'The Vampire Diaries' Season 3, Episode 4 Recap (VIDEO)

['The Vampire Diaries' - 'Disturbing Behavior']

Time to play which 'Vampire Diaries' moment was sadder: When Uncle John staked Anna in the chest and she died during Season 1 -- I literally wept when that happened (Also, uh, spoiler alert? But I mean that was a year and a half ago and you're currently reading a Season 3 recap so we should be good.) -- or when Jeremy shut her out and shunned her to solitude in ghost purgatory during Thursday's episode?

They're tied for me, especially since No. 2 means we're probably going to have to wait a while to see more Malese Jow, and every episode of 'The Vampire Diaries' is better with some Malese Jow.

As much as I loves me some Forwood, being a card-carrying (and dare I say founding?) member of Team Anna, I was thrilled to see Jeremy and Anna share B-plot duties during 'Disturbing Behavior.' In fact, since it had been so long since Jeremy's biceps threatened to bulge out of his shirt, I might have even liked their storyline more than the main one. Not that the Stefan/Klaus/Rebekah plot wasn't exciting too, I just love Anna so much. Like, so much. I might have a problem.

Before Anna was banished to her solo ghost land, she helpfully informed Jeremy of a few ghost rules. 1. He can only see her when he is thinking about her and lets her in. 2. "I'm all by myself here. I don't have anyone." You're killing me, Jer! How are you gonna let such an awesome person slip away! 3. Anna's a part of his world, but no one can see her. 4. Anna can feel Vicki's presence but not see her, and something bad happens every time she warns Jeremy about Vicki. 5. Jeremy and Anna have insane chemistry.

Unfortunately, Jeremy realized that it's probably unhealthy to have such a red-hot spark with the ghost of his dead vampire ex-girlfriend when he has a perfectly healthy live human (albeit witch) girlfriend in Mystic Falls, and finally told Bonnie about the ghosts (and also Elena by default, since teenage girls tell each other everything) EDIT: Actually, not Elena, but Katherine as Elena. Twist! Couldn't he have let Anna stick around for another episode or two, just 'cause we love her so much? Okay, "I." I love her so much. Deal with it.

In Original news, some major stuff went down between Stefan and Klaus, and Stefan and Rebekah, and Stefan and Katherine, and Stefan and Gloria. Actually, Stefan had a pretty major episode. I say this like an afterthought. It was actually pretty exciting, I was just too distracted by Anna gracing us with her presence to care as much as I normally would. And I love douchey Stefan.

Gloria made some headway in locating the necklace, but it turns out she wanted it for her own purposes since it was a talisman from the original witch -- and she wanted it badly enough to torture Stefan with vervain and witch headaches and other assorted terrible things. I thought witches were supposed to be good! Also, what is it with the torture on this show this season? If someone isn't tied to a chair and burned next week I will be shocked.



But then BAM: Badass Katherine to the rescue. Girlfriend has impeccable timing, and that includes her amazing banter skills. I swear everyone gets more clever when they talk to her. "It's good to want things, Katherine," amirite?! For good reason, Stefan didn't want to team up with Katherine to figure out who Klaus and Rebekah were running from despite the fact that she saved his ass by stabbing Gloria in the neck, but it's all good. She'll just team up with Damon instead.

Although Stefan was able to clean up the whole "Gloria knowing about Elena" situation thanks to Katherine's help, the Klaus/Rebekah situation didn't go well at all. Rebekah knows when Stefan is lying, and could tell he's still in love with Elena. Like a helpful sister, she warned Klaus that Stefan might not be on their side. So what did Klaus do? Take him back to Mystic Falls, that's what. Uh oh. Things are not going to go well for Elena next week. Then again, what else is new? PS: Couldn't Klaus get a classier mode of transportation for the bodies of his vampire family? Surely he's saved up some cash over the years for something better than a 16-foot UHaul.

It occurs to me that some of you might be wondering about Delena. (Understatement of the year?) The connection between Elena and Damon was palpable this week, and it was so obvious that Alaric snapped out of his stupor and told Damon to back off. Of course, he might've been pissed about the whole Damon killing him (again) thing. But at least he realized that Damon might not be good for Elena right now.

Elena also realized that Damon might not be good for her right now. (Witness this exchange: "I don't want you to be what other people think that you are." "I am not Stefan. How about you stop trying to turn me into him?") But we all know how good Elena is at avoiding things that aren't good for her, so I'm sure we'll see some more Delena action shortly.

But back to Alaric -- he was so energized after returning from the dead (again) that he decided to take this whole "guardian" thing seriously and lobby for a spot on the council. The man's got a point -- he's actually human,

Side note: Do you think it takes longer to wake up from dying with the protective ring each time you croak? Or can Alaric only be roused by the finest in agave-based spirits? Because that tequila sure got him up quickly.

And finally, re: Caroline, a.k.a. the most badass vamp in Mystic Falls -- yes, more badass than Damon (To wit: "I'm stronger than you, little girl." "Well, I'm angrier!") -- I suppose her dad really thinks he's helping his daughter live a better life by encouraging her to pray away the vampirism, but as a gay man you'd think he'd have a more realistic grasp on other people saying it's so easy to will away biological traits. Just to twist that proverbial knife in her gut a little more, this killed me: "You're a vampire, sweetheart. I don't think you'll ever be okay again."

Other thoughts:

--Why was Bonnie doing magic outside in the open, as if someone couldn't walk by any minute and catch her?

--Did you see Tyler's muscles?! Tight T-shirts for all!

--Rebekah is my new favorite quote machine. The night's best: "He's a vindictive little bastard, my brother."

--Yet again, Caroline with the words of wisdom: "Yeah, but that doesn't make him any less Damon."

--Bonnie better get something interesting to do besides help move other people's plots forward or I fear our little witch is not long for this world. I adore Kat Graham, but Bonnie is straight up boring me this season (and yes I'm aware that's partially because she's gotten no actual storylines, but still).

Tell me: What did you think of 'Disturbing Behavior'? Were you as blinded by the greatness of Anna as I was, or were you excited for another element of this plot-packed episode?


'The Vampire Diaries' airs Thursdays, 8PM ET on The CW

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