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.

The Vampire Diaries 5.07 Review: Fighting a Losing Battle

Anyone that has yet to watch tonight’s episode of The Vampire Diaries, titled ‘Death and the Maiden’, now is your last chance to do so without spoilers. For this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Decent episode this week. I will be sad to see Silas gone, because he managed to actually get interesting these last two episodes. The last two week’s he’s been funnier than all of the other characters, including Damon, and it sucks to see that that’s gone because it helped make these last two weeks of this show more interesting.

Also, Bonnie’s back. For a second there I actually thought she was going to stay dead, and I was happy about that. But then Tessa went and saved her life in the knick of time and all I got to do was say damnit. Really, hasn’t this character outstayed her welcome? Sure, the only time she’s ever been interesting is the first ten episodes of the series, and when she was with Jeremy. I guess she is with Jeremy again now, but I’m still not liking her. Doesn’t Kat Graham have a music career she could go work on rather than this series?

Amarra was an intriguing little duck, and I’ll be sad to see the character go when she wasn’t given much time on the series. A very Romeo and Juliet kind of death with her and Silas, but this time they don’t get to be together on the other side. But when Bonnie dies, won’t the other side disappear? A witch doesn’t live forever, although she could keep transferring it to another afterwards. But back to Amarra, I have to say that I loved the way Dobrev played her bat shit crazy; it was fantastic. This is more of the Nina Dobrev that I like this week than some of this season has been. She actually has a decent amount of talent. Although Julie Plec trying to say that she was doing it long before Tatiana Maslany doesn’t mean squat when Maslany is pro on Orphan Black and differentiating her characters far better than Dobrev.

All in all, not a bad episode. I do think it’s going to start getting back to the lameness that was the first five episodes of the season now that Silas is gone, but who knows? I do have to say that I enjoyed the music this week; two particular moments had their respective songs fitting and very evocative of the scenes. Still, I’m not feeling like this series is going to get any better any more, but so help me if they don’t find a way to save Katherine.

My rating: 7 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Like, literally, Medusa style.” – Silas explains to the two strangers on the bench what happened to his true love.

“I’m sitting in a bus stop in frigging Delaware.” – Silas complains. “You’re in Philly.” – the woman corrects him. “I’m in Philly? Oh God, that’s even worse.” – Silas groans.

“They prefer administrative assistants now; I learned that on the bus.” – Silas corrects Damon’s use of the word secretary.

“Now, may I be excused, scary vampire daughter?” – Katherine asks Nadia.

“I swear there’s a sitcom in there somewhere.” – Tessa mutters about Damon, Elena, and Stefan’s circumstances.

“Well, Silas owes me a fuse box.” – Damon states, regarding Silas’s cutting of the power.

Okay, I’m off to watch Grey’s Anatomy now. After that it’s The Crazy Ones. Stick around for more.

The Vampire Diaries 5.05 Review: And the Trouble Keeps On Coming

For all those that have yet to watch Thursday night’s episode of The Vampire Diaries, titled ‘Monster’s Ball’, this is the only point where I will suggest that you do that first before reading ahead. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! Proceed at your own discretion.

Despite this not being a terrible episode, or the fact that some intriguing things did happen this week, this series has been something of a mess this year. The writers have dragged the mythology around in the mud and changed already established notions from years before. It’s making me lose any faith I had in this series becoming something greater than a show about a love triangle.

Okay, so while it was astonishing to learn that Nadia is in actuality Katherine’s daughter, it makes things a little wonky. She appears to be quite young herself, but she must have had a child as well, or else Elena would never have been here. But she’s angry at Katherine for making herself a vampire, when she must have done the same to her own child to seek revenge against her mother. And while that does make this interesting territory, I’m still confused by the fact that I could’ve sworn she was supposed to be a gypsy, or traveller, or whatever you call them. Please tell me there are at least answers to the question of Nadia’s child.

