The Vampire Diaries
Season 8 Episode 11: “You Made a Choice To Be Good”
Directed by Carol Banker
Written by Melinda Hsu Taylor and Celine Geiger
Created by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec
Starring Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder, Kat Graham, Candice King, Zach Roerig, Matthew Davis, Michael Malarkey
The CW
Air Date: Friday, February 3rd, 2017, 8:00pm

Last time on The Vampire Diaries, Damon (Ian Somerhalder) was trapped in his own head, and even Sybil (Nathalie Kelley) couldn’t get him out. It was up to Caroline and Bonnie (Candice King, Kat Graham) to go in through a back door. Caroline reunited with her mom (who arrested her), and Bonnie figured out that it was really Stefan (Paul Wesley) who needed to be in there (cameo by Vicki Donovan – Kayla Ewell). He jumped in and told Damon he forgave him, but there was a twist. It was Damon who needed to forgive Stefan, and he kept repeating it. Stefan was not having it, so he jumped out ready to have the whole town go up in hell flames. Damon to the rescue! Humanity back, he saved the town and is ready to make amends. Oh, and Cade (Wolé Parks) sent Sybil and Seline up in flames, after becoming corporeal on earth.

Spoilers below.

The Vampire Diaries 8.11 “You Made a Choice To Be Good” review: Cade is in town, and already wreaking havoc.

Damon updates Stefan – the “psycho sisters are M.I.A.”

Matt (Zach Roerig) is the new sheriff in town for Time Capsule Day (this town and its weird historic celebrations). Caroline digs up her own time capsule, complete with a letter from her 11-year old self. Matt, ever the gloomy Gus, is not sure Stefan can come back from this. But first he has to calm the town, and figure out what the mysterious Maxwell decoder does.

Enzo (Michael Malarkey) and Bonnie are on a road trip to hide the fork and bell. Bucket lists come up, so they have a day of fun. Then Bonnie takes him to her secret house.

Cade set Stefan free. And wants Damon to kill 100 people by tonight. He will accept quality over quantity. “Before the sun goes down, kill 100 evil strangers, or kill the love of your brother’s life.” Damon goes to fill Caroline in on the less than optimistic news. She tries to give Matt a “blood” orange margarita, but he refuses. Dorian (Demetrius Bridges) may take her up on it though. He tells her his story.

Cade gets rid of any notions in Damon’s head that he can be killed. Caroline comes up with Plan C – put the cure in Cade and THEN kill him. Cade shows up and kills a few patrons, but Matt gets the rest out of there. He came to do what Damon could not – kill Caroline. Cade reveals Stefan’s task – kill Elena. No matter what Damon does, that path is set.

Turns out, Elena is in Bonnie’s house. Enzo will love Bonnie no matter what, even if old. He gets ejected from the house, as ownership turns over. Somehow, Stephan got ownership transferred over (how is that legal without Bonnie’s signature?).

Stefan wants Elena gone to basically be free of Damon, who is frantic. Bonnie is getting the cure, when Stefan arrives and rips out Enzo’s heart. That was an obvious. They were just too happy together this episode. She jams the cure into Stefan and screams as power reverberates through. Is this a preview of “Dark Bonnie” a la “Dark Willow?”

I won’t pretend to understand the “cure” rules. If the cure is in Elena’s blood, why can’t it be unlimited? I think I have to rewatch those episodes to fully understand.

Much like all of the episodes and much of the series, TVD is non-stop shock-then-go-to-commercial. That coupled with the prettiness of the girls and boys, are some of the rightful reasons for the longevity of the show. I do get tired of the humanity switch.

The Vampire Diaries airs Friday nights at 8:00pm ET on The CW.

The CW’s synopsis:

The Vampire Diaries
You Made a Choice to Be Good (Ep# 811)
WHEN EVIL RETURNS — Cade (guest star Wolé Parks) returns to Mystic Falls and presents Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) with additional assignments, each with unthinkable consequences. Even with tension growing in their friendship, Caroline (Candice King) and Matt (Zach Roerig) do their best to protect the town’s residents from Cade’s appetite for their souls. Bonnie (Kat Graham) and Enzo (Michael Malarkey) hit the road on a romantic trip, taking the bell with them in hopes to keep it safe. Carol Banker directed the episode written by Melinda Hsu Taylor & Celine Geiger (#811). Original airdate 2/3/2017.

Image Gallery

Videos

The Vampire Diaries | You Made a Choice to Be Good Scene | The CW

The Vampire Diaries | Inside TVD: You Made a Choice to Be Good | The CW