"Summer" Over for THE VAMPIRE DIARIES

Article first published as "Summer" Over for THE VAMPIRE DIARIES on TheTVKing.

The CW's The Vampire Diaries returned this week with "I Know What You Did Last Summer." Picking up months after the end of last season, most everyone has been enjoying the warm months with a lover. Now, school is starting and reality is setting in, with some things going back to normal, and some moving on to the next part of life.

The biggest change is Elena (Nina Dobrev) and Carolina (Candice Accola) moving hours away from Mystic Falls, heading off to college. It's nice that The Vampire Diaries doesn't do the typical-teen-drama-show thing and reveal a never-before-mentioned college in the city viewers have gotten to know. Though, it continues the trend of unrealistically-large dorm rooms seen on screen, perhaps even raising the bar in that regard. The move does segment the cast, as it means that plot arcs don't involve everyone, at least not right away, but that's a good thing, breathing fresh life into the show in its fifth year.

College does not mean the girls are free of the supernatural world, though, as much as they might want to be seen as typical students. Their new roommate, Megan (Hayley Kiyoko), seems to know about vampires, and then is killed by one, whom makes it look like a suicide. "I Know What You Did Last Summer" would be boring if it didn't kick off a new mystery off for Elena and Caroline, but one does wonder long they're going to be able to stay at college, given the constant danger they face. Buffy the Vampire Slayer made it less than a year. Will The Vampire Diaries follow that example?

I did love the glimpse viewers get of Bonnie (Kat Graham) at school with the other two, even it is only briefly. After all, they can't see Bonnie, she being dead, so what's the point of her staying there? But at least she gets to be with them for a moment on a special day they had all been looking forward to.

Carolina expects Tyler (Michael Trevino) to join them, but is sorely disappointed when he tells her in a voice mail that he has decided to continue helping a werewolf pack instead. One begins to wonder why the show even keeps Trevino on contract, considering the number of episodes he sits out every year, only his voice being in "I Know What You Did Last Summer." Will he return to get involved in things, or stay MIA for awhile longer?

Back in Mystic Falls, Damon (Ian Somerhalder) is acting the father towards Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen). This is a shift in their dynamic, certainly a fun one. After a year with no real parental supervision, it's satisfying that Jeremy has someone looking out for him again, and it provides Damon with some depth he hasn't really displayed. Being in love suits him, and his relationship with Elena is prompting changes in other ways, too.

Jeremy needs looking after because his Hunter skills are still sharp, and he's now being picked on as the weird kid at school. His friends were really his sister's friends, and they're all gone, leaving him isolated and alone, save visits from ghost Bonnie, which, were they observed, and they probably have been, would make him even more of an outcast. It takes no time at all for him to beat up some bullies defending himself and get suspended.

I don't know where the show is going with Jeremy, but he seems likely to get good material this year. By putting him so far out on his own, he gets an even bigger chance to figure out what his strengths are and how he fits in the world. McQueen has grown into the role well, and this story should make fans happy that The Vampire Diaries didn't leave him dead.

Speaking of dead, Stefan (Paul Wesley) keeps drowning and coming back to life, an endless, miserable cycle. It's interesting "I Know What You Did Last Summer" spends so much time with him, having Stefan imagining Damon telling him to turn his humanity off, so he doesn't feel so much pain, and Elena arguing for him to keep it on. This points to Stefan being rescued sooner rather than later. Otherwise, what's the purpose of showing him?

Stefan isn't included because Wesley needs to keep working; the actor is now pulling double duty as doppelganger Silas. Silas neatly fills the void left by the departure of the Original vampires, quickly setting himself up as a worthy opponent when he threatens Liz (Marguerite MacIntyre), executes the mayor (Ricky Worthy), Bonnie's dad, and brainwashes the town into helping him find Katherine (also Dobrev). This is a cold, calculating creature, totally unlike even the evil version of Stefan, and one of the most dangerous beings to ever come to Mystic Falls.

