The Vampire Diaries 5x18 "Resident Evil"

Ugh. This hurts me.

BEWARE: THIS REACTION IS PRO-STELENA AND KIND OF RANTY. 

The internal struggle: do I hate this show? Or do I love it as a whole despite all the little things I hate? I started this episode knowing it would be soul-crushing. I am a Stelena shipper; I will always be a Stelena shipper. I can't really see them ever getting back together, so it was nice to have one episode with some alternative reality fluff. They are actually so cute it makes me want to throw up, and Damon and Elena annoy me so much that it makes me want to throw up. I'm sorry that I'm so biased in my reactions of this show, I just think that Stefan and Elena are much better suited for each other and this constant recall of how things could've been if Stefan and Elena were "normal" is painful. What hurts the most is how upset these two were when the visions ended; everything about them was perfect. All they've ever wanted was to be normal and in love. Why wouldn't they give it another shot in real life? As Stefan said, when they were together, they were really happy.
I'm so glad that "universe" theory has been debunked, though. That was a load of crap.
Here's what I absolutely hated: Stefan told Elena, "I think you can either be friends with someone or in love with them, I don't think you can be both." I call bullshit on that one. I think the main criteria for being in love with someone is that you consider them your best friend. Yeah, maybe when you break up, the friendship becomes awkward, but I don't think either of those things just stop. I don't think Stefan is over Elena, and he's mature enough to be her friend. As usual, the nice guy finishes last. Yeah, he was a deadly ripper for 100 or so years but I feel like he's made up or that at this point.

While this season as a whole is slightly better than last season, it's possible that the traveler storyline is worse than the cure storyline. When Damon feigned that yawn while Markos was talking, he represented the entire TVD audience. At least every character is being utilized, though--maybe I'm alone here but I really like Tyler, and I hate it when he's randomly gone for 10 episodes. For some reason he's always turned into some sort of villain, but I suppose that's better than nothing. Also, how many times does Matt have to die before that ring stops working? Because I'm pretty sure he dies every other episode.

I'm ready for the season finale and we haven't even been introduced to the main conflict or the season climax. I'm sorry I'm just ready for a new storyline. I don't like Markos; he is not a lovable villain. I miss Silas. Speaking of Silas, Paul Wesley did a pretty good job with his directorial debut. I feel like it's totally obvious that he hates his job and the scripts so they let him direct an episode in an effort to keep him content. Don't bite the hand that feeds you, Paul! 

Here's the promo for next week. It focuses on Enzo's relatively boring search for Maggie: 

The Vampire Diaries 5x17 "Rescue Me"

Why does crazy sh*t always have to go down in junk yards?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but tonight for the first time in a long time, I felt like TVD has developed a clear direction for all of it's characters. For the longest time I felt like Bonnie, Jeremy, Tyler, and Matt were just hanging around doing nothing, but with the addition of Luke, Liv, and this traveler storyline, all characters who previously just hung out in the background seem to be actually getting a storyline with some relevancy. I actually don't love this traveler storyline though...it's real shady and confusing...I guess they needed Stefan and Elena's blood to bring back Markos, but who is Markos and why does "the universe" revolve around Stefan and Elena's blood. I assume we'll be getting some more answers soon, but I don't mind the weirdness of the travelers because anything is better than that cure storyline last season, and with Katherine gone (RIP), maybe we can finally get into some new stuff as opposed to recycling the old.
Let's talk about Tom. Sweet, sweet Tom. He was Stefan, but with less angst, a medical license, a love for waffles, and flat hair. Of course Caroline had a hard time killing him. He was completely innocent. And very much like Stefan (I don't think I realized the extent of her feelings for him until tonight...more on that later), so Enzo had to do it. At least it was quick and painless. Now, as far as we know, Stefan and Elena are the only living doppelgangers...which is just what the travelers wanted. Again, don't ask me why.
Now onto the horn-dogs who almost did it in a school so the moms with minivans could hear them (that was kinda hot but mostly weird), Damon and Elena's sexual tension was through the roof on the show tonight. That's how it always is though, when they know it's wrong but can't help the attraction. Anyway, at least they are both acknowledging that they have a volatile relationship. They just need to work on themselves and then maybe they can have a healthy relationship (when the show is over and Julie Plec doesn't use their sexual tension as a plot device weekly). Now to a purer love, the writers really threw Steroline in our faces this week like "here catch! You WILL accept them as a couple" and I guess I caught because when they were snuggling at the end of the episode I was giggling. Also, just the way Caroline was looking at Stefan (and Tom!), gurl has some feelings! Romantic stylez (please get this reference). I mean, it would make sense that the two best characters on the show got together. I just wonder if they actually will, or if this is just a little detour off the Elena highway (that's a bad metaphor).
Overall, an enjoyable episode, but next week it looks like all of us Stelena fans (yes I'm liking Steroline, but I will always love Stelena) are gonna have our hearts ripped out when Stefan and Elena both dream about how their life together could've been (I'm guessing it's a doppelganger thing) and it's directed by dreamboat Paul Wesley! Here's the promo:

