Body image, self-loathing and the boogie monster.

Body image. Self esteem. The boogie monster. These are all things we’d rather not fight with. Honestly, it’d be nice if they shook hands with us or sat down and had a cup of tea, rather than stirring up havoc in our minds.

I’ve battled with all 3 since I was very small (yes, even the boogie monster, though he’s hunted by Sam and Dean from Supernatural in my head now so we’re on relatively good terms). There are days when they are so overwhelming and all-consuming that I am practically helpless. I am like the blonde chick at the start of Scream – albeit without the massive rack – I try and run, I try and hide, but all I do is end up at the bottom of the stairs with a big knife of self-pity and self-loathing stabbed in my back.

I know I’m not alone in this. There are millions of others out there who struggle daily with the reflection they see in the mirror. A lot of those people cannot find anything about themselves that they truly love. Their vision of themselves is so distorted that even if it stepped out from the gilded frame to slap them in the face, they wouldn’t recognise the beautiful parts of themselves.

Frankly, I have days like this.

It might come as a shock for those who see me every day, because I am the epitome of happiness. My smile stretches so wide, it’s like the Grand Canyon. But buried under that smile is a gulf so deep, I often feel swallowed whole by the sheer enormity of my own self-loathing.

Why am I sharing this, might you ask?

Because despite this, there are days when I am myself again. There are days when I see myself for the truly wonderful person I am. There are days I laugh at my ridiculous mind and its ridiculous thoughts, and I stare into the sunrise with purpose.

Frankly my dear friends, I live for those days.

These are the days that I hope.

I’m sharing this part of myself – this dark, empty part – because (and I know it sounds cheesy) I want my friends and anyone else who reads this to KNOW they’re not alone. There is beauty and wonder and magic in everyone. You would think, in my profession (social work), that I would despise humanity. Well, I don’t. I can see past the despair and dirtiness of this world and I cherish the love and magnificence that is underneath.

I believe – and you may curse me for this – that there is something good about every single person on this planet. I don’t care how horrible they are or what they’ve done. There is a sliver of humanity in every being. What I’ve found is – people tend to squash that tiny piece. They bury it, they kick it aside, and they ignore it. My biggest fear? That I, too, will be buried alive under the weight of my depression.

I don’t want that. Oh God, I don’t want that.

I don’t want that for anyone else either.

You know what keeps me from suffocating though? My ability to share my concerns. I know that there are people in my life who notice when I don’t call them for a few days, who text me when they work out something’s up. But I don’t clutch my pain to my chest and refuse to part with it. If anything, I scramble to offer it over to somebody – often in the simple gesture of a hug or a clasped hand.

So where am I going with all this? Well, this is my tiny sliver of goodness that I am giving to you. Take it or leave it, it’s your choice. But know this – help is always out there. There is enough kindness in this universe to wrap you in blankets forever. All you have to do is ask. Don’t be afraid. Stand up to the boogie monster, which is really only a distortion in your reality. We are the makers of our own world, and we can overcome. True, there will be days when we will bury our heads under the covers and not want to move, but there will also be days where the sun will shine and we’ll open our eyes and be able to face the day.

Friends, let us not wallow in our hurt or our self-pity. Let us embrace what we have to offer the world – that small piece of wonder which always makes us beautiful in someone’s eyes. 

"Fine. Then neither one of us gets her."

Vampire Diaries lovers, I have to apologise for this late recap, but I was in denial. 4 whole weeks until the next episode? I think I might cry. So hopefully by releasing this recap so late, you will feel like me - at least it's only 3 weeks and 3 days until the next episode now. Gah, I'm still depressed. Anyway, let's see what befell our favorite TVD characters in 'All My Children'.

It's a typical day in the Gilbert house when Elena wakes up looking saddened and regretful. Flip to an equally broody Stefan, who ignores the call she places to him. "But let's not forget Damon," Elena thinks, though apparently she's been calling him all night. Damon answers while he's draped next to a seriously gorgeous Rebekah, claiming that he's over the whole thing. Damon? Over it? Doubtful.

Rebekah takes the walk of shame with Damon, telling him not to make a big deal of what happened. The two chance upon Elena standing outside the front door (I must admit, I laughed a lot). Elena lashes out at Damon and then Stefan, after she tells them she's worried about Elijah's survival and they retaliate and tell her not to screw the plan up (fair's fair, have we forgotten what the Originals have done to her, her family, everyone she loves?).

Rebekah slinks back into the Original's house, only to be stalled and mocked by a flippant Kol who's noticed her dishevelled appearance. Kol begs Klaus to hit the town and have some 'fun', while Elijah tells Rebekah he's suspicious about Esther's intention. While Rebekah pushes away his worries without a care, Bonnie tries to reinvent the nobody-can-hear-us spell at Elena's. Elena can't stop ranting about Damon's attitude to sleeping with Rebekah and how it affected her, but then Bonnie lets loose the fact that she and Abby went to the old witch's house and met up with Esther and Finn. (I like that the mother of all witches needs two lowly Bennett witches to do her spell. Makes me chuckle).

As we find out, everything is going down tonight under the glow of a full moon - and Elena's conscience isn't boding well with the thought of Elijah's demise. Damon mulls over Elena's jealousy to Stefan, to which Stefan reminds him that it wasn't him sleeping with someone, it was who he chose to sleep with. The two come to an agreement that "neither one of them" gets Elena, as she is better off without either of them. When Damon leaves the room we can't help but notice Stefan eyeing the cup of blood - a little warily.

Elijah shows up on Elena's doorstep to take her on a little special Elijah tour of the woods of Mystic Falls. He demands the truth from Elena, who caves and wonders what she can do to help. Big mistake. Elijah smashes in the ground and drops her into the tunnel below and leaves her there. No phone reception either. Uh oh.

Damon calls Ric and asks him to hog-tie Elena to a chair during the ritual, but Ric's with his "sexy psycho doctor". Apparently he's trying to find out about his attack through Meredith, but the two are interrupted by Klaus and Kol sauntering up to the bar. Esther and Finn meet up with Bonnie and Abby to hold hands and make magic, while Elena tries to escape through the tunnels but is stopped by a very angry, very gloaty Rebekah. Yipes.

While Elena is panicking, Elijah calls Stefan and Damon and gives them "til 6 minutes after 9" to stop the Bennett witches or he'll get Rebekah to kill Elena. Cut back to Elena, who's desperately pleading for her life, and a crazily cranky Rebekah who says: "So why don't you sit down and shut up before I ruin everything by ripping your head off." I love angry Rebekah.

Stefan is mulling over blood again, but his thinking is interrupted by Damon who suggests a less terrible plan - divide and conquer, stab one of the Originals and they all go down. How to start the plan? With a little blonde distraction. Cue to a stunning Caroline at the Grill, who stops a certain hybrid in his tracks. Klaus: "Isn't she stunning?" Ha, loves all over Klaroline right now. Even Kol can't stop Klaus from running outside after Caroline and asking her to: "Take a chance Caroline, talk to me, get to know me, I dare you." *dead* He's perfect.

Esther walks and talks us through the spell as Finn acts it out. When Bonnie asks him why he's so ready to die, he replies that he's had enough of the killing and yadda yadda. At the Grill, Meredith is a distraction for Kol so Ric can stab him, which ends up dead-ing Rebekah (cue Elena's crazy running to escape) and alerts Esther that something is wrong. The daggering doesn't affect Klaus however, who rescues Kol and has a little fight with Stefan and Damon - only to be stopped by Elijah who explains what mommy dearest is up to.

Elena manages to get into the secret cave thingy that stops vampires from entering, and while Rebekah is contemplating whether torching Elena is the way to go, Meredith doctors Ric's wounds. Damon and Stefan flip a coin over who gets to be hated by Elena the most for screwing up Esther's plan, and Esther tells her newly arrived children that she ain't going to spare their lives so don't bother asking.

Bonnie and Abby high-tail it through the old house, only to run into Stefan and Damon. Damon snaps Abby's neck and turns her into a vampire (oh my WORD!) which puts a stop to Esther's plans. Her and Finn bolt outta there. Rebekah tells Elena the good news that Damon killed Abby and she'd much rather watch her suffer (alive), while Caroline refuses to let Elena see Bonnie. Bonnie does get hurt to save Elena (but even Elena gets hurt to save Elena...) just a whole lot of sad face here.

The brothers talk about the fact that Stefan drew the short straw, yet Damon chose to take the fall. He explains to Stefan that if he had allowed Stefan to kill Abby, it would have pushed him off the edge again, and that he's "better off being the bad guy anyway". Stefan also gets Damon to 'fess up that he's still in love with Elena, but he couldn't win her over fair and square. Aw, love those two building bridges.

Elijah leaves a note for Elena that leaves us all crying, and he tells Rebekah that their mother made them vampires, not monsters - they did that to themselves. Klaus burns all his drawings of Caroline, but in interrupted by a frantic Rebekah who has apparently been doing some investigating - there's another White Oak tree around!

Cut to the last minute of the episode, where Ric takes a moment to admire Meredith snoozing; then he pops some pills and notices the stack of crime scene pictures and notes and a long knife perched on the kitchen counter. Enter Meredith who's pointing a gun at him, says, "You weren't supposed to see that" and then BANG shoots Ric!

So my TVD lovers, what did we think?

• Were you a little disappointed (like me) in this episode after 'Dangerous Liaisons'?
• Do we think Ric will survive this?
• How long will Abby survive as a vampire?
• Is this the end for Damon and Elena?
• Is this the beginning again for Stefan and Elena?
• Will Stefan give up blood for good now?
• Damon and Rebekah - yay or nay?

See you in 3 and a bit weeks!

Glitz and glam; pain and a plan.

The glitz and glamour, the sequins and sparkles, the trains and tuxedos.

The Originals, the humans, the vampires.

A mother with a hidden agenda, a brother with too much love, and a sister just trying to fit in.

It would be simply maniacal of me to say that this episode did not live up to it's unreachable expectations, because it did. It soared above and beyond them, and it did not glance back for one moment. Congratulations to Caroline Dries and the always-incredible writing team for designing an episode that was truly, truly memorable. It was exquisite, and my mind is still reeling (never mind that last scene - phew, hot under the collar over here. Almost like those EW covers). The wait for all the Originals to be together has been a long-time coming, and it most certainly did not disappoint. Well, enough of my praise, let's delve into the source of it all - episode 3.14 'Dangerous Liaisons'.

Our episode begins with Elena and Matt leaving the hospital after visiting Ric. While the two chat about the attacks, an ominous shadow stalks them through the hospital and out into the car-park. That shadow turns out to be Rebekah, who (after smacking into the back of Elena's car) tries to bite her before Elijah pushes her off. Elijah says to Elena: "Well, I believe we have a little catching up to do" and Elena gives this little clue-y smile that I think everyone had on their faces after he said that. What a magical man, that Daniel Gillies.

We jump over to to the Gilbert house where Elena tries to convince the Salvatore's that going to the Mikaelson's ball to meet with Esther is a good idea. While Stefan may agree with Elena, Damon doesn't, and we can cut the tension with a knife. Then we get a wonderful glimpse of brother-brother and sister-brother rivalry as the Originals get ready for the ball. Mommy Original breaks the fight up by having a little chat with Klaus about her "1000 years on the other side" and asks him who he's going to invite to the ball. Damon and Stefan have a go at each other over who's looking after Elena now (the whole thing is a little too deja vu for my liking), while Caroline listens to a message Tyler left her. She notices a package left on her front doorstep, which turns out to be an invite and an amazingly gorgeous dress from Klaus. Wow.

