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The Vampire Diaries Season 1 Episode 21

Isobel

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AIRED: May 06, 2010

7.1

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Episode Summary

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Isobel returns to town and surprises Alaric with a new attitude and demands that he arrange for her to meet Elena. When the two finally meet, Isobel refuses to answer most of Elena's questions, but instead reveals that she, too, is looking for the mysterious invention that John Gilbert has been seeking.moreless

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (6)

Season 1, Episode 21

10

By TvFreak7, Dec 31, 2010

What a perfect episode this was. It moved the story along very well, answered some answers, brought on some new questions, with a tons of twists. This episode got us ready for what I can only imagine as an explosive season finale that will not disappoint.

So, Elena meets Isobel and Isobel tells her she wants the invention and to get it from Damon or she is going to kill Jeremy. Bonnie shows Elena what the invention is in Emily's diary and that it was a spell and that she could break that spell. So, Stefan, Elena, and Bonnie get the invention from Damon and Bonnie broke the spell that the invention was to kill vampires. She was SUPPOSED to break the spell. But in the end, she tells Caroline that she lied to Elena and she didn't do what she said she did. We find out that John Gilbert is Elena's real father. Jeremy confronts Elena about her diary and what she did to erase his memory of what happened to Vicki. Anna tells Jeremy that her mother was killed. Perfect 10/10 and I know the season finale is going to be awesomeeeee!moreless
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Isobel sucks

7.5

By RobGrizz, Oct 09, 2010

I really disliked Isobel. And not in the "What nasty character- This is great!" sort of way that we're supposed to. No, I had a problem with the actress' performance (Mia Kirshner of 24) and I had a problem with the way the character was handled- which is basically to say she was every evil cliche in the book. This ultimately wasn't very interesting to me at all. For a show with vampires, that has introduced a lot of great badies, you'd think they'd find something more creative for the long-teased Isobel. The episode picks up immediately where last week's left off, and she is a complete B*tch to Alaric, who I also felt could have given a bit more in his performance; You've been searching for your lost wife FOREVER and here she is right in front of you, after all this time, and you barely have any reaction at all? Blame the liquor if you want, but right off the bat, I felt this episode wasn't hitting the right beats. Elena barely reacts to finally meeting her birth mom too. Sure Isobel is evil now, but I think I needed more than just a tear rolling down her cheek after the confrontation. Bonnie tries to mend her friendship with Elena by helping them with a spell on the device that can kill vamps. Shame on you if you didn't see the "twist" coming where she in fact, did not alter it. It will still totally kill all the vampires.

The other twist was even more heavy handed. Turns out John is Elena's birth father! Now things are getting ridiculous. Welcome to Days of Our Lives. Between all the soap opera drama, and the gay cowboys, I can't say I was a fan of this episode really. There was one good confrontation with Damon and Isobel, and the love triangle has now been completely ousted (sweet!), but other than that, I'd be happy if we never saw this crappy Isobel again.moreless
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In-cred-ee-blay

10

By nairhart01, Jun 25, 2010

This was one of the best episodes of hte season, possibly the best! I know I sya that practically every week, but it's true. They just keep getting better!

Things I loved:

1. Isobel! Or, as the promo called her, "the baddest mother of (or was it 'in'?) Mystic Falls." She was awesome! Her character was everything I ever could have wished for--and possibly more. I thought she would have been more intense and evil, but I liked at the end when it was revealed that she had a good side (the scene with Alaric when she erased his memory and told him that she had to become a vampire but would regret it for the rest of her life, especially). I loved that. I also loved the scene where she was being driven away and she was talking with John, and it was revealed that he was Elena's father. That made me extremely happy because a part of me was always terrified that it would turn out that Damon was Elena's Daddy. And that would just be majuhly screwed up....

2. Bonnie... Well, partially. I love Bonnie, and I love the whole magic thing, and I love how unbelievably attractive the actress who plays her is... but I don't want her to turn out to be a bad guy. And the end of the episode definitely made it appear as if she was going to become one (or an anti-hero, or something) when she told Caroline that she couldn't do what Elena asked her to do to the device, and that once Elena found out what she really did she would never be able to forgive her. What could it be? I have a feeling that it will have something to do with the Salvatore brothers getting injured, because of how she strongly dislikes them (which I find ridiculous because Stefan saved her life... I TOTALLY understand the Damon hatred, though, because he tried to kill her after she destroyed the amulet after being possessed by Emily's ghost... What was that episode called? History Repeating?). I just don't want her to get killed or become a terrible nemesis. I've always loved her. And I want to continue to.

3. The opening scene when Isobel meets Alaric at Mystic Grille (or is it 'Grill?') and then attacks him in the parking lot.

4. The scene where Elena meets Isobel at Mystic Grill(e?). Intense. So many questions that Elena desperately wants answered.

