The Vampire Diaries - S5, Ep18

19/4/2014

Episode: “Resident Evil” (5x18)
Aired: 18/4/14
Channel/Time: FOX8, Friday 8:30

The Episode

After a little bit of a hiatus, TVD returns!

Stefan and Elena begin to have dreams of a life that they could have had together if they had never been vampires. Bonnie gets a disturbing message from Grams about the other side, and Matt has his own ghostly encounter. Liv and Jeremy make a plan to rid Mystic Falls of the Travellers and Bonnie gets angry when she discovers Jeremy is working with Liv behind her back.

The Good

This was Paul Wesley’s (Stefan) directorial debut, and he did a wonderful job. The content of the episode was filler, but that’s not on him.

The So-So

Ah, the Stefan and Elena relationship has reared its head once more. ‘Stelena’ has been gone for more than a season, and yet, it doesn’t die. I loved it back in the early seasons, but it has turned stale and unrealistic. I’m putting this in the so-so column because the dreams were so cute and nostalgic and I really think that if things were different, Stefan and Elena might have stood a better chance. I honestly don’t know where the writers are taking the Damon/Stefan/Elena love triangle, because at the moment it could go either way, no matter what has happened in the past. And that is the problem. If Elena is with Stefan, Damon becomes an issue and if she is with Damon, Stefan becomes an issue. Do you see the problem? Can we not just have a relationship for Elena that isn’t teetering on the point of a goddamn love triangle?

As you all know, I want her with Damon and I have my reasons. For those of you who do want her with Stefan, I completely understand, because they had a great relationship. Similarly, I can see why people don’t want her with Damon, but don’t necessarily want her with Stefan. All three of the characters and their relationships have flaws, but I see more with Stefan/Elena, and that is my opinion. I just want it to be solved.

And we finally met Markos! And he was uninteresting. Menacing? Sure. I guess. I’m not a fan of the Travellers purpose… they want to settle down? That’s it? I know they want to take over everyone’s bodies but they’re not exactly evil masterminds. I feel like ever since Klaus, our villains have lost their edge. Silas just wanted to be with Amara, now the Travellers want to settle down in Mystic Falls of all places, why not somewhere nicer, bigger even? I’m just saying. We need a villain that is as formidable as Klaus once was.

Speculation

The other side is going to take a beating, and the Travellers plan will become more pronounced.
 

Highlight

Matt seeing Vicky on the other side, and the reappearance of Kol. It’s always good to see some familiar faces.

Written by Chelsea Groth