The Vampire Diaries 5x16 "While You Were Sleeping"

*sorry this is so late!

Let me start by saying that Nina Dobrev is a sneakily great actress. When I say sneakily I mean that this is the CW and the storylines are mostly silly but she can breakdown better than most, and I'm always pleasantly surprised whenever she gives a good performance. Not to mention Elena and Katherine truly seemed like they were like two separate people...kudos to you, Dobrev!

Elena told Damon she looked terrible here, and I haven't ever looked this good.

Moving on. Blah, blah, blah. I don't even know. I don't have too much to say about this episode.
At least Elena was bothered that no one noticed how weird she was acting (or Katherine) these people have known her for so long...they should've figured out sooner that she was acting weird. I really enjoyed her finding Katherine's journal and her reactions to reading it--including her hallucination in the hotel with Stefan. At this point I think I need to let go of Stelena...it looks like hallucinations are us Stelena fans (I think there are like, 5 of us) are gonna get anymore.

Which brings me to Delena. The fight they had at the end of the episode was great because it was all true. They do have a toxic relationship. She kinda brings out some good in him (until she hurts his feelings) but he brings out the worst in her. They have an unhealthy effect on each other. But the sexual attraction/ Delena fandom is too strong, so I'm sure they'll work all this out and actually have sex while in the relationship.

So, Stefan has another Doppelganger. That is just great. I'm being serious it's great: it makes total sense because Elena exists so there should be a Silas doppelganger around her age and also I will take as much Paul Wesley on my screen as I can, thank you very much. He is a work of art...sculpted by the gods (let me stop drooling on my keyboard). And how fitting that he's a doctor or EMT or something in Atlanta, because Stefan wanted to be a doctor when he was human!
Enzo and Caroline have headed down to Atlanta to take baby Stefan out for the travelers but I have a theory....
So we have all of these Steroline shippers, right? I don't think (at least for the time being) the writers are putting those two together; they're better as friends. But what if Caroline meets baby Stefan in Atlanta and they hook up? Then she doesn't want to kill him, and maybe that's how Markos comes into the picture? Just theories.

Other notes:

• Liv is sketchy. I KNEW IT. 
• Maybe Jeremy and Matt can just get there own Supernatural-style spinoff? (JK I HATE SPINOFFS) because these two have no life purpose other than being used as live bait.

The Vampire Diaries 5x15 "Gone Girl"

So I think tonight was proof that The Vampire Diaries is still capable of producing a good episode. I laughed (a little bit), I cried, and I gasped on more than one occasion.

Queen Katherine has arrived (for the last time).

I feel like I have to start with Katherine; not only was she the center of this episode, she has been a driving force of the entire series. It's crazy that she is officially dead now (or will she be back in some capacity?). While The Vampire Diaries can be predictable, simple, and kinda trashy at times, Katherine was a very complex character--her last scene with Nadia brought me to tears (the werewolf bites always get me!). When she said, "I'm here to see my daughter" and we saw everyone move out of the way for her I got chills. I really liked how she addressed each character too; she really did affect all of their lives, and not necessarily negatively, so I appreciate that the writers paid tribute to that. And of course Stefan was the one to finally kill her--that's the way it had to be. How poetic that the one person she loved more than anything, the person that drove her to do so many terrible things, was the one to kill her? Also, I wasn't expecting it, but I'm not surprised that Katherine injected "Elena" with the ripper virus; it's so diabolical...so Katherine, but you know they'll fix whatever's wrong with her. What I was truly shocked about was the ending--Katherine is too evil for the other side? I thought all supernatural beings went to the other side! Where did Silas go? He was worse than her. Why have we not heard about this before--is she actually going to hell? Or like a special supernatural hell like that demon dimension Angel was sucked into on Buffy?! I really hope we learn more about this. I'm way more interested in this than the whole Augustine thing, because I know Elena and Damon will be fine. We don't know where Katherine really went...and the effects and direction of that scene were really awesome!

