The Vampire Diaries Round Table: "Monster's Ball"

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The Vampire Diaries threw a "Monster's Ball" last night, while also attempting to keep a number of storyline balls in the air.

There was a mysterious new student named Aaron... new light shed on Dr. Maxfield... the return of Tessa... a farewell to Tyler... and one mother of a bombshell dropped on Katherine.

That's a lot to breakdown. But Round Table panelists Matt Richenthal, Miranda Wicker, Dan Forcella and Leigh Raines are up to the task! Join them below for a discussion of The Vampire Diaries Season 5 Episode 5...

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What was your favorite scene from the episode?
Matt: The concluding scene... or at least the few moments prior to it. I really thought Katherine was a goner! Finally! But I should have known better. No, Kat. You aren't in Hell. I am. Just die already!

Miranda: First Damon, now Katherine. What is happening to the bad guys on The Vampire Diaries season 5? Squishy-heart Katherine wins for me! She has a daughter! The callback to her return to Bulgaria to find her family after escaping from Klaus was great and Nadia as her direct descendent is such a nice touch since that was one of the only sympathetic moments the character had as a vampire.

Dan: This is probably the easiest that this question has ever been for me. Without a doubt it was when Tyler took that "step." I am so sick of him, specifically him and Caroline together, that I actually cheered when he walked away. I feel bad for Caroline, but she'll find somebody much better.

Leigh: I loved when Amnesia Stefan woke up, walked in and ratted Silas out to Tessa. He may have lost his memory, but not his balls! Good for you, Stefan, I'm sick of everyone taking advantage of you.

Who wore the best costume?
Matt: N/A. They all sort of sucked. Take over planning in full next year, Caroline.

Miranda: Aaron. It's hard to beat a tuxedo shirt.

Dan: Had to be Stefan (and subsequently Silas). Having people think you're not wearing a costume only to actually be wearing James Dean is something to be proud of.

Leigh: I do love a good Cleopatra, but I'm gonna give props to Elena. It's about time she got a sort of morbid sense of humor and went as Anne Boleyn. She would've gotten double points if she did a bloody throat.

Did Tyler make the right call in walking away from Caroline?
Matt: In giving up a gorgeous, fun-loving, bubbly girlfriend who was all about romps in the sack and easy majors such as sociology? To go try and kill a hybrid who cannot be killed? Give me a few to ponder this question.... No, he did not make the right call.

Miranda: Yes, of course. Because he has to get back to New Orleans to protect Hayley and the magical miracle Mikaelson baby on The Originals.

Dan: Nope. Did you see her in the Bonnie outfit? What a sucker. Get out of her Tyler.

Leigh: I used to love Tyler but he's been a crappy boyfriend. He showed up for Bonnie's funeral but where has he been every other time? He made it clear: his hate for Klaus outweighs his love for Caroline right now. Besides, she's a freshman in college, she needs to sow those oats.

Dr. Maxfield: Good guy or bad guy?
Matt: I'm gonna say good. I think he's trying to figure out how to rid the world of vampires by experimenting on his self-made vampire. And, yes, this may portend something bad for some of our heroes and heroines - but that doesn't mean his intentions aren't noble.

Miranda: Undecided but leaning toward bad. He gets runner-up for most appropriate costume, though, considering he's playing mad scientist with a transitioning Jesse.

Dan: Oh, definitely bad. He may be charming, but he has bad guy written all over him.

Leigh: Maybe a watchful guardian, but he's keeping Jesse hostage as a science experiment. Like everyone else on this show, he probably balances good and bad.

Would you want Katherine as your mother?
Matt: Sure! I'd see so much of the world. I'd be so cultured. I'd learn how to kill in a variety of ways. I'd know different languages. I don't really see a downside.

Miranda: Only if we wore the same size shoe so we could share her $500 boots.

Dan: No, never as my mother, but I'd like to echo Miranda's thoughts on loving the squishy-heart side of Katherine. Any time you can take someone who has been that evil for so long and make the audience actually care about them - even for the quickest of moments - you're doing something right.

Leigh: Same. I'd wanna share shoes with her. Maybe if she taught me how to fight for my life and be a vampire. But most likely no.

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 5 Quotes

Don't piss off the diabolical ones.

Katherine

The more I have to think about, the less time I have to miss Bonnie.

Elena