I think I said it before, but I completely underestimated this show. What a thrill ride this season has been.
The finale was particularly good. As the first one I've watched this season it has set the bar pretty high for ending a season. The last ten minutes in particular was intense. It managed to do something that only one other show has ever managed to do. Make me think I was watching something only to find out it was something else entirely. The end had Elena kissing Damon! And then going into the kitchen to talk with her Uncle John. And then she proceeded to chop off his fingers (and life-saving ring) and stab him. Only then did I realize the truth, just as John did. This wasn't Elena. It was her look-a-like, the often mentioned Katherine.
When the episode was over I had to instantly rewind it and rewatch that last bit. It changed the context of everything. That moment with Damon was actually two old lovers. Great cliffhanger to the season. The writers did a very good job of laying everything out perfectly. Katherine had Elena's things, which Elena had said she was going to go get. When Aunt Jenna discovered Elena/Katherine and Damon making out, she told her that she needed to come inside. Bam, invitation for the vampire. The introduction of Katherine came out of nowhere but was not completely beyond the grasp of happening. The audience has known for weeks that Katherine was still alive. I just didn't think the show would introduce her so soon. Props to the creative team for pulling off such a surprise.
It reminds of me of the finale of the third season of "LOST". The whole episode I thought I was watching yet another Jack flashback. It had always been flashbacks, I had no reason to think it would be anything else. In fact, I thought it was pretty boring. Until that moment Kate came out. And then I figured out this was no flashback. It changed the context of the whole episode. And I of course had to watch it again.
I hope the next season of "The Vampire Diaries" can keep up this epic pacing. I certainly have enjoyed this first season of this breakout show.