Moving on...

Caroline and Tyler: I still ship them. I know almost nobody else does, but I just can't forget how much they helped each other in season two. They have both been through so much and they have both made mistakes. I like Tyler more when he's with Caroline; if he needs anything it's a constant ray of sunshine and someone to call him out when he's being a douchebag, and Caroline is the only one who can do both of those things for him. Also, I don't like Klaus as much as everyone else. Sorry. He's got his own show anyway.

Matt (and Nadia): I liked Nadia. And I liked Nadia with Matt. Poor human Matty Blue Eyes. He keeps losing people. Then again, the way he took Nadia to bury her by himself makes me think that something else is up. Because something else is always up in Mystic Falls.

Jeremy and Bonnie: These two have the most miniscule purpose on this show. Jeremy exists solely because if he died Elena would go full on psycho again, and Bonnie is only relevant when witchcraft is involved. Still, as long as they don't mind only being in every fifth episode, I don't mind either. They're pretty.

Damon and Stefan and Elena: Damon killed Maxfield, and by pulling out his heart and gauging out his eyeball...icky! But I guess he kinda deserved it. The only problem now is that Damon's impulses have now screwed him AND Elena over. I think now Stefan has enough participants to start his own ripper camp.

The Vampire Diaries 5x14 "No Exit"

Hey Damon is Stefan checking me out right now?

No disrespect to TVFanatic, I love it, I read basically all of their episode reviews, but I am always surprised at how harshly they review TVD every week. Maybe it's just because it started out SO great and now it has gotten pretty repetitive, but once you let go of the fact that this is isn't a highly cerebral show--it's pretty predictable at this point--you can just pick out what you like and enjoy each episode for what it is: hot vamps running around and making out and getting into trouble.

Yes, season five is "crap" compared to seasons 1-3 (but better than season four in my opinion), but I am invested in all of these characters now and will keep watching until the end. Unless they kill off Stefan...which they will never do...but if they did...I'd be done.

For my last review I did the good and the bad, for this review, I am going to post the hilarious texts my best friend sent me throughout the episode. I agree with most of these statements and I will add my two-sense in purple: 
 
-Katherinelena's [this is genius] hair is getting curlier, how doesn't Stefan see this as a sign? It's because every atom in his body is igniting with his love for Elena again and he's feeling distracted. My poor baby Stefan. Let me love you!

-It's so obvious that she's hitting on him "let's get a hotel room..." In the middle of the day because you're greasy? That's not economically resonable! I still don't understand how all vampires have an endless amount of money. Like, it's gotta run out at some point right? ps: scheming Katherinelena is just hilarious. 

Chains can't contain this rippah's sprirt! *sarcasm*

This is the most awkward makeout music oh my gosh. Don't even get me started. This scene could've been so hot but it was just cheesy and awkward because 1. porno music 2. it was just poorly directed. That raw Dobsley chemistry can only help a stupid scene so much.

But also haha Katherine no sex for you tonight/ Poor Stefan, again, his emotions are being toyed with. 

Her plan to get Stefan to kill Damon to save Elena? First off I wouldn't hate that, I'm starting to not love Damon anyway. Doesn't matter though because Stefan would TOTAALLY choose Damon over Elena. I agree, bros before hoes (literally Katherine is a hoe)...this was a good plan in theory though...but Katherinelena thinks to highly of herself. 

I think Katherine's spawn has another plan--I don't think she's just in it for some motherly bonding. I think she's just looking for love in all the wrong places. I'm curious to see if Katherine will try to help her with her werewolf bite. 

HE'D RATHER SACRIFICE HIMSELF THAN LOSE DAMON OR ELENA I LOVE STEFAN I love that you love Stefan now! And yes this was smart of Stefan...but how did they get him out of the house??

