The Vampire Diaries – “What Lies Beneath” Review. Purgatory Schmurgatory.

Season 5, Episode 20

Air Date: Thursday, May 1, 2014 at 8/7c on The CW

RATING: ★★★★★

“We have a problem.” – Tyler Lockwood

The Vampire Diaries (TVD) is pushing its homage to horror movies pretty hard. First there was “Resident Evil,” now “What Lies Beneath,” which happens to be an amazing flick. What can we expect next with the aptly titled episodes of TVD? “What Lies Beneath” focuses on a ghost’s revenge for an untimely death. It’s good but missing that certain something to pique my interest.

Travelers, Hybrids, and Vampires … Oh My!

Prime opportunity for Stefan to steal back his girl. Will he take it?

Stefan (Paul Wesley) does a naughty thing and wants to keep it secret. But we all know secrets don’t last very long in Mystic Falls. But what’s an episode without a secret ready to be spilled? “You know what, think of all the times he’s lied to you; call it a freebie.” Stefan isn’t upset that he has to lie to his brother to keep him from losing it. How about a little faith, Stefan?

The tension between Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Elena (Nina Dobrev) is almost too uncomfortable to watch. They tiptoe around one another even though you know they just want to be together. I’m having a difficult time watching this dance because I feel more empathy for Damon than I do Elena. She can’t figure out what she wants; he knows exactly what he wants, yet refrains. How much torture can one person take when it comes to love and relationships? I would love to see Damon happy. He’s such a great guy (all the murdering and snark aside) and deserves someone to love him for who he is. We know Elena can’t accept the things Damon has done, and will do, yet she has a kung fu grip on his heart. If she really wants to let him go, she needs to stay away from him and Stefan.

Enzo (Michael Malarkey) sticks around as Casper the ‘Un’-Friendly Ghost and makes some waves during “What Lies Beneath.” I’m telling you, the title says it all. Enzo’s need for revenge simmers just beneath the surface of the tension between two former lovers. The Travelers’ mysterious way of living as passengers in host bodies is a not-so-secret secret right under the noses of those who should be more aware. Just what keeps these supes from being supernatural? They behave more like humans than creatures with extraordinary powers. As a blatant example, Stefan has an opportunity to use his vampire strength but moves at a snail’s pace. It blows my mind that Damon seems to be the only vampire to actually move with vampire speed. I’m so bored with the inconsistencies thrown in our faces. Here’s another thing: why does Matt (Zach Roerig) test the strength of the chains securing a hybrid when he can’t possibly pull them from the walls with his puny human biceps? And the obvious, drowning a vampire. Do I really have to point this stuff out? Le sigh.

These three are our new crime fighting trio. What evil plots will they foil next?

Michael Trevino does an awesome job as Tyler/Julian. I can actually see the change in his face when he morphs from one character to the other. The characteristics of each personality may not seem noticeable but they are specific. Tyler has a certain arrogance about him as a hybrid and Julian has a cockiness that belies his witchy ways.

Funny and Memorable Lines:

“Oh well. Markos had a good week or two in the land of the living; now, where is he so I can kill him?” Damon, always the optimistic one.

Damon: “Yeah, well, I hope that dickwad’s spirit isn’t floating around anywhere.”

Elena: “How about a little respect for the dead?”

Damon: “I respect that he’s dead; how about that?”

Damon’s wisecrack to Elena about Caroline’s dad, whom no one misses, I might add, hits a nerve.

Final Thoughts:

Methinks a certain someone might be jealous of Stefan’s paying attention to someone else…

Kudos again to whoever chooses the music for the soundtrack. No matter how much an episode pisses me off, it’s good to know I can groove to one of my jams in the process. I’m almost afraid to say I’m looking forward to next week’s episode because I don’t know what awaits the Salvatore brothers. Enzo isn’t out of the picture just yet, and I don’t think the Travelers are going to go down without a fight. The peeps of Mystic Falls have a battle ahead of them. Who are you rooting for? Let me know what you thought about “What Lies Beneath.” And let’s raise some ruckus to get more Enzo in the future. I don’t like his being relegated to a ghostly existence. Malarkey is a definite plus TVD can’t be without. Leave me a comment in the section below or hit me up on Twitter @ellemoe.

Tune in to The Vampire Diaries on Thursdays at 8/7c, only on The CW. For more on the show, visit the official site.

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Follow The Vampire Diaries on Twitter, as well as the cast: @cwtvd, @ninadobrev, @iansomerhalder, @katgraham, @paulwesley, @zach_roerig, @candaceaccola, and @McQueeninchains.

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Elle

Writer, mother, realist, cloud lover, daydreamer, dessert enthusiast, sweet tea addict, perfectionist, and lover of life and Christ, but not in that order. http://www.fanfiction.net/~vikingloverelle