Caroline chats with Elena about the Damon kiss (don't worry, I'm going to get to her reaction at the end of this recap. It's going to be a long rant), and then Rebekah shows up with another BAMF quote: "Careful Caroline, it's all well and good until she stabs you in the back." Rebekah decides that Matt is her target for the ball, and neither Caroline nor Elena are happy about it.

Cue to the beauty and glamour that is the Original's ball. Damon's chat with Carol is interrupted by Kol, who has nothing but demeaning things to say to him: "I've met a lot of people, and you don't particularly stand out". I always love a magical Elena entrance, and this one took my breath away. Damon was bedazzled, but the Delena moment is quickly ruined by an incredibly stunning Stefan. Then comes a supremely awkward and Katherine-like moment where Elena walks in with one Salvatore on each arm. Ha.

Then Caroline makes an equally, if not more magical entrance of her own - to which Klaus is smitten. Finn introduces himself to Elena and invites her to go visit with Esther. Their conversation is cut short by a charming speech Elijah gives, and Damon turns his own charms on Elena as he invites her to dance. We see a rather sad (but putting on a brave face) Stefan lurking in the corner.

I always love TVD dances, and this one (as everyone has been putting it) was picture perfect Jane Austen. Klaus continues to use his Joseph Morgan charm on Caroline (and let's face it, she will be powerless to resist), and Elena swings out from Damon's arms only to land in Stefan's. The two share one of their sizzl-y Stelena moments, and she draws him away from the ball to ask for his help to get Damon out of the picture.

SIDE NOTE: It should have been a dead give-away when Damon and Rebekah were dancing that there will be hot hate sex later, just saying.

Kol encourages Rebekah to let him help her kill Matt (instant thought [1] Matt cannot die, and [2] Kol's a DICK), and Stefan snaps Damon's back in order to knock him out. That was a nusto moment. Elijah confides in Elena that he isn't sure of Esther's intentions, and Elena goes to meet Mommy Original herself. Esther then tells of her real reasons for bringing the family together - to bind them and kill them in one fell swoop. We also find out that Esther was pals with Bonnie's ancestors.

Meanwhile Klaus comes across Caroline watching a pretty horsey in the yard, and blatantly answers her question as to why he invited her: "I fancy you." Caroline snaps at him and with a twirl, heads back inside. Esther tells Elena she needs her blood to perform the binding ritual, and Elena complies with a prick and a droplet. I was a bit shocked at Esther but then not-so-much - she is right in her thinking, and she's had 1,000 years to stew over it. Damon attacks Stefan and there's more role reversal between the two. "Maybe because you care too damn much."

Rebekah lures Matt outside to be killed, but relents when he puts his coat over her shoulders (naw, Matty <3). Elena battles with keeping Elijah in the dark about Esther's intentions, but then allows all the Originals to drink the champers with her blood ju ju in it. Klaus shows Caroline his passion in art, but she has nothing but frustration and a super keen eye into his soul to throw back at him. Oh snap Klaus.

Kol gets all snappy at Rebekah over not letting him kill Matt, and Damon uses his love for Elena to get mad at her. Damon: "I'm mad at you because I love you." Elena: "Well maybe that's the problem." Elena, youuuu bitch. Kol lures Matt out to the balcony and breaks his hand, and it's only Damon's intervention that stops him from being killed. He pushes Kol off the balcony, and both Stefan and Elena presume that he's on a bender again. Mean mean mean. Poor Damon.

Caroline calls Tyler and tells him how much she misses him - only to hang up and find a beautiful, sentimental gift from Klaus in the form of a drawing. Pony! And so Caroline softens. Esther goes all mother-y at Elijah for the Original's childish behaviour, and then we find that Finn agrees with Esther that they must all die. She performs her witchy ju ju and Finn's blood links their names together on a parchment and it bursts into flames. Grose, but cool?

Stefan and Elena share a deep and moving moment as Stefan reveals his lie from earlier, which basically confirms that his love still abounds for her. She cannot get him to crack through his façade and embrace his pain though, and he pushes her away, yet again. Sad face.

Rebekah tries to make amends with Matt but he's having none of it, and so drunk and depressed Damon comforts her the best way he knows how - through an epic sexy time. Just when it starts to get adult-rated, the episode ends, and we sit there in shivery silence. Woah.

So, I was impressed. I loved this episode, because it left everything shipper-related up in the air and answered a whole lot of questions about Esther's intentions. But now I need to have a few rants, so bear with me. Read if you wish, if you don't, comment below :D

Mini rant 1: Klaroline

Okay so, I was not a fan of Klaus and Caroline. I will readily admit that. I found the shipping idea ridiculous, and cringed even at the thought of it. THAT was before this episode. Caroline Dries, you have made me a Klaroline shipper, without even intending to. I've seen this splashed everywhere - you could ship Caroline with anyone on the show, and it's true. That girl has got 'something else'; and I will credit that to Julie and Kevin's decision to make her a vampire. One of the better decisions TVD has made, in my own opinion. Anyway, the Klaroline scenes in this episode were 'real'; they brought out Klaus' softer side and it strengthened the connection the two established when Klaus saved Caroline's life. Feel free to disagree with me if you like, I'm just confessing how I feel.

Mini rant 2: Stelena vs. Delena

This rant will be a tad longer, and I apologise. Firstly - Delena. I have seen so much hate on twitter about the direction this took, with Elena choosing to believe the worst in Damon when he was caught fighting Kol, which, granted, I am a bit cranky at Elena myself (especially for her harsh comment towards Damon after he uttered 'I love you'. Bitch). But there's something everyone is quickly forgetting - Damon has done SO MUCH to Elena, SO SO MUCH, and Elena has been asked to forgive A LOT. Don't get me wrong, I adore our hunky bad boy as much as anyone, but let's see... Damon snapped Jeremy's neck, he's stabbed Ric, he's fed Elena his blood... shall I go on? And while you can put it down to 'oh he's a vampire, that's just how he is' we all KNOW that he is capable of more. He just likes to snap. Now, while Delena fans might be crying at the turn of events in 'Dangerous Liaisons', you have to remember that while the foundation has been laid for Delena, it is on shaky ground. She might love him, but she isn't Katherine - she can't love another when she is still in love and in mourning over Stefan. I know that things tend to happen suddenly in TVD - you cannot predict from one episode to the next what might change - but in my personal opinion, it will be a while yet before anything happens with Delena. Granted, there will be 'moments' like in 'The Birthday' and perhaps more kisses, but the two have a lot to overcome before they can be a couple.

