Blu-ray Review: 'The Vampire Diaries - The Complete Series'

Article first published as "Blu-ray Review: 'The Vampire Diaries - The Complete Series" on Blogcritics.

The CW, once a struggling also-ran broadcast channel, though still lower than its peers in the ratings, has established itself pretty firmly as a network this past decade or so. One of the series instrumental in building that brand was The Vampire Diaries. Throughout its eight years, it mixed soapy teen angst with a supernatural fun ride. These are the two primary genres that the CW has become known for. This melding of story is not unusual right now in pop culture, but rarely is it done as well as it is here. You can see what I mean as The Vampire Diaries – The Complete Series is now available on Blu-ray and DVD.

Love Triangle

The Vampire Diaries began as a love triangle between two brothers and a girl. Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) was the ‘good’ guy and the obvious choice. Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder) was the brooding bad boy. The Salvatores were vampires, so of course they’d done horrible, murderous things. But Stefan was sorry for them, while Damon seemed completely unapologetic. Elena Gilbert’s (Nina Dobrev) choice was clear, right?

Of course not. As the series went on, layers of complexities were added to all three that muddy the waters. Sometimes it was predictable, the show firmly playing to tropes and familiar conceits. But other times, it found its own unique footing, and had some surprises. Over the course of eight years, the relationships between all three were explored in-depth, and romance was merely one facet of a messy grouping.

Fleshing Out the World

The Vampire Diaries wasn’t just about three people, though. Magic, witches, doppelgangers, family and local history, and werewolves were just some of the elements added as the program went on. Dobrev also played the role of Katherine Pierce, a vampire the Salvatore brothers had history with. Among the main cast members were Bonnie Bennett (Kat Graham), whom found power within herself, Tyler Lockwood (Michael Trevino), who became a furry beast, and Alaric Saltzman (Matthew Davis), a teacher and historian.

Some of the characters seemed to be a stereotype, but went through major growth arcs. For instance, Caroline Forbes (Candice King) was just the pretty, popular girl at first. Then she hooked up with the wrong guy and became much more interesting. Matt Donovan (Zach Reorig) was the safe, nice guy who stayed away from the supernatural for the longest time, but eventually found his place in the crazy. Ancient, ‘original’ vampires like Klaus Mikaelson (Joseph Morgan) seemed very mysterious at first, but eventually were fleshed out and went over to their own spin-off.

So The Vampire Diaries may have seemed relatively familiar in makeup at the start, but with the longevity of the series, it had the freedom to go quite a bit further, and it did.

The Blu-ray Release

All eight seasons are packaged in this latest set, on shelves just in time for the holidays. Inside the outer shell, a tasteful design featuring most of the show’s longest-serving leads, there are separate sets with the artwork used when first marketing each season, though the cases are uniform. The appearance is pleasing and looks like it was just put together.

Start opening them up, though, and it’s clear that the older releases were just boxed together. For example, season one contains an insert for The Secret Circle ‘Thursdays this fall.’ That was a short-lived series from many years ago. That in of itself isn’t much of an annoyance, but the fact that only two of the eight seasons contain codes for digital copies is. There are a plethora of bonus features, the same ones previously available, seemingly nothing new added for the incarnation.

The Verdict

The Vampire Diaries was an excellent show, this is a good looking set, and there’s a lot here. The episodes alone will keep you busy for months. Add the extra features, and you’ve got an extensive collection. The disappointing thing is that they didn’t include digital copies for all the seasons. And there is nothing new to make this set worth it if you already own most of the seasons. I do recommend getting The Vampire Diaries. But I only recommend The Complete Series if whatever seasons you don’t already own price at more than this package. Hopefully, one day we’ll get a more retrospective set; this one is just to complete your collection of episodes.

The Vampire Diaries – The Complete Series is available now.

"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 says goodbye to "The Departed"

CW's The Vampire Diaries ends its season with "The Departed." Big bad vampire vampire hunter Alaric (Matt Davis) resists the others' attempts to fool him, and locates Klaus (Joseph Morgan). With the Original who turned the entire main cast of vampires staked, everyone awaits their deaths, and begins saying goodbye. This is surely the series finale, right?

