[s3e1] The Birthday Official

Despite the grim circumstances, Caroline Forbes insists on throwing Elena a massive 18th birthday party. Elena, however, is struggling to move on and spends much of the night searching for any sign that Stefan is still alive.

by Martin Solveig & Dragonette (playing during the chaotic party scenes). "Barton Hollow" by The Civil Wars. Relationship Dynamics

: Damon returns the necklace Stefan gave her, which she had lost, as a symbol of hope—only for her to later discover he has been secretly tracking Stefan's trail of bodies all summer. [S3E1] The Birthday

: The episode ends with the chilling visual of "The Ripper" piecing back together the bodies of his victims, showing just how far he has fallen. The Soundtrack of Season 3

Stefan is fully under Klaus's influence, acting as his "Ripper" enforcer as they hunt for werewolves across Tennessee to build a hybrid army. Despite the grim circumstances, Caroline Forbes insists on

: Jeremy begins seeing the ghosts of Vicki and Anna, a haunting complication to his attempt at a normal life. VAMPIRE DIARIES SEASON 3 EPISODE 1 “THE BIRTHDAY”

by Ron Pope (the emotional closing scene where Stefan calls Elena but stays silent). "Barton Hollow" by The Civil Wars

The episode is known for its iconic musical selection, featuring tracks like: