The Vampire Diaries Review: How to Be a Hero

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Yeah. So much for that fun freshman year, Elena.

Unless you consider it fun to tie up a nearly naked Damon Salvatore (wait for it...), force him to drink Vervain, stab yourself in the leg to get an omnipotent, ancient witch out of your head and then temporarily drop out of school to find your lost brother.

Because if that's the case, "True Lies" was an utter blast for this first-year college student!

In actuality, of course, no one had a very good time this week on The Vampire Diaries: Silas didn't get what he wanted; Matt died for the first time; Caroline was dissed by Tyler; and Katherine suffered a sinus infection. Let's break it all down, shall we?

Paul Wesley as Silas

BFFs to the Rescue! That would be Best Friends who Fight, of course. One of the early pleasures in The Vampire Diaries Season 5 has been the elevation of Matt and Jeremy to more than bit players among their supernatural surroundings.

Mock this "brain trust" at your peril, Damon. They just saved Katherine from Silas and dished out profound advice ("That's why people treat you like an object… "How are you gonna deal with your death if you can't deal with your own?") all over the place while they were at it. Seriously, I am a hunter. Plus, I work out? Jeremy apparently grew a sense of humor along with those biceps.

Broken on Through. Guess Kat Graham wasn't kidding when she told me we'd bear witness to The Other Side this season. It looks a lot like the woods and you're farther and farther away from your body the more time you spend there. Nothing too revealing here, really, but a very nice and moving scene between Matt and Bonnie.

Would it really have been too much for Alaric to pop in and say hello, though? Come on, Julie Plec. Give me Matt Davis or give me death. Temporary death, that is, so I can hang out with Matt Davis on The Other Side.

The Doctor is In… control of the Whitmore College conspiracy? Dr. Wes Maxfield is clearly up to something, and that something goes beyond being the sort of jerk who reminds you at every turn that he went to medical school. Why did he doctor (pun… intended!) Megan's death certificate? What does he know about Grayson Gilbert? How great a name is Grayson Gilbert?!? And is he working with Jesse?

Yes, Jesse. No way do I trust that guy! Granted, any man with two eyes and a working pulse would be attracted to Caroline Forbes, but he's coming on way too strong to simply be into this vampire for her beauty, enthusiasm, playfulness, kind heart, lovely smile... sorry, where was I? Oh, right.

Jesse pulled a classic sympathy move by telling a story about an ex-girlfriend that cheated on him. I'm not buying it. He was at the party when Megan got killed. He's somehow always around Elena and Katherine. And he makes no secret of his affection for Wes (yes, I'm calling you Wes. Deal with it, shady professor guy.) Caroline would be well served to stay far away. (Dammit!)

Called for Traveling. Can't say I saw Nadia turning on her acquaintance coming, but that's likely because we don't know anything about Nadia and her acquaintance. It's hard to know how one should react to a twist on characters one just met. So it seems the only appropriate response here is: Gypsies? Travelers?!? On the hunt for Stefan? Except for this one woman who has her own agenda? Consider me intrigued - and confused.

Silas the All Powerful. Dude is a little too powerful. He can control minds. He can't be killed. He's as handsome as Paul Wesley. The actor is absolutely killing it (pun, yes, intended) in this villainous role, but what made Klaus so terrific (sorry, what still makes Klaus so terrific; yes, I'm watching The Originals) were his many layers. He's a murderer, but he's vulnerable and often misunderstood. Plus, he can paint.

Silas just seems impossibly strong in every conceivable way right now. It makes him less interesting.

What did everyone else think of this Vampire Diaries Season 5 installment? Do we have another evil professor on our hands? Do you trust Jesse? What was your reaction to The Other Side? Where do you stand on Silas as the Big Bad? What does he want with Katherine? And, seriously, how dumb can Tyler be?!?

Prepare for the return of The Ripper below and sound off now.

True Lies Review

Editor Rating: 4.2 / 5.0
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User Rating:

Rating: 4.2 / 5.0 (460 Votes)

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.

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The Vampire Diaries Season 5 Episode 2 Quotes

He's deferring from enrolling and deferring from returning my phone calls. So I'm deferring from sleeping with him ever again.

Caroline

Woman: You look just like Elena Gilbert.
Katherine: Actually, I'm much prettier.

The Vampire Diaries Season 5 Episode 2 Music

  Song Artist
Don't Give Up Ferras iTunes
Better Life Paper Route iTunes
Burn Ellie Goulding iTunes