1.08 History Repeating
From Vampire Diaries Wiki
| History Repeating | |||||
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| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 9 | ||||
| Written by | Bryan M. Holdman Brian Young | ||||
| Directed by | Marcos Siega | ||||
| Production no. | 108 | ||||
| Original airdate | November 12, 2009 | ||||
| "Previously on" | Katerina Graham | ||||
| Other cast | |||||
| Matt Davis as Alaric Saltzman Bianca Lawson as Emily Chris Johnson as Logan Fell Maria Howell as Mrs. Halpern | |||||
| Episode chronology | |||||
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Official synopsis: Jeremy gets a break from the mysterious new history teacher, Alaric Saltzman and introduces Alaric to Jenna. Bonnie is having terrifying dreams about one of her ancestors. Despite Elena’s efforts to smooth things over, Bonnie and Caroline continue to argue over the medallion. When the girls hold a séance to help them decide what to do, the results are stranger than any of them expected. Matt comes to Caroline’s aid when she needs a friend. Damon finally reveals to Stefan the stunning reason he has returned to Mystic Falls.
Contents |
Synopsis
Warning: This synopsis contains detailed spoilers about the plot.
Bonnie is nodding off in class when she gets up to investigate a presence in the hallway. It turns out to be her ancestor Emily, who leads Bonnie to the old church in the woods and asks for help, telling Bonnie, “this is where it started and this is where it has to end.” Refusing to believe it’s real, Bonnie tries to run and wakes up back in class, but she screams when she finds Emily sitting beside her. Bonnie jolts awake again, only to find herself in her pajamas back at the remains of the old Fell’s Church. At school, Elena encourages Caroline to make up with Bonnie and also confesses that Stefan is avoiding her. Caroline runs into Matt, but is left confused by Matt’s seemingly aloof manner, despite their earlier bonding. The new history teacher, Alaric Saltzman, introduces himself, while Stefan’s absence worries Elena and Bonnie remains disturbed by the events earlier. At the Salvatore mansion, the two brothers take to sarcastically imitating one another after Stefan is unreceptive to Damon’s apology over killing Lexi. At school, Bonnie tells Elena about her vision and her belief that Emily is trying to communicate with her, but says she wants the magic to stop and doesn’t wish to embrace her powers. Alaric offers Jeremy a second chance at turning around his grades by assigning him a history paper; Jeremy notices Alaric’s ring after they shake hands. Outside, Caroline confronts Matt about his attitude since spending the night at her home, but Matt tells her she’s reading too much into his behaviour. Meanwhile, Stefan upsets Elena by telling her he won’t be coming back to school anymore and that it is for the best. In the parking lot, Damon vows to retrieve the necklace after he unsuccessfully tries to intimidate Bonnie into handing it over and reveals that he knows about Emily.
Bonnie throws the cursed necklace into a field during a drive with Elena after Elena warns her to stay away from Damon. At the Grill, Jenna admires Alaric from afar, but declines Jeremy’s offer of an introduction. At the Gilbert home, Stefan answers Elena’s call for help over Bonnie, reveals that he knew Emily from the Civil war era and promises to find out what Damon wants with the necklace. At the Grill, Jenna suggests Jeremy go through his father’s boxes for assignment ideas since it includes documents of the Gilbert history since the Mayflower. Alaric is introduced to Jenna after he greets Jeremy. Stefan and Damon continue to imitate each other as Stefan tries to cozy up to him at the Grill. At the Gilbert home, Caroline reluctantly apologizes to Bonnie who tells her she threw the necklace away, but Caroline is annoyed when she finds it back in Bonnie’s purse.
Bonnie and Elena believe Emily must have had a hand in the necklace’s reappearance, while Caroline has difficulty believing Bonnie’s claim that she’s a witch. Alaric and Jenna get to know each other, with Alaric revealing that he married young and that his wife’s death remains an unsolved police case. Damon and Stefan continue to “bond” as they verbally dance around each other, trying to figure out the other’s motives. Caroline tells Bonnie she will try to accept that she’s a witch because Bonnie is her best friend. With Elena joining them, Caroline suggests they do a seance and talk to Emily, but Bonnie fears it is a bad idea. Bonnie calls on Emily in a session that frightens the girls and extinguishes the candles, at which time the necklace disappears.
