shawn hill

There was no way for this finale to be something to everyone, while also bringing Elena back home one last time.

In a surprise move, the wedding no one was waiting for goes off without a hitch, and is a beautiful affair.

Well, that was interesting. Turns out our two Big Bads were also only Little Bads after all.

Bonnie and Enzo are totally the best btw.

It’s a little late to deepen the mysteries of a confusing, frustrating season, but I suppose signs could indicate the final four episodes will be a sustained blast.

The only spark of hope here is that Bonnie’s rageful despair seems to have turned her magic back on.

Ah, here’s that feeling again. That feeling that usually comes in the first third of a season (here not until after the halfway point) of things clicking into place.

We’re about halfway through our final ride, the last thing Ripper wants to do is revisit Mystic Falls, but Damon is called back by Siren Sybil.

As Caroline says, Stefan always comes back from the Ripper phases.

If they can keep the macabre comic tone of this Dark Christmas, they might just go out with style.

Whatever else the sirens are, they’re murderous witches who work for a hell demon.

Things are picking up, if in unpredictable directions and without very clear agendas yet.

All the titles this season are quotes from past episodes, by the way, which sort of lets you know how the show is going about nailing its final season.