The only thing about the episode that I didn't like--or that I'm not quite sure that I like yet--is that John is Elena's Daddy. I mean, I like the discovery, but I wish it was someone else or at least a character we know about or like more. So far, we hate John. He killed Pearl and Harper. We barely knew anything about Harper but I LOVED PEARL. I wonder what Pearl's death will do to Anna and her relationship with Jeremy? Does he still want to be a vampire? I wonder... Anyway, back on topic. I ramble often. The only John storyline has seemed quite random to me. He just showed up... and then he's there at the Gilbert house but you never see the four together... always apart and alone in different rooms... like they're totally oblivious to one another. I don't know. I find it strange. I want to learn more about John, though. He definitely has promise for being a fascinating character And I don't want to be disappointed. I don't care for it.

Predictions for season finale:

1. It will be revealed that Tyler is a werewolf. The producers said that somebody on the show who doesn't know that he/she's a werewolf actually is. And ever since that one scene in some episode where it just mysteriously and oh-so-conveniently showed Tyler and the glimmering full moon behind him, I suspect its him.

Or is it Matt?

Could "werewolf blood" have something to do with the reason she's never home? Or, if its Tyler, could it be why he and his daddykins, Mayor Lockwood, are both such angry fellahs. Hmm.... Ponder.... ponder.....

2. They keep saying that somebody will die. Who I'm pretty damn sure it won't be...

1. Stefan. Obviously.

2. Damon. Obviously.

3. Elena. If they kill her, she'll return as a vampire, which the producers said would happen eventually, but not soon. Personally, I think it's wayyy too soon for her to "vamperize." So I'm gonna guess that that doesn't happen.

4. Bonnie. Maybe some time... but not yet.

5. Anna. Again, like I said for Bonnie, maybe. If Anna dies, then Jeremy will pretty much have no reason left to live. I'm pretty darn sure that he'll turn (but not yet), so maybe once he's turned, she can die and then he could use his vampireness to get revenge.

6. Alaric. It just doesn't feel like his time to me. I doubt he'll be turned.

7. Uncle John. We know basically nothing about the man, so we have much to discoverrrr.

The possibles:

1. Matt.

2. Tyler.

3. Caroline.

* Basically, they are three of the most pointless characters on the show, yet I love them all. One of them will turn out to be a werewolf, and I'm assuming that will be a boy and that boy will be Tyler... I don't know, I can't see Caroline as much of a ferocious wolf, although now that I'm thinking about it I kind of like it... But yeah. My prime suspect:

1. Aunt Jenna. Alaric's future love interest. Notice how I said future. My prediction: She'll die and get turned and two of Alaric's lovers will then be vampires. Only this time, it'll work out well. We've always known that Jenna and Alaric would end up together... but that story line has ceased to exist recently.moreless
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Isobel comes back to town and starts causing problems. After confronting Alaric, she meets Elena for the first time and demands the "device", no matter what the cost to get it.moreless

9.5

By sparklyteardrop, Jun 25, 2010

The writers really did a good job of revealing information this week, and furthering the plot to the best extreme yet. Isobel, Elena's birth mother and Alaric's ex-wife, came back to town and started making some demands. The most interesting parts of the episode are as follows:

The love triangle...hmm. It looks like it's really starting to form. There's not doubt now that Damon is secretly in love with Elena. Isobel recognized it pretty quickly- probably because when Isobel threatened Elena, Damon flipped out. Completely went off. Said that she better not touch the people he cared about. When Elena heard from Isobel that Damon was in love with her, she seemed suprised. Stephan seemed jealous. Damon seemed...well, he's always the same, but he seems like he hates Katherine now, doesn't he? As for Bonnie and Elena, their friendship is...not so good. They put aside their differences for a while, because Elena was upset about her mother, but then Bonnie went and lied to her, and, although Elena doesn't know it yet, because of Bonnie people are going to die.The "device" that no one thought worked, turns out, is a weapon against vampires. Interesting. That throws everything into a whole new perspective.

Isobel ended up leaving, once she got what she wanted, but not before saying a goodbye to Alaric. She told him that she wanted to become a vampire, needed it, but that now it was her biggest regret.

And, whoa! Uncle John is actually "Dad" now, considering we just learned he's Elena's father. That makes Elena and Jeremey cousins, I suppose, which is kind of awkward. Speaking of Jeremey, Anna wasn't returning his calls, until the end of the episode. At that point she showed up in his room and confessed that her mother was dead. Needless to say- crying, hugging, deep stuff.moreless
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Elena's birth parents make up for lost time.

9.0

By ionee24, Jun 25, 2010

Funny how the only thing uncle John and Isobel had in common was their little girl, hence how a cliche teenage pregnancy story evolves into a real quest to protect her from the Salvatore using every means available, including family.

