Wow, this was the Vampire Diaries/Originals crossover so many of us have really been waiting for since that lame cop-out in Seasons 5/1 with Tyler visiting New Orleans left us craving for more deep and meaningful interactions between TVD and TO characters. Well, "Moonlight on the Bayou" had those types of moments in spades, and that wasn't all the episode had to offer: with Damon and Bonnie digging into Enzo's mysterious new secret society, Caroline debating whether to become a mother to Alaric's twins, and everyone trying to get the hell away from Rayna Cruz, it was a dramatic and highly memorable hour.
"Welcome to New Orleans, old friend." Though Stefan thought he could just run from Rayna in a normal, somewhat stealthy manner, Valerie warned that this would not be sufficient. Sure enough, Stefan was nearly shishkebobbed trying to buy a cell phone charger. There are no pit stops when fleeing the huntress. Even though she's in pursuit of our beloved vamp characters, it's hard not to admire Rayna's relentless badassery in scenes like this. And impossible not to thank the gods of t.v. that she has replaced Julian as our current villain! Stefan's next stop was a bar in New Orleans safety cordoned off by a spell preventing those who seek refuge there from being discovered. Naturally, Klaus was present at his frequent haunt, where he pulled up a chair to make cordial conversation and drink with his old frenemy Stefan...until the conversation took a turn for the worse.
What in the world could ever make Klaus soften his attitude towards Stefan after his former buddy led Rayna right into NOLA and then lied about it? A ring of Stefan's phone, left on the table as Stefan obeyed Klaus' command to "Get outtttt!!!" As we had gleaned by Klaus' perceptive, quiet, almost pensive responses to Stefan's updates about what Caroline had been up to lately, Klaus is still very interested to know how she is doing.
What followed when Klaus picked up Stefan's phone and spoke to Caroline (who was baby-laden in a diner on a trip with Alaric to his new home in Dallas) was a lovely gift to fans of Klaroline's relationship and just a touching scene in general. While I do wish the two had interacted in person, there was something so sweetly unexpected and subtle about watching their expressions change as they talked to each other, slipping back into the rhythm of their connection. Among several poignant statements, Klaus assured Caroline that it is "not a crime to love what she doesn't understand." In other words, her need to stay with the babies and care for them is something she might need to embrace even though it makes no sense to her previous plans for her life, the famous "things she wanted."
I loved that it was the idea of making Caroline happy that made Klaus rush to Stefan's rescue, temporarily killing the huntress long enough for him to take Stefan to see a witch and try to deal with this Rayna Cruz problem...which played out in the episode of The Originals that followed TVD.
Bonnie: a better friend than an enemy. Definitely. The continued quest to stop Rayna led Damon and Bonnie to Enzo, who was chilling out in the swanky digs of the secret society he recently joined, the Armory. In exchange for his assistance in the Armory's ongoing mission to find and secure supernatural weapons and other ephemera (such as vicious and unstoppable huntresses), Enzo had been promised details about who his family were or are. I liked the character development we finally got from Enzo in this episode, and especially that it played out in scenes between him and Bonnie: he revealed his lack of morality and empathy often come down to his never having learned these things or having had much affection or a support system in his whole life. Enzo, please stop these shenanigans and join up with the scoobies for good right now! Alas, for now, despite the heart to heart with Bon Bon, Enzo was quick to stick Damon in a sealed room with an unconscious, about-to-wolf-out Tyler (so that's why Tyler didn't tell Damon it wasn't the real Elena in that coffin!) and knock Bonnie unconscious. This was all in an attempt to force Damon to give up Stefan's location so the Armory could use him to find Rayna.
While the gang evaded death at Tyler's claws (I loved every single one of Damon's canine jokes at his expense once again), Bonnie was injured in the scuffle, causing Damon to question why he allows those who care for him to put themselves in harm's way again and again. This seems to be the moment of clarity that urges him to put himself in a coffin and wait for Elena to wake up...a wait we saw him interrupted from three years in the future, earlier this season.
After being allowed to slip back into a bit of a maudlin, whining mode in the aftermath of thinking he had killed Elena, I was so glad to see Damon showing his good side so strongly in this episode, from being willing to die to protect Stefan or Bonnie, to being prepared to sit out the next 60 years to ensure that his loved ones remain safe.
Elsewhere in the episode...Enzo learned that he is related to Alex St. John, who works for the armory. What else will he find out about his roots, and how will the revelations effect this wandering, often volatile and destructive soul?
Caroline and Alaric were relatable and adorable in their interactions, trying to respect one another's wishes and promote the welfare of the twins while, without even realizing it, learning how to co-parent rather fluidly. Caroline's longing to allow herself to care for these babies was really lovely to watch unfold.
Three years from now, Caroline seeks Klaus' help in New Orleans, but he is nowhere to be found. What has caused his three-year sabbatical from NOLA? That's putting his departure pretty close to the current events of The Originals. What will Caroline do next and how will Stefan's standoff with Rayna turn out? I can't wait to see more.
What did you think of this episode? Share your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to catch an all-new The Vampire Diaries, Friday at 8/7c on the CW.
