The Vampire Diaries Season 6 Episode 14 Recap: Farewell, Jeremy Gilbert! 

Warning: Please note that this article is

recap for Season 6 Episode 14 (directed by Chris Grismer and written by Brian Young & Caroline Dries). The post contains spoilers, quotes, and specific scene descriptions. Do not read any further until you have watched “Stay” which originally aired Thursday, February 12, 2015 on The CW.

: Bonnie celebrated her birthday with some death pact bourbon, car engine fumes, and a road trip to Nova Scotia in Damon’s Camaro; Jeremy risked his life to get a glimpse of his girlfriend and instill some hope into her miserable alternate universe existence; Stefan and Caroline dug up the real Ms. Cuddles, shed some tears, and then shared a hug; Damon and Elena ate a cupcake followed by some hot sex; Tyler broke up for Liv for wanting to knocking him unconscious so that she can kill her crazy Gemini leader of a brother; and Kai discovered that feelings were hard. So, what happened in TVD episode 6×14? Scroll on down for our most heartbreaking recap yet!

Take care and try not to rip anymore shirts, Little Gilbert.

Goodbye, Jer Ber: Little Gilbert is all grown up everyone, and after downing some celebratory shots with his bros and

smoking that reefer weefer aka good ish Mary Jane

“hugging it out” with his protective big sis Elena, he peaces out in pursuit of his dreams. Now how exactly did the world’s biggest truant — a kid everyone though faked his own death for attention (apparently “he died and was brought back his witch girlfriend who sacrificed her life for his” is a totally implausible tale of woe) — graduate high school? (Honestly speaking, we’re 99.9% sure his test marks are Hermione Granger’s boggart.) Well, it pays to have a vampire for a sister and it pays when her boyfriend is like, ‘Girl, stop taking the high road all the damn time and just compel this principal to give your brother his diploma and be done with it.’ That being said, Jeremy actually graduated: Hooray! And even after a nasty run-in with the Enzo, who presses his disgusting, mud-crusted boot into Jer Bear’s adorable dimples and threatens to kill him (hahaha! newsflash, busta: HE ALWAYS COME BACK!), Jer manages to escape the hellhole known as Mystic Falls alive and in one piece.

Oh, and you know he couldn’t just up and leave without treating us to a proper plot twist! After all, ’tis tradition. Anyway, remember his whole plan about enrolling in art school to become a future Pixar animator or perhaps, if he plays his cards right, a political cartoonist for the Mystic Falls News? Well, he scraps that dream to follow his true destiny instead: vampire hunter. “You found your purpose. Might as well pursue it,” Papa Alaric tells him when he drops him off at a lone bus stop on a rural road in the middle of nowhere. (Don’t worry — crazy-ass Silas wasn’t there to talk his ear off on how modern day romance is dead.) Yep, that’s right, folks: Crossbow McGree is putting his Gilbert arms to good use, and those West Coast bloodsuckers better run and hide while there’s still time!

You know its true love when the heavens open up and sunlight ripples through your lips.

Steroline Kiss: It’s no secret that Candice Accola has chemistry with everyone on set, which is why we honestly don’t mind seeing who Caroline ends up with. Though it’d be fun to see her enjoy the perks of being a single lady for a few months, she’s more of a relationship girl and that’s totally okay. When she danced with Klaus at the Original ball, sparks flew and everyone in the room felt the electricity between them. When she remained by Tyler’s side as endured his very first — and painful — werewolf transformation, our spirits soared. And when Stefan brushed away a few golden wisps from her face and leaned in to kiss her? Well, let’s just say the spontaneous moment — the one we’ve been anticipating for

too long — warmed us up from head to toe, like a cup of gourmet hot chocolate after a long morning of shoveling the driveway. AND THE HAND HOLDING? JUST DROP A GRENADE ON OUR FEELS, WHY DON’T YA:

Followed by this conversation? THIS IS TOO MUCH: Care Bear: “One of us should probably say something.” Stefano: “Go for it.” Care Bear: “Not that.” STOP BEING SO DARN CUTE, YOU TWO! Although it wasn’t full of fervor and hunger like Damon and Elena’s usually are, this kiss was just as blissful; it felt as comfortable and cozy and we admit we cheered a bit when, after all those longing stares, their lips finally met! Friendship goals, relationship goals — whatever goals they are we want in.

