VAMPIRE DIARIES, THE: 1912 (TV)
Summary
One in this drama series about a comely high school student and her love/hate relationship with a pair of handsome, bloodsucking brothers, based on the book by L.J. Smith. In this episode, in 1912, one of the Salvatore ancestors, a city councilman, is murdered by an unseen assailant. In present day, Alaric is in prison, having been shot by Meredith and saved with vampire blood. Sheriff Forbes tells him that the recent murders were committed with his weapons, but he protests that he is being framed and clearly did not stab himself, and Damon attempts to defend him. On a run, Matt reveals to Elena that Bonnie's mother Abby plans to transform fully into a vampire, and Elena blames herself, as Stefan turned her to save Elena's life. When she receives a call and hurries to the police station, she finds Damon there and is surprised to hear that he intends to follow the sheriff's request and stay out of the case, and she chastises him for his lack of compassion. Damon goads Stefan into helping him solve the "whodunit," reminding him of the similar murders from a century before. In 1912, Stefan attends the funeral of his "uncle" Zachariah and learns from Samantha Gilbert that he was one in a series of recent city founders murdered. He reunites with Damon for the first time in decades, and Damon is still resentful that Stefan turned him, but they agree to have "a drink" for old time's sake. In present day, the brothers arrive at the Grill as Rebekah questions the mayor, still looking for the white oak tree, and learns that the mills were once owned by the Salvatore family. Damon notices Stefan's anxiety and advises him against going off human blood cold turkey, telling him to consider "moderation." At the jailhouse, Alaric continues to swear his innocence, but Forbes points out all the evidence mounting against him and when she asks, he realizes he cannot provide a clear alibi.
Rebekah intervenes with the brothers' conversation, and they explain that Zachariah was really their father's illegitimate son, who took over the family name when the brothers were believed dead. They also reveal that the serial killer was never caught, although both brothers suspected one another. Damon then remembers Sage, however, and in a flashback, they meet the glamorous, bloodthirsty vampire as she proves her power in the boxing ring. Elena catches up with Meredith and tries to defend Alaric, but she tells her all about his past misdeeds and assures her that he is the killer, which in turn makes Elena suspect Meredith. Elena and Matt then break into Meredith's apartment to search for clues, and they find a number of suspicious files, including one on Alaric. Rebekah, Stefan and Damon wonder if the killer in 1912 may not have been a woman, and when Rebekah notices, Damon explains his brother's "cleanse," forcing him to admit how badly he wants blood. In 1912, still brooding over Katherine, Damon feeds on a woman and then meets up with Sage, who encourages him to indulge himself more and suggests Samantha as a victim. Matt and Elena find an old Gilbert family diary as well as coroner's reports that contradict Meredith's claims, but Meredith suddenly arrives home and catches them. Forbes reprimands them for breaking and entering and reveals that Alaric will soon be free, as the coroner has already admitted to a mistake. Damon attacks a woman and orders Stefan to feed on her, promising to heal her afterwards, and Stefan gives in, nearly getting carried away and killing her. Damon stops him in time, but not before Elena and Matt see him.
Elena confesses to Matt that the immortal Stefan made her feel "safe" after her parents' deaths, and that Damon "snuck up on her." Matt gives her the Gilbert journal that he stole from Meredith's, and they are both relieved when Alaric returns home. Damon reiterates his message of moderation, and when Stefan snaps that he does not need his help, Damon reminds him of the time when he accidentally killed Marianna Lockwood in a feeding frenzy in 1912, then going on to commit many more murders. Damon admits that he could have stopped him a hundred years ago and vows to help him now. Alaric thanks Elena for her help and they agree to take care of one another, and she shows him the diary, guessing that it belonged to her grandfather, who eventually went insane. Stefan finds that Samantha Gilbert confessed to the murders in 1922, but was dismissed as crazy and locked away, and Damon notes that he had killed her prior to that time. They guess that she survived by using one of the rings and is possibly still alive now, committing the new murders. Meredith goes to Alaric and admits that she forged the coroner's note to free him, begging him to trust her despite everything. When he allows her in, she suggests that he may have killed without realizing, having been "changed" by the lifesaving ring's powers. Elena arrives and, having found damning evidence in the diary, tells him that she may be right. In a flashback, Zachariah is killed—by Samantha Gilbert, who is indeed wearing the ring. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CW, The
- DATE: March 15, 2012 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:41:26
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 107441
- GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction; Vampires
- SERIES RUN: The CW - TV series, 2009-2017
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Leslie Morgenstern … Executive Producer
- Bob Levy … Executive Producer
- Kevin Williamson … Executive Producer, Developed by
- Julie Plec … Executive Producer, Developed by, Writer
- Chris Grismer … Supervising Producer
- Caroline Dries … Co-Executive Producer
- Turi Meyer … Co-Executive Producer
- Al Septien … Co-Executive Producer
- Pascal Verschooris … Producer
- James Thompson … Co-Producer
- Michael Narducci … Co-Producer
- Lance Anderson … Co-Producer
- Trish Stanard … Co-Producer
- John Behring … Director
- Elisabeth R. Finch … Writer
- L.J. Smith … Based on the book by
- Michael Suby … Music by
- Nina Dobrev … Cast, Elena Gilbert
- Paul Wesley … Cast, Stefan Salvatore
- Ian Somerhalder … Cast, Damon Salvatore
- Steven R. McQueen … Cast, Jeremy Gilbert
- Kat Graham … Cast, Bonnie Bennett
- Zach Roerig … Cast, Matt Donovan
- Candice Accola … Cast, Caroline Forbes
- Michael Trevino … Cast, Tyler Lockwood
- Matt Davis … Cast, Alaric Saltzman
- Joseph Morgan … Cast, Klaus
- Claire Holt … Cast, Rebekah
- Torrey DeVitto … Cast, Dr. Meredith Fell
- Marguerite MacIntyre … Cast, Sheriff Liz Forbes
- Cassidy Freeman … Cast, Sage
- Susan Walters … Cast, Mrs. Lockwood
- Hannah Fierman … Cast, Marianna Lockwood
- Lindsey R. Garrett … Cast, Samantha Gilbert
- Lee Spencer … Cast, Gerald Forbes
- Marcus Hester … Cast, Zachariah Salvatore
- Arthur Bridgers … Cast, Barker
- Sarah Wheeler … Cast, Woman