Now THIS is what I call an episode!
Best scenes -
Picking up right where we left off last episode, Isobel being so cavalier with Alaric (when it was obviously a big deal for him, seeing her again), then her throttling him/threatening his students/forcing him to arrange a meeting between her and Elena.
John and Isobel's first scene together. Loved her bitch-slapping him.
Nervous Elena at the bar conversing with/exchanging "I love you."s with Stefan from afar.
Elena and Isobel's first meeting. Their back and forth exchanges were great. Especially Isobel saying she had that message-delivering guy kill himself for "dramatic impact"/she wished it would have been more effective, her saying that human life means nothing to her, her knowing about Stefan and asking why Elena didn't go for Damon.
Damon and Alaric talking outside about Isobel giving up her humanity and how it's like a button you can press. Alaric saying to Damon, "Hell, you're a d!ck and kill people, but I still see something human in you." and Damon (referring to Stefan) saying, "He wants to feel every episode of How I Met Your Mother." were especially good.
Isobel calling Elena on her first lie/pointing out "forever doesn't last very long...when you're human.", grabbing Elena/telling her to tell Stefan to walk away, saying the blood would be on Elena's hands, then walking off with a polite "Was nice meeting you, Elena." - I felt sorry for Elena, but enjoyed Isobel's nastiness at the same time.
Isobel walking in on Damon playing strip poker with Cherie and saying "No, no, no." to him (in regards to his pants). I especially liked the vampire super-speeding effects being used more than usual. Ian and Mia were both excellent in the scene, the chemistry/the tension just sizzled. Great interaction between them.
Isobel showing up at the float-making. Her acting parental and wanting to be in Elena's life, then proceeding to tick off all the people in Elena's life. I loved Isobel's reactions to Bonnie, Jeremy and Caroline (and Caroline waving, as Isobel badmouthed her). Also enjoyed how deliciously evil Isobel was, so casually threatening Matt and Jeremy.
Isobel and John. Specifically her pointing out his ring comes off and saying "I'll kill him to prove you wrong." (in regards to John thinking she couldn't kill Jeremy).
Elena and Isobel's second meeting for the device exchange (Isobel's "For goddsakes, call home." amused me). Her telling Elena not to look for any redeeming qualities in her, pointing out Damon's in love with her and warning her that she's doomed (having a Salvatore on each arm). I also liked Stefan's and Damon's looks they exchanged throughout all this and especially when Stefan hugged Elena.
Isobel and Alaric's last scene together. Very well acted.
Stefan and Damon's talk about what Isobel said and how "history will not be repeating itself".
Learning that Isobel's not as heartless as she appeared and her not wanting Elena to have a life with vampires in it. I also enjoyed the John-being-Elena's-father and the two of them being her protective parents reveal.
Best lines -
Isobel: "Cherie is a little jazz singer that I picked up in a Blues Bar in Brooklyn and I got the cowboy at a gay rodeo in Amarillo." John: "He's gay?" Isobel: "Not right now. He's very good to me."
Isobel: "I'm teaching them French. Ooh, I can smell the judgement coming off of you."
Isobel: (to Elena) "You look just like her. It's eerie."
Elena: "Who's my father?" Isobel: "Not important. He was a teenage waste of space." Elena: "A name would be nice." Isobel: "It would, wouldn't it? You ask a *lot* of questions."
Matt: (to Tyler) "You're a d!ck. End of story."
Isobel: "And there's Caroline. Obnoxious Caroline. I got all of my info from her, by the way. She had no idea who I was and she wouldn't stop yapping."
Isobel: "And there's Matt. Friend, ex, Yappy's future ex."
Only things I disliked...
1)Jeremy being a jerk to Elena. I know what she did, and yes it was an invasion of privacy, but she was looking out for her brother (yet he gives her grief for it). 2)Bonnie still being a bitch to Elena about Stefan (when clearly Elena was upset after meeting her mum). Thankfully, Bonnie later made up with Elena. Though why'd she ask "Are you okay?", when clearly Elena *wasn't* okay (that was the whole problem to start with)? Oh, and then her revealing at the end she'd lied to/tricked Elena about rendering the Vampire-Killing Device useless? Not cool.
This was an excellent episode, easily one of the best. It must be said, Mia Kirshner absolutely made this episode what it was. She can portray evil/menace so effortlessly (which was on full display tonight), but then she can turn on a dime and portray the total opposite (ie. a mother concerned about Elena). Watch her facial expressions throughout, she portrayed such a wide range of emotions. She also got all the best lines in the episode and her interaction with everyone was memorable. They'll be hard-pressed topping this, but nevertheless, bring on the final!
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