The Vampire Diaries 5.01 “I Know What You Did Last Summer” Review!

The CW hit series returned for its highly-anticipated fifth season last night, with Elena (Nina Dobrev) and Caroline (Candice Accola) heading off to college, while Damon (Ian Somerhalder), Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) ghost Bonnie (Kat Graham) and Matt (Zach Roerig) get ready for another crazy supernatural year in Mystic Falls. There's an immortal warlock, Silas, who was revealed as the doppelgänger of Stefan (Paul Wesley), in last season's finale. He's out for vengeance after losing the human cure that would reunite him with his true love.

This season starts of with something the fans, myself included, have been dying for - after seasons of waiting, Elena and Damon are a couple. They're like a couple of newlyweds in this episode, they could barely keep their hands off one another in the beginning of this episode. I think it's great that they can finally show the love that each of them felt. Before, Elena would hide her feelings, now she flat out tells Damon, "I love you". I'm looking forward to see their love story unfold more this season. 

While I know people are always nervous when a teen drama transitions to the college years, I'm please by how this show is handling it. Elena and Caroline head off to Whitmore college. Caroline wants Tyler (Michael Trevino) to join her on her college adventure, but he's otherwise engaged helping a pack of werewolves in the mountains. Everything seems to be going perfectly for Elena and Caroline - they even get to be roommates - until an unexpected third roommate, Megan, shows up. Megan brings along a water bottle laced with vervaine... add murder, and this definitely has them both on high alert regarding what's going on at the college. Especially Elena, who's eager to learn more after finding out her deceased father has a connection to both Whitmore and Megan.

Bonnie is still around as a ghost, and hiding that fact that she's dead from everyone. Luckily, she has Jeremy, a medium who still sees her and is able to communicate with her. It was really sad, last season, when Bonnie conjured the spell that took her life. I realize she thought it had to be done, but it even broke the spell that was keeping Silas trapped in stone. Her friends no longer have a witch to help them and now he's out and hungry for revenge. 

Last season, Elena shoved the cure down Katherine's throat, making our queen bitch a human. After a summer on the run as a human, she is now taking up residence at the Salvatore house and hiding from the enemies that want her dead. It's not long before Silas tracks her down and nearly drowns her. As it turns out, Katherine is still good for the cure and it's her human blood he needs. Looks like dear old Kat will be on the run for a bit longer. I'm happy they made Katherine a major character this season with her own arc. I've always thought she was a great sassy vamp and wanted more story lines with her. 

Silas is not messing around this year, he's proving to be a villain you don't want to tangle with. I think Wesley is having a good time portraying the villain and is doing a pretty good job at it. Silas has his own agenda and mission this season. He still has Stefan trapped underwater as he plots his wrath. His plan is to take the cure and die so he can pass on and be reunited with his true love. But with the cure gone, he will have to rely on his plan B. I think we've been teased at what that is.. mess with everyone's lives until he gets what he wants, which is Katherine's Dobrev blood.

Matt is still around; he's been traveling around the world with Rebekah (Claire Holt) before returning to Mystic Falls. They share a steamy farewell kiss or should I say fifty, as Rebekah heads off to New Orleans. However, the traveling wasn't all joyful for him as he and Rebekah shared their European bed with Nadia (guest star, Olga Fonda), who stole his Gilbert ring. Later in the episode, Nadia appears in Mystic Falls under the pretense of giving Matt's ring back. However, Matt is surprised with an unexpected knock on the back of his head by her friend, "lights out Matt". Makes me wonder what Matt got himself into this time. Guess we will have to wait and see.

It’s not a big surprise The Vampire Diaries is a show that tends to kill off characters whenever it wants. An example of that is when Bonnie Bennett sacrificed herself for her love, Jeremy, in the Season 4 finale. I don't think Bonnie was thinking clearly when she committed suicide. She didn't realize the implications to her family - at the end of this episode the residents of Mystic Falls were gathered in the town square for a community event. As Mayor Rudy Hopkins (Bonnie’s dad) was giving a speech, Silas jumped on stage and spilled his intention of possessing Katherine to everyone. Silas then grabbed Rudy and slit his throat in front of the entire crowd, as Bonnie watched in horror! Because she killed herself, she couldn't do anything to save her father. I think it's safe to say that Silas will stop at nothing to capture Katherine and will kill anyone who gets in his way. 

This season premiere was a fast paced thrill ride, providing some answers, yet even more questions have arisen to be (hopefully) solved this year. I'm really looking forward to the rest of season 5, this show never fails to impress me. I'm a loyal fan and I think the writing, actors and stories just keep getting better with time. 

Season 5 airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW.

“I Know What You Did Last Summer” was written by Caroline Dries and directed by Lance Anderson. 

Photo Credit: The CW