Can you guys even believe that The Vampire Diaries is about to enter its fifth season? That’s right, ladies and gents, our ever-high schoolers are about to enter the pre-“real world” as they become college students. We’ve been asking for that since halfway through season one, and it’s finally one of the things we can cross off our list.
But after a — shall we call it crazy? — season four, there are some things I think The Vampire Diaries could keep in check as they enter their fifth season. Last year, I had four items on my wishlist and I’ve got to say, I think most of them were checked off. Of course, they didn’t go exactly as I had planned. But that would have been boring, no?
The series certainly did make Bonnie push back against evil forces more, but I was also hoping they’d let her push back against her own friends. It also dealt with the “Klaus situation,” as it were. Klaus has been shipped off to his own spinoff The Originals, and now we have more time to spend with our core characters.
Though, I have to say, I think the biggest problem with season four was the way the show made use of Elena’s vampirism. After a short introduction to her transition, everything refocused to finding The Cure. And soon, no one had any agency left in the show. The Cure was responsible for one of the worst and most boring episodes of the entire series, too (“Into the Wild,” if you were wondering). So I don’t think it’s unfitting that the first thing I want is…
1. No. More. Sire. Bond. For the love of all that is good and pure, put it to rest. I know that we were basically told it’s over, but the sire bond was one of the more muddy and icky storylines I’ve seen. Like Revenge‘s the Initiative, just make pretend it never existed.
2. Don’t squander the Silas opportunity. Let’s be honest: we’re all very confused about Silas being Stefan’s doppelgänger. But who cares? This just means that Paul Wesley gets to do more than just sulk. We’re all fans of crazy sex/”You don’t know what I look like when I’m not in love with you” Paul Wesley, so let’s get more of that when he’s playing Silas. And while you’re at it, bring Stefan back too and let’s see him do his best Tatiana Maslany.
3. Just please let Bonnie talk to more people than just Jeremy. I’m sure this isn’t a popular one, but as you all very well know, I was never a fan of how Bonnie’s been treated as a character. But now it seems like she’s been sidelined to the nth degree. She literally died to bring back a character who very legitimately died and had an epic mournful episode. My worst fear is that Bonnie is just used as a plot device without any pretense that she’s an actual character; so she only talks to Jeremy and he asks her to do spells whenever he needs to and she just complies. That would be the worst.
4. Rebekah? Ha ha, this will never happen because she’s on The Originals but is it so wrong that I want Rebekah and Matt to live happily ever after? I think not!
5. Develop Delena a little. One of my biggest gripes with Elena and Damon as a couple is that the series hasn’t let them grow as a legitimate couple. Every time they’re close to blossoming, there’s a weird obstacle. Last season, it was the crazy, confusing sire bond. Now that it’s all out of the way, hopefully they can actually just be. I would wish for the end of the love triangle altogether (please please please) but I won’t hold my breath. (But please just choose and end it!)
6. Make the Katherine and Elena switch more than their mortality. When Elena was turned into a vampire, I thought that the show was truly going to explore how much they’re actually alike. Obviously, Elena and Katherine handle their vampirism differently, but I’m hoping that since Katherine is now human it will be more than just “whatta coinkidink!” In fact, with Stefan being Silas’ doppelgänger, there’s potential to dig into an entire doppelgänger mythology that we never thought of before!
7. Stay lean. With the Originals going to their own show, this is the perfect opportunity to spend time with our cast of originals — all those characters in the poster. It will be a change from the last few seasons, but it will also get back to basics, the heyday. It’s the perfect transition while the characters go to college.
That’s really about it. I think that the Originals leaving Mystic Falls will solve a lot of issues I’ve had with The Vampire Diaries for the past season and a half. It will no longer have to service all of these characters, many of which weren’t important to the original mythos. So here’s hoping to a good season five!
Michael loves TV. You can find him at home, where he spends all of his time watching TV with his best friends couch and cable access.