The last season and a half has brought me closer and closer to Stelena. This comes from a girl who

We've been busy canoodling

consistently had her computer background as a picture of Delena. Welcome to the light.

I would never date anyone that killed [her brother] TWICE ugh. This is some good logic. I get that Damon is very troubled, but how many times can you forgive a guy for doing totally unforgivable things? Come on, Elena. 

Damn, Damon is smart (he just said that "Elena" wanted Stefan to kill him) maybe if he wakes up and realizes Elena doesn't think the worst of him he'll realize we got an invasion of the body snatchers on our hands here. Yeah, it's gotta be hard to see "the love of your life" trying to get you killed. Also, how long will those chains last? Is Damon gonna keep drinking from vamps? Are we gonna get a cute brotherly montage of Stefan teaching Damon to be a rippah?? 

THERE WE GO STEFAN WELCOME TO THE PARTY (various party emojis) hopefully he wasn't too far down the 'feelings for Elena' rabbit hole.

Side note I love love love whenever Stefan and Caroline sit around and talk and figure shit out. They're becoming the heart of the show. While this exact scene has happened before (basically) you are right in saying that it makes sense that they would be the ones to always figure stuff out. They are my two favorites characters and I stand by my position that they should NOT hookup. The should just stay besties forever (literally).  


  
  

I Will Go Down With This 'Ship: Couple of the Week

Unpopular Opinion time: I prefer Stelena to Delena. They are honestly one of my favorite couples. I'm sorry I just do. While Damon and even Delena were likable in the first three seasons they are now the most annoying thing ever. Damon has become a big whiny baby--much worse than Stefan and I don't care what any of y'all say, my opinion stands.

Honestly though, in regards to Delena, while it is good to have a relationship full of excitement and sexual chemistry (hated how they used that sire bond trope, btw...totally used to elongate the triangle. LAME), I do not think it's good to have a relationship where one person becomes better, but the other becomes worse. Elena really just began sucking as a character when she started dating Damon. He got "better", but isn't he supposed to be the bad guy? Don't we like him better that way? I know I do!

credit elenastefantvd.tumblr.com

Sorry, this is not supposed to be an anti-Delena post, I swear, I am just trying to give you a few reasons to consider that Stefan may be a better match for her. Now for reasons actually involving Stefan: 1. They are both extremely kindhearted: they care about others more than themselves...which means that they will always take care of each other. No matter what. 2. They had a strong respect and trust for each other...which I believe, is the most important part of a relationship...nothing says stability like lasting trust! 3. They made each other happy in really difficult times of each other's
lives. etc.

Okay, so I guess what I'm getting at here is that Stefan and Elena would be the couple to last if this were real life...but it's a teenaged vampire show. And Ian Somerhalder sells/ get viewers. I think Paul Wesley is better looking though.

Really though, I just want the triangle to end. Both boys deserve love, so it's only fair that one of them gets the chance to get over Elena and move on. But our dear Julie Plec will keep this triangle going FOR-EV-ER though because that's the basis of the show/ she hates us all secretly.

What I hate the most about all this is that Delena fans and Stelena fans just can't get along. It's so stupid. I am not trying to offend anyone here, it is just my completely harmless opinion about a couple on a tv show.

but yeah #sorrynotsorry #Stelena5ever

Best Stelena Episodes:
1x01 "Pilot"
1x02 "Night of the Comet"
1x06 "Lost Girls"
1x10 "The Turning Point"
1x18 "Under Control"
1x20 "Blood Brothers"
2x06 "Plan B"
2x11 "By the Light of the Moon"
2x14 "Crying Wolf"
2x20 "The Last Day"
3x05 "The Reckoning"
3x06 "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
3x12 "The Ties that Bind"
3x14 "Dangerous Liaisons"
3x20 "Do Not Go Gentle"
3x22 "The Departed"
4x01 "Growing Pains"
(sorry season 4 is just so bad)
5x03 "Original Sin"
5x04 "For Whom the Bell Tolls"

The Vampire Diaries 5x13 "Total Eclipse of the Heart"

Sorry it took me forevs to review TVD; I've become apathetic. Also, I am annoyed at the title of this episode--a cheesy and predictable title for a (now) cheesy and predictable show.