Damon and Stefan continue their pretense of bonding at a football field until Damon reveals he is planning to bring Katherine back. At the Gilbert house, the girls are hysterical when Bonnie is trapped inside a bathroom after seeing the necklace there; she is calm when the door finally opens, but we see Emily’s reflection in the mirror. Damon explains to Stefan that, in return for his protection of Emily’s lineage, Katherine was kept safely entombed under the church through the power of the crystal and a passing comet; he had been waiting for the comet’s return in order bring her back. Emily/Bonnie leaves the house, explaining to Elena that she won’t let Damon have the crystal and that it must be destroyed. After Caroline leaves, Elena calls Stefan and tells him Emily/Bonnie likely went to the old church, while an eavesdropping Damon takes off early. He confronts Emily/Bonnie in the woods about reneging on their deal, but when he approaches her threateningly, she uses her witch’s power to impale him against a tree.
Jeremy goes through a box of his father’s family archives and finds the journal of Johnathan Gilbert while Alaric drops Jenna home. Back in the woods, Stefan rescues Damon from the tree, but is shocked and appalled to learn from Emily/Bonnie that in order to save Katherine, all 27 vampires trapped in the burning church were also saved. Elena arrives on the scene just as Emily/Bonnie destroys the crystal despite Damon's pleas; desperate and furious, he attacks Bonnie before Stefan manages to pull him off.
Stefan saves Bonnie by feeding her his blood, while Damon stands by, devastated and in shock. Back at the Forbes residence, Matt confesses to Caroline that he’s never liked her, yet feels a kinship with her over their family situation and being on their own. In the woods, Damon tells Stefan he’s leaving town after revealing that he was never compelled, that knew everything and that it was real for him. Elena tries to comfort a frightened Bonnie, who doesn’t understand what happened. After Stefan explains that his blood will eventually leave Bonnie’s system and that she’ll be fine, Elena says she realizes she can be with him afterall, but Stefan says too many people have died because of him and that he will leave. In the Gilbert kitchen, Jenna rips up the picture of her and Logan that Jeremy had found earlier. At the Forbes home, Caroline and Matt continue to bond over snacks. Damon remains in the woods, looking lost and heartbroken. Unable to write in his journal, Stefan tearfully throws it across his bedroom in despair. Back at the Gilbert’s, an emotional Elena reveals the truth to Bonnie. Downstairs, Jenna answers the door only to find a smirking Logan, back from the dead, asking to be invited in.
Quotes
Alaric: Alaric Saltzman. It’s a mouthful. I know, it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. Saltzman is of German origins. My family immigrated here in 1755 to Texas. I, however, was born and raised in Boston. Now, the name Alaric belongs to a very dead great-grandfather I’ll never be able to thank enough. Now you’ll probably want to pronounce it “AH-lar-ic", but it’s "Ah-LAR-ic". Okay? So you can call me Ric. I’m your new history teacher.
Damon: Rise and shine! You’ll be late for school!
Stefan: What are you -- what are you doing?
Damon: Peace offering. (Lifts a cup) C'mon, you need it for blood circulation. It does dead flesh good.
(Stefan looks at him in silence)
Damon: Alright, I’m sorry.
Stefan: Step aside, please.
Damon: I got the town off our back. It was for the greater good -- but I’m sorry. And to prove it, I’m not going to feed on a human. For at least a ... week. I’ll adopt the Stefan diet. Only nothing with feathers.
Stefan: (Mimicking Damon) Because I realize that killing your closest and oldest friend is beyond evil, and yet, somehow, it’s worthy of humor.
Damon: Are you mimicking me?
Stefan: (Mimicking Damon) Yes, Stefan. Now that the secret society of vampire haters is off our back, I can go back to my routine of how can I destroy Stefan’s life this week.
Damon: (Mimicking Stefan) And I can go back to sulking and Elena-longing and forehead-brooding. (In his own voice) This is fun. I like this.
Stefan: (Mimicking Damon) And I, will finally reveal the ulterior motive behind my evil and diabolical return to Mystic Falls.
Damon:(Pause) Yeah. I’m done. (Mimicking Stefan). This is so like you Damon -- always have to have the last word.
Alaric: (To Jeremy) Did you know your old teacher had a jackass file? Not a joke. It’s typed on a label. It has all the trouble makers, but really, it’s just an opus -- to you. Don’t worry about it. I’m not him. Clean slate.
Alaric: How do you feel about extra credit?