Now, that being said, I need to have a word or two about Stelena. My heart broke a few times over for Stefan in this episode. The man is so broken up over what he's done to Elena that he cannot face his feelings for her. He cannot face the fact that he wants her back. That is why I don't think Stelena will happen for awhile either. Elena may have forgiven him, but until he forgives himself, he won't go back to her. Now THAT being said, I think Elena is a bit of a cow for allowing Damon to love her when she is clearly still smitten with Stefan. And where the tricky line is drawn is what will happen while Stefan takes his time trying to forgive himself, and Damon has even more chances to redeem himself. (Let's face it, after shacking up with Rebekah, he has a lot of redeeming to do).

But while I'm on that topic, I DO NOT blame Damon for sleeping with Rebekah. Elena STILL assumes the worst in him when he has been trying so hard to 'be the better man' and she goes all nutso on him and shoves his 'I love you' right back in his face. AND she gets Stefan to break his back and then assumes that he went on a bender when he was fighting with Kol, and didn't even pause to wonder if he was protecting someone. After everything, Elena still assumes the best in Stefan, but not the best in Damon. (wow, I can't believe how correct that statement was til right now. Go me.)

Say what you will, but that's my opinions on the matter. Now, let's have a chat my lovelies :) What did you think of this episode?

"The worst thing for Elena Gilbert is the two of you."

My delightful blog readers and TVD fans. I've decided that Thursday has officially become my favourite day. Why you ask? Because TVD is on, of course. And this week's episode was one like no other - one we have been hanging out for almost as long as Delena fans were waiting for 3x10 'The New Deal'. Without any further ado, let's relish in the wonder, shock, sadness and horror that was 3x13 'Bringing Out The Dead'.

Our episode begins with the brilliant Elijah, and he's not happy Jan. With a bam bam bam he and Klaus fight back and forth til Klaus holds him at dagger point, and then Elijah states: "Use it, I dare you. You'll have Kol to deal with" and Klaus relents. He then asks Elijah if he will stand by his side and destroy Stefan in order to get their family back. Ah Klaus, more promises, more pleas.

Meanwhile, Sheriff Forbes interrupts a hangover convo between Elena and Ric to show them the weapon that was used to kill Meredith's ex has Elena's fingerprints on it. What. Elena confers with Damon, who theorises that it's gotta be Meredith, but Elena ponders if it's Stefan. Damon quote: "Ah. Makes me nostalgic for the time when Stefan was a bunny-snacking pacifist" *dies*

After Damon hung up the phone I had a brief moment before Elijah appeared that I thought: "PLEASE LET THAT BE ELIJAH" (I think my plea secretly brought him there. Don't tell anyone though). The two discuss the coffin and what might be inside, while Stefan takes Bonnie and Mum Bennett to the mystery coffin. Stefan tells Abby to scrape out whatever magic she has left to work out how to open it, then comes out to find Elena waiting for him. She asks him if he killed the medical examiner, and it's plain as day that he's offended (but seriously Stefan, why wouldn't she be? You were on a freaking bender til like a day ago. Yeesh).

Caroline goes to thank Meredith for saving her dad's life, but Daddy wandered out of the hospital without telling her. Caroline hears her dad's phone (with her brilliant vampy hearing) and finds him with his throat slashed in the cupboard. Oh no. Oh no. Another vampire in the making? Hold uppppp. (I suppose I shouldn't have been shocked. This IS The Vampire Diaries, after all).

Bonnie tells her Mum about Esther's love for her children in order to get Abby to do the duo spell to pop the locks on the coffin. Meanwhile at the Salvatore's there's a SHIRTLESS PAUL and a very cocky Damon rambling on about his awesome un-daggering of Elijah. Stefan, on the other hand, is none too happy about the idea of negotiating a truce with Klaus, and Damon's having none of it. He tells Stefan he'd better not let his feelings screw it up.

At the hospital, Daddy Forbes is freaking out but he's still prepared to die than become a vampire (aw, Caroline's FACE *cries*). Ric takes inventory on all his weaponry and he and Elena work out that somebody's been stealing his weapons and killing with them. The two speculate that it's Meredith's doing, but I'm not so sure.

Damon, Stefan, Elijah and Klaus meet together at Klaus' crib to chat (in LOVE with this foursome. All in the same room? Eating dinner? ARGH AMAZING). Elena tells Caroline she wishes any lady that happens to be in Ric's life wouldn't get mixed up in the vampy business, and Caroline marvels sadly over the fact that her dad's death has brought him and her mum together. Elena is wise with her advice: "The only thing your dad has is his choice" and I hate that you're right Elena. Then Matt shows up to console our lovely Caroline (aw Matty. You ought to get a medal of honour, you're so beautiful).

Klaus brings Elena up at dinner and the allure of the Petrova doppelgänger. Elijah contributes to his ideas with the story of Tatia: beautiful, unattainable, and loved by both Elijah and Klaus. The two toast to "family above all" *clink* insinuating that no girl is worth fighting over. The Salvatore's don't look very happy.

Abby and Bonnie have been magicking away trying to open the coffin, but Abby's heart ain't in it. Bonnie expresses how she pretended Mum was dead when she was little, and then the two try at it once again and flames erupt and the coffin is almost opened. Then BAM - the coffin bursts open. OH my word.

After the brother's throw their proposal at Klaus, he says he will never leave Elena behind because of her blood. Klaus chastises the two and makes them acknowledge that by dating either of them, Elena's only options are death or become a vampire. Klaus quote: "You both believe you're the one who can protect her and that is simply a delusion. The worst thing for Elena Gilbert is the two of you". Ouch, that's gotta burn.

Klaus takes a drink from a hot blonde in front of Stefan, and back at the Gilbert's Matt walks Elena home and has another good chat with her (Matt is like, the ultimate friend. Just saying). They wander into a dark house and find a pool of blood and bloody handprints and footprints everywhere. The trail leads them to a very stabbed Alaric - OH MY GOD. Then to save Ric (in theory) Elena stabs him. WHAT!

Klaus offers the brothers Elena's future happiness and well-being, and while Damon looks a little swayed, Stefan says no deal and gets his hand fried. Then Elijah goes with Damon to get the coffin. Dad and Caroline reminisce a bit and it's very sad like; Caroline asks him to change his mind but he won't because of his beliefs. The scene brought me to tears, may I just say.

Cut back to Stefan and Klaus, and suddenly Elijah and Damon come back - with a troupe of Originals with them! BOOYAH. Rebekah, Kol, Finn, Elijah and Klaus, altogether. Oh, happy family reunion kiddies.

Daddy Forbes passes away (MEGA sad face) while Matt stays and comforts Elena while she waits for Ric to wake up. Damon and Stefan both confess their love for Elena, one after the other, and we all go "Shit, now what?"

Ric finally wakes up (oh my, I had been holding my breath, this show loses enough parental figures), and after a few dazzling threats, MOTHER ORIGINAL WALKS IN. Turns out she ain't here to do what we all thought - she's here to forgive and be a family. HOLEY MOLEY.

There you have it TVD lovers. What did you think? Did you cry like a baby when Daddy Forbes died? Did you want to throw yourselves off a cliff when Joseph Morgan cried? What are your theories on who's killing people round the town and planting Ric's weapons? Did we miss Tyler in this episode? What does the future hold for the Stefan, Damon and Elena love triangle? I'm all ears! Let's discuss!

Til next week gems.

It's time for parental control in Mystic Falls.

TVD-lovers, what an episode! My apologies if I say that every week, but my WORD, The Vampire Diaries takes the cake and brings the best each and every Thursday. Allow me to share my recapping thoughts with all of you.

'The Ties That Bind' begins with another witchy premonition by our fabulous Bonnie Bennett - a creepy cemetary. a coffin and a surprise from Klaus. Pretend-Klaus says "I've figured out how to open it. Can you?" and zips toward her. Suddenly she wakes up to find herself IN the coffin - trapped and with her witchy spells failing, until some random woman opens it. What?

"Guurrrll, this is crazy!"

Bonnie shows Elena where the coffins are and Stefan ain't happy. Turns out the random woman opening the coffin is Bonnie's mum Abby. Elena and Bonnie try to track down mama through a trillion Bennett profiles, but Damon beats them to it with his compulsion (cheat). Bonnie notices the tension between Elena and Damon, to which Damon spurts out: "We kissed, now it's weird" (Bonnie's face = priceless). Tyler comes over to apologize to Caroline, and Daddy Forbes is back! To help Tyler gain control over his sire bond, and to make a wrong right. Sweet.

Dr Fell and Alaric have lunch together, and Damon waltzes in to get the low-down on her. He mentions the death of Meredith's ex-boyfriend - and that we might want to be a little suspect of her. Stefan comes home to find a Klaus on his couch (can I PLEASE come home to find Joseph Morgan on my couch? That'd be great, thanks). Klaus brings up their stalemate, and both push each other's buttons a bit (they'd make the cutest couple. Just saying).

How do mum's always manage to look so good in these shows? Babe!

Bonnie asks Elena about the kiss (of COURSE it would have been good, it's IAN-FREAKING-SOMERHALDER) and Elena asks Stefan to butt out but he's got plans of his own when it comes to Abby Bennett. Klaus speaks with Daniel-hybrid and asks him if he's clear on what he needs to do - which ends up being to visit Mum-Bennett (how did Klaus gain this info? That sneaky, gorgeous hybrid).

Elena and Bonnie show up on the doorstep and meet Jamie (what a cutie); Mum-Bennett walks in and meets Bonnie (love the awkwardness of these meetings). Dad-Forbes tells Tyler that to gain his freedom he's gotta willfully turn into a wolf - ouchie. We find out that Mum-Bennett was the one who put Mikael in the coffin (how INTERESTING!) because he came to visit Elena 15 years ago.

Elena takes a little wander and bumps into Stefan (such a hot meanie), while Damon snoops into Meredith's life. Damon is looking out for Ric (naw) and drills her on whether she's a psychopath - and then gets himself vervained. Oh no. Meredith takes a vial of his blood (what?) and we jump back to Dad-Forbes' detox with Tyler. Bonnie asks Mum-Bennett why she didn't come home - and then finds out about Grams' death. She offers Bonnie her help - which backfires when Jamie shoots Stefan and Mum-Bennett knocks Bonnie out. Uh oh.

Damon tells a sweaty, babe-a-licious Ric that Meredith vervained and blooded him, while Jamie ties up Elena and Mum-Bennett steals Bonnie and gives her to Daniel-hybrid. Tyler breaks free of his chains and jumps on Dad-Forbes (oh my WORD!). Elena lures Jamie over to gun-thwack him over the head, and then she pulls the wooden bullets out of Stefan.

Have I mentioned how hot I am?

Klaus stumbles upon Damon checking out the coffins - and the witches cast some juju on him, but cave when he threatens the Bennett line - and they reveal ... 3 of them? Damon has hidden the fourth coffin and apparently that's all that Klaus wants (what is IN IT?). Elena continues to pull the bullets out of Stefan, to which he mentions that she's changed - and it's good. Elena then tells him about the kiss with Damon - and is that sadness we see on Stefan's face? His silence speaks volumes. Heart. Breaks.