Not so fast. With the popularity of The Vampire Diaries, it's hard to ever build suspense over whether Stefan (Paul Wesley) and / or Damon (Ian Somerhalder) might die. They won't. Tyler (Michael Trevino), sure, and maybe even Caroline (Candice Accola), but never the brothers. Which means that either Klaus lied about creating their bloodline, or he isn't really dead.

Spoiler alert! It's the latter. But what is really shocking is how he manages to survive. That really is Klaus's body that Alaric stakes, but clever Bonnie (Kat Graham) transfers Klaus's essence into Tyler's body. So it appears that actor Morgan is gone, but the character remains. What an interesting and unexpected way to go!

Tyler is likely chosen because of his bond to Klaus. After all, Bonnie wouldn't do that to one of her friends if she had much of a choice, would she? She allows Klaus to hijack Tyler's body because it saves the life of Caroline and her own mother, primarily. Does it also save Tyler? Is he still aware in there somewhere? Will Bonnie be moving Klaus to a new host? This particular plot point provides much more mystery than anything, and the rules about this transference are not at all known. What is probable is that Klaus is not lying about the bloodline, so he must stay alive somehow in order to keep the main characters breathing.

As Tyler writhes in pain in front of Caroline, one may be forgiven for assuming he's dying. The whole sequence is built very well, to provide maximum ramp up. But there's also a sneaking suspicion that, perhaps by turning into a werewolf, he can somehow avoid the death. It's a very touching moment when Caroline and Tyler must say goodbye, one of the best scenes yet for these two performers. The delight that the characters live on erases any cheapening that might happen because the goodbye is premature.

It is likely that Klaus won't want to leave Tyler's body anytime soon. After all, he is in love with Caroline, and Caroline loves Tyler. It's hard to imagine that Bonnie won't spill the beans, rather than watch Caroline be fooled. Unless Klaus holds some sort of threat over Bonnie, which also seems pretty likely, given his track record.

The simple fact of the matter, though, is that The Vampire Diaries has killed off so many main characters, they can't kill off many more without gutting the cast. Last season's finale is a bloodbath, but "The Departed" can't afford to be. Alaric is permanently dead, sadly, and gets a very sweet goodbye with Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen), though Jeremy is more upset about someone else at the time. But that's it. Though how cool would it be if Alaric could become Jeremy's permanent ghost companion, thus keeping the actor in the series? Alas, that does not appear to be the path that The Vampire Diaries is choosing.

Jeremy and Matt (Zach Roerig) step up to the plate in "The Departed." As Elena's (Nina Dobrev) only human friends left, they decide that they need to remove her from this crazy vampire war, so they drug her and sneak her away in the night. These two have contributed to the good fight before, but somehow this seems more heroic than past deeds. It might be sneaky, but Elena needs protection, and they strive to offer it. Sadly, they fail, as Rebekah (Claire Holt) succeeds in killing Elena, thus removing Alaric's threat towards herself.

Elena is now a vampire! This may just be the biggest twist The Vampire Diaries has ever embarked upon. Watching Elena die is completely unfathomable, and fans wait with baited breath for the other shoe to drop. But to make her a vampire, despite the precedence set by Twlight (and possibly The Vampire Diaries books?), it's still hard to see coming. This will change her life and her character forever. Now, at least everyone can stop whining about protecting her!

What will Elena's transformation mean for her? For one, she will have increased appetites. This just might make her rethink her decision about which Salvatore brother to love. See, earlier in "The Departed," when Elena believes both Stefan and Damon are dying, she asks Matt to take her to Stefan. This is a very clear choice, one made, in part, she claims, because she meets Stefan first.

But Elena did not meet Stefan first. She met Damon, and he (kindly?) erased her memory of the encounter. Being a vampire now, this memory will come back. Also, Stefan saves Matt, leaving Elena to die. Yes, this is Elena's choice, as she signals frantically for Stefan to do so. But might she also hold some sort of grudge that Stefan didn't manage to dive back into the lake and save her, too? Plus, Stefan has vampire strength. After he frees Matt, couldn't he pull Elena out, too, and take them both to the surface at once?

Really, Elena's new self is a total game changer in her relationship with both Damon and Stefan. And without yet seeing this new vampire Elena, which is only glimpsed in "The Departed," it is impossible to predict in what ways the game is going to change. Arguments can be made for her to fall for each brother, depending on which way the writers decide to go with her personality, and how she is affected by this.

