The Vampire Diaries 5.08 Review: Knowing Who You Are

For all those that have yet to watch tonight’s episode of The Vampire Diaries, entitled ‘Dead Man on Campus’, now would be a good time to go and do that. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Well, looks like Damon went and got his smartass captured. It makes me very curious to learn who this Augustine is, although it seems a little bit out of leftfield that something like this has ever happened to Damon in the past. I am happy, though, that he’s getting what seems to be a bigger story that surrounds him and not just his relationship with Elena. We haven’t gotten enough one-on-one time with Damon in a while, so his very own story was definitely necessary. I’m just not too big on this college secret society; couldn’t there just be something that isn’t vampire centric for once? Because contrary to Elena’s statement that being a vampire is awesome (Really, Elena? Really?), it’s not all that fascinating; it’s a little too easy.

Elsewhere, Bonnie began dealing with the fact that every supernatural being goes through her to pass on to the other side. She also got a new haircut, which, while nice enough looking, makes her head look far too big, and is a tad bit unflattering for her skull sculpture. But at least her character doesn’t come off as all doom and gloom, although I’ll kind of miss the all-powerful witchness that she was. I could’ve sworn she would still come back as a witch, but I suppose she swapped with Amara, not Silas. Still I’m on the fence concerning her character at the moment, I kind of still wish she had stayed dead.

So Dr. Wes basically made Jesse into what the Mikaelson patriarch was? Is that what this series is trying to tell me? It seems an awful lot like retread ground, doesn’t it? Is that all this series has become, recycled seasons past stories? Here’s the new father Mikaelson – although he’s now dead – and Bonnie’s back to her bubbly, first half of season one type character. Does Plec not have any originality?

All in all, it was a decent episode. I’m still not too big on the whole Katherine, Nadia relationship, mostly because she doesn’t seem to have that motherly chemistry. I’m sure they’d just write that off as the character, but there’s something off about the way Katherine says her daughter’s name and such. Also, I’m not all that into the college life that they’re depicting. All this series seems to try to do is make it look like being a vampire is easy and full of rainbows and daisies. At least in Buffy and Angel the vampires had depth and actual character to them. Damon and Katherine are about the only two things keeping me watching this show. Although, I am intrigued by Aaron’s character, I’m just surprised he can be compelled being that Wes is his legal guardian. But I suppose that’s just so Elena could compel him to open up to her. Oy vey.

My rating: 6.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Who the hell turned you into a vampire?” – Caroline exclaims.

“Gross. (Pause) So I’m going to do that.” – Damon explains to the professor.

“You’re Katherine Pierce. Suck it up.” – Stefan tells Katherine.

Okay, I’m off to watch Once Upon A Time In Wonderland now. Afterwards it’ll be Grey’s Anatomy, and wrapping things up will be The Crazy Ones. Stay tuned.