The Vampire Diaries: The Last Dance (Season 2, Episode 18)

Our beloved history teacher Alaric is possessed by the one and only Klaus the original vampire. He’s actually quite hilarious and upbeat, quite different from the suave Elijah. Klaus refers to Elijah as a “buzzkill,” so this analysis makes sense. Klaus proves that he has some of his powers by compelling Katherine to torture herself for at least 250 years, beginning now. Yikes. I hate to say it, Katherine, but does Klaus's "the fun is just beginning" sound familiar? Also, is it weird watching “Elena” and “Alaric” interact like this?

Elena signs the deed to the Salvatore’s mansion in front of random lawyer “Mr. Henry.” Bonnie wisely comments that she wouldn’t want to clean it. The Salvatores, meanwhile, ponder whether Katherine is dead. They say this with some regret, which is funny considering they have attempted to kill her multiple times.

Elena welcomes Stefan in but asks Damon if he promises to obey the house’s owner. He replies, “No,” (and should he?) and asks, “What, are we twelve?” Elena responds, “One of us is.” Awesome. He says yes, and she lets him in. Elena and Bonnie prepare to go to school, freaking the brothers out. They act like parents. School is getting old even for Stefan: “"No, kids you're grounded. From school." Bonnie swears that she can take Klaus if she sees his face, unaware that he is wearing Alaric’s. Stefan grudgingly goes with them, and Damon’s expression says, “What losers. Glad I’m not one of them.”

 

Matt and Sheriff Forbes confer. Will their relationship turn scandalous? At least the sheriff admits that Caroline is her baby. Matt is scared that Caroline will see through his deception at the dance tonight. He chooses to go as JFK. Idiot. Does he remember what happened to him?

Stefan’s all, “School sucks. Dances suck.” Bonnie's and Elena are all, “Dances are rad.” Then Klaus waltzes in to teach history class. First of all, some student actually tells him what they’re studying—who does that? Second, Klaus catches sight of Elena and stares inappropriately. Third, Klaus is a history dunce. He’s no Stefan Salvatore. Bonnie wonders when Alaric became so fun flighty. Elena corrects Klaus (making Stefan proud), and accidentally calls him “Ric,” making the rest of the class feel awkward.

At lunch, Jeremy is upset that his girlfriend is a martyr. Bonnie doesn’t tell Elena that she might die in order to save her. Dana, a student, tells Elena that Klaus asked her to save him the last dance. He also compelled her to emphasize how hot he is, which is absolutely hysterical. Vain, much?

Stefan plays the annoying Dad, pointing out that school wasn’t as safe as they thought. Klaus as Alaric waltzes right into the Salvatore mansion. Someone says, “There he is!” briefly startling Klaus. Luckily for him, Bonnie the Secret Weapon is no longer a secret. He checks out her and her “power” and refers to Klaus as the “biggest, baddest vampire around.”

Klaus returns to Alaric’s home to get help from the white witch. They plot to get Bonnie to use her life force trying to kill Klaus while putting Alaric’s body under a protective spell. Katherine is still there, hoping for Klaus’s death.

Caroline dresses as Jackie Kennedy, looking "gorge." Unfortunately, her date and mother are terrified of her. Stefan and Elena also prepare for the dance, and their smooches are interrupted by Damon, who is going to chaperone the dance. How great would that be if you were in high school?

At the ball, Klaus dances as though he is in the wrong century. He hopes to make up for this by dedicating a song to Elena. Klaus says to Damon that the old vampire is pretty twisted, but Damon insults him by being unimpressed. No one notices Alaric’s personality shift.

Jeremy is momentarily a genius because he wants to give Bonnie his magical ring. Of course, it won’t work, since Bonnie is supernatural. She tells him she’ll probably live, but they slow dance to a song about a girlfriend dying.

Elena and Stefan dance until Stefan spins Elena into Damon’s arms. He cheers her up. She seems to be having fun. They’re practically kissing. Wow. Then Damon moves on to Bonnie, and they get very close. Should they all just have a huge orgy? Damon agrees and dances with two high schoolers. Bad chaperone. Bonnie is amused.

Matt covers up his horrified expression by telling Caroline, “You look pretty.” So that’s what that expression means. He’s not super surprised but he is wary when VAMPIRE Stefan steals his date to update her on their situation. Normally, wouldn't he be slightly concerned since he stole his other girlfriend?

Stefan finds out from Jeremy that basically either Bonnie or Elena will die. He relays the information to Elena, who confront Bonnie with, “Noooooo!” Damon doesn’t seem to think what she called a 50-50 chance is so bad.

Klaus compels three teen boys to beat up Jeremy. Even after all he’s been through, he still can’t successfully fight back. Damon and Stefan save him, Damon getting hit with a stake and Stefan keeping Damon from killing them all. Stefan realizes it’s a diversion.

Klaus rather obviously leads Bonnie and Elena into a corridor before admitting that he is Klaus, the hater of the ‘60s and lover of the ‘20s. Bonnie attacks but can tell that he is trying to get her to expend her strength. Damon sends Elena to find Stefan, so he can scheme with Bonnie. A moment later, Bonnie marches in and starts breaking Alaric’s bones.

Bonnie makes wind and explosions, looks at Elena who runs to the door, and falls to the floor, “dead.” If that was Damon and Bonnie’s plans, they are biggest idiots on the show. Elena has an overdue mental breakdown. Jeremy may soon follow. Poor siblings. But no! Damon knew that Bonnie was going to “die” (Elena slaps him hard), but that she really just cast a me-be-dead spell, and is alive. Now Bonnie really is a secret weapon. She and Elena hold a conversation over Skype, which is less emotional than it should be due to an odd MiFi plug. 

Damon and Stefan exchange fighting words. Damon says that, in the end, “I’ll be the one to keep her alive.” They part, and Elena visits Damon in his bedroom. They make up, but Damon admits that, when it comes down to it, “I will always choose you.” At least Stefan doesn’t screw the civilians over (most of the time). They have a moment, and Elena seems both disappointed and moved.

She then goes to the basement and resurrects Elijah. That’s right. She pulls the stake out of his chest and just waits for him to wake up. Elena is badass and more creative than Damon.