Also, it must be said that Damon watching Alaric die, knowing that it means Elena is dying, too, is truly wrenching. Never has Damon been exposed so raw, and Somerhalder really sells the scene. What a triumph for the show!

Huge episode! The Vampire Diaries is known for delivering, and "The Departed" exceeds expectations! Thank goodness it has already been renewed, and will return to the CW next fall!

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.

"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 celebrates "The Birthday"

     The CW's The Vampire Diaries just happens to begin its third season on Elena's (Nina Dobrev) 18th birthday, hence the title of the episode, "The Birthday." Caroline (Candice Accola) throws Elena an unwanted party, and ends up hooking up there with Tyler (Michael Trevino). Too bad Tyler's mother, Carol (Susan Walters), shoots Caroline with tranquilizers as she tries to sneak out post-relations. Elena doesn't enjoy her party because she's concerned with the still MIA Stefan (Paul Wesley). She's not too happy to learn Damon (Ian Somerhalder) has been secretly tracking Stefan... or rather, the path of bloody bodies Stefan is leaving.

     What may be most shocking about "The Birthday" is that Stefan's actions don't feel so surprising. He's a vampire who is good in every episode of the past two seasons, but going bad suits him. It might help that The Vampire Diaries doesn't actually choose to show Stefan's brutality towards innocent humans on screen very much, saving the torture for a new werewolf named Ray Sutton (David Gallagher, Seventh Heaven). Telling us that Stefan rips bodies apart and puts them back together instead of showing it almost makes it seem untrue. A few tortured glances, and an anonymous phone call to Elena, show that the Stefan that fans love is still in there, so it's not as big a deal as one might think.

     Oh, except for when he kills Damon's "girlfriend" right in front of his brother. That's pretty wicked, and not at all expected of the "nice guy."

     Damon's actions are understandable, as despite being more of a jerk than Stefan, usually, he is a very honest character. What you see is what you get. He has been hiding what Stefan is doing from Elena because he doesn't want to see Elena hurt. Damon genuinely cares for Elena, no matter what he says, and the kiss they share last season makes him act a little more kindly towards her. He probably doesn't really expect to win Elena as a romantic partner anytime soon, but he does want to protect her, and he would like to be with her. Both of those things motivate him to only tell Alaric (Matt Davis) what is going on.

     What is going on, exactly? All that is known for sure is that Klaus (Joseph Morgan) wants to make more of his own kind. Roy becomes the first, presumably, since Klaus feeds Roy his blood, then snaps his neck. By next week's episode, Roy should be the newest vampire / werewolf hybrid on The Vampire Diaries. Whether such a "gift" will win Roy over as an ally, and spur him to lead Klaus and Stefan to his pack, remains to be seen. What Klaus plans on doing with his creations, possibly an army, also remains a mystery thus far.

     As for Elena, it's hard to know what she will do. She seems a bit desperate in "The Birthday," trying to be happy, and also holding out hope for Stefan. She is somewhat warm towards Damon until she discovers the secret he is keeping from her, but still holds her heart for Stefan. Will she blame Damon, the messenger? Will she be able to forgive Stefan? Either is possible, and both are hinted as likely. But it would certainly help her if Alaric didn't move off of her couch, as she seems to need someone else around, and when her friends and family keep dying, the possible list of companions is short.

     Caroline and Tyler are breaking some sort of serious vampire / werewolf hate pact with their sexual dalliance in "The Birthday." Yet, the chemistry between the two, building for awhile now, is strong. This must mean that the hatred between the species is a learned behavior, not the way things must be. That's good news for the happy couple, but bad news for the townspeople who think werewolves are OK, but vampires are evil. Of which Carol must be among the group. Tyler cares enough for Caroline that he will probably defend her from his mother, if he learns what is happening on The Vampire Diaries.

     Which might not be the case. After all, Tyler is sound asleep when Carol assaults Caroline. Since Carol is never involved in the town's anti-vampire stuff, it's kind of unexpected that she takes this action, and definitely knows what Caroline is. What she will do with Caroline is certainly a question left hanging.

     It's a shame, because that sex scene between Tyler and Caroline is all sorts of hot. Tyler needs to get back, immediately! After all, where else will he and she satisfy their "super horny" supernatural urges?

