BWW Recap: Searching for Lost Memories on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES

On my very first birthday a family friend handed me a gift. I didn't know what it was because I was only one year old and anything that was handed to me was instantly food. Unfortunately, it wasn't food. Fortunately, once unwrapped, the gift yielded my most prized possession: my magical stuffed bear. His name is Sammy and he's gone everywhere with me: across seas, college, my first apartment, etc. One time, in 1994, he got lost in a Sizzler. That was a terrible day. The magic bestowed upon Sammy is irreplaceable. When he's gone so is my ability to turn water into rum, to make 400 candles light up at once, and my most magical ability of all, sleeping through the night.

Tonight's episode of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, entitled "Do You Remember the First Time?," was very relatable. I'm talking about the magical bear, not the romantic kiss in the rain with a super hot vampire. I'm still waiting on that one.

Picking up from last week, Elena and Damon had finally come face-to-face. Elena was bummed when it turned out he wasn't the pizza delivery guy, but Damon was still just a stranger to her. Their encounter didn't last long and Damon popped over to the hospital to mess around with Alaric's medical equipment, forgetting this was Hogwart's Whitmore's hospital with real people and real live-saving tools, not Mystic Falls where everyone received their medical training from a broken game of Operation.

Alaric apologized profusely to Damon for his part in Elena's compulsion, but was interrupted by Jo. Damon gave her the heads up on vampires that may seek her out for her vampire-to-human services at the border, but Jo promised her miracle was unrepeatable (wanting to see Alaric naked had fueled her adrenaline to save his life). She was also in dire need of a date to the annual Hogwarts Whitmore fundraiser and newly recovered Alaric was granted with an early discharge for this reason.

In the woods, Enzo, Matt, and Stefan were on Tripp duty. Stefan wanted him dead, but Enzo knew there were more of his minions out looking for vampires. Stefan pleaded with Caroline since she was next on Tripp's list, but she quickly compared him to gum stuck to the bottom of her shoe, exclaiming she could take care of herself. She received a call from Sheriff Forbes and discovered Tripp's goons were holding her at gunpoint.

Back in 1994, Bonnie had finally recovered from her arrow wound. Kai was working furiously to repair the Ascendant so they could leave, threatening to take her magic if she didn't help him. Bonnie wasn't having any of it, though, and stabbed Kai, running off to the hospital with the broken pieces of the Ascendant.

At Whitmore, Elena had decided to attend the fundraiser with human Liam. Damon showed up just in time to make things awkward as Alaric and Jo side-eyed him for popping up uninvited. Elena obliged his request for a dance and he began to recount memories of some of their first moments together. Elena looked less than enthusiastic when she could only remember the bad times surrounding all of Damon's actions.

Jo and Alaric made plans to start a support group for formal supernaturals, but Jo confessed that her magic was still around, just chilling somewhere safe.

Elena decided that the best way to bring back her memories was to return to the spot where her and Damon had last said, "I love you." Damon excitedly took her to the border, recounting the night they had died together. It was useless, though. She listened to the viewers from last week and tried to cross the border to rid of her compulsion. It was futile as she began to cough up water. Damon pulled her back, but all she received was bits and pieces of her memory. Damon returned her back to Whitmore and confessed that she was better off without him, but Elena kept goading him about a certain memory of being in the rain together. He left her, hoping she would move on.

Caroline, Stefan, Matt, and Enzo were in a rush to save Sheriff Forbes (even after Enzo had spilled the beans that Caroline had feelings for Stefan). They made it to the border only for Tripp to die as soon as he crossed; apparently Enzo had turned him right before they left the woods. They saved Liz and Stefan escorted them to the hospital, hoping to smooth things over with Caroline. But no matter what her feelings were or once were, Caroline hated Stefan for all he had put her through. Friendship wasn't in the cards at the moment.

In 1994 prison, Kai had tracked Bonnie down, returning her to the underground cave. They were going through with the spell during the eclipse or bust. Kai had even rescued Bonnie's teddy bear to make amends. He spewed some sociopathic lies about being sorry and wanting to be more like Bonnie. Bonnie began to go through with the spell, but at the last minute transferred her magic to her bear. Kai was enraged, but Bonnie wasn't bringing back a psychopath to Mystic Falls (there were already enough).

Alaric and Jo had returned to her place. She ditched the tight dress and was ready to order a pizza (my kind of girl), when Alaric spotted a deep scar on her stomach. According to the doctor, Jo's brother had tried to murder her with a hunting knife. Hi Kai's sister!

In the dorms, Elena was wrapping her head around the night's events when Liam showed up with a medical file. The girl that Elena had vampire-saved at the corn maze had healed before needing any surgery. Liam knew Elena was keeping dark secrets from him and he was going to find them out.

Damon stumbled through the cemetery, drinking heavily. If he was forced to be without Elena, he would be with his next true love, whiskey. His mind flashed back to the memory Elena had been so desperate for; the moment him and Elena kissed in the rain (cue the internet breaking). He stumbled upon the family crypt only to find Bonnie's bear sitting there, waiting for him. He hugged the bear knowing that Bonnie was still alive.

Things we need to discuss:

- Enzo couldn't use his iPhone because bloody fingers don't work on touchscreen. Just FYI, people.

- Liam thinking he could "take" Damon.

- Do you enjoy Tyler working as a cater waiter now?

- Good to see that the bar at Whitmore is subscribing to the Mystic Grill: How to Run a Bar newsletter and serving underage kids.

- RIP Tripp. Do you care?

- Please fund my Kickstarter to have Michael Malarkey whisper "Hell, gorgeous" at me in his Enzo accent.

Do you have a magical stuffed animal? Do you remember the first time you ever watched TVD? Is Jo also your new favorite character? Comment below or tweet me @enr702 or find me live-tweeting @erinrlivetweets (so long as the TVD fandom didn't crash Twitter).

Below, watch a preview for next Thursday's new episode "Fade Into You":

Photo Credit: The CW

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