Let’s start where we always do, with a trip down memory lane.
It was right after he told her the story of how Stefan forced him to become a vampire.
Actually, about that … And in exchange, Cade has something Damon wants: Elena’s body.
Credit: Bob Mahoney/The CW
But he’s going to need help.
Of course, Bonnie isn’t too heartbroken about his decision to leave, but spoiler!
he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
The moment Damon finds his brother and tells him about Elena, Stefan knows he has to stay.
As Kai informs Stefan, when you kill Cade, hell goes along with him.
Thankfully, Damon’s there to snap Kai’s neck before he does any more damage to human Stefan.
It seems Ric forgot to mention they were asked to leave their preschool.
They need a holding cell for Kai.
If she has that capacity to forgive, she should use it.
She just needs time.
Speaking of forgiveness, Stefan and Damon head to the quarry to meet with Cade.
That’s why Stefan wants to be the one to kill him.
Behind the waterfall, Stefan finds Elena’s coffin.
As Cade tells him, “I can see why you both love her.
She’s a beautiful soul.
Made dimmer perhaps by her association with the two of you.”
Just then, Ric starts ringing the bell.
But just before Stefan can finish Cade off, the bell stops ringing.
Because Ric’s phone rings.
It’s the girls.
To catch you up: Kai told Caroline what’s wrong with the girls.
It’s the fact that they’re being kept at the Armory, a place filled with supernatural energy.
So yeah, that’s why Ric has to get home.
Stefan is Elijah: He will always save Damon.
But would Klaus, or in this case, Damon do the same?
This is not to say that one brother is better than the other.
I’m simply saying: Time and time again, Stefan has put his brother first.
Another point this show made this season?
While Stefan was off with Klaus, Damon, instead of chasing his brother down, stole his girl.
It’s a pattern.
Personally, I always felt it had to happen.
It’s a crucial moment for the evolution of Damon’s character.
And this episode gave it to us.
But this time, it was Damon’s decision to make.
In that moment, Damon is giving up his future with Elena so that his brother can live.
In that moment, he’s completing a huge part of his journey.
I’m not going to lie: I’m crying just writing about it.
But, of course, Stefan won’t let his brother go that easily, and neither will Bonnie.
The devil’s dead.
And everyone we love gets to live.
From there, Stefan and Damon share a drink on the hood of the Camaro.
Damon tells his brother he’s crazy if he thinks leaving Mystic Falls is the answer.
Sure, Damon will have to let Stefan go one day, but today’s not that day.
Right now, things are looking up.
And after going toe-to-toe with the devil, Stefan is nothing if not brave.
So is he brave enough to stay?
After all, Damon himself has inflicted a “fantastic amount of pain.”
All he needs is the people he loves.
Outside, Stefan gets down on one knee and once again asks Caroline to marry him.
Spoiler: Caroline says yes!
But before she leaves him, he has news for her: Killing Cade didn’t destroy hell.
It simply put someone new in charge “the only person worse,” to be specific.
Someone who knows all their weak spots.
The person who will stop at nothing to verify they all suffer.
The one who wants revenge for what they did TO HER.
As Kai puts it, “The myth, the legend, the baddest bitch of all.”
KATHERINE PIERCE IS RUNNING HELL.
And all I can think is: OF COURSE SHE IS.
What else did you expect when you sent her there?
I love this twist so much.
I love this hour so much.
I’m going to go watch it again.
