Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: B- | 160 USERS: B+ YOU GRADE IT Back To School
By Cindy McLennan | Season 5 | Episode 1 | Aired on 10.03.2013
Whitmore. Exterior. Megan is trying to catch up on four season's worth of (edited) shenanigans. "So, your current boyfriend, Damien..." Elena corrects her. "Damon." Megan continues, "...Is your ex's brother?" Elena nods. "Stefan." Megan: "And you and Stefan are friends, but three months ago he left without saying goodbye?" Elena asks Megan, "Do you think I should call him?" Having not told anyone what to do for at least 15 seconds, Caroline butts in. "Absolutely not." Wait, what? Wasn't Caroline just telling Elena that she'd made a horrible but reversible mistake by choosing Damon over Stefan? How do you want her to reverse it, Caroline -- via smoke signals?
Elena doesn't bother to hide her delighted smile when Megan asks Caroline if she has a boyfriend. It's lost on Caroline, though, who is just relieved the conversation has turned to her favorite subject -- herself. She babbles about Tyler who she insists will be arriving on campus any day now. Elena points out that he still has to register, get a dorm room, buy books, etc., but Caroline won't let that burst her beautiful bubble of denial. "Speaking of minding one's own business, let's talk roommate ground rules. Privacy is very important to me." Points to Megan for being so agreeable and friendly, in response to Caroline's snotty demeanor. Witness Caroline's sneer as she adds, "I have low blood sugar. My diet's finicky, so keep your paws off my stuff." Megan proposes splitting up the shelves. Caroline: "And if I suddenly get up to leave or disappear for a while..." Applaud, madly? Hey, I like Caroline. I just don't like Caroline right now. She doesn't care and continues bitching at Megan. "...don't follow me or look for me." Who would? Megan smiles and says, "Okay. Sounds good." Elena chuckles and tries to ease the tension as she adds, "Then we agree on everything." The girls are approached by a good looking guy, Jesse (Kendrick Sampson) who hands them a flyer for a party that evening at Whitmore House. It seems he already only has eyes for Caroline, but that doesn't keep Elena from appreciating the view, which gives me time to hope Persons of Color have longer lifespans at Whitmore than they do back in the Falls. Watching him walk off she puts her arm around Caroline's shoulders and declares her love of college with a big smile. Yes, stop the presses, Elena has smiled several times this episode. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy happy, relatively balanced Elena. Welcome back, girl. I hope you stick around a while. We cut to...