If only he knew this was Katherine.

Okay I guess I should review it now. I'm gonna go ahead and break it up into the good(ish) and the bad.

The Good(ish):
-Caroline seems to be getting over her embarrassment/ heartbreak in a very Caroline way: shredding pictures of exes and attending a fancy college dance that she forced her friends to attend. Then she vamped out to help Bonnie, which is always good.
-This is no new revelation for longtime TVD watchers, but Nina Dobrev is a very good actress. She seemlessly transitions between Katherine and Elena. Without Katherine's subtle eyerolls and general disdain of everyone but Stefan, this episode would've sucked.
-I always like to see Stefan 1) Kick some ass (or at least threaten too) and 2) Care about and protect his brother. We saw both in this episode.
-Tyler and Matt actually being smart for once and figuring out what Nadia and Katherine are doing! Way to go!

totally surprising and brand new plot twist

The Bad:
-Everytime Elena hurts his feelings, Damon feels sorry for himself and becomes the villian again "because that's who he is, why should he be anything different?" *yawn* Where's seasons 1,2, & 3 Damon? The Damon that didn't take any shit? He was "bad" and sarcastic and fun! Now he's just an annoying lovesick puppy who let's a 19 year old girl control all of his thoughts, emotions, and actions. What a baby. Not to mention he did some really terrible things this time--all on purpose...his emotions are not off! Getting sick of Damon, to be honest. (Sorry Delena shippers!)
-Sick of Jeremy and Bonnie at this point, too. They are both plot devices. Bonnie is the witch whenever anything goes wrong or the writers get too lazy to fix something, so they just make a silly spell. And Jeremy is always used for leverage (how many times has this guy died??). Over them.
-What a way to "reignite" the love triangle JP! (jk) This isn't actually Stelena, and it isn't Steferine either so neither ship can be actually happy here. Also, I don't appreciate Stefan getting played--I hope he wises up before anything major happens.
-And of course, when Elena inevitably "reemerges", she won't remember any of this. She'll go back to Damon, which is fine, but he is seriously such a baby now, he needs to let go of Elena for a little bit and find the balls he lost. I just can't even. I have to stop.

Ugh. I'm done.

The Vampire Diaries 5x12 "The Devil Inside"

  

    
I am not happy with the direction this show is going—JP has run out of ideas and what started as exciting and interesting (the love triangle, Katherine, etc.) is now boring and forced. I’m honestly just so sick of this love triangle and I don’t think I can handle 1. Damon spiraling again because that’s what he does every time someone loses faith in him and 2. “Elena” toying with Stefan. I feel like I’m team Defan above everything else; I want them to be friends and brothers, and all Elena does is tear them apart.

     
I do like Katherine and I’m glad she’s still around…I just don’t like her in Elena’s body. This is a bizarre storyline used solely to elongate the insufferable love triangle. But I am interested to see Katherine be "safe" for once--will she act different? Will she cut off her automatic self-preservation mode and actually be kind to some people? Who knows; we'll see.
    
Also, what else is Michael Trevino doing that he can’t be on the show for more than two episodes at a time? I guess Matt and Tyler have gone off together now, which is cool, but I would’ve liked to delve a little deeper into the Caroline/ Tyler issue, just because this Klaroline stuff is pretty juicy. Caroline did do a bad thing…Klaus is a terrible guy who has hurt all of her friends! But we all understand why she did it and we’re glad we got to watch. ;)
    
I guess Bonnie and Jeremy were off somewhere doing it in celebration of Katherine’s death? I don’t really care. I honestly never really miss them when they’re gone. They're pretty but whiny.

And to finish up, a TVD wishlist of things JP will never fufill:
1. I love Caroline and Stefan’s FRIENDSHIP. Can you please keep it that way?
2. Damon needs to toughen up a bit—like actually toughen up because everytime Elena hurts him he gets whiny and then lays in the middle of a road. Are you good or bad man? You can’t just be good when you are trying to impress Elena. Pick a side, as long as you are still there for Stefan I will love you.
3. Please for the love of God give Stefan a new, awesome, and worthy love interest. He is too good for Elena and has been chillin on the back burner for for too long. He is a complex character and deserves more.

(photo courtesy of The CW)