I’m not just your sis, I’m your COOL sis.

Gilbert Bonding: After six seasons of fretting over her brother like a mother hen — clucking in disapproval any time he got stoned (you know, to get past losing everyone he ever loved); burning his body

their childhood home that one time he died and she actually thought it was for real; recruiting him in a super dangerous mission to take down a maniacal Original vampire, or worse, getting her sharp-toothed sweethearts to compel his bad memories away and leaving him an empty, emotion-less vessel — Elena decides it’s high time they blaze up. That’s right: JUST WHOLESOME ALL-AMERICAN F-U-N! So, she lights up the joint Damon gave him (yo, paws off, lady — it was a gift) and the two of them get more blitzed than Santa’s second-to-last reindeer. After an intense case of the munchies (which they cured with some greasy-ass fries) and talking about their deceased parents and being orphans whose lives have been the worst, they part ways. Aww! Such a Hallmark moment.

Please get a life and let Matt live his. Thank you and goodbye.

Enzonator Strikes Again: Hey, remember last week when Enzo forced Matt to do his evil bidding — namely, lure kind and generous Sarah Salvatore into his web of terror and deceit — by threatening to kill his deadbeat madre and then running off with Matt’s phone, wallet and coat on a chilly afternoon? Welp, the bully one-upped himself in this ep: He coerces Matt to leave Jeremy’s celebration to take Sarah on a tour of Mystic Falls, and then has him stand in the middle of the road. Why? Oh, you know, to run the guy with NO HEALTH INSURANCE AND NO MAGICAL HEALING POWERS right  over. (If Matt falling for Enzo’s diabolical plan isn’t proof that he’s the human version of Bambi, we don’t know what is.)

Anyway, Sarah — whose only brush with darkness so far has been Matt’s pitiful attempt at stranger danger — freaks out. She’s all, ‘I just came to this town to snap tasteful photographs of a renovated restaurant — apparently in one in which a bunch of homies called Travelers were baked to a crisp like bacon — and now Tiny Tim is dying. AM I TRAPPED IN A DYSTOPIAN YA NOVEL?’ Matt, whose entire skeleton structure is basically crushed at this point, just moans in response.

Thankfully, Enzo uses this as his cue to vamp speed in, feed Matty Blue Blue his blood (he’s okay…phew), and zip away, leaving Sarah scared and utterly confused.

The Unsolved Case: Before officially leaving the police force due, Liz decides to solve some open cases while she still can. She has a huge pile of folders to sort through, but luckily Damon helps her breeze through more than half by admitting to being the culprit. ‘Oh you’re wondering who tore up this mangled body? My bad. I was extra hungry that evening. You know how it is, girl,’ Damon jests and Liz shakes her head in amusement. Typical murderous Season 1 Damon…Good times. Anyway, there’s only one case left and it involves Elena’s parents, Miranda and Grayson Gilbert. Apparently the details in the police report about the Wickery Bridge car crash don’t add up, and Liz finds them awfully suspicious. Suitcases in the trunk? Taking a strange out-of-the-way route? Miranda leaving her an “urgent” voicemail? No skid marks on the road? It definitely sounds like foul play — as though someone deliberately went after them, then tried to make it look like an “accident.” We actually think Liz is onto something and get excited because that would be one hell of a juicy twist. An intricate murder plot involving the Gilberts? Chills! Unfortunately, after Damon, Elena, and Jeremy conduct some investigations of their own and dig into their memories to pluck out details from that fateful night, it becomes clear that the accident was….well, actually just a tragic accident. But we’re not too disappointed: Liz was simply longing for some sense of closure. Like any worthy community leader, she just wanted to feel of use and do a good deed before she placed her badge on her desk and closed the door to her career forever.

