TV Review: THE VAMPIRE DIARIES – Season 3 – “Break on Through”

By SEAN ELLIOTT / Contributing Writer

Posted: March 30th, 2012 / 12:57 PM

Cassidy Freeman in THE VAMPIRE DIARIES - Season 3 - "Break on Through" | ©2012 The CW/Quantrell D. Colbert

Stars: Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder
Writer: Rebecca Sonnenshine, Based on the book by L.J. Smith
Director: Lance Anderson
Network: The CW, airs Thursday nights
Original Telecast: March 22, 2012

Hmmm, two episodes back in and THE VAMPIRE DIARIES still doesn’t feel like it’s quite up to its potential. This series has been one of my favorite guilty pleasures for a couple of years, but following on the heels of the original vamp storyline this season, it seems that the writers are at a loss as to what to do next (besides bodily harm to Alaric (Matt Davis).

So I was right about “1912” the primary reason to have Sage (Cassidy Freeman) introduced was so that she could become a character in the contemporary storyline. But, she is still just kind of MEH in “Break on Through”.

The character only has one desire to be reunited with her original vampire boyfriend who ditched her hundreds of hears ago. Get over it. Stop being a victim for your entire afterlife! The fact that her ex is the one original vamp that is willing to kill himself to do away with the whole family tells us that he is long over Sage and has moved on to quieter thoughts of green pastures and eternal slumber without a dagger in his heart.

Oh and yes, Alaric (Matthew Davis) turns out to be a scheming psycho killer. Which I gather from all of the evidence found in his apartment that this had been going on for awhile? Talk about a quick and abortive storyline. After he attacks Dr. Fell (Torrey DeVitto) in the kitchen, Elena (Nina Dobrev) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) show up to knock him out. Then off camera Bonnie (Katerina Graham) does some magic joop…and viola! Alaric is no longer a crazy bad guy as long as he eats some herbs. Pointless. I just feel bad for Elena since the girl is ALWAYS cleaning blood up in the kitchen.

Nina Dobrev, Torrey DeVitto, Paul Wesley in THE VAMPIRE DIARIES - Season 3 - "Break on Through" | ©2012 The CW/Quantrell D. Colbert

Speaking of Bonnie, the storyline with her mom Abby (Persia White) just got an express ticket down the crapper as Abby decides she is unfit to be a mother now that she’s a vamp and takes off. Watch. This is cause friction between Bonnie and Elena again. “It’s your fault my mom’s a vampire and she ran off!”

Damon (Ian Somerhalder) has some shagtastic adventures with the insecure original Rebekah (Claire Holt) and Sage and finds out where the remains of the second white oak tree are; only to be double crossed by Sage the perma-victim to save the life of her ex. So everything goes up in flames and now there’s no hope to kill an original! Oh yeah….but what about the sign for the bridge? Seems Damon and Stefan have a weapon now. Here’s hoping the originals go down so we can finally move onto a new big bad.

Speaking of Damon, does he always have to use sex to get what he wants? Far be it for me to argue, lord knows I love seeing Ian Somerhalder in ANY state of undress, but can’t Damon get intel any other way? He’s such a tawdry slut….but a hooker with a heart of gold is a good ally to have.

Speaking of hotties without clothes Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) put in a surprise cameo. Sadly he was clothed. But, who knows maybe this is the writers’ start of drawing him back into the main story. If the originals die…he can come back!

Related Link: Exclusive Photos from THE VAMPIRE DIARIES at PaleyFest 2012 event

Related Link: Exclusive Interview – The Scoop on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES and its future from executive producer Kevin Williamson

Related Link: Exclusive Interview with THE VAMPIRE DIARIES star Candice Accola

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