robin franson pruter rated the episode with 3/4 saying that the episode presages a major development in the character of stefan salvatore. "this episode only hints at the full import of what occurs, but the events here begin a huge unpacking of the complexity of the character of stefan. [...] no words are said in this final scene. wesley and somerhalder convey much with just an exchange of glances, stefan’s guilty desperation, damon’s apprehension, suggesting that, whatever this means, it doesn’t bode well." and she closes her review: "this episode presents strong character development (alaric excluded), examines the evolving and deepening of relationships between these characters, and offers an exciting storyline that evolves from those characters and relationships, even as that story deepens what we know about them."