We discover that Dr Fell is not what she seems - she puts vampire blood into her patients (at least Daddy-Forbes is okay!) and Elena and Stefan share a sad conversation. "You're better than him Elena. You're better than both of us". Actually, he's pretty right.

Mum-Bennett and Bonnie have a kind chat, while Dad-Forbes gets a visit from Tyler. He tells Tyler he's a long way off to being cured. Lots of pain in order to be near Caroline. Fair deal I say.

"I'm tired, I've just recovered from being bulleted, and I'm going to punch you now."

Ric shares his secret with Meredith and me-not-like-them-kissing. Elena interrupts it (good) and she tells Ric it's okay to move on from Jenna. Dislike dislike dislike. Damon gets a right-royal punch from Stefan and HOLD UP - ELIJAH IS BACK! BOOYAH! (best moment of the entire episode, by far).

So what did we think TVD-ers? Did you jump like mad with Elijah's reappearance? Were you sad for Stefan? And I'm just wondering - is it wrong that I've never thought about Mum-Bennett before? Like, EVER? Fire off in the comments below, and tune in for my recap next week!

The Muppets Movie: Review

Normally I'm not the movie review type, but this movie triggered so much nostalgia that I feel I owe it to the Muppets themselves to write about it.

Directed by James Bobin and written by Nicholas Stoller and Jason Segal (also starring Jason), The Muppets follows the journey of 'Walter' (voice of Peter Linz) who grows up admiring his big brother Gary (Jason Segal) and who devotes his life to supporting The Muppets, who he dreams of meeting one day. When Gary and his girlfriend of 10 years, Mary (Amy Adams) decide to take a romantic holiday to Hollywood, it was no surprise to either Mary or Gary that Walter would also come along.

The trip lands them at Muppet Studios, which they discover is going to be torn down by a greedy salesman. After a brief time, they decide to take the problem to someone they hope will be able to help - Kermit (voice of Steve Whitmire). Kermit and the trio then set out to reunite the Muppet gang so they can put on one last show in order to save their studios.

What I loved about this movie was that it didn't try to use 'ordinary humor'; what it used was so much better - corny quips, songs and jokes. For those of us who grew up with the Muppets, to try and make the movie anything like children's films from today would have simply ruined it. The Muppets WERE corny, even back in their heyday. But we loved them just the same, just as we love them now, in this modern-day revival.

Some of my favorite parts:

• When Walter wanders into Kermit's old office at Muppet Studios, and we see old-time photos plastered across the walls of some of the prior guest stars. Photos of Julie Andrews, Florence Henderson and a couple of previous Presidents can be seen, as well as others that I have forgotten but were important nonetheless. The flashback was the first of many tributes during the movie, and one I simply loved.

• The epic romance of Kermit and Miss Piggy. Truly, it was a romance none of us could forget, and one that we happily re-lived all over again. To top it off, there was a Kermit and Miss Piggy duet at the end, in which they sung "Rainbow Connection": a classic and an old-time favorite. Superb.

• The consistent joking and heckling by Statler and Waldorf. The movie would not have been the same without these two making ridiculous jokes in the background. You cannot have the Muppets without Statler and Waldorf - that would be like Superman without Lois Lane.

• The guest stars. It was part and parcel of the Muppets to have guest stars on their show - and the movie was no different. Guests included Jack Black, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones, Ken Jeong, Zach Galifianakis, Jim Parsons, Selena Gomez, Whoopi Goldberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Emily Blunt, Kristen Schaal and many more. I was both surprised and delighted at how many more actors there were in this movie than I expected.

• The music. Cheesy and reminiscent to the core. Loved it.

• The song between Gary and Walter and their 'man/Muppet' alter egos. There were white suits, Jim Parsons as 'human Walter' and a Muppet version of Jason Segal, which was too good to be true. I will say no more, but it was the highlight of the entire film for me.

Overall I was highly impressed with the outcome of the 2011 version of The Muppets. There was very little to critique, as I felt the film captured the essence of who and what the Muppets were to those of us who followed their journey when we were younger. I don't feel as though the movie would appeal to the younger generation of today (I saw a lot of children squirming during the film) as much of the humor was directed at those who knew the Muppets and understood their classic jokes and personalities. But as a 23-year-old who is still a kid at heart - I adored this movie. It made me laugh and cry. Congratulations to the Writers and Director: you did us old-timers a great service.

"It's a funeral party!"

Spectacular TVD-lovers, I apologize for the late recap. It occurred to me that I needed a break after last week's episode, as my brain needed time to process. Klaroline? Stefan's psychotic drive with Elena? But before I say too much, let's take a bite out of this juicy episode, 'Our Town'.

"I'm bound honey. Bound to a man who doesn't love me like you do."

Our episode begins hot and steamy - Damon is in the shower, and he's very naked and very happy (wonder why). Meanwhile Elena is taking a very different approach to working through her feelings; she's knocking the wind out of a punching bag. Stefan strolls in to tell Damon they're meeting Bonnie at the old witch house, while Alaric asks Elena what's got her all worked up. Elena (for the moment) is sure that she's made the right decision concerning Jeremy, and Bonnie is trying her darnedest to get the mystery coffin to open.

Damon and Stefan stumble upon a stray hybrid lurking in the witch house (Damon quote: "These hybrids. They're really bringing the neighbourhood down"), and Elena tells Bonnie that she had Damon compel Jeremy outta town - which does NOT go down well with her. Damon bangs the mystery coffin with a shovel (yes, that'll work Damon) and then Stefan comes up with a crazy-mad-psychotic-insane plan to call Klaus' bluff (Damon quote: "The only way to call someone's bluff Stefan is to be willing to lose everything if you're wrong") which he apparently decides is worth the risk. Yikes.

"I was your only bitch. Now you've betrayed me. I shall kill the others."

