Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

The Vampire Diaries: The Eighth and Final Season Blu-ray Movie Review

Is this genre really coming to an end?

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 20, 2017

Eight seasons is a pretty serious run. That beats out the vast majority of TV shows for longevity and even surpasses plenty of classics, both from television's bygone eras and up against much of today's stiff (and numerically overwhelming) competition. The Vampire Diaries, from the mind of series creator Julie Plec, arrived on the scene when the moody teen vampire craze was in full force, when Twilight was the big thing and all of the copycats were lining store bookshelves, all darkly covered and featuring romantically involved lettering that promised forbidden romance between bloodsucking yet irresistibly attractive vampires and equally perfectly skinned and proportioned humans. The Vampire Diaries delivered what everyone wanted: pretty young faces, moody atmosphere, complex and branching story arcs, a bit off mysticism (in a town called Mystic Falls), and a whole lot of convoluted romantic angles, broken relationships, and bloodletting. It would gain an honest fan base and earn eye rolls from more cynical types, but it would deliver all of the drama (on and off the screen alike) that kept fans happy and hungry for more. Season eight wraps it up in satisfying fashion, delivering a run-up to the finale that fits that structure and style and these characters as well as most in the audience could have wanted.

Official synopsis: Season eight begins with Damon and Enzo continuing on their killing spree, both following the commands of a sinister and unnatural force. While Bonnie, Stefan, and Caroline are grieving their loss, they team up to investigate who or what may be the cause of their disappearance. Alaric joins the search and continues to look for clues on how they escaped the Armory vault, and Matt's family history will reveal a deeper connection to Mystic Falls and how he may be able to save the town from destruction.

Whats nice about this season of The Vampire Diaries is that it doesn't wait for its final hour (or 42 minutes and change of actual screen time) to wrap everything up, to shove every fate, character moment, and reveal into one episode. The season, particularly late but still before the very end, gradually works its way through various resolutions and those oh-so-critical character moments that ease the viewer into the final episode rather than hit everything in one big bang. There's still plenty happening in the last episode -- including an unforgettable cameo -- and fans won't (or shouldn't be) disappointed, and perhaps the show by sheer necessity of volume needed to spread it out, but no matter the reason it truly feels as if those in charge of crafting the show worked hard to get its final cadence just right, to deliver everything the final episode should be but give the ample storylines room to breath before. It's well done and many other shows could learn from its lead.

Season eight further satisfies by painting right along the line for the series' arc. It doesn't masquerade as something it's not or attempt to amplify or overextend itself. The season is well balanced in the lead-up to the finale and various reveals. Performances are seasoned and complimentary to the show's spirit, tone, texture, and established history. This cast certainly knows their world -- both the characters they inhabit as well as those around them -- and fine-tunes each performance to exceed expectations. Sure it's a bit overblown at times -- it always has been -- but it paints that steady moodiness, light humor (including a great joke to kick off the season about the end of the "vampire craze"), and sense of love in all of its forms with a nice balance of broad-stroke elements and fine-brush detail. Plec and company know their world and what the audience wants from it. Season eight plays to the series' strengths and does so right to the closing bell.

The following episodes comprise season eight. Episode summaries are courtesy of an insert included with the Blu-ray discs. Some spoilers follow.

Disc One:

• Hello, Brother: Months after Damon and Enzo vanish from the Armory vault, Stefan pushes forward with his search, while Bonnie struggles with holding onto hope that they will be found.
• Today Will Be Different: After learning that someone from Stefan's past may be Damon and Enzo's next target, Stefan, Bonnie and Caroline head to North Carolina.
• You Decided I Was Worth Saving: Enzo fights what's controlling him, Bonnie is at the center of a deadly game, Aleric struggles to bring Damon and Enzo back, and Damon's downward spiral leads him to Tyler Lockwood.
• An Eternity of Misery: Tasked with finding a mysterious artifact, Damon's latest mission takes him to Texas where a violent run-in with Peter Maxwell leads to a surprising revelation.
• Coming Home Was a Mistake: Damon may be beyond saving, Stefan makes a gut-wrenching decision, Bonnie gets advice from Caroline, and Matt tries to decipher a mysterious box of messages.
• Detoured on Some Random Backwoods Path to Hell: Caroline takes drastic measures to keep her family safe, and Stefan pledges to do everything he can to save the twins. Plus, Stefan faces a life-changing decision.

