Needless to say, there's a lot to cover in our Vampire Diaries Round Table as we pick up the pieces from last week and look ahead to this week's season finale.

Below, TVF managing editor Steve Marsi is joined by staff writers Carissa Pavlica and Nick McHatton for an in-depth Q&A discussion of "The Sun Also Rises" ...

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What was your favorite quote/scene from the episode?

Steve: Let's go with Bonnie overwhelming Klaus with her thoroughly bad ass powers. Even though Elijah didn't follow through and kill him, it was great to see Bonnie's much-touted strength in action - and living up to the hype.

Nick: Jenna's death hit me the hardest in the episode. I was sad to see her go especially after she was finally given something to do, but I'm glad she died a hero and had that heart to heart with Elena.

Carissa: I'm going with the funeral for two reasons. One, the letter John wrote was beautiful, and Elena needed something to hold on to from her two parents. His letter expressed all of the things he couldn't say. After the funeral, when Damon was still thinking of Elena instead of himself as he pondered his own death, was the cherry on top.

Biggest shock: Jenna's death, John's death or Elijah bailing with Klaus?

Steve: I had a hunch Klaus would find a way out of this episode alive. There's just too much story potential with those guys alive. John's death was a surprise, but brought such appropriate closure to the character. Jenna, though? Totally out of left field. I still can't believe Elena's biological father AND aunt/legal guardian, died. Wow.

Nick: Jenna's death, although, John's death is a close second.

Carissa: Jenna's death. Mostly because she didn't turn to dust. Don't vampires turn to dust? Did I miss that in all the excitement as Klaus was spirited away by his now loving brother? As soon as John said goodbye, I knew he had given his life for Elena. How sweet was that? 

Did the convenient creation of the "tethering" spell stretch the limits of believability - even for a CW show about vampires? 

Steve: I rolled my eyes at first because it seemed too easy. Then when I saw how it played out, I was more than captivated and even moved by the funeral scene. In the hands of a lesser show, all the rule changes and characters coming and going might seem cheesy or haphazard, but The Vampire Diaries sells it with great writing and acting.

Nick: It didn't for me, I bought it. Because it finally gave John some redemption.

Carissa: As long as it's entertaining and can make sense within the story (it is fantasy, after all), I'll allow it. One thing the VD writers do well is invent their own lore. They do a really good job and it keeps the pace moving fast and in directions we never see coming.

What's Katherine's next move?

 Steve: The liquor cabinet, followed by the couch, then the makeshift dance floor. Repeat. Alaric's not getting his house back anytime soon (I think ... my colleague Nick says otherwise), but a bored, drunk Kat sure keeps things interesting!

Nick: She's free to do whatever she wants now that the ritual is over. Does that mean she is free from Klaus and his desire for revenge against her? Probably not. My guess is she decides to stick around in Mystic Falls because they can probably use all the help they can get if they want to kill Klaus.

Carissa: Isn't she stuck in that apartment? Doesn't Klaus have to do something to let her out? I don't know what will happen in the present, but my guess is we will learn a lot more about Katherine in the past with Klaus, Elijah and the rest of the family.

Should Caroline and Tyler get together?

Steve: As Carissa said, their connection was intense during Tyler's first transformation, and you could see it again in their eyes this week. Much as I like Matt, I'd have to guess (and hope) his dumping Caroline clears the way for this new, supernatural romance.

Nick: Those two have great chemistry and I definitely wouldn't be opposed to it. Although, I would feel bad for Matt. But if Matt's still as awesome as he's been the last few episodes I probably wouldn't mind as much.

Carissa: I honestly don't know. Now that Matt has come into his own, I was sort of rooting for him to accept her as she is. But, if he can't accept Caroline, and if Caroline doesn't want to deal with his wishy washy behavior, then yes. Tyler and Caroline had some great scenes when he was first turning, if they can reignite that fire, I'm all for it.

Obviously Damon will survive (if not, that would be the biggest shocker in TVD history). But HOW will he survive?

Steve: I'll embrace a theory popular among some of our readers and say that the elixir will allow him to be brought back after he dies, but in human form. Eh, possibly too far fetched, even for TVD. But that would be a heck of a twist for the character.

Nick: Bonnie will use a variation of the linking spell. My guess is Tyler will find some werewolf journal that explains the ins and outs of being a werewolf and what to do if you accidentally bite your vampire buddies (I'm only half-joking on this). I'm beginning to think that potion Elijah had may have something to with it.

Carissa: Maybe the spell did something to allow for more hybrids. I really like Damon all vampire, but he would have a definite advantage in a fight if he were both vamp and werewolf. And, it would certainly lend credence for the two breeds to work together instead of being at each others' necks all the time.

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.