Bonnie has a little chat with Jeremy about him leaving, and Tyler and Caroline have a similarly sad (but more depressing, in my opinion) chat about Tyler's bond to Klaus and how sorry he is that they can't be together (*wails*). Cut to Klaus telling Kim-hybrid to put Rebekah in her room, and then a surprise visit from Stefan. Stefan tells Klaus he wants his hybrids gone (Klaus quote: "I get a little moody") and the two threaten each other until Stefan lashes out and kills Kim-hybrid (aww). For the first time (I think) Klaus looks a little worried.

Matt, Bonnie and Elena surprise Caroline for her 18th birthday, but she shares the reasons why she doesn't want to celebrate: "Now it's just a reminder that technically I'm dead... I am stuck in a filler year". Cue back to Klaus (who spotted Daniel Newman? Carrying a Kim-head too. Ugh) who demands that Tyler bite Caroline. Tyler tells Klaus to go screw himself (sort of. Basically) while our favorite Dalaric bromance chat about council meetings and "dimmed-switch" Stefan. To help Caroline's birthday misery out, Elena alters the plans to give her a 'funeral' instead. The three toast some wine and blow out the candles. It was rather poetic, I thought.

"Happy funeral!"

Ric mentions that something is up with Elena, to which Damon responds that it must have to do with Stefan. Dr Fell shocks Ric by mentioning the town's 'vampire problem' (let's be honest, we knew she had to know something) and the two share a bit of flirty chatter. Speaking of flirty chatter - Klaus crashes the party and schmoozes all over Carol. Damon quote: "Carol, don't take this the wrong way, but do you realize that you're kissing the ass of an immortal hybrid who ruined your son's life?" haha, oh Damon. Klaus asks Damon to control Stefan (ha, fat chance of that happening).

Cut back to our funeral party-goers, where a text to Tyler turns into a nasty remark about Elena taking Jeremy's choices away. Matt (ever the hero) tries to diffuse things, but Bonnie leaves instead. Sheriff Forbes joins Klaus' side in the quest to control Stefan, while Ric makes a heroic intervention between Dr Fell and Brian (old boyfriend? Truly?). Stefan makes a rash decision and stabs Daniel-hybrid, before Damon pulls him off. Stefan quote: "No, to beat the villain Damon, you have to be the better villain" ... not entirely sure I agree with this logic, but oh well.

Tyler crashes the funeral do, and Matt tells Elena he believes they're all stuck in this supernatural life (so wise Matt, so wise). Tyler and Caroline share an "I love you" and kiss, but it doesn't end well - with a little nip, Caroline is bitten and she tells Tyler to get away. Matt and Elena search for her, but then Stefan zips in and throws Matt against a wall and kidnaps Elena in his car (what are you DOING mad vamp??). Klaus finds this all very amusing (AND he ships Stelena? Who else noticed that?) but Damon is insistent that he do what Stefan says.

"You must bite her minion." "I won't I tell you!"

Caroline is dying from the bite and Stefan threatens Elena with the option of turning her into a vampire - and then my heart stops as Elena screams "Stefan stop!" and Klaus yells "Stop the car Stefan!" while Stefan screeches crazily to a stop just on the edge of Wickery Bridge. Stefan tries to explain to a distraught Elena that if he knows Klaus' weakness, he can destroy him - which is apparently all he has left. I disagree Stefan, and I agree with Elena - you DID have her, but you chose to ignore that fact and go all ridiculous and Rippah-ry. Gah, that scene angered me.

Klaus shows up on the Forbes' doorstep to give Caroline a birthday present - his blood. Joseph Morgan was pure delight in this scene - and Candice Accola more beautiful than ever. Klaus explains to Caroline why he loves birthdays, and gives her the choice - take his blood and live, or die. She chooses to live, and I'll admit that I only just got the two as the 'shipping' pair Joseph Morgan wanted.

"We got ourselves a funeral party! How dope!"

Damon tells Elena that Stefan won the round for them today, despite the methods he employed. Elena tells Damon he can't kiss her again - "It's not right" to which Damon responds - "It's just not right now". Oh Delena. Happy feelings.

Bonnie scurries in to say goodbye to Jeremy (nooo, stay Jer! Pretty please?), while Caroline opens the present Klaus left her - a bracelet that puts Tyler's to shame (sorry Ty). Elena and Matt chat about "being stuck", and Matt tells her it's okay to let her old self go. Matt gives her a mini eulogy, and she does look relieved indeed.

And then lastly, after Ric and Dr Fell share a drink, we are led to a crime scene - typical for Mystic Falls yes? Well, actually no... because this time it's just plain old murder. What?

There you have it my TVD fans! What did we think of 'Our Town'? Were you as buzzed/confused/excited/depressed/conflicted as I was after seeing it? Do you like the idea of Klaroline? Who do you think left the dead body? And what will Stefan do next in his wacko-mindset? I guess we will find out, in this week's episode!

Mini rant

I haven't had one of these in ages! But it must be done. Okay, so I've been prowling through the Stelena and Delena comments all over twitter, and most of the Stelena fans are seriously unhappy with Stefan's taking a Damon-like tumble into the abyss. I am here to say to you that it is all going to be okay - Stefan (in my opinion) is just such a deeply emotional vampire that when he turned his back on Elena (even though he was compelled to do so) to him that was the worst possible decision and thing to do to the love of his life. Therefore, now he is sliding off the rails because in his mind, Klaus must PAY for making him lose everything. To him, Elena never would have come back; where Elena would have forgiven him anything - even with the knowledge that things would never have been the same between them. Stefan cannot SEE that through his hurt, which he is currently turning into rage and revenge. As for Elena being conflicted with her feelings between the two Salvatore's - can you blame her? Damon has practically turned over a new leaf in his quest to be chosen by her, and now she's trying to face the fact that the vamp she THOUGHT was the only one she'd ever love is now driving her away. I think we'd all be confused, don't you agree? But I don't think the Stelena shippers should give up hope; nor do I think we have seen the last of Delena. I think that the writers WILL take us down that path, because (a) they have enough seasons and a big enough fandom to do so and (b) it makes the story infinitely more interesting and complex. In all honesty, I have the biggest respect for the writers as they have taken this leap and allowed us to fall not only in love with one couple, but two couples. Do I hope the ending will be Stelena or Delena? I reserve the right to change my mind at any moment, so at this stage I am going to say I am undecided :) End rant. Lol.

