The Vampire Diaries 5.10 Review: Revelations About Where We Stand

For any of those that have yet to watch Thursday night’s episode of The Vampire Diaries, entitled ‘Fifty Shades of Grayson’, this is the only warning you will get from me before proceeding ahead. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Let me just begin this review by stating that I am of the mind that this series has not been great since the second season, and it has not been good since season three. Season four was okay, but season five is shaping up to be terrible. Honestly, this episode was awful. There was so much potential set up last week, with Enzo being on the other table, and then he’s basically nothing in this week’s episode. And Katherine, she is just beyond disappointing this season, with her daughter coming into things and this whole mortality business. I almost wish it was back to her popping in every now and again, because she is just being ruined with everything this season.

Also, what is it with, whenever couples that are together offscreen break up, they always have to ruin that couple and break them up onscreen? It happened on One Tree Hill with Brooke and Lucas (although I was of the mind that he should be with Peyton, but it was terribly written with the offscreen couple onscreen), and now it seems to have happened here. I was so happy last season when Elena chose Damon, but they really should have ended this series there, because there wasn’t anymore that could be told. And now, they’ve actually got me wanting her with Stefan, the two have far more chemistry with each other than Elena and Damon do now. It’s bothersome that Somerhaulder and Dobrev breaking up can influence the telling of this series so heavily.

Basically, I’m finding this series very disappointing this year, much to the same affect as The Originals has become. Is it because the showrunner is having to split time between the two? If that’s the case, there really should be two showrunners. I know that my TV series idea is like my baby, there’s no way I wouldn’t put my whole heart into taking care of it. Honestly, this season is just such a mess. The whole Silas situation had to be resolved, and then we get this terribly done Augustine business. What the hell is this series problem? It used to be a pretty good series, but it hasn’t been that in a very long time. I mean, Damon breaking up with Elena MAKES NO SENSE!

My rating: 6 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“I’m gonna barf.” – Damon remarks.

“Or he’s in front of me, imagining what my kidney would taste like.” – Aaron tells his legal guardian.

“Well, you didn’t die, obviously.” – Stefan states, concerning Enzo.

Okay, that’s probably going to be it for about an hour, I have to go order my father’s Christmas gift, and thus I need to find it again. Check back later for my reviews of Grey’s Anatomy and Haven. By that, I am saying I am no longer reviewing Once Upon A Time In Wonderland, unless I get to it in a few days.

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 5.05 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.