Disc Two:

• The Next time I Hurt Somebody, It Could Be You: Stefan wants Christmas Eve with Caroline to be perfect, but Damon and Sybil crash their dinner. Meanwhile, Stefan must weight an unimaginable choice.
• We Have History Together: In search of their next victim, Stefan and Damon attend an anger-management support group. Cybil is still alive, and the brothers are committed to Cade.
• The Simple Intimacy of the Near Touch: Stefan and Damon return to Mystic Falls at Cybil's request, and Bonnie comes home from Paris. Stefan, Damon, Caroline, Bonnie and Enzo all attend the Miss Mystic Falls pageant.
• Nostalgia's a Bitch: Cybil exacts revenge on Damon by putting him into a catatonic state, and Caroline and Bonnie enter Damon's mind where they discover Stefan is the key to his brother's fate.
• You Made a Choice to Be Good: Cade returns to Mystic Falls and presents Damon and Stefan with additional assignments, while Caroline and Matt protect the town's residents from Cade's appetite for their souls.
• What Are You?: Damon makes a deal with Cade to save Stefan's soul by retrieving the Maxwell journal, and Caroline tries to connect with Stefan before Cade goes through with his plan.

Disc Three:

• The Lies Will Catch Up to You: Damon and Alaric come face-to-face with an old enemy after they obtain a weapon that may destroy Cade. Stefan is held captive and forced to confront a dark secret from his past.
• It's Been a Hell of a Ride: Damon and Stefan join forces against Cade to save Elena's casket and Caroline and Alaric deal with their daughters' burgeoning magical powers.
• We're Planning a June Wedding: A wedding is quickly planned so Damon and Stefan can lure out a dangerous nemesis. The looming threat puts Mystic Falls in imminent danger and must be destroyed.
• I Was Feeling Epic: With the fate of Mystic Falls at stake, Stefan and Damon must face their greatest enemy for one last battle in the epic series finale.

The Vampire Diaries: The Eighth and Final Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Vampire Diaries: The Eighth and Final Season's 1080p transfer is reminiscent of the series' more recent Blu-ray releases. It's a very dark, often shadowy show. Unsurprisingly, noise spikes in darker shots, as does macroblocking. Crushed blacks are a concern as well, though the soupy, murky, heavy-dark appearance seems to compliment the series' dramatic tone. Colors are fine; there's not often a significant level of vibrance, but blood and other bright colors, particularly in various well-lit areas, are nicely saturated, even under mostly limited range. Flesh tones are a bit creamy. Detailing is fine within the proper context. The digital photography, the show's dark nature, and its rather silky presentation don't leave room for tremendous, insightful textures, but basic facial, clothing, and environmental elements satisfy. The transfer works fine for the show's contrasts and visual style, but it's certainly not one to wow and dazzle friends and family.

The Vampire Diaries: The Eighth and Final Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Vampire Diaries: The Eighth and Final Season features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack that's not quite so aggressively intense as the previous season's effort. Balance and front-end dominance are most at play here. Music is nicely integrated, adequately wide and presenting with pleasing, general clarity that serves the material well. Surround engagement isn't usually intense and low end support isn't often prodigious. Much the same may be said of sound effects. The show certainly has its moments of explosive growth in terms of low end depth and surround implementation, but more generalized bits are usually left up front, at least predominantly. Environmental ambience is pleasing, again with more of a front-heavy presence rather than a more balanced surround usage, but listeners will often feel involved in various environments, even if considering only little hints that help to sonically shape every locale. Dialogue drives much of the season, and it's presented clearly and with firm center positioning.

The Vampire Diaries: The Eighth and Final Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Vampire Diaries: The Eighth and Final Season contains deleted scenes across all three discs. Disc three additionally houses a Comic-Con panel, an ad for the state of Georgia, and a featurette. A UV digital copy code is included with purchase.

Disc One:

• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Scenes from Today Will Be Different (0:33), You Decided That I Was Worth Saving (0:51), An Eternity of Misery (0:49), Coming Home Was a Mistake (1:17), and Detoured on Some Random Backwoods Path to Hell (2:13).

Disc Two:

• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Scenes from The Next Time I Hurt Somebody, It Could Be You (0:56) and The Simple Intimacy of the Near Touch (3:36).

Disc Three:

• The Vampire Diaries: 2016 Comic-Con Panel (1080i, 21:22): Entertainment Weekly's Sam Highfill hosts Matt Davis, Candice King, Julie Plec, Ian Somerhalder, Paul Wesley, Kevin Williamson, Kat Graham, Michael Malarkey, and Zach Roerig, all of whom gather to discuss the show in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
• Come Visit Georgia PSA (1080p, 5:09): A pitch piece that explores the benefits of shooting in and visiting the Peach State.
• Last Days as a Vampire (1080p, 14:51): An inside look at the final days of the series' shoot.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Scenes from The Lies Will Catch Up to You (0:49), It's Been a Hell of a Ride (3:16), and We're Planning a June Wedding (3:52).

The Vampire Diaries: The Eighth and Final Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It may be the end, but fans have eight relatively solid seasons to enjoy all over again. Season eight wraps things up in a manner befitting the series and its directions. Eight seasons is special, reflective of both staying power and quality. The show is certainly not everyone's cup of tea, and the vampire craze may be dimming as the Twilight fad fades away, but chances are The Vampire Diaries will enjoy a long shelf life as perhaps the quintessential show of its kind. The Vampire Diaries: The Eighth and Final Season offers honest video and audio. Extras are fine if not a bit flat. Recommended.