Ep 2. Never Let Me Go

After the hectic events of the season seven premiere, "Never Let Me Go" brings things back down a notch and focuses on the aftermath of Lily Salvatore's arrival in Mystic Falls, and the ensuing chaos that inevitably follows. With several characters still reeling from the events of the first episode, the show takes a breath and allows for a little bit of character development and exploration before diving back into the bigger picture.

At the center of this episode is Caroline Forbes, who is struggling to come to terms with her new vampire status. With the help of Stefan Salvatore, she begins to explore her new abilities and figure out how to live with them. However, her new status as a vampire also puts a strain on her relationship with her mother, who is struggling to accept that her daughter is no longer human. Meanwhile, Alaric Saltzman is dealing with his own complicated feelings after learning of Caroline's transformation.

Elsewhere in Mystic Falls, Matt Donovan is still struggling with his role in the town's supernatural conflicts. After being attacked by Enzo in the previous episode, he begins to investigate the strange goings-on in town and comes up against some unexpected obstacles. Meanwhile, Bonnie Bennett is dealing with her own supernatural powers, which seem to be growing stronger and more unpredictable by the day.

As for the Salvatore brothers, they are still dealing with the fallout from Lily's arrival. Damon is determined to get his mother out of his life for good, while Stefan struggles to understand her motivations and what she truly wants from him. The tensions between the Salvatores come to a head in an emotional confrontation that leaves both brothers shaken.

All of these storylines come together in a climactic final scene that sets the stage for the rest of the season. As always, the show juggles a lot of different plot threads and character arcs, but "Never Let Me Go" manages to balance them all and provide a satisfying episode that moves the overall narrative forward without feeling too rushed or overstuffed.

Overall, "Never Let Me Go" is a solid episode that showcases the strengths of The Vampire Diaries. It's not an episode that will go down in history as one of the show's best, but it's an important one that sets up some intriguing conflicts and character developments. With several plot threads still up in the air, it will be interesting to see where the show goes from here.