystic Falls… just in time to save Matt and Pennys lives....
They’ve never overtly been friends as much as they just respect each other. It feels like the thing that connects them is simply that they both want to do good. That’s why Matt has always been Team Stefan and why Stefan has always saved Matt’s life. Credit: Bob Mahoney/The CW We don’t see them together often, but when we do, I’m a fan. And that brings us to tonight’s happenings....
Well, that was an unexpected flash-forward. No one is happy about that, so an all-out war is called on Team Heretics. But before we talk about how we get there, lets take a trip to the future. Credit: Annette Brown/The CW In our weekly three-years-ahead flash-forward, we finally see where Bonnie is…well, kind of. It looks like some key in of mental institution. Who could that be? The only person we havent seen in the future is Matt, right?...
The Salvatore brothers join forces to take down Lily and her psychopath boy toy. Faking your own death and abandoning your two sons are definitely characteristics that would make a womanMommie Dearestcaliber. Lily Salvatore makes Joan Crawfords aversion to wire hangers look like childs play. Credit: Annette Brown/The CW But Lily is a different person now. Stefan invites Lily over so he can calmly remind her that shes shacking up with a psychopath....
It also had one of my favorite opening lines inTVDhistory, so lets get to it. Either way, I have chills. Fun fact: It means you have to be a hummingbird. Credit: Annette Brown/The CW (You stop moving, you die. Needless to say, Rayna shows up and chases Stefan off. Elsewhere, Bonnie is at Damons side as he tries to find a way to save his brother. It seems Bonnie promised Caroline that shed verify Damon didnt make things even worse for his baby bro....