Which makes one wonder how anyone might possibly stop him. Damon is clueless as to how to threaten Silas, and the humans don't stand a chance. My guess is other supernatural help will be needed, whether that includes Stefan, Elena, and / or Caroline, it's unclear right now. The heroes will definitely have their work cut out for them.

Katherine is part of Sila's plan, and she's never been more helpless. Now a human, she actually goes to Damon for help, being super desperate, but he refuses her, as he should, after all she's done. With everyone in Mystic Falls looking for her, Katherine as she is now doesn't stand a chance. I guess she'll have to catch a break here soon.

And now we sit and wonder how long it will be before Damon's doppleganger shows up.

Lastly, we have Matt (Zach Roerig), who refuses Rebekah's (Claire Holt) offer to leave town, then runs into a girl he and Rebekah had a threesome with during their travels. This girl, named Nadia (Olga Fonda, Real Steel), steals the Gilbert ring, then has a companion do something to Matt when she returns it. So I guess Matt didn't run into her by coincidence on vacation. What's her deal, and what is she doing to Matt?

It's a little sad that Rebekah and Matt, who clearly have a great few months together, split so suddenly and completely upon returning home. I kind of wish Matt went over to The Originals spin-off with her so they could stay together. But I guess not all love lasts, and even calling what exists between them love might be stretching it. So now they both get a clean reset.

"I Know What You Did Last Summer" is an intriguing episode. Not a lot really happens, other than Silas making himself known, but there are plenty of arcs kicked off or continued, and it promises to be another high-octane season, with at least the usual amount of character development.

The Vampire Diaries airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.

The Vampire Diaries skipped right over "Growing Pains"

Grade: 90%

The CW’s THE VAMPIRE DIARIES ended on a huge cliffhanger last spring. The main character, Elena (Nina Dobrev) is killed with vampire blood in her system meaning that she either feeds on someone, turning into a full vampire herself, or dies permanently.

As season four begins with “Growing Pains,” trying to save Elena from this terrible choice is at the forefront of many of her loved ones’ minds. There aren’t any known instances of an almost-vampire avoiding this fate, however, so the only thing anyone can think of is to ask Bonnie (Kat Graham) for help. Unfortunately, it’s not that Bonnie can’t do what they’re asking, but it’s that she shouldn’t, as there will be grave consequences should she succeed.

It’s cool that THE VAMPIRE DIARIES has consequences for the characters’ actions. It’s not exactly a new concept in storytelling, by any means, but for a show about a bunch of teenagers, it’s important to keep that in mind. Even those with supernatural powers are far from invincible, and they must carefully balance what they do with what will happen because of it.

Bonnie has grown quite powerful as a witch, but to keep her from always saving the day, she has to have obstacles to limit her. “Growing Pains” brings her to the brink once more, tempting her sorely to use dark energies that she doesn’t fully understand or control. Needless to say, it’s a bad idea for her to give into this, no matter how good a justification she is able to come up with.

Even better, Grams (Jasmine Guy), a character who had to be killed off, but was done so way too son, returns as the face of Bonnie’s warning. This is a wise woman who knows lots about magic that Bonnie isn’t mature or experienced enough to figure out yet, and as Bonnie does trust her, she is a reasonable representation of good sense, whether she’s really there, or just in Bonnie’s head. Grams also serves another purpose, allowing Bonnie to be punished without hurting any of the major characters.

Of course, Bonnie can’t just be left alone to do her magic, and the other characters aren’t going to sit around for an hour. Enter the new villain, Pastor Young (Michael Reilly Burke, Vegas, Revenge). Pastor Young sweeps into town and, lickety split, fires the Mayor (Susan Walters) and the Sheriff (Marguerite MacIntyre). He tosses Stefan (Paul Wesley), Elena, and Rebekah (Claire Holt) into cells, and sets traps for the others.

Pastor Young is a neat bad guy. He’s got the religion thing, bringing to mind the Priest (Nathan Fillion, Castle, Firefly) from the final season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He’s devoted to his mission. He has very loyal followers. He’s intelligent and has resources. His sneak attack on the supernatural residents of the town and everyone connected to them goes off quickly and easily, crippling a number of offenses.

