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The Vampire Diaries Season 1 Episode 4

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AIRED: Oct 01, 2009

7.7

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Episode Summary

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Elena and Stefan go to the town's annual Founder's Party. Vicki wants Tyler to take her to the party. Damon tells Elena about the history of the Salvatores. Stefan tries to cut Damon out of his life.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (9)

Wow, bessst episode yet!!!

10

By nairhart01, Sep 11, 2011

I am a fan of the book series, but I definitely believe that this show is MUCH better (which rarely happpens).

This episode was freaking amazing. No doubt the best one yet.

I'm curious how much longer Stefan can go on without telling Elena his secret (I'm a vampire!) without ruining their relationship... which is much more normal and realistic than Edward and Bella's, f.y.i. (I love how Damon made fun of Twilight with Caroline... that was the best).

I loved the end of the episode where Stefan and Zach locked Damon in the secret room with the vervain. I wonder how long he'll stay in there without getting out... hmm... and so the fantastic plot haz thickened.moreless
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Season 1, Episode 4

8.6

By TvFreak7, Dec 11, 2010

Stefan is falling in love with Elena and Elena is curious about Stefan's past because he is not sharing a lot with her, so Stefan tells her about the Salvatore family.

So, in "The Vampire Diaries", we have a "Twilight" reference and as I am not a fan of the Twilight series, the reference was quite funny. Ian Somerhalder is a great actor, I really liked him as Boone on Lost and he is just as good on this show! Elena sees Caroline's bites in which Damon has bite her and she tries to cover it up, but Elena confronts Damon about the bites and Damon gets mad at Caroline because he thinks she told Elena.

Good 8.6/10moreless
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Yeah.. but

8.0

By jared85, Oct 16, 2010

.. I know I may get some heat because of this but I have to agree (again) with the review written before mine.

Once again (I've agreed with another review while writing a review on the latest The Mentalist episode) I've gotta agree with the some negative stuff said by someone.

Stephen Salvatore is in love with Elena but he refuses to tell her his secret, which leaves her defenseless against Damon and his games. Although they make fun of Twilight, in that scene where he asks the blonde girl why Bella is so appealing to the vamp and some other stuff about being totally innacurate about vampires (which they happen to be.. vampire walking in the sun?? well, in VD the brothers do too.. and I haven't seen any complaints about cold skin..) anyways, but Edward doesn't take long to reveal his secret to Bella. And everything after that happens while she's full aware of the supernatural world and its creatures.

Another thing.. I mean, come on!! Stephen has been trying to deal with Damon with no luck since he won't risk feeding on humans but now that he's got the guy where he wants... he just... traps him? Really?

I know that without Damon around, there is no story, no conflict but then it's just best to avoid situations like this. When the good guy go all merciful and ends up backstabbed somehow. You either don't let the good guy get the upper hand than letting him win but refusing to free the world from a dangerous animal..

That's a bit too Clark Kent for me.. "I won't kill, even tho I know he's hurting and killing a lot of people. That's just how I roll"... Anyways, poor plot choices aside, the show is good and has a lot of promise. After Moonlight got axed, I wanted a vamp show to fill its slot.

Cheers!moreless
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The annual Founders Day celebration and the natives are getting restless. It seems under all of the main stories something else about the truth is brewing.

9.0

By jyarter, Oct 16, 2010

So we have the major information released at the end of the episode and Damon snaps and goes after Caroline.

We learn that Stefan and Zach have a weapon to use against Damon. The only question in the end was how it was going to be delivered. Pretty brilliant job of spiking the cocktail.

All the innuendo and talk almost works with Elena as she is beginning to doubt Stefan. Damon has managed to do a good job of seeding doubt. The major problem is the fact he is leaving a trail of bodies and you have to figure eventually someone is going to figure out what is going on. In Damon's case he just doesn't care and really would like to sour Stefan's welcome in town. Obviously that is what happened over 150 years before.

By the way I really missed seeing Stefan playing football, but I guess finding the coach attacked would sort of put a damper on the season. I love the people in Mystic Falls, Tyler's father the Mayor seemed more concerned about whether they were going to play football than what happened to the coach.

Each of the episodes has improved from the first one steadily. Here's hoping that that trend continues. Thanks for reading...moreless
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Too much for a single episode...

9.0

By OnePerCentClub, Oct 16, 2010

... but it was worth it! First of all, I loved the Twilight reference, it was funny. I understand Elena's concern about Stefan not sharing much with her, but she made a mistake trying to push him. Rule number one: Never pressure a man about talking about himself. He'lll speak to you when he's ready. However, good for her for apologizing to him.

The thing with the candles was creepy and I can't wait to know what's the deal with that.

And what about the watch? I wonder what was that all about, all these people knowing some kind of secret.

