Ep 12. The Ties That Bind

The Ties That Bind is the twelfth episode of the third season of the hit supernatural drama series The Vampire Diaries. The episode takes place as Elena attempts to find out what original witch and vampire mother Esther is capable of doing to Elena's brother Jeremy. Esther has been using Bonnie as a vessel for some time to help further her plan to kill Klaus, and this episode finds Bonnie struggling to maintain her control over her own body.

The episode opens with a flashback to 1912 when Elena's ancestor and doppleganger Katherine is still very much alive. In this flashback, we see the beginning of a mystery that will unfold throughout the rest of the episode. A man is found dead with a strange symbol carved into his chest, and the sheriff at the time assigns Damon and his brother Stefan to investigate.

Back in modern day Mystic Falls, Bonnie is still struggling with the fact that she is not in control of her body. She is still being used as a vessel by Esther, who is manipulating her into completing a spell that will help her eliminate Klaus and the other original vampires for good. Bonnie's friends are trying to help her break free from Esther's control, but it is proving to be a difficult task.

Meanwhile, Elena is trying to convince her brother Jeremy to leave town because she fears for his safety. She has reason to believe that Esther is planning to kill Jeremy in order to complete a ritual that will allow her to kill Klaus. Jeremy is stubborn and refuses to leave, causing tension between him and Elena.

Damon is still investigating the strange murders that he and his brother were assigned to back in 1912. He finds a connection between the murders and Esther's plan to kill Klaus. Damon also discovers that his ancestor was involved in the murders, and this knowledge affects him deeply.

Elena and her friends come up with a plan to confront Esther and try to stop her from completing the spell that will kill Klaus. They kidnap Bonnie in order to lure Esther out of hiding. While they are waiting for Esther to show up, Elena has a heart to heart conversation with Jeremy. She confesses that she can't bear to lose him and that she blames herself for putting him in danger.

When Esther finally shows up, she is not alone. She has brought Alaric, who has been under her control the whole time. Esther reveals that she needs Alaric's unique condition of being a vampire who is also human in order to complete her plan. She performs a ritual that links Bonnie and Alaric together, and Bonnie is able to use her magic to incapacitate Esther and break free from her control.

The episode ends with Damon and Stefan continuing to investigate the strange murders from 1912. They find a woman who has been alive since that time and discover that she is an original vampire who has been in hiding all these years. Damon and Stefan realize that they are dealing with a much larger and more sinister plot than they originally thought.

The Ties That Bind is a thrilling episode that pushes the overall plot of the series forward. The episode contains plenty of twists and turns that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The episode also features strong performances from Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, and Ian Somerhalder, who all deliver captivating performances that elevate the material. Fans of The Vampire Diaries will not be disappointed by this exciting and action-packed episode.