'The Vampire Diaries' recap: Prom Pictures of You

 

Elena has zero interest in making this a night to remember, and the cure changes hands again

How did no one die at the prom? That's a little disappointing. But on the upside: The Stelena fans got a nice moment, as did the Staroline contingent. Sorry, Stebekah hopefuls. It appears that ship has sailed. Let's dig in.
We opened with Bonnie visiting Jeremy's grave to

say goodbye and something better than her last words to him, "We did it." Jeremy appeared and told her to wake up. She'd been dreaming and set the room on fire. Over at Salvatore Mansion, there was another fire, and the brothers were tossing a

football in front of it so we could admire Damon's biceps and recap where we stand: Elena hasn't killed anyone this week, but she will if they make a move to get the cure and shove it down her throat. Plan A: They have to make her flip her humanity switch so she'll WANT the cure, and Plan B: Lock her up until they can think of a Plan C. Once it's over, Damon will help her deal with all the emotions she's repressed since Jeremy's death and Stefan will leave town.
At Klaus' mansion, he and Rebekah tried to convince Elijah who should get the cure, and again, provide a little recap: Silas will torment Klaus until he gets it, but he'll also open the floodgates so every dead supernatural being returns to our side. Rebekah really wants to be human. Elijah, being sensible as always (except for when he's sleeping with Katherine), told Klaus his personal discomfort wasn't enough of a reason to put the world in jeopardy. Klaus' smile turned to a frown when Elijah agreed to give Rebekah a shot at happiness, and he told Rebekah when she's dying and asking for his life-saving blood, he'll deny her and compel her to forget him. There's the Klaus we love to hate. Elijah's ruling had a catch: Rebekah has to prove this isn't just a whim. She must live one day without vampire privileges. ONE DAY? Oh, okay, it's prom. So that counts for, like, 20.
Elena, who's bunking with Rebekah, wanted to accompany her to make sure she passed Elijah's test because as soon as Rebekah downs the cure, no one can force it on her. Solid plan. I almost wish we hadn't seen shots of Elena at the prom before this episode aired. When we saw Caroline walk out of the dressing room wearing that magenta print (dress details here!), we knew Elena must steal it. Cruel! But truth be told: It's a better color on Elena. Anyway, Bonnie was with Caroline telling her about her dreams of Jeremy/killing time until Caroline could remind us that Tyler wasn't there to be her date. Caroline, Matt, and Bonnie are going together as friends. Sweet. I had friend prom, too, because my boyfriend was non-existent out of town. Elena seemed surprised to see Stefan get out of the limo that came to pick her up. Who was she expecting to be in it? She wasn't happy to see Damon either when he told her they were going to make sure she didn't eat the prom queen (a joke, but she really did end up attempting it).
Perhaps the boys should have been worried about Caroline. She interrupted Klaus' fireside brooding

to inform him of the "real crisis" that was Elena's prom dress theft. The tailor couldn't remember who'd picked up the gown, which meant she'd been compelled. So the vervain is out of the town's water supply. (THAT EXPLAINS HOW SOME OF THESE KIDS ARE GOING TO GET INTO COLLEGE!) Klaus laughed at Caroline, obviously, but couldn't resist her when she smiled and begged him to go into his "creepy trophy chest of family collectibles" and find her a gown that would make her look "Princess Grace of Monaco" hot. Is that a reference the kids are making these days? I know we got a great gown reveal at the prom, but I would have liked to have seen a montage of Caroline trying on dresses for Klaus. Wouldn't you?