It's Elena's 18th birthday, and as she searches for Stefan, Damon tries to keep her from doing anything that might draw Klaus's attention.

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Damon and Alaric reluctantly go along with Elena's new strategy to find Stefan, leading Damon into a dangerous fight with an unexpected enemy.

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Klaus takes Stefan to Chicago, where he wants to resuscitate his sister Rebekah, who might hold the key to breaking the curse. Gradually, Stefan is reminded of his Prohibition period affair with her while still bloodthirsty himself, and its tragic end. Tyler is rightly worried, turning for an ally to her mother sheriff Forbes, about the whereabouts of Caroline.

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In Chicago, Katherine meets Stefan in front of a store and she tells that Elena has the necklace that belongs to Rebekah. She also feels that Stefan is plotting a scheme against Klaus, but he does not share his plan with her. Meanwhile, in Mystic Falls, Anna shows up to Jeremy and talks to him that she is alone in the afterlife.

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Despite all that has happened, Caroline is determined to see that Elena, Bonnie, Tyler all enjoy a traditional Senior Prank Night before the school year begins at Mystic Falls High School. Matt is also there. However, when uninvited guests show up, it doesn't take long for the evening to take a deadly turn.

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Elena meets Stefan at the high school and he tells that he is watching her following Klaus's order. Rebekah, who is staying at the Salvatore's house, is in the same class as Elena. Elena plots with Alaric and Damon to lock Stefan in the dungeon of the Salvatore house. Tyler is fascinated and reveling in his sire bond to Klaus. 

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On the day of the Night of the Illumination in Mystic Falls, Mason ties Damon to a chair and the vampire believes that it is a prank of his brother Stephan. Later Mason tells that he is seeking redemption and wants to destroy Klaus to help Tyler. He goes with Damon to a cave with tunnels where it is supposed to have a weapon to destroy the Original Vampire.

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Damon, Alaric and Elena reach a hidden cage in the secret tunnel beneath the Lockwood mansion. Alaric studies the runes and primitive pictures, which indicate it was the home of an ancient Viking family, who interacted with the Original werewolf, vampires and witch.

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The homecoming dance becomes the backdrop for a battle of lethal wits between Damon's party, including Mikael and Rebekah although not at all reconciled, and Klaus's, which fields the hybrids by diverting the party to the Lockwood mansion.

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Bonnie has weird dreams with four coffins. Jeremy hangs around with Tyler and invites him in his house. Stephan meets Bonnie and asks her to hide the coffins of Klaus's family. Klaus tries to force Damon and Elena to seek out Stephan and compels Jeremy to stand up in front of a pick-up driven by a hybrid in high speed without his ring.

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Bonnie tries to open the coffin and overhears something, but Damon and Stephan arrive in the house and Damon kills the hybrid. Elena and Bonnie are preparing a birthday party for Caroline at school and Jeremy says goodbye for them. Tyler meets Caroline to tell that he would never hurt her since he loves her, but Klaus controls him.

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Prophetic dreams about the mysterious fourth coffin lead Bonnie and Elena to a surprising source, while Tyler seeks help to break free from Klaus' bond so he can be with Caroline. Alaric's new friend Dr. Fell has a secret no one sees coming, and Stefan's interference in Elena's life reveals something that surprises even him.

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Now Klaus has Elijah back, they host a dinner party to negotiate a future with the Salvatore brothers, who actually procrastinate. Meanwhile combined witchcraft finally opens the mystery coffin, from which a scary surprise guest is released, but both families will be shocked.

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Now Klaus's original family's coffins are open, he's supplanted as family head by their sorceress-maker, mother Esther, who holds a grand ball in their splendidly restored mansion. Invitations with gifts and where needed other persuades go to the Salvatore brothers, Alaric, Matt for some reason, Caroline and especially Elena, who is asked for a private meeting.

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After starting her day with a startling discovery of Damons' latest indiscretion, Elena is frustrated to find that none of her friends agree with her on how they should react to the Original family's internal power struggle. Once again caught up in the destiny of the Bennett witches, Bonnie and Abby find themselves playing a part in a ritual to appease the spirits of nature. 

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The present-day murders in Mystic Falls remind Damon of a similar crime spree a century earlier. Flashing back to 1912, Damon recalls a beautiful vampire.

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Stefan still struggles desperately to get his blood-lust back under control. Damon keeps an eye on him, but has other priorities. Damon's former teacher Sage returns as his lover, in a secret pact against Rebekah, whom he seduces to keep an eye on her quest for the original white oak's sole known shoot.

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Stefan's emotional turmoil leads him to a dangerous confrontation with Klaus and, later to a heartbreaking moment with Elena.

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Caroline is thrilled when Tyler returns to town, but Tyler soon suspects that something has been going on between Caroline and Klaus. Matt tries to keep Rebekah busy by being his boring self.

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The 1920s Decade Dance takes a deadly turn when Damon and Stefan realize they need the help of Matt in the hopes (by the audience) that he'd die, but also Jeremy and Bonnie to undo a spell that could be devastating for everyone.

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Klaus acts on his intentions to leave town with Elena, but finds resistance from a surprising new enemy. Damon and Stefan have a surprisingly candid conversation about the future.

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Determined to protect his sister, Jeremy makes a decision that will change everything; Bonnie makes a secret deal that has heartbreaking consequences. And Matt yet again continues to live on. When will the pain end?

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These are my thoughts on Season 3 of The Vampire Diaries.