This whole teacher thing is little weird. He’s calling newly turned vampire Jesse a perfect candidate, but candidate for what? And why would he say it was too bad that Elena was leaving, only to threaten her and her friends when she comes back? I thought he wanted her help, or was that just badly written/acted? I have to say I’m more intrigued by Aaron, who just so happened to play a teacher on the short-lived CW series Life Unexpected. The guy definitely is a mirror to Elena, and I find him filled with possibilities. It’s been a long time since this series introduced an attractive young man, and it’s just sad that the guy appears to have a fair amount of chemistry with Elena when she’s dating Damon and she already has a stupid love triangle. That’s the problem with series written about love triangles, it leaves no open possibilities. But still, I hope he sticks around for a little while, I’d like to get to know him.

Two other things that I have to note about this episode, one being the whole Tyler thing. He came back to say goodbye, but has the audacity to sleep with Caroline before he drops that little news on her. Such a stupid guy move that it makes me actually hope he’s gone for good. But so help me if they write him onto The Originals, I’ve finally begun to like Hayley, and if Tyler comes back into things, it will just ruin the dynamic. I want Caroline on that series, not Tyler.

The other thing was how Katherine is still alive. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy she is, I was going to start thinking her daughter would have to seek revenge, but then her heart starts beating again. Does that mean she won’t ever die? Will any vampire that drains her become mortal again and she will breathe again? Why would this happen? So many questions that I desperately want answers to. This is what I mean by introducing actually riveting material.

Overall, I can’t see this series going on much longer. It has this season, maybe one more, unless it gets its act together and starts writing consistently and for the characters. When it comes to writing, what’s natural to the story is what’s necessary, not drama and things that will bring a soap opera feel to the environment. Get that together, and this series could possibly survive a few more than my early prediction. But don’t get interesting soon, and I’m out of here.

My rating: 6.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Thanks to an ex-fiance stalker witch…” – Silas complains to Nadia.

“Whatever.” – Damon retorts to Jeremy, after Jeremy tells him Bonnie’s not where he’s gesturing towards.

“She knows I can’t hear her, right?” – Damon questions Jeremy in regards to the ghostly Bonnie.

Okay, I’m caught up with Thursday night, now just to get on with Friday night. I’m off to watch Dracula now, then Haven. I probably won’t get to those reviews until tomorrow, so don’t wait up for those.

The Vampire Diaries 5.04 Review: Memories Make Us Who We Are

For all those that have yet to watch tonight’s episode of The Vampire Diaries, entitled ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’, I suggest you go and do so immediately. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Not a bad episode overall. Everyone whose name isn’t Jeremy finally learned of Bonnie’s death, and it came rightfully around the time of the bell ringing remembrance day in Mystic Falls. Although that’s more likely just because the writers wrote it that way.

While the funeral thing they gave Bonnie was a very moving ceremony between the friends, it was a little lackluster – I think – for the audience because Bonnie is still circulating within the series. It’d be different, and more memorable if we knew for certain she would not be coming back. Like on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, when Buffy’s mom died and there was no possible way she would be able to come back. That gave the cast very harrowing material to work with. But on this series, it’s almost like they’re cheating because she’s still sticking around and watching over them. Although I do have to say that I enjoyed what she said to each of her friends, and the fact that Tyler came back. It was definitely the perfect moment for that, even though I do want him to go away and never be spoken of again now.

For the most part, the whole amnesiac Stefan wasn’t quite that convincing. He still acted a lot like Stefan, not like someone who didn’t know who they were and were a little weirded out to find they were, of all things, a vampire. Maybe the writing isn’t up to par, or maybe Paul Wesley lacks the skill of being able to play the character that way. Probably a bit of both, because I still don’t think he was convincing enough in playing Silas. However, the man does do angry well, especially in the moment where he’s seething about how much he doesn’t want to go back to the life where all these things he’s done and had happened to him. That was probably my favourite part with him this week.

A few other things to note about the episode definitely begins with how Elena was far too flirty with amnesiac Stefan, as she tried to show him his memories. She really did lead him on to want to kiss her, so it’s kind of her fault he blew out on her after that. I almost thought she was actually going to kiss him, but thankfully she didn’t break Damon’s heart by doing that. I mean, enough with the back and forth already, settle on one of them. The other thing was the ludicrousness of Damon hugging Jeremy. Sure it may have been to show how far along Damon has come, in not trying to kill him after Jeremy tells him the bad news, but it just wasn’t completely natural. And they both kind of looked weirded out by it.

