The Vampire Diaries - S5, Ep21

10/5/2014

Episode: “Promised Land” (5x21)
Aired: 9/5/14
Channel/Time: FOX8, Friday 8:30

The Episode

Stefan and Elena manage to escape Markos’ hold, but only after most of their blood has been drained. While they are stranded in a remote location, Stefan talks to Elena about all things Damon (and Caroline). Damon recruits Matt and Jeremy to set a trap for Markos, but Markos has plans of his own. Meanwhile, Bonnie frantically tries to find a way to stop Markos and restore balance.

The Good

I haven’t watched an episode of this show quite as intensely as I did this episode. I said last week that our villains have been weak since Klaus (and I don’t necessarily rescind that judgement), but Markos’ plans came to fruition this episode, and things are looking quite dire. Except that, well, Markos’ plan happened and then died about 10 minutes later, along with Stefan…

So, let’s jump in!

Stefan is dead. Please, get the crying out of the way and pull yourselves together. I find it very, very hard to believe that Stefan is gone for good, the writers may have done some dumb shit in the past, but they would cop some serious flak if they killed off a fan favourite such as the hero-haired Salvatore himself. In saying that, it does not make his death scene any less painful. Albeit not as painful as it should be, which just backs up my statement about this being a “right now” kind of death.

Despite it being an obvious Stefan/Caroline ploy (which I am not entirely against), I found it quite anticlimactic. If this was to be Stefan’s real death, I feel like it would have been an entirely different scene. Certainly more dramatic, and Elena would definitely be there. And most likely Damon. So! With that information, let’s all focus on how sad Lexi is going to be when she realises Stefan can see her. (I’m not crying, you’re crying!)

Speaking of heartbreak, I feel terrible for Bonnie. She desperately tried to find a solution and it all just went to hell. My response to this development, however, is this: can they just kill another Traveller? And then that Traveller can help them? I feel like that would work, that is if the Traveller actually wanted to live.

Now that we’re onto killing people, I’m feeling a strong urge to send the wonder twins Luke and Liv to the Other Side, cause I honestly don’t know what their deal is. They come from this mysterious coven that we have yet to see, and they’ve been playing both sides all season. I personally don’t like them; their characters have done nothing. I mean sure, they’ve plotted a couple times, but their action is limited.

We’re onto my favourite topic of discussion: Damon and Elena reuniting! Was it just me or was every character shipping Delena this week? I swear like five people told Elena and Damon to get back together, and that is more positive feedback from their friends than they’ve had, well, ever. I saw a few people complaining when Elena hugged Damon at the end of the episode while Stefan watched and I can’t help but see the parallel between this scene and the scene in 2x03, where Elena kisses Stefan to make Damon angry. Apparently, a lot of people saw it in the same context, but I certainly did not. In the present, Elena and Stefan are friends and any resentment that Stefan felt for her is seemingly gone, so of course Elena will run to Damon and not remain by Stefan’s side because she is in love with him. There is a difference, people.

Speculation

I’m thinking that we’ll see at least one more character death of the main character variety, my bet is on Damon. The Other Side probably won’t collapse, but there will still be the need to bring certain people back from the dead

Highlight

Stefan and Elena walking along that road in the beginning, I really enjoy their scenes, as of late, they’re very light and fluffy in comparison to the rest of the show.

Written by Chelsea Groth