Poor Vicki, but she made the wrong decision and I felt bad for her for being treated so badly.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Paul Wesley	Stefan Salvatore
Michael Trevino	Tyler Lockwood
Nina Dobrev	Elena Gilbert
Ian Somerhalder	Damon Salvatore
Zach Roerig	Matt Donovan
Candice Accola	Caroline Forbes

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Leland L. Jones	Pastor Bill	Guest Star
Chris William Martin	Zach Salvatore	Recurring Role
Susan Walters	Carol Lockwood	Recurring Role
Marguerite MacIntyre	Sheriff Elizabeth Forbes	Recurring Role

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Episode Photos

Paul Wesley as Stefan and Nina Dobrev as...

© 2009 The CW Television Network
Paul Wesley as Stefan and Nina Dobrev as...

© 2009 The CW Television Network
Nina Dobrev as Elena and Steven R. McQue...

© 2009 The CW Television Network
Nina Dobrev as Elena and Sara Canning as...

© 2009 The CW Television Network

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- Damon mentions his shirt is made by American clothing designer John Varvatos. Ian Somerhalder is a known fan of the real Varvatos' clothing line.
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QUOTES (13)
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- Damon: (to Stefan) Some girls just can't resist my good looks...my style and my charm...and my unflinching ability to listen to Taylor Swift. (stabs Stefan)
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- Stefan: (voiceover) The real animal is still out there, waiting for me, challenging me to fight back, to stop him. But how do I stop the monster without becoming one myself?
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- Damon: (looking at himself in the mirror) It's cool not growing old. I like being the eternal stud.
  Stefan: (sarcastically) Yes, being a one hundred and fifty year-old teenager has been the height of my happiness.
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- Damon: (to Stefan) Oh well, here's to history repeating itself, huh? (raises his glass and pours out the scotch) I admire your effort Stefan, pouring yourself a drink, then spiking the bottle with vervain. I'm not some drunk sorority chick, you can't roofie me. But I can't help but feel a little used, I thought we were having a moment. I have to go to the party angry...who knows what I'll do.
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- Stefan: (voiceover as he locks up Damon) I did what I had to do to protect Elena, to protect everyone. Yes, Damon, the headline reads, 'Deadly Beast Captured. All Is Well in Mystic Falls.'
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- Elena: I burden you with all of my drama, and I want you to do the same.
  Stefan: Thank you.
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- Stefan: Damon is trying to get you to turn against me.
  Elena: Well then I guess it's working.
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- Damon: You really need some human blood. It might even the playing field... football reference! Too soon?
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- Elena: How do you look in a suit?
  Stefan: I can pull one off.
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- Caroline: Are you gonna kill me?
  Damon: Hmm-mmm. But not yet.
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- Damon: You're dead, dude. Get over it.
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- Caroline: They look so cute together.
  Damon: Don't talk. Please.
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- Zach: Blood only runs so deep when you're related to vampires.
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NOTES (3)
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- Featured Music:
  "Opposite Direction" by Union of Knives
  "I'm A Lady" by Santigold
  "I'm Not Over" by Carolina Liar
  "Shadows of Ourselves" by Thievery Corporation
  "Back in Time" by VV Brown
  "Fallout" by Sofi Bonde
  "Wild Place" by Glass Pear
  "All We Are" by Matt Nathanson
  "Brightest Hour (Morgan Page Remix)" by The Submarines
  "Believer" by Viva Voce
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- Original International Air Dates:
  Latin America: Thursday, November 12, 2009 on Warner Channel
  Norway: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 on TVNorge
  Germany: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 on ProSieben
  United Kingdom: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 on ITV2
  Sweden: Thursday, February 25, 2010 on TV6
  India: Friday, November 12, 2010 on Zee Cafe
  Slovakia: Sunday, November 14, 2010 on Markiza
  Poland: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 on TVN
  Turkey: Saturday, April 9, 2011 on CNBC-e
  Czech Republic: Tuesday, June 5, 2012 on TV Nova
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- Although credited, Zach Roerig (Matt) didn't appear in this episode. It's his first time absent from the show.
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ALLUSIONS (2)
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- John Varvatos is an American clothing designer. He first debut in clothing was in 2000.
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- Damon: (reading a book) What's so special about this Bella girl? Edward's so whipped!
  Caroline: You've gotta read the first book first. It won't make sense if you don't.
  Damon: Ah, I miss Anne Rice, she was so on it.
  
  This is a reference to one of the books from the Twilight series of vampire romance novels, written by Stephanie Meyer. A movie version of Twilight was released in 2008.
  
  Anne Rice is an author of gothic and religious books and is best known for her Vampire Chronicles series of novels, which debuted in 1976.
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