     As obvious from last year's finale, Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) continues to see dead people. Namely, former love interests Vicki (Kayla Ewell) and Anna (Malese Jow). Is it happening more now because Bonnie (Kat Graham) is out of town, or does that just give Jeremy more time to dwell on it? Either way, it's enough to keep Jeremy's mind off of his dead aunt, and on to more immediate concerns. Hopefully, the horrors won't drive him back into the hard drugs; he already indulges in a little pot in "The Birthday." But there is hope when he finds a brand new buddy to bond with over the whole thing: Matt (Zach Roerig).

     Matt still misses Vicki, his sister, and with the whole supernatural world of The Vampire Diaries only recently visible to him, he surely has lots of questions. Elena is busy, and while there are still some unresolved issues with Caroline, he doesn't want to be around her much right now, understandably. So he finds his way to Jeremy, providing a pairing the series hasn't tried up til now. Considering they are two of the few humans left in the cast, it makes sense. With Matt entering this world with an angry revelation, maybe Jeremy can ease him into things a bit more gently. If Matt doesn't die first, since at this moment, Matt seems the most expendable main character left.


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

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

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

Article first published as TV Review: The Vampire Diaries - "The Birthday" 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.


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The Vampire Diaries Invites in "The House Guest"

     The CW's The Vampire Diaries is taking about six weeks off, as many shows do at this time of year. As such, the series decided to make sure they went out with a bang before their break, and did they ever deliver! Unexpected deaths, secrets revealed, relationship pathos, a singing vampire, and a surprise at the end that perhaps no one saw coming. Oh my!

     While much of the last weeks have been spent dealing with Elijah (Daniel Gillies) and his witch minions, Jonas (Randy J. Goodwin) and son Luka (Bryton James, The Young and the Restless, Family Matters), those three now appear to be out of play, at least two permanently. Elijah is dispatched by a special dagger. Jonas and Luka show some really neat, previously unknown to us viewers, magic, as Luka somehow invisibly manifests himself in the Salvatore house to remove the dagger from Elijah and bring him back to life. Katherine (Nina Dobrev) sees the dagger moving and calls for Damon (Ian Somerhalder), who, even though he doesn't know who the unseen assailant is, fries Luka to a crisp. Jonas then goes on a revenge kick, stirring up all kinds of trouble at The Grill, before Katherine and Stefan (Paul Wesley) permanently take him out of the game in Elena's (also Dobrev) bathroom.

     Luka and Jonas are just the latest non-villains to check in to town and meet their demise. Previously, Rose (Lauren Cohan) similarly died. Whereas Rose's death, though, is not the fault of our band of heroes, Jonas and Luka's somewhat are. It's sad, really. They are sympathetic men. If only they had agreed to help Stefan, as he asked. It really pounds home the point that what is going on is some dangerous stuff. Magic and supernatural creatures are often portrayed as tame on the series, especially the main characters, but flashes of danger and death belay that conclusion. While Jonas's death is really his own fault, his motivation to save his daughter is pure, as proven by his final gift to Bonnie (Katerina Graham). As such, it is hard to blame him for what he does. I am really anxious to see how Jonas's daughter will take the news, and will she turn on the people that will surely rescue her after she learns of their part in her family's death?

     Luka and Jonas, along with Katherine's actions in this episode, also demonstrate complicated characters. The Vampire Diaries prefers shades of gray to black and white heroes and villains, and they are the latest good example of this characteristic. Damon, of course, has always struggled to balance his dark and light sides. But seeing the people that Damon, Stefan, and Elena fight against being portrayed as not necessarily bad guys, too, makes the story so much more intriguing. I look for Klaus, the forthcoming big bad of the season, to be a little more on the villainous side, but we'll have to wait and see.

     Katherine becomes even more mysterious this week, willingly assisting Stefan and Damon in the take down of the male witches, as well as helping in the research that will allow them to kill Klaus. This seems out of character for her, as she often tries to kill the brothers and their friends. I'm not the only one who thinks so, as Damon also finds her behavior strange. Why Katherine is being friendly is not revealed this week, but there is surely a selfish bend to her actions. Katherine has been shown over and over again to care only about Katherine. Surely, she cannot be trusted in any life and death confrontation.