Jeremy: Yeah, yeah, totally -- whatever.
Alaric: Good. Write me a paper then.
Jeremy: Okay, about what?
Alaric: History. Pick a topic. Keep it local. No Wikipedia Regurgita. These old towns have a lot of rich history, so just get your hands dirty. Make it sing and you’re back on track. Deal?
Jeremy: Yeah, deal.(shakes hands) That’s a cool ring.
Alaric: Oh, thanks. It was my father’s. A little garish, but ... family, you know?
Caroline: Hey.
Matt: Hey.
Caroline: What is that?
Matt: What is what?
Caroline: The "hey". Thats twice, that is two "heys". Don’t you have any other words in your vocabulary?
Matt: What’s wrong with hey?
Caroline: It reeks of awkward subtext. You spent the night in my bed. There was ... cuddling. And then you snuck out before dawn so you didn’t have to face me. Which I must say is a total lame-guy move that I did not appreciate. And now the "heys"? Seriously? I mean I may have been some pathetic insecure mess after the party but do not mistake that for me being a pushover. Because I do not let guys mess with my head anymore.
Matt: (Looking taken-aback) I heard your mom in the morning and I didn’t want to get you in trouble, so I went out the window.
Caroline: You went out the window? Well, another lame-guy move.
Matt: Your mom’s the Sheriff! As for the "heys", I’m pretty sure it’s what I’ve said to you every day since the first grade.
Caroline: (Looking sheepish) Oh.
Matt: Trying to read something into it? Lame-girl move.
Stefan: (Mimicking Damon) So Stefan, you know, I’ve been thinking. I think we should start over. Give this brother thing another chance. We used to do it oh-so-well, once upon a time. (Gives a Damon-like stare)
Damon: (Mimicking Stefan) I don’t, Damon. I can’t trust you to be a nice guy. You kill everybody and you’re so mean. You’re so mean. (Stares, then rolls his eyes, drops imitation) You’re really hard to imitate and then I have to go to that lesser place.
Stefan: Can I get a coffee please? So what’s with the bottle?
Damon: I’m on edge. Crash diet. You know I’m trying to keep a low profile.
Stefan: You could always just leave. Find another town to turn into your own personal Gas 'N Sip.
(Stefan throws a dart into the bulls-eye)
Damon: Lucky shot.
Stefan: More like a carefully honed skill over many decades.
Damon: You’re beating me.
Stefan: (In a Damon-ish tone) Well, yeah, because I’m better than you.
Damon: I’m on to you. Reverse psychology? I mean, it’s a little transparent, but I admire the effort.
Stefan: You prefer the brooding forehead? (Furrows his brows)
Damon: Seriously, what game do you think you’re playing?
Stefan: That’s a funny question, considering the fact that I have been asking you that for months.
(Damon is silent)
Stefan: It’s frustrating isn’t it?
Damon: Touche.
(In a football field)
Damon: What are we doing here?
Stefan: Bonding. Catch. (Throws football) C'mon, give it a try.
Damon: Don’t forget who taught you how to play this game.
(He tosses the ball far, beats Stefan to it, Stefan tackles him after he catches the ball)
Damon: Ow, that hurts! (Groans in pain)
Stefan: Down side of my diet. Getting hit actually hurts a little bit.
Damon: I’m impressed Stefan. Fun with booze and darts. Sentimental with football. And now?
Starry night. (Gets up and looks at him) What do you want, Stefan?
Stefan: It wasn’t real, Damon. Our love for Katherine.
Damon: (Under his breath) Oh, God.
Stefan: She compelled us, we didn’t have a choice. It took me years to sort that out, to understand what she did to us.
Damon: Oh no, Stefan. We are not taking that on tonight.
Stefan: What do you want with Katherine’s crystal?
Damon: How do you know about that?
Stefan: Come on, you knew Elena would tell me.
Damon: How did you know it was Katherine’s? Emily gave it to her on her last night. I was with her, and you weren’t.
Stefan: I was the last one to see her Damon. Now, what do you want with Katherine’s crystal?
Damon: She didn’t tell you?
Stefan: We had other things on our minds.
Damon: (Pissed) I could rip your heart out and not think twice about it.
Stefan: Yeah. I’ve heard that before.
Damon: I have a bigger surprise Stefan. I’m going to bring her back.
Jenna: You’re so wrong! I’m much more pathetic.
