Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: B | 104 USERS: B+ YOU GRADE IT Ding Dong The Dead's A Witch
By Cindy McLennan | Season 5 | Episode 5 | Aired on 10.31.2013
Anyhow, Damon will come to the ball, which is that night at 8:00. Elena can't seem to wait to get away from Damon. Although she says she's running late for class, as she runs off, you can see the wheels turning in Damon's head.
Back at the dorm, Caroline and Tyler are now on blankets, on the floor, which seems dumb when her bed is right there. Caroline is pressing Tyler to talk about college, but he is not into it, even when she says she compelled him a single room. What? If she compelled him a single, why are they in the room she shares with Elena? Ugh. She gives him crap about being out of touch for so long, but he feels like he's already made up for that, "a couple dozen times," wink wink nudge nudge barf barf. Regardless, Caroline tells Tyler he's escorting her to the Event O' the Week: the Whitmore Historical Ball. The college displays its entire collection, and attendees dress up in historical costumes. Caroline and Tyler are going as Bonnie and Clyde. Caroline even got Stefan a costume? With no memory at all, why the hell would Stefan haul his cookies all the way out to Whitmore, to attend an event at a college he doesn't care about, where he's sure to run into Elena and Damon, whom he has written off as jerks. The Contrivance Fairy says, "Look, I know you're just not that into us, or whatever, but I've got a job to do here." Quite right, CF. It's not you. It's me.
Back on the quad, Elena, who was in a huge hurry to get to class (or away from Damon), stops when she sees a guy kneeling by Megan's pathetic little memorial. We don't learn the guy's name 'til later, but I have no patience with that sort of shit, so I'll tell you now, it's Aaron (Shaun Sipos). When I deemed Megan's memorial pathetic, that wasn't a shot at the show. I think it's a great touch that it's pathetic, because that's what happens in real life. Years ago, there was a workplace shooting near my old house. People left all sorts of flowers, candles, stuffed animals, and whatever, but the flowers soon wilt. It rains, or snows. Life and weather continue apace. The outpouring of love soon looks more like garbage than a tribute to a tragedy. And you just know that the maintenance workers are itching to clean it up, but they don't want to disrespect the mourners. Well played, Show.
Elena approaches Aaron, introduces herself, and notes Megan used to be her roommate. Aaron can't even be bothered to tell Elena his name. He says he and Megan grew up together. He plucks a dead flower and comments on the sad state of the memorial. Elena is intrigued when she learns Aaron doubts the suicide story. He's not interested in talking, so as he walks off, Elena says, "Hey, do you have a name?" Aaron says, "Yeah, I do," and keeps going. That's a great way to earn the nickname Asswipe.