The Vampire Diaries Season 3 ‘Ghost World’ Recap: Denial is Easier

A handful of familiar faces returned to Mystic Falls in last night’s episode of The Vampire Diaries, and Caroline and Bonnie had to figure out how to send them back to where they came from. Here’s your Friday dose of an episode recap – Caroline Forbes style.

Previously on The Vampire Diaries, we were hit by the nostalgia train as a new school year began in Mystic Falls. Caroline was busy planning the annual back-to-school bonfire while struggling to keep Hybrid Tyler in check. She also had a few uncomfortable encounters with Rebekah.

This week, we first see Caroline and Bonnie assisting with the decorations at the latest Mystic Falls community gathering. Bonnie is explaining Jeremy’s ghostly girlfriends situation to Caroline, and Caroline doesn’t feel as if Bonnie is fully expressing her concerns about the ordeal.

Bonnie: “What do you want me to say, Caroline? I went against the balance of nature when I brought Jeremy back to life, and now I’m paying the consequences.”
Caroline “I want you to say you’re not okay with it.”
Bonnie: “I’m a thousand times not okay with it. I just don’t know what to do about it.”

This prying nature is so typical of Caroline — and I don’t mean that in a negative way at all. Caroline is really wonderful at consoling her friends and loved ones, and being the extra push that motivates them to move forward during difficult times. This is especially evident during her scenes with Elena at the beginning of this season, as I’ve mentioned before. But with Bonnie, it’s an entirely different ball game. Bonnie has such a strong, driven personality and she definitely doesn’t hide her emotions. In this scene, Caroline tries to get Bonnie to admit to being upset about Jeremy seeing his dead ex-girlfriend – as if she’s hiding how she really feels – Bonnie immediately is basically like, ‘No, Caroline. I am upset. I just have no idea how to fix it.’ Her straightforward response is excellent, and such an interesting contrast to how Elena responded when Caroline questioned her feelings for Damon a few episodes back.

Bonnie and Caroline are interrupted when Damon arrives on the scene, greeting the girls as “Blondie” and “Witchy.” He sort of cracks me up with his never-ending list of nicknames. Damon breaks the news to Bonnie that she opened up a huge can of worms when she sent Vicki Donovan back to the other side because now Mason Lockwood’s ghost is haunting him. Oh man. This is obviously not a good thing, but I’m still excited about possibly seeing a few other old characters that faced death too soon (Lexi! Rose! Jenna!). “Whatever you screwed up… fix it.” Oh, Damon. If only it was that simple.

Later on, we see Matt promising Bonnie that he hasn’t seen Vicki since they sent her back. The poor guy looks like he’s about to burst into tears on the spot. I’m surprised Bonnie and Caroline continue to ask him questions, but of course they do. Speaking of… Matt and Caroline! In a scene together! I miss them. I can’t help it.

Caroline asks Bonnie why she’s pinpointing Vicki in particular, and Bonnie explains that if Vicki isn’t the culprit, there’s a much bigger problem brewing. I get the impression that Bonnie already has an idea about what’s happening, but denial is easier. Matt agrees: “I’ve had enough of this ghost stuff to last forever, so you guys can leave me out of this one.” After Matt walks away, Bonnie drops her grimoire and it randomly opens up to a specific page, which turns out to be a manifestation spell that’s used to reveal ghosts. Convenient.

Later on, Bonnie and Caroline are down in the basement of the old house where Bonnie brought Jeremy back to life. Caroline is super concerned about the hundred witches that used to haunt the place (and rightfully so!), but Bonnie reassures her that they’re gone. “Right,” Caroline says, “…did they pinky-swear?” Awesome. That is a legitimate concern, though. As Caroline finishes lighting the last of the candles, Bonnie begins chanting without any hesitation. Caroline kind of stands around awkwardly, and quickly looks concerned when a breeze surrounds her. She is officially freaked out. It’s funny how Caroline still acts similarly about Bonnie’s witchcraft as she did in Season 1, but she’s been able to adjust to the idea of vampires, werewolves, and hybrids so well. Caroline tries to interrupt Bonnie, but Bonnie continues and eventually the girls can both see Grams. Wait… WHAAAAAAAT?!!

Grams says hello to Caroline and then explains to Bonnie why all of the crazy ghostly situations are occurring. (Weirdly, what I first thought of when Grams looked up at Caroline was that she could probably sense her vampirism. I’m glad she acted like it wasn’t a big deal.) Apparently Bonnie opened up the door to the other side when she and Matt sent Vicki back, and an old witch on that side gave a “free pass to anybody with unfinished business.” Grams says that witches talk, even on the other side. “Who do you think makes all the rules?” I love that. Caroline does, too. She’s standing in the background smiling, trying not to disturb this important moment. Grams was everything to Bonnie, and Caroline gets to witness the beginning of their second chance at a proper goodbye. Love love love.