Alaric and Damon's friendship continues to be the silver lining of the show, as fitting as it is for Elena's mother to out Damon's feelings for Elena it was for Elena's stepfather to out Damon's humanity, humanity his wife doesn't seem to share as she demands the device in exchange of John's & Jeremy's life.

As sure as I was that the Gilbert men were going to die I was sure John was Elena's dad, a fact Damon has no problems to figure out because Stefan is more concerned about their "friendship" and what it could mean to them than he is to check on what Isobel really plans to do with the device.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Matthew Davis	Alaric Saltzman
Nina Dobrev	Elena Gilbert
Ian Somerhalder	Damon Salvatore
Paul Wesley	Stefan Salvatore
Katerina Graham	Bonnie Bennett
Candice Accola	Caroline Forbes

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Mia Kirshner	Isobel	Guest Star
Jena Sims	Cherie	Guest Star
Michael Roark	Cowboy	Guest Star
David Anders	John Gilbert	Recurring Role
Malese Jow	Anna	Recurring Role

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Episode Photos

Ian Somerhalder as Damon and Paul Wesley...

© 2010 The CW
Mia Kirshner as Isobel on The Vampire Di...

© 2010 The CW
Nina Dobrev as Elena and Mia Kirshner as...

© 2010 The CW
Matt Davis as Alaric on The Vampire Diar...

© 2010 The CW

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- Paul Wesley (Stefan) previously starred with Mia Kirshner (Isobel) in the TV series Wolf Lake that ran from 2001 to 2002. The two played werewolf siblings.
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QUOTES (3)
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- Damon: Am I the only one around here who has the ability to put two and two together? Isobel. Hello? She dated John when she was fifteen. She gets pregnant and ends up at the doctor's office of John's brother. Now what do you think John's role was in all this? Hmm? I mean, go ahead. Think about it. I'll wait. You get it? Yeah? Hmm?
  Stefan: So, you think that John is Elena's father?
  Damon: Ding ding ding ding!
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- Elena: (referring to Jeremy) You were never going to hurt him.
  Isobel: No. I was going to kill him. Don't look for any redeeming qualities in me. I don't have any.
  Elena: (referring to Johnathan Gilbert's invention) But you took a risk with Damon. How did you know that he was going to give it to me?
  Isobel: Cause he's in love with you.
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- Damon: (to Isobel, as he pins her to the floor) Now that I have your attention, listen up. You do not come into my town and threaten people I care about. Going after Elena: bad move! You leave her alone or I will rip you to bits, because I do believe in killing the messenger. You know why? Because it sends a message. Katherine wants something from me? You tell that little bitch to come get it herself!
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NOTES (2)
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- Featured Music:
  "Giving Up The Gun" by Vampire Weekend
  "All The Same To Me" by Anya Marina
  "Our War" by Neon Trees
  "Sing" by Sounds Under Radio
  "Ain't No Rest For The Wicked" by Cage The Elephant
  "We Share The Same Skies" by The Cribs
  "Laredo" by Band Of Horses
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- Original International Air Dates:
  Canada: Thursday, May 6, 2010 on CTV
  Australia: Monday, May 10, 2010 on GO!
  Latin America: Thursday, May 27, 2010 on Warner Channel
  United Kingdom: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 on ITV2
  Sweden: Thursday, November 4, 2010 on TV6
  Norway: Thursday, November 4, 2010 on FEM
  Germany: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 on ProSiebe
  Slovakia: Sunday, January 30, 2011 on Markiza
  Turkey: Saturday, June 11, 2011 on CNBC-e
  Czech Republic: Thursday, June 28, 2012 on TV Nova
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ALLUSIONS (3)
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- Damon: (to Stefan, referring to John being Elena's father) I don't need any proof. That's a DNA test for John and Elena and Maury Povich to deal with.
  
  Maury is a popular television show hosted by Mary Povich. The show often features paternity testing for women who want to identify the true father of their child.
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- Damon: (to Alaric, referring to the human side of vampires) You can turn it off. Like a button you can press. I mean, Stefan's different. He wants the whole human experience. He wants to feel every episode of How I Met Your Mother.
  
  How I Met Your Mother is a sitcom that debuted on CBS in 2005. The show is set up with the main character in the year 2030, explaining to his children the events that led to him meeting their mother.
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- Caroline: (referring to the theme for the Miss Mystic float) Southern classic elegance.
  Bonnie: Gone With the Wind?
  Caroline: How'd you know?
  Bonnie: You channel Scarlett daily.
  
  The classic 1939 movie Gone with the Wind is set around the time of the Civil War and tells the story of it's impact on the South. The role of the main female character in the film, Scarlett O'Hara, was played by Vivien Leigh.
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