But then he’s wasted, blowing himself and his group up. Is this a sign of just how intelligent he really is, knowing that making himself and his people martyrs, probably framing the vampires for the job, will be a huge influence, with tons of other rising up in his stead? Even so, considering how much he is able to accomplish in such a short time, isn’t it a little early for such a Hail Mary play? Why not keep him around for at least a few episodes? And does this mean that Carol and Liz can return to their jobs now?

Because Young is out of the game by the end of “Growing Pains,” it’s hard to tell just where that plot might go now. Yes, he will probably create a threat for the main characters that exists long after his death. But the nature of that threat is still a mystery.

Dealing with being a vampire will not be easy for Elena. We’ve already seen Caroline (Candice Accola) and Vicki (Kayla Ewell) go through the change with varying results, but Elena is even more central than they are, and THE VAMPIRE DIARIES intends to take its time exploring that. We get to see what she’s feeling, and in Elena fashion, she expresses the moral implications of this change.

However, unlike Caroline and Vicki, things should go pretty smoothly for her because she has something they didn’t have: Stefan. Stefan who is in love with her, and Elena has clearly chosen him. Being back in control of himself again, being free from evil influences, Stefan will do everything that he can to smooth her transition, and this should help immeasurably.

Elena does get a glimpse of how noble Damon (Ian Somerhalder) can be when she recovers a lost memory, but she still chooses Stefan, knowing that he is the one who respects her. Damon has blind devotion, but Stefan lets her make up her mind. That is important to anyone, and Stefan will be a kind mentor and partner who doesn’t force her to do anything that she doesn’t want to do. This represents a clear choice between the brothers, and truly for the first time, there can be little argument that Elena has made the right decision. Even Damon fans will have to see that now.

Finally, Klaus (Joseph Morgan) forces Bonnie to put him back in his body, leaving Tyler (Michael Trevino) alone. This comes too quickly and too easily, barely giving Klaus a partial scene to toy with Caroline, and wrapping up what could have been a long, interesting arc. Sure, this prevents Morgan from going to waste, but it really is regrettable that it plays out so swiftly.

Overall, a terrific start to another season. THE VAMPIRE DIARIES airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.

"1912" is a great year for The Vampire Diaries

This week's entry of the CW's The Vampire Diaries is called "1912." Sheriff Forbes (Marguerite MacIntyre) arrests Alaric (Matt Davis) for the serial killings happening in Mystic Falls. Elena (Nina Dobrev) is convinced that Dr. Fell (Torrey DeVitto, Pretty Little Liars, One Tree Hill) is the actual guilty party, so she and Matt (Zach Roerig) break into Dr. Fell's house to search for evidence. Damon (Ian Somerhalder) would also like to help Alaric, but becomes more concerned with Stefan (Paul Wesley), whose cold turkey method of quitting blood drinking is brewing trouble. Damon's memories of 1912 tie Stefan and the killings together via Sage (Cassidy Freeman, Smallville), an important vampire in the brothers' lives.

While flashbacks are important in the story of The Vampire Diaries, they haven't made for the best episodes. They reveal important milestones in the growth of who Stefan and Damon are, but are rarely exciting on their own. "1912" is a little different because of the addition of Sage, and the point in the personal history of the Salvaores that it chooses to show.

Damon and Stefan both struggle with the urge to drink human blood with varying degrees of success. Fans know that both have gone through differing periods where their personalities have changed. Stefan's issues stem from a tendency to swing to the extremes, whereas Damon, while complex, remains more consistently true to himself. However, that doesn't mean that Damon isn't capable of growth or regret. Feeling guilty for failing to stop Stefan's mistakes in the past, "1912" finds Damon stepping up, taking a proactive role to keep Stefan from having another freak out.

