A Few Good Men (25 Mar. 2010)

Matt and Caroline are surprised by the sudden reappearance of Matt's estranged mother Kelly who arrives back in Mystic Falls with an agenda. Stefan and Elena are worried about Damon's new ... See full summary »

Director:

Joshua Butler

Writers:

Kevin Williamson (developer), Julie Plec (developer),

Stars:

Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Nina Dobrev	...	Elena Gilbert
Paul Wesley	...	Stefan Salvatore
Ian Somerhalder	...	Damon Salvatore
Steven R. McQueen	...	Jeremy Gilbert (credit only)
Sara Canning	...	Jenna Sommers
Kat Graham	...	Bonnie Bennett (credit only) (as Katerina Graham)
Candice Accola	...	Caroline Forbes
Zach Roerig	...	Matt Donovan
Michael Trevino	...	Tyler Lockwood (credit only)
Matthew Davis	...	Alaric Saltzman (as Matt Davis)
Mia Kirshner	...	Isobel Flemming
Marguerite MacIntyre	...	Sheriff Liz Forbes
Malese Jow	...	Anna
Kelly Hu	...	Pearl
Sterling Sulieman	...	Harper

Storyline

Matt and Caroline are surprised by the sudden reappearance of Matt's estranged mother Kelly who arrives back in Mystic Falls with an agenda. Stefan and Elena are worried about Damon's new attitude, while one vampire from the crypt is loose and killing. Meanwhile, Damon is asked by Sheriff Forbes to take part in a fund-raising bachelor auction. Elsewhere, Alaric discovers shocking secrets from his own past over his late wife. With help from Jenna and Stefan, Elena is determined to find out everything she can about her birth mother, but the truth may be more than she can handle when she learns about Isobel's past, her gruesome demise... and her connection to Alaric.

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Plot Keywords:

forbidden love | small town | bar

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 March 2010 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Covington, Georgia, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alloy Entertainment, Bonanza Productions, CBS Television Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

42 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Elena calls Isobel from the cell phone, Isobel's number is listed as [phone]. The 919 area code is associated with the Raleigh, North Carolina area.

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Goofs

When Damon comes out of the bathroom and starts getting ready for the bachelor auction, he's not wearing his lapis lazuli ring.

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Quotes

Stefan Salvatore: There was a woman you may have known a few years back named Isobel. In North Carolina, at Duke.
Damon Salvatore: You want to discuss the women of my past right now, seriously?
Stefan Salvatore: You killed her.
Damon Salvatore: What's your point?
Stefan Salvatore: I just want to know if you remember anything about her.
Damon Salvatore: It's like a needle in a haystack, Stefan.
Stefan Salvatore: Well think hard, it's important.
Damon Salvatore: [whispers in Stefan's ear] Nothing is important... not anymore.

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Soundtracks

"Time Is A Runaway"
(uncredited)
Performed by The Alternate Routes

User Reviews

Unrequited love sucks...

Felt sorry for the poor bastard in the woods who became the first meal in a LONG time for newly-freed-from-tomb vampire guy (thanks to Bonnie and Bonnie's Gran not ensuring that the seal went back up PROPERLY). "Sorry" doesn't cut it, vamp man. Though it was fun to see him react to the mobile phone.

Nice that Elena's checking on how Bonnie's doing. Shows she's a true friend. And, hey, Elena's writing in her diary again...I guess they remembered the last part in the title for this show after all. I'm glad Jenna informed Elena that Alaric's wife was also named Isobel and that she didn't keep it a secret from her. Wasn't so fussed on Stefan not telling Elena that Damon was responsible for the death of Alaric's wife and possibly Elena's birth mum, though. I did like, however, Elena asking how Damon was doing (proving that she does in fact care about everybody, whether they be human or vampire), Stefan saying "He's dealing in his...own way." and then the cut to Damon feeding on some willing dancing victims and listening to Jet's 'Black Hearts (On Fire)'. So very Damon. His "Nooo, Buzzkill Bob!", when Stefan showed up, was great. I can't say Damon's perpetually drunk behaviour (after the reveal last episode that Katherine apparently doesn't give two figs about him) is unexpected.

Great introduction to Matt's mum, when Matt and Caroline were making out ("Oh God, not on my couch."). Melinda Clarke is awesome. Very happy to see her on this show (never watched The O.C., but have seen her in other stuff. I mainly remember her from her two episodes of Xena). She certainly made Matt more interesting. I liked their interaction throughout the episode. I do wonder how long it'll be before they realise Vicki's not coming back ever.

Whoo! Mia Kirshner! Always a pleasure to see her on screen, and especially playing someone so different to her typical roles too. I enjoyed the scenes between Isobel and Alaric.

I also liked Elena being smart enough to catch onto the fact that her mum's friend was testing if she was a vampire.

Good interaction between Damon and Alaric.

One thing you can never accuse this show of is shying away from killing characters, what with another one biting the dust (Isobel's friend) and all.

Nina and Ian have great on screen chemistry (incase I haven't said it before). Their first scene together this episode was proof enough of that. I enjoyed her reaction to "wrecked" Damon, him enlisting her help with buttoning his shirt, her happily informing him that she found out about her birth mother, then Damon ruining her happy moment with his scoffing at her "Who cares? She left you. She sucks." - Elena's reaction to that clearly showed how disappointed she was in him (and what he said in regards to her mum).

I already like Matt's mum and the bitchiness she brings. Her interaction with Elena, Matt and Caroline was great (calling Caroline Matt's "rebound girl" right in front of her was especially bitchy...but deliciously so).

Ian/Damon's reaction to finding out about Alaric's wife was also good. Damon taunting/tormenting/antagonising Alaric about his wife (when they were being auctioned off as bachelors)? THAT was pretty damn evil...but totally in character with who Damon is. Great moment between them. Then seeing Elena's, Stefan's and Jenna's reactions (especially Elena's). Matt's mum is a different sort of evil, but entertaining nonetheless (her coming right out and telling Caroline that she doesn't like her).

I especially liked Elena informing Damon that Alaric's wife was also her mum and Damon's reaction to this. Amazingly, he *did* show genuine regret. I liked that she went from thinking he may have been redeemable to her realising that he really *isn't* (yet Stefan's still holding out hope).

Another really good moment was finding out what exactly the purpose of that dude stalking Elena was (with Stefan knowing the guy was under compulsion of a vampire, Elena figuring out that Isobel was probably a vampire and then the dude walking backwards and getting run over).

One of the best scenes of the episode had to be Alaric confronting Damon with the stake. For a minute, I was thinking, "No way would they permanently kill off Alaric...would they?". Given this show actually has BALLS and kills off characters regularly, it was certainly a possibility (plus, the scene really did play out like Alaric was definitely dead). I was happy to see that he was not in fact dead, though, and the revelation about his ring (finally!): that Isobel gave it to him to protect him from harm. Damon's denial about Katherine is certainly making him act like more of an ass than usual. Anna, Anna's mum and other vampires hanging out at some human's house (with the owner obviously under compulsion)? Interesting. I thought Nina/Elena was really great with her reaction to hearing Isobel's voice, and I love the fact that this promises more Mia Kirshner in the future.

Welcome back, TVD (again)! You returned with full force, answered numerous questions, had quite the number of revelations for various characters and continue to be moving things along at a swift pace. Please no more going on breaks until the end of the season!