Alaric: Oh no, no no. I’ve got you beat. I’ve pathetic down to a science.
Jenna: Uh, no. We haven’t even covered high school. Braces. A-Cup.
Alaric: Glasses. Skin condition.
Matt: Look, earlier today, I lied.
Caroline: About?
Matt: About being in bed with you. We cuddled, and it ... creeped me out.
Caroline: It creeped you out? Did you just come over here to insult me or what? Because it’s been a really long night.
Matt: No. it’s just that ... I don’t like you. I never have. But ... it was nice.
Elena: I’m sorry Stefan, but I thought that I couldn’t be with you, but I can. you don’t have to push me away. I can do this.
Stefan: I can't. I have to leave, Elena. Too many people have died. Too much has happened.
Elena: What? NO. I know you think you’re protecting me, but --
Stefan: I have to. Coming home was a mistake. I can’t be a part of your life anymore.
Elena: Don’t go Stefan. Please. You don’t have to. This is your home. Just please don’t go.
Stefan: (Kisses her hand) Goodbye, Elena.
Elena: You’re just going to walk away? Don’t walk away Stefan. (He keeps walking) Stefan!
Diary entries
Johnathan Gilbert's journal
(Written, as seen by Jeremy Gilbert)
The Journal of Johnathan Gilbert
January 1864
Very cold last night but the sun shines out now, warm and brightly today. Considerable ice running in the ... a very small school today. Some are sick and some are taking a new year holiday. I have never ... been so unsettled about the fortunate...
Body count
- Damon adopted the Stefan diet for this episode, resulting in a body count of zero.
Music
Listed in order of appearance.
- Echo & The Bunnymen - "Think I Need It Too"
- Pablo Sebastian - "Lies"
- Idlewild - "Post Electric"
(Unavailable for download in the USA. Download in the UK from Amazon UK
- The Bravery - "The Spectator"
Available for download on their website
- Great Northern - "Houses"
- Barcelona - "Come Back When You Can"
[Plays as Elena and Bonnie cry in her room, Damon cries in the woods, Stefan cries in his bedroom]
Book references
- The séance scene is reminiscent of a similar scene in Dark Reunion, in which Caroline insists she, Bonnie, Meredith, Vickie Bennett, and Sue Carson play with a Ouija board.
- Bonnie's possession by Emily is also reminiscent of her possession by town founder Honoria Fell in The Fury.
- The ruins of the church are called old Fell's Church.
- Bonnie's trigonometry teacher is named Mrs. Halpern.
Other references
- Gas-N-Sip, generic reference to a convenience store from the 1990 film Say Anything...
Trivia
- This episode marks Alaric Saltzman's first appearance. In a conversation with TV Guide Magazine's William Keck, executive producer Kevin Williamson said the character was originally slated to appear in episode seven (or "episode six" in the production timeline). When asked what he was looking for in casting the role, he replied a guy who is "hot."[1]
- The scene where Alaric discusses the pronunciation of his name seems to be an homage to a Twitter conversation sparked by Julie Plec on that very subject. She later said fans' differing opinions allowed the writers to make their own call, in spite of audio evidence on the correct pronunciation.
- Tyler Lockwood does not appear once in this episode.
Production
Promotion
Images
Episode Stills in Vampire-Diaries.net Media Gallery
Clips and Trailers
- USA Promo 1
- USA Promo 2
- UK Promo (162 Candles/History Repeating)
- Webclip 1
- Webclip 2
Ratings
U.S.: 4.1 million viewers.[2]
References
| Episodes | |
| Season 1: | Pilot • Night of the Comet • Friday Night Bites • Family Ties • You're Undead to Me • Lost Girls • Haunted • 162 Candles • History Repeating • The Turning Point • Bloodlines • Unpleasantville • Children of the Damned • Fool Me Once • A Few Good Men • There Goes the Neighborhood • Let the Right One In • Under Control • Miss Mystic Falls • Blood Brothers • Isobel • Founder's Day |
| Season 2: | The Return • Brave New World • Bad Moon Rising • Memory Lane • 2.05 • 2.06 • 2.07 • 2.08 • 2.09 • 2.10 • 2.11 • 2.12 • 2.13 • 2.14 • 2.15 • 2.16 • 2.17 • 2.18 • 2.19 • 2.20 • 2.21 • 2.22 |
