The cast and creative crew of The Vampire Diaries deserve kudos for keeping their fantasy world of undead, witches, and other supernatural friends and foes hurtling forward with no signs of slowing down. This compilation offers more pretty young bodies in various stages of life or death, caught up in torturous romances and dark-versus-light conflicts—or perhaps that should be gray-versus-gray (nuance and murk are more prominent now that the characters have matured a bit). The narrative opens with Elena (Nina Dobrev) cheerily starting college after a passionate summer with vamp boyfriend Damon (Ian Somerhalder), only to be sucked back into ancient gruesome doings, while Stefan (Paul Wesley) is locked in a safe at the bottom of a lake, where he floats in vampire purgatory. In between murderous sprees, the show serves up new viruses and supernatural phenomena, including the appearance of a mysterious subspecies of witches who come to the fore, along with the terrifying prospect of spirit magic being banished from Mystic Falls. The influence of creator Kevin Williamson still haunts the writing and design of this CW hit series aimed at young adults. Compiling all 22 episodes from the 2013–14 fifth season, extras include a 2013 Comic-Con panel segment, behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, and a gag reel. Recommended. (T. Fry)
The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Fifth Season
Warner, 926 min., not rated, DVD: 5 discs, $59.98, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: 9 discs, $69.98 Volume 30, Issue 1
The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Fifth Season
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