Overall, this series is becoming a little too much too handle, I’m really not sure how much longer I’ll be sticking around. I very well might just try and give it this season, but if the writing and acting doesn’t get a little more natural, who knows? Really, there’s way too much back and forth in this series, and it’s almost like the characters are stuck in a loop, so much further than where they began in the first season. Almost like the character growth, and story growth, has stagnated.

My rating: 6 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Well I’m no shrink… right?” – Amnesiac Stefan asks Damon.

“And my girlfriend let him.” – Stefan states, in a surprisingly powerful speech about his life and how his brother “stole” his girlfriend. Such power behind these specific words.

Anyways, I’m off to go watch Once Upon a Time in Wonderland now. After that it’ll be Grey’s Anatomy, and then The Crazy Ones. Stick around.

The Vampire Diaries 5.02 Review: Surviving Together

If you have yet to watch this week’s episode of The Vampire Diaries, entitled ‘True Lies, then now would probably be a good time to do so, if you don’t want the episode to be ruined. As always, this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

What is there to say about this episode? There’s not really much to review about this show. It’s passed its prime, time to put it to bed, let Ian Somerhaulder get a better series to act in because he’s honestly one of the best things this show has going for it.

There were some funny lines to this episode, but other than that, I literally have one note about it. That note would be a complaint about the showrunners still trying to play up the love triangle. It’s over, Elena’s made her choice, why are you trying to make it harder on Stefan?

While last week Elena and Katherine kind of seemed to blend together, this week they were a tad better. It’s interesting that Katherine’s having to depend on Matt and Jeremy, especially since she seems to have grown a little attached to Jeremy. Or at least as attached as Katherine Pearce can be attached to anyone. Her shining moment, I believe, was the point where she explains all the things she’s survived, but a sinus infection is going to do her in.

On the other hand, Elena’s shining moment was when she impaled her leg into the chair to stop Silas’s mind control from forcing her to kill Damon. Was anyone hoping her love for him would end up overpowering the hate trigger? But no, it was the sinking pit in her stomach that told her something was wrong with Stefan that stopped it. And what is it about that, anyway? This isn’t True Blood, and the last I checked Damon had sired her, so shouldn’t he be the one – if any – she feels when they’re in serious peril?

Otherwise, I’m bored of this whole Silas deal. The whole build up to this guy, and he doesn’t even beat Klaus in the baddie department. Honestly, why did he have to be Stefan’s doppelganger? It’s just completely ludicrous, and feels like it was just thrown in there last minute, just because they liked Paul Wesley’s acting when he played Ripper Stefan. See, that was done over on Buffy, and Wesley is no David Boreanaz, but they just gave the guy a spinoff, not another, terribly written, role to play. Elena (and Katherine) is the doppelganger, turning Stefan into one makes that whole significance less special.

So basically, this episode was nominally better than the premiere, but still not good enough to warrant a sixth season. Then again, this is a series on The CW, they’re going to milk it for everything it’s got. (See proof via Smallville and Supernatural.)

My rating: 6 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“A bullet would’ve been more effective, but we’re trying to be nice.” – Jeremy says to Katherine, emulating Damon rather well.

“You do realize you’re dating a reformed serial killer right?” – Damon rhetorically asks Elena, in a rather dead on definition of his own character.

“It’s because you haven’t had sex with me.” – Damon tells Silas.

“Plus, I work out.” – Jeremy remarks to Silas, as he gives him a beat down.

Okay, that’ll be all for tonight. My head is killing me, I’m not quite sober yet, and I’m just plain exhausted. I’ll hit this place up with my review of Grey’s Anatomy and my Best Performances of the Week first thing tomorrow. Then it’ll be the review of Haven, followed by tomorrow night’s reviews of Once Upon A Time and Revenge. I’m off to go watch the Glee’s memorial episode.