Sage is a mysterious lady, with her intentions for Mystic Falls remaining a mystery. She helps Damon see what feeding should be to vampires, and a way to do so without turning into the hunted monster of the town. But why she does so isn't clear, nor is what happens to her after her brief story in "1912." Luckily, she will be returning to present day events in The Vampire Diaries next week. It's lucky, because Freeman proved her skills as an actress in another CW series, especially in mixing threatening, sexy, and vulnerable, and it's wonderful to see her bring those talents to bear again.

There is also some great Damon / Rebekah (Claire Holt) interaction in "1912." He may treat her poorly, but there are indications that they could possibly have a real relationship, once Damon begins to get over Elena. Not saying they're going to get a happy ever after, but they could make a go of it for awhile.

In the present, much is made over the Gilbert tendency to go insane, not unlike Stefan, but through no fault of their own. Samantha Gilbert is the serial killer in "1912," so it's not without merit that one may begin to wonder if Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) has returned to town, and is behind the latest slaughters.

Alas, no. The Vampire Diaries has done a masterful job, yet again, of tossing in the unexpected twist. The latest being that Alaric really is the one responsible, and Dr. Fell is going to great lengths to help him. Which makes her a character very much worth having around, and hopefully, she will stay in town. Of course, why she didn't just come clean in the first place doesn't make a lot of sense. But still...

It's very possible that the fault lies in Alaric's ring, but will removing it stop him from killing? And no ring leaves Alaric highly vulnerable. The Vampire Diaries has a history of killing off any human who isn't supernatural or has major supernatural help. Alaric isn't as valuable to the Salvatores as Elena, so he could be screwed without that ring, unless he wants to hang up his vampire hunting ways forever. No matter how awesome it is to see Alaric getting some meaty screen time, it's not worth it if it takes him off of the show for good.

Most episodes of the series are terrific, but sometimes it is nice to slow down the action and let half the cast take a week off. This week's episode is the perfect example of that. "1912" is great because it takes the time to focus intimately on a couple of characters and plots, rather than trying to fit in everyone.

One will not want to miss what happens next! Watch The Vampire Diaries Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here to read every review of The Vampire Diaries I've ever written. To purchase The Vampire Diaries books, DVDs, or watch streaming episodes, please go here.

The Vampire Diaries - "As I Lay Dying"

     The CW's The Vampire Diaries did most of its blood shedding last week, killing off four characters, including poor Aunt Jenna (Sara Canning, who will be missed), an original series regular. So what was left for the season finale, "As I Lay Dying," last night? Instead of massive amounts of death, Damon (Ian Somerhalder) slowly grows weaker as the poison of the werewolf bite consumes him. His brother, Stefan (Paul Wesley), goes to evil original vampire/werewolf hybrid Klaus (Joseph Morgan), quite likely the most dangerous being on the planet, as Klaus's blood is the only thing that can cure Damon. But Klaus will only hand it over if Stefan gives up the restraint he has carefully constructed and go wild evil himself. It's a tough decision. Can Stefan save his brother knowing that the consequence may be Stefan will not be able to stop killing innocent humans?

     Long have viewers heard of the "evil" Stefan, who is a ruthless hunter, ripping out scores of throats of hapless victims. Never has he been seen. Klaus begins activating him by forcing Stefan to chug blood bag after blood bag, sparking the lust and powerful instincts within him. There is no telling if Stefan can come back from this. He has before, but it is unknown how. It is easy to believe Stefan is just playing along at first, knowing his limits. But to save Damon's life, Stefan may have passed what he can handle.

     At first, it is easy to believe that Stefan is just playing along with Klaus's game. He has to drink, or Klaus would stop humoring him completely But at some point, it must become more than Stefan can handle. How else to explain Stefan chasing down and killing an innocent human woman at the end of the episode? This is not a price the Stefan featured these past two seasons would deem acceptable. Yes, it is his brother's life on the line. But Stefan has always been a pacifist who would find another way. This is a sure sign that the blood has taken over, and a different Stefan has emerged.