Best Friends Forever: After Liz leaves the police station, she heads to her final destination, the cabin in the woods, and Damon joins her because that’s what pals do. After tucking her into bed and making a quip about her hot pajamas, Liz gets choked up. She gets really sentimental, reminiscing about her wonderful life. She’s had a lot of good years and raised one hell of a daughter. Best of all? She’s one of the lucky few in this cursed town to die a natural die rather than having her head ripped off by a starving creature of the night. Damon nods, appreciating her refreshing sense of humor and genuine charms, and adds to the conversation by revealing that he lost his mom, Lily Salvatore, long ago and wishes he had given her eulogy instead of wimping out. Liz’s eyes grow misty when he reveals this because Damon is the kind of guy who cracks insults and jokes to cover up a century and a half’s worth of pain lurking beneath that smoldering exterior — he’s not the type to get personal with just

. Touched by the mere fact that he considers her a close confidante, Liz asks him for a special favor: to deliver her eulogy as a second chance — sort of like your run-of-the-mill surrogate mother situation. And then she utters this incredible line and we get choked up, too: “I’m exceptionally ordinary, and I’m okay with that,” she says. “Caroline is anything but. She was meant to be extraordinary.” Damon tells Liz she can share this with daughter when she sees her — because everything will be hunky-dory despite the stage 4 cancer — but the instant he exits the room he senses something’s amiss and realizes Liz’s vitals have crashed.

RIP Sheriff Forbes: Back in TVD ‘s third season, in the episode titled “Bringing Out The Dead,” Bill Forbes gave his daughter Caroline one final hug and consoled her with these parting words: “Parents aren’t supposed to outlive their children, Caroline. It’s okay. This is life. This is what it means… to be human.” And as right as Bill is about children burying their parents and not the other way around, the truth is that losing a parent is never easy. We knew the Caroline would have to say goodbye to her mom was eventually going to come — she’s immortal and Liz is not and that’s just the way the cookie crumbles. Unfortunately for Care Bear, the day came

too soon. While moving her mom’s stuff in their family’s rustic cabin with Stefan, Caroline receives the worst news imaginable: her cancer-striken mother had fallen into a coma and her chances for survival were slim to none. Panicked, Caroline drops everything and rushes to her mom’s side, immediately breaking down at the sight of her best friend — the woman who gave her life — lying so still and helpless. She thinks she’s missed her chance to say goodbye and thank her for being an amazing mom — to give her peace and convince her that she’d be okay. Thankfully, Stefan reminds Caroline that can use her special abilities to enter her mom’s mind by thinking of her favorite memory of her mom. “You still can,” he says, his voice gentle and full of compassion.

Though there’s just too many wonderful moments to choose from, Caroline settles the perfect one — the time her mom removed the training wheels off her pink bicycle (the one with the sparkly streamers) took her to the park and taught her how to ride a big girl bike. “Don’t let go. I’m not ready,” Little Caroline begs. With a sad-yet-proud smile, Liz says, “Yes you are.” She watches as her spitfire of a daughter growing smaller and smaller as she pedals into the warm glow of the sun. As soon as the poignant reverie ends, Liz quietly passes on and Caroline, surrounded by her closest friends, clasps her mother’s hand and releases a soul-shattering sob.

For many of us, this scene hits way too close to home — a lot of people can relate to the painful reality of losing a loved one. How many of us have stared down at a mother, father, sibling or some other person who was our whole world as they struggled for breath and wilted before our very eyes? How many of us have stood there, numb with shock, as we realized we’d never get another day, another Christmas morning, another ‘french toast for dinner’ moment with our loved one again? How many of us, right and then, wished with all our might that we could hold them one last time and tell them how much they mean to us — to thank them for being our champions, for coming to all our basketball games regardless of how tired they were after work, for taking us out for ice-cream when we got teased on the playground and were feeling low?

