Here's a breakdown of what happens:
Main Plot:
* Elena's Struggle: Elena is tormented by the idea of becoming a vampire and the dark thoughts it brings. Damon tries to convince her to embrace it, but she remains resistant.
* The Founder's Council: The Founder's Council is revealed to be responsible for imprisoning and executing vampires. They're on a mission to eradicate all supernatural beings from Mystic Falls.
* The Original Vampire: The Council's plan involves sacrificing a young vampire, believing it will appease the Original Vampire, Klaus, and persuade him to leave Mystic Falls.
* Damon's Deception: Damon, with a plan of his own, leads the Council to believe he's willing to sacrifice Elena. He actually intends to use the sacrifice as an opportunity to kill the Council members.
* The Vampire Hunting: Damon and Stefan, along with their allies, ambush the Council while the sacrifice is happening. A fierce battle ensues, with Damon using his hypnotic compulsion on the Council members.
* Unexpected Betrayal: The Council is defeated, but unexpectedly, Elena breaks free from Damon's compulsion and kills one of the Council members, revealing her dark side.
Other Key Points:
* Bonnie's Abilities: Bonnie's magical abilities continue to grow, and she is shown to be capable of sensing vampires.
* Caroline's Transformation: Caroline begins to embrace her transformation into a vampire.
* The Salvatore Brothers' Conflict: The episode highlights the tension between the Salvatore brothers, with their different views on Elena's path and their own desires.
The episode's climax:
The episode ends with Elena having killed a Council member and being completely torn between her humanity and the dark urges she feels. The episode leaves the viewers with a sense of uncertainty about Elena's future and the potential consequences of her actions.