     As for Damon, no surprise, he is healed. Damon is one of the "essentials" in The Vampire Diaries, and is in no way expendable. Katherine (Nina Dobrev) brings him Klaus's blood after she escapes Klaus. What is interesting is that Katherine goes to Damon at all, instead of selfishly fleeing. She obviously cares for him somewhat, a fact that has been in doubt for quite some time. It is unlikely Katherine is looking to stick around with Damon for any length of time, but she has some respect for his life, or she wouldn't even have taken the time to stop by.

     Elena (also Dobrev) cares for Damon while he's sick, and even kisses him as she believes he is dying, just before Katherine shows up. The show has always had some romantic tension between Elena and Damon, but this is the first time she has really allowed herself to return any of his affections. One wonders how involved Elena may get with Damon next season, as they will surely by looking for Stefan, spending long hours together, and the more she hears about what Stefan is doing now, the less she may want to see her boyfriend. His brother is sweeter.

     In "As I Lay Dying," an extremely important series of events occurred that will have long last effects on the entire cast of The Vampire Diaries, and has nothing to do with the Salvatore brothers or a Dobrev character, believe it or not. Sheriff Liz Forbes (Marguerite MacIntyre) aims her gun at Damon, but instead fatally shoots Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen). Bonnie (Katerina Graham) does a magical spell to bring Jeremy back, angering the witches and upsetting nature. Because the supernatural saves an innocent, Liz is able to begin to accept her vampire daughter, Caroline (Candice Accola). But Jeremy is soon visited by two dead ex-girlfriends: Vicki (original cast member Kayla Ewell) and Anna (Malese Jow).

     There is no telling what Vicki and Anna are or what they are doing here. Are they ghosts? Figments of Jeremy's mind? Can he now see the dead because he was dead and some part of his brain remains tuned into death? Will they just appear to him? Will others see them? Will they be nice or mean to Jeremy? Will they help or hurt people? Will others follow them? The questions are endless.

     Bonnie made the mess, and no matter why the girls have shown up, it is a mess. Seeing dead people is never a good sign in any story, The Vampire Diaries will be no different, and it is inconceivable that it will not have to be fixed. Bonnie has grown arrogant with the great power she now has. Will this be a turning point for her, when she realizes she needs to think about the consequences of her actions, instead of just doing whatever spell she feels is necessary in the moment?

     Liz has been determined to wipe out vampires in her town for a very long time. Her going soft on Caroline could have repercussions. As part of the Council, by now she has to have told others, most likely at least Carol Lockwood (Susan Walters), about Caroline, Stefan, and Damon. So will Liz be able to stand up for her daughter, when everything she has worked for her entire life has been against what her daughter has become? Can she fight against the people that were her co-conspirators in keeping the town safe? It's a very tough position to be in, but at least Caroline has opened Liz up to the fact that vampires are people, too. They are not all soulless, murdering monsters.

     Finally, Alaric (Matthew Davis) hasn't had a lot of self-driven plot as of late. With girlfriend Jenna dead, he seems to be offering Jeremy a father figure. Hopefully, we can look forward to some good development for the teacher slash warrior, who has proven with his large heart and loyalty he deserves a place in The Vampire Diaries.


     The Vampire Diaries has been renewed for a third season and will return to the CW in the fall.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

     To purchase The Vampire Diaries books, DVDs, or watch streaming episodes, please go to here.

Article first published as TV Review: The Vampire Diaries - "As I Lay Dying" on Blogcritics.

The Vampire Diaries has "The Last Dance"

     CW's The Vampire Diaries is a fantastic show. It has been having a wonderful year. The cast is great, plot twists come fast and heavy, the threat of death permanently hangs in the air, character growth continues, and twists abound. Yet, last night's episode, "The Last Dance," is definitely a weak point of the season and the series. SPOILER ALERT. If you have not seen last night's episode, do not read this until you do, unless you don't mind spoiled surprises.

