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The Vampire Diaries Review: “True Lies” (Season 5, Episode 2)

It's a good thing the Originals got out of dodge at the end of last season because Silas (Paul Wesley) is shaping up to be a villain like none other on The Vampire Diaries. It's interesting how the search for the cure has turned into such a colossal mess for Elena (Nina Dobrev) and her friends. And, in an ironic plot twist, the person responsible for awakening Silas, is the one he wants the most - and the one least able to defend herself. Katherine (also Dobrev) sacrificed Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) to feed Silas on the island, loosening his grip on the box containing the cure, and bringing an immortal threat to everyone's front door; all in a misguided attempt to secure leverage.

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Katherine and Elena for the most part are easy to tell apart. Especially now that Elena exuded a sense of confidence that she was lacking back in high school, and Katherine has been reduced to a severely lacking imitation of her former self. Silas and Stefan on the other hand have not differentiated themselves in quite the same manner. Although we haven’t interacted with the pair on screen sans the very short scene on The Vampire Diaries season 4 finale, Silas comes across as a version of Stefan who’s trying too hard.

We’ve seen Stefan’s more volatile side as The Ripper on more than one occasion, and if you put him side-by-side with Silas, The Ripper has an edge that we haven’t seen before in Silas. They may share some of the same refined tastes, like drinking their blood out of cups directly from slit wrists, but that’s where the similarities start to ween. The Ripper is Stefan without his humanity; he has no sense of morality. Whereas Silas, doesn’t have that option. He’s not really a vampire, he’s just a cruel guy consumed with his own agenda that happens to possess supernatural talents.

I have to say that his power of mind control is startlingly frightening. The way he was able to convince Elena that she wanted to kill Damon, the man she loves, mocks what vampires can do with compulsion. What will Stefan think when he finally resurfaces (not meant as a pun) after all these months? Elena has been starring in his dreams all summer long, and she also has been having some of her own – they are obviously linked in some supernatural way. Judging by what they found in the safe instead of him, his Ripper side is back and Elena tends to be the only thing that can curve his appetite. It doesn’t matter where her heart lies, Stefan always rises to the occasion to protect her, and I have no doubt she will revive her efforts to save him.

Will Elena and Damon survive another mission to save Stefan? Are we headed toward another painful game of ping-pong with Elena’s heart? College is a good look on The Vampire Diaries and I can’t wait to see how Professor McHottie fits into all the drama. Let us know in the comment section below where your opinions land after this episode of The Vampire Diaries!

Until next episode.