     Even more interesting, Katherine decides to make a move on Damon, and Damon rejects her. Damon is in love with Katherine, and has been since they met. Does this mean he is getting over those feelings? I find that doubtful. I think Damon is trying to protect his heart, knowing he cannot trust Katherine. As such, if she continues to be helpful and continues to show an interest in him, I think Damon will eventually act on his feelings for her. I also think this would make a great arc, and would like to see the Salvatore brothers each dating a woman who looks exactly the same as his brother's girlfriend. Do I dare to hope this is what will happen? Of course, Katherine surely is just trying to get in good with at least one one of the group before betraying them all.

     I think the only moment that felt fairly unauthentic this week was when Bonnie asks Elena's permission to date her brother, Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen). Elena's reaction is just plain weird. It looks like the director purposely has her make a face that doesn't seem to indicate she is OK with the situation to build false suspense Seconds later, her blessing seems totally sincere. The two do not match up, and Elena would never keep Bonnie squirming just to torment her. It wasn't the reaction that Elena should have had. Yes, Elena would have conflicting emotions when presented with this arrangement, but it was just so poorly done, in my opinion, which seemed out of step with the usually great execution in the show.

     Bonnie and Jeremy themselves are a little strange. Bonnie is definitely weirded out when she first starts to feel something more than a basic fondness for her best friend's younger brother. While Jeremy is gung-ho immediately, it takes Bonnie longer to warm up. I really like them together, and have enjoyed seeing this natural, organic relationship rise up between them. Any hesitations are beginning to fade away, but not too fast. This was not a plot I was on board with originally, but it has been done in such a way I find it hard to complain. Quite nice.

     Almost every person important to the story now knows what is going on in Mystic Falls. This week, Alaric (Matthew Davis) asks Elena to consider telling her Aunt Jenna (Sara Canning) about the vampires and such, though Elena has yet to make a decision. Alaric doesn't feel like he can have a true relationship with Jenna until he can be honest with her, which is understandable. I kept expecting Elena to invite Jenna in to talk to all of her friends and fill her in on the family secrets, but she never does. It's a shame, as Jenna is in constant danger from the threats, and I really feel she could better handle herself if she knew what she was up against.

     However, I find it likely that the choice has been made for Elena with the surprise visit from Isobel (Mia Kirshner, The L Word) at the end of the episode. Isobel is Alaric's ex-wife, who he tells Jenna is dead. Plus Isobel is Elena's biological mother. I find it highly unlikely that whatever reason Isobel came to town can be disguised from Jenna after such a blatant confrontation. Jenna has already been asking questions after Uncle John (David Anders) drops cryptic hints. I do not see it likely that Jenna will take simple answers and let the subject drop. I'm excited! Jenna will totally be a wild card in the mix, if she survives the season.

     Besides Jenna, Mystic Falls's other character in the dark is Matt (Zach Roerig). It's been a big issue that has kept Caroline (Candice Accola) away from him. She worries about trying to carry on a relationship with someone now that she is a vampire. Yet, she can't bring herself to stay apart from Matt. Caroline sings a declaration of love to him that was a high point of the episode. Accola has a voice! Minutes later, though, Matt is lying on the floor bleeding to death and Caroline must use her blood to save him, though he did not die fully, and thus did not become a vampire himself.

     I thought that Matt was the next death, and I was kind of excited that he should die just after reconnecting with Caroline, but also while still being in the dark about so much. He has become a little boring, written into the corner he is in. However, that all changes in an instant. To say that Matt reacts badly is a massive understatement. He immediately connects vampires to his sister Vicki's (Kayla Ewell) demise last year, perhaps even a little too quickly, as if he has already suspected something along these lines. Just like that, a plot I thought was long over is brought back to life with a vengeance, and sets Matt up to have an exciting spring as he learns hidden details and puts pieces together. How will he react once he hears the whole story? I honestly have no idea. I also worry that he, like Jenna, may not live to see season three.

     Who will indeed live? And where has Tyler (Michael Trevino) gone? Be sure to catch The Vampire Diaries when it returns to the CW on April 7th. The series airs Thursday nights at 8 p.m.



Article first published as TV Review: The Vampire Diaries Invites In "The House Guest" on Blogcritics.

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