     Elena (Nina Dobrev), who is afraid of Klaus (actor not yet seen), an elder vampire supposedly coming to kill her, decides its worth the risk to go to a school dance. This is before Klaus sends her a message that he is attending, and thus necessitates her presence, lest he harm others in her stead. It is easy to understand after she gets the message why she must go. But before that, why even consider taking such a dumb chance? She's certainly smarter than that. Once she gets to the dance, she actually dances, instead of remaining constantly vigilant for the extremely dangerous murderer lurking around. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

     Klaus does eventually reveal that he has taken over Alaric's (Matthew Davis) body. He forces a showdown between himself and Bonnie (Katerina Graham), a witch he knows has the power to kill him. From Klaus's perspective, this makes total sense. Force the witch to use too much power and die while taking out Alaric, and then the real Klaus is free to come into town and do whatever he wants without the threat of Bonnie interfering. From Bonnie's viewpoint, though, she obviously wants to stay alive so she can fight another day. She knows it would be a waste to die here and now.

     So Bonnie and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) come up with an 'ingenious' plan that Bonnie will cast a spell making it look like she is dead, and then Klaus will leave town thinking he has accomplished his goal. Though viewers are not let in on this plan until Bonnie 'awakes from the dead' later, it's very clear that she is smarter than to waste her life on such a foolish feat. Thus, all of the tenseness is taken out of the equation, and it's hard to believe for even a second that she has bitten the dust. So why does Klaus believe it? Is his ego really that huge? Is he so arrogant to believe he has won so easily? If so, he isn't as much of a scary danger, as he has been made out to be, as he carries a huge vulnerability.

     The episode isn't all bad. Damon once more shows that he chooses Elena over anyone else. He is willing to let Bonnie die to save Elena's life, and it is the reason he can sell the Bonnie trick so easily. More and more of Damon's soft heart keeps coming out, and it's almost to the point where one can root for Damon in getting a little of Elena's affection. He is willing to let Bonnie die, but he doesn't want to. He wants to protect the entire little band as much as possible, just prioritizing Elena first.

     Elena is stuck in a very delicate position. She knows that some of her friends may soon die in order to save her. Sure, there is more at stake than just Elena's life, but she is just as willing to sacrifice herself to save the day as anyone else is. Which is probably why she takes the dagger out of Elijah (Daniel Gillies) at the end of the episode. Elijah is dangerous, but Klaus is more so. True, she should have told someone so that she has protection from Elijah, but anyone strong enough to protect her would also have stopped her, so of course she has to go into the dungeon alone.

     Where has Jenna (Sara Canning) gone? She left angry at the end of last week's episode, upset that Alaric and Elena have been lying to her. She seems on the verge of being brought in on the secret world, unless she is killed first. But now that she's become interesting and involved, her presence is sorely missed in this episode, and wonder is sparked about what exactly she is up to.

     How will Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) contribute to the upcoming showdown with Klaus? While he has no natural supernatural abilities, just a ring that keeps him alive, it is certain that he will be a part of any big confrontation. And what's more, he's finally strong enough to lend a helping hand in some way, even if that way isn't completely obvious yet. The way he hides with Bonnie is incredibly sweet and noble.

     Right now, the biggest unknown seems to be what Matt (Zach Roerig) has told Sheriff Liz Forbes (Marguerite MacIntyre). It looks like Liz now knows that her daughter Caroline (Candice Accola) is a vampire, but has not said anything to her about it. She also knows the M.I.A. Tyler (Michael Trevino) is a werewolf. But has Matt told her about Damon, Stefan (Paul Wesley), Bonnie, or anyone else? What Liz knows will determine if she continues to trust Damon, or what the town council will do. Which means she could interfere at an inopportune time, either hurting the good guys or herself in the process. Liz's reaction has been very different than the first time Caroline was outed to her (Liz's memory is wiped of that incident), so it's very curious what her plan is now.

     The Vampire Diaries continues its second season Thursday nights at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.

Article first published as TV Review: The Vampire Diaries - "The Last Dance" on Blogcritics.


For frequent mini-reviews and occasional TV news, follow Jerome on Twitter.