The Vampire Diaries

This week's episode of The Vampire Diaries brings us back after Jeremy's death, and instead of grief, there's mostly talk of bringing him back. As Elena wallows in denial, Bonnie is slowly getting closer to the darker side as Professor Shane convinces her that she can raise him and lots of other dead — but, of course, there's a catch.

This is one of the most emotional episodes in a long time, with several characters suffering from bouts of anguish, and it's also ominous for a few reasons. There's a new villain on the loose, Bonnie may be turning a corner, and Elena has undergone an unexpected transformation. Let's get to it all in the good, the bad, and the bloody after the jump.

Those following sexy caped crusader Oliver Queen's vigilante action will be pleased to know that Arrow will be back for a second season. But wait, there's more good news: The Vampire Diaries has also received an early pickup for season five and Supernatural will continue its epic run with a ninth season.

None of these renewals comes as a big shock, but they are a big relief. Arrow has been The CW's most consistent freshman series and most-watched show on the network this season. The Vampire Diaries was a sure bet, and let's face it, Supernatural will probably be on until the end of time. Are you happy about the renewals?

We go camping with The Vampire Diaries gang this week, although it's more of a trip where you have to avoid being killed or kidnapped, rather than the kind where you roast marshmallows. Shane leads everyone into the scary wilderness to find the cure, but everyone gets scattered by the end, and we get a cliffhanger this week rather than resolution on the cure storyline.

Meanwhile, back in Mystic Falls, Klaus is still trapped, but he finds a way to wield power over Tyler and Caroline. Right when you think Klaus has done something irretrievably horrible to Caroline, he goes and proves he might be a softie after all. Sort of. Let's get to that and the rest of the good, the bad, and the bloody after the jump.

After a couple rather slow-moving episodes of The Vampire Diaries, this week feels like we're finally getting somewhere with the cure. The action mainly stems from a showdown with one of the current villains — who winds up on the wrong side of a stake and bites the dust once and for all. This week also marks an impressive display of power from a newly badass Bonnie, who can't be held down by original vampires or parents.

Aside from the actual plot moving forward, we get to see what happens the morning after Stefan and Rebekah's hot hookup. I'm ready to talk about that, all the great '80s references, and the rest of the good, the bad, and the bloody after the jump.

This week, there's a big bad original hunting our friends on The Vampire Diaries, but it's not Klaus or Rebekah; it's the rambunctious Kol. He, like everyone else on the show right now, wants to get to the cure before anyone else, and he doesn't care who he has to kill, particularly Jeremy, the vampire hunter himself. We haven't gotten much Damon/Elena romance since the show came back from its Winter hiatus, but in its place, we get a hot hookup between another couple.

I'm dying to talk about everything with you, plus the rest of the good, the bad, and the bloody, so let's get to it after the jump.

The Vampire Diaries is finally back after its brief Winter hiatus, and we pick up with the aftermath of Tyler's mother's death. There are also original vampires back on the scene aside from Klaus, as Rebekah is now awake and rarin' to find the vampire cure for herself. While she has most of our gang held hostage at the high school library, Jeremy is off training with Damon and Matt — though Klaus shows up to expedite the process of getting Jeremy's tattoos to show up.

This week's plotlines are all very cure-based, and while we don't get to see much of hot new couple Elena and Damon, Elena does get some closure from her breakup with Stefan. But let's get down to details in the good, the bad, and the bloody after the jump.

The midseason finale of The Vampire Diaries reminds us just how bad Klaus can be — especially if you cross him — and he kills one of the characters we've known since the beginning of the series. We also revisit the complicated dynamic of Damon and Elena's sire bond, while they and Bonnie try to break Jeremy of his latest hobby (wanting to kill Elena).

I expected a little more action from the last episode of the year, but I have to say, the body count is quite high this week, and the death scene in the final moments is satisfyingly dramatic. Let's get to all of it in the good, the bad, and the bloody after the jump.