Au revoir TVD hiatus. Welcome back new episode.

Welcome back Vampire Diaries fans! Well, it has been a long wait - so long that I was close to spiraling into a blood-drinking frenzy. But fortunately for myself and all the other TVD fans out there, 3x10 'The New Deal' was definitely worth the wait.

Without further ado, let's make Rippah-like waves and dive into this recap!

The last we had seen, Stefan stopped Damon from killing Klaus because he knew that by killing Klaus Damon would die. In turn, Stefan got his humanity back and picked possibly the least humane thing of all to do - take revenge on Klaus by stealing his family. The choice left both Elena and Damon upset and raging and we all wondered what they'd do next.

Now the episode opens with a Bonnie vision - she wanders into the old Lockwood mansion and sees a coffin with Klaus sleeping in it, and his mother's necklace wrapped around his hand. Bonnie wakes up startled and we all kind of look at each other and go 'huh?'

Elena's jogging round the town and gets a surprise stalker in the form of a hunky hybrid (which, let's admit, no person who jogs with their hoodie up is going to be a nice person). Elena tells Bonnie that she's spiraling into insanity, she's feeling so paranoid, and Bonnie brushes off her premonition as "stress". Damon is drinking away his troubles "It's the eve of Klaus-aggeden", while Alaric is mulling over Jeremy's failed paper.

Meanwhile Jeremy and Tyler are now bff's and shooting cans together - or apparently Tyler's as well. Tyler's being a typical dick and Jeremy is worrying Elena. But he's not the only one worrying Elena; Damon being a day-drunk causes her older sister side to come out as well (and some flirty closeness). Then, our favorite hybrid (in all his delicious glory) shows up to ask the two where he might find Stefan... and tells them that he's broadened the scope of it being a Stefan/Klaus problem (oh Joseph. How I missed you being on my screen).

Bonnie investigates her dream in real life and stumbles across Stefan, who is still a little cold and won't relinquish his possession of Klaus' family. Alaric and Elena have a problem with Jeremy hanging out with Tyler, and to irritate them more Jeremy invites Tyler over for dinner. Tyler tries to explain being "sired" as though it's a religion of sorts - and his blind faith has everyone confused.

Klaus invites himself to have a drink with Damon: "I think it's about time we have a drink, don't you?" and the two chat about Stefan's betrayal and how much they have in common. Klaus tells Damon that his family are the ones who have been stolen (I didn't think vervain stopped an Original from being able to compel another vampire? Side note). And seeing as we all know that Klaus was bound to try and get someone killed, it should have come as no shock that Jeremy almost gets killed by a car and Alaric gets dead instead (yay for that ring).

Klaus is apparently building a house for himself and his hybrids, and Tyler begins to question the 'Lord Klaus' that he has devoted his life to. Damon tries to tell Elena what Klaus' plan is, while Jeremy shows just how over everything he is. Elena asks Bonnie to find Stefan, to which she replies "You don't need a locator spell" and Elena and Damon wander over to visit Stefan.

The dead witches ain't happy to see Damon; and neither is Stefan to see Elena. Turns out Stefan is a dickhead which (while super hot) earns him a slap from Elena. Damon crashes his way into the house and has a chat with our lovely Rippah - which ends in Stefan being staked (is it wrong that I still had a sick satisfaction that despite Stefan's crazed drinking habits, Damon still managed to stake him? Hmm love you Damon) and his confession that he stopped Damon from killing Klaus to save his brother went down well (another stake in Stefan ha!).

Jeremy educates Tyler on what Klaus normally does when he wants something, and in turn Tyler warns Jeremy to be careful. Ric comes back to life but not like he normally does - which ends in ambulances coming, being compelled away, and Jeremy beheading a hybrid. Wait, hold up. JEREMY BEHEADED A HYBRID?! I need to take a moment.

Damon convinces Stefan to be in on his plan; cut-throat and devious - "I am so much better at that than you". Stefan reveals the hidden coffins to Damon (turns out witch spirits are using their joo-joo to hide them from sight). Meanwhile Torrey DeVito makes her appearance as Meredith (Dr Fell) and I'm wondering what she's up to. While I'm wondering that, Elena invites Klaus over and gives him Rebekah (whhaaattt Elena?!) and she tells him that she may not be so forgiving of him once he wakes her (one up on Klaus heh heh).

After all of Jeremy's moaning, Elena makes the heartbreaking decision to let Damon compel him out of town (mega sad face). Damon is Elena's shoulder to cry on and their zingyness is practically killing me (little did I know what was to come ;)).

Klaus decides NOT to wake Rebekah (no, I want Claire Holt back!) and Bonnie and Stefan mull over the mystery that is the fourth coffin. Then comes a much-awaited Delena scene - after Damon confesses that Stefan saved him, he decided that he would feel guilty over doing something worth being guilty over - A KISS. And Delena fans die of happiness across the entire planet - while our poor SE'ers groan in heartache. Oh, so very torn Elena is right now.

And there you have it! So what did you guys think? Did you love The New Deal? Was it worth the wait? Are you going to miss Jeremy? What do you think is in the fourth coffin? Will Klaus awaken Rebekah - and just what is his plan now? Do you love dickhead Stefan or detest him? And was it just me, or did you miss Caroline this episode? And most of all - what do you think of the KISS?! Sound off in the comments below! :D Or tweet me - @Jayneymoo :)