A “parent”– the actual person who raised you and loved you with every ounce of their being (even when you were being a brat and refused to go to sleep) — is irreplaceable; and when they’re gone they leave a void not only in your heart but in your life — one that can never

be filled, even if you manage to find happiness again at some point.

That being said, I wanted to share one of my favorite poems with you: “To A Daughter Leaving Home” by Linda Pastan. Though it’s mostly about parents stressing about their kids leaving home, in a way, it also applies to tonight’s TVD episode — especially the powerful imagery at the end:

We love you, Care Bear! RIP, Liz! Goodbye, Jer Bear!

Thank you for taking the time to read this recap, and as always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on

? What did you think of Liz’s final send-off? What about the Steroline kiss? Will Damon due an outstanding job with Liz’s eulogy? Are you glad that Jeremy’s fulfilling his destiny as a vampire hunter instead of going to college or is that a bad move in terms of securing a steady job? WILL THIS GRIEVOUS EVENT BE THE ORIGIN OF DARK CAROLINE? Let’s chat it out. Also, if you’d like to post your favorite Sheriff Forbes memory from TVD, we’d love to hear it!

The Vampire Diaries -- "Stay" -- Image Number: VD114b_0128.jpg -- Pictured: Candice Accola as Caroline -- Photo: Annette Brown/The CW -- © 2015 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

The Vampire Diaries — “Stay” — Image Number: VD114b_0045.jpg — Pictured (L-R): Candice Accola as Caroline and Paul Wesley as Stefan — Photo: Annette Brown/The CW — © 2015 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

The Vampire Diaries -- "Stay" -- Image Number: VD614c_0360.jpg -- Pictured: Steven R. McQueen as Jeremy -- Photo: Annette Brown/The CW -- © 2015 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

The Vampire Diaries -- "Stay" -- Image Number: VD114b_0182.jpg -- Pictured (L-R): Nina Dobrev as Elena, Ian Somerhalder as Damon and Paul Wesley as Stefan -- Photo: Annette Brown/The CW -- © 2015 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

The Vampire Diaries -- "Stay" -- Image Number: VD614c_0452.jpg -- Pictured: Michael Malarkey as Enzo -- Photo: Annette Brown/The CW -- © 2015 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

The Vampire Diaries — “Stay” — Image Number: VD114a_0065.jpg — Pictured (L-R): Paul Wesley as Stefan and Candice Accola as Caroline — Photo: Annette Brown/The CW — © 2015 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

The Vampire Diaries -- "Stay" -- Image Number: VD614c_0150.jpg -- Pictured (L-R): Steven R. McQueen as Jeremy and Nina Dobrev as Elena (back to camera) -- Photo: Annette Brown/The CW -- © 2015 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

The Vampire Diaries -- "Stay" -- Image Number: VD114a_0184.jpg -- Pictured (L-R): Matt Davis as Alaric and Steven R. McQueen as Jeremy -- Photo: Annette Brown/The CW -- © 2015 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

The Vampire Diaries — “Stay” — Image Number: VD114a_0114.jpg — Pictured (L-R): Candice Accola as Caroline and Paul Wesley as Stefan — Photo: Annette Brown/The CW — © 2015 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

The Vampire Diaries — “Stay” — Image Number: VD114b_0029.jpg — Pictured: Ian Somerhalder as Damon — Photo: Annette Brown/The CW — © 2015 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

The Vampire Diaries -- "Stay" -- Image Number: VD114b_0128.jpg -- Pictured: Candice Accola as Caroline -- Photo: Annette Brown/The CW -- © 2015 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

The Vampire Diaries -- "Stay" -- Image Number: VD114a_0159.jpg -- Pictured (L-R): Matt Davis as Alaric and Steven R. McQueen as Jeremy -- Photo: Annette Brown/The CW -- © 2015 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

The Vampire Diaries Season 6 Episode 15 airs Thursday, February 19 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

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