Caroline fills Elena in on the phone about the information that Grams delivered. The key to everything is once again Elena’s necklace; this time, Bonnie has to destroy it. Elena has no reservations, she says, because she walked in on Jeremy and Anna kissing. Well, that cat escaped the bag fast! Caroline is good at keeping secrets, but she’s also good at staying true to her girlfriends, so this is not going to stay a secret for much longer.

Later on, a very distressed Caroline calls Elena again because the necklace isn’t where Damon told them it would be, and they can’t get a hold of him. Elena disregards her worries because she has other plans in mind.

Elena: “I need you to get Bonnie to hold off on sending the ghosts back.”
Caroline: “What?! But you said you were in full support of getting rid of them.”
Elena: “I was. I am. Look, Lexi’s here and she’s helping with Stefan.”
Caroline: “Okay well let’s just find it first and then we’ll choose between boyfriend ghost dramas.”

Caroline hangs up the phone, and Bonnie had overheard the conversation, so she asks exactly what boyfriend ghost dramas Caroline was referring to. Caroline tries to beat around the bush, but she inevitably tells Bonnie about the kiss. Bonnie is clearly about to break down when Caroline saves the day: “She’s got a foothold now, so she probably thinks that she’s here to stay, but you and I? Bonnie, we’re gonna find that necklace. Okay? Okay.” Best friends forever.

Next we see Caroline and Bonnie frantically searching Damon’s room for Elena’s necklace. (Caroline looks in the soap dish first — PRICELESS.) Bonnie’s phone rings and it’s Jeremy, of course, so Caroline answers it for her. She’s already frustrated, so the boy has no business messing with her.

Caroline: “What do you want, Jeremy?”
Jeremy: “Caroline…? Did you find that necklace?”
Caroline: “Not yet. Wait, what’s going on?”
Jeremy: “The ghosts of the tomb vampires killed Tobias Fell. You might wanna find that necklace before they start going alphabetically through the founding families.”
Caroline: “Well it’s not where it’s supposed to be. …Unless someone took it.”
Jeremy: “Who?”
Caroline: “Oh, who do you think?”
Anna: “I didn’t.”
Jeremy: “She said she didn’t take it.”
Caroline: “OH! And you believe her.”
Anna: “I didn’t take it, Jeremy.”
Jeremy: “You know what? Yeah. Yeah, I do believe her.”
Caroline: “You know what, you’re an even bigger idiot than I thought. So wake up, Jeremy, before you lose everything.”

Bonnie can normally hold her own, but with the Jeremy/Anna drama and her Grams’ ghost returning, I’m surprised she hasn’t temporarily shut down and taken a mental time-out. I’m glad she has Caroline there to put Jeremy in his place because he needed that. And Caroline is flawless when it comes to standing up for her BFFs.

Caroline and Bonnie are on their way to the witch house when they see that something isn’t right on the streets of downtown. The sight is seriously eerie. Caroline spots Carol Lockwood’s car in a not so normal state up on the sidewalk. Then, tomb vampire ghost, Frederick walks in front of Bonnie’s car, causing her to come to a screeching halt. The rest of the tomb vampires ghosts soon appear, and Caroline decides to do something about them.

Caroline: “Bonnie… I’m gonna get out of the car-” Bonnie: “What?” Caroline: “And you’re gonna drive the hell away from here.” Bonnie: “No way! I’m not leaving you.” Caroline: “Bonnie, you’ve got your ghost boyfriend drama, Elena has hers, and right now, the mother of mine is about to be ghost bate. So go and send them all back to the other side, okay?”

Caroline is always saving the day! Doesn’t she get exhausted?

Eventually we see Caroline fighting off the tomb vampire ghosts, one by one. Fredrick almost strangles her, but he’s sent back to the other side before he succeeds, and Caroline is left alone in the middle of the street.

I was hoping we’d get to see Caroline and Lexi meet – how epic would that have been? – but I knew that was a long stretch. I love how all but one of Caroline’s scenes were with Bonnie in this episode. It was really nice. I feel like Caroline is her best self when she’s in the presence of Bonnie and Elena. Next week’s episode is a flashback episode, which normally calls for a severe case of an absentee Caroline Forbes. Hopefully that’s not the case this time around, though. Either way, make sure to watch an all new episode of The Vampire Diaries next Thursday on The CW!

Written by Maddie Coe. Visit her Candice Accola Fansite for the latest details about the phenomenal actress. View more Ghost World Screencaps at Candice Accola Web today!