The Vampire Diaries Finale LIVE RECAP: Season 5 “Home”

The Vampire Diaries Finale LIVE RECAP: Season 5 “Home”

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES returns to the CW at 8PM EST tonight for a brand new episode! In “Home,” Season 5 ends with Damon trying to stop the disintegration of the Other Side. Meanwhile, Elena takes matters into her own hands and demands that Liv and Luke help her; and Markos uses violence against Tyler/Julian to prove that Mystic Falls is under the control of the Travelers.

On the last episode of Vampire Diaries when Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Elena (Nina Dobrev) escaped from Markos’ (guest star Raffi Barsoumian) control, only to find themselves stranded in a remote location, Stefan got philosophical with Elena about her relationship with Damon (Ian Somerhalder). After their attempt to protect the dopplegangers went badly, Liv (guest star Penelope Mitchell) and Luke (guest star Chris Brochu) came up with a dangerous new strategy. Damon recruited Matt (Zach Roerig) and Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) to help him set a trap for Markos, who turned out to have a devastating surprise of his own. Bonnie (Kat Graham) finally admitted to Caroline (Candice Accola) that she’s been keeping the truth about the Other Side from everyone. Finally, while Bonnie searched desperately for a way to stop Markos, Caroline was witness to an unthinkable act of violence by one of the Travelers. Michael Allowitz directed the episode written by Rebecca Sonnenshine.  Did you watch last week’s episode?  If you missed it we have you covered with a full and detailed recap, right here for you.

On tonight’s episode heartbroken by an unexpected tragedy, Damon (Ian Somerhalder) is focused on holding himself together, while pushing Bonnie (Kat Graham) harder than ever to find a way to stop the disintegration of the Other Side. Elena (Nina Dobrev) takes matters into her own hands and demands that Liv (guest star Penelope Mithcell) and Luke (guest star Chris Broshu) help her, but Liv refuses to cooperate until Caroline (Candice Accola) provides her with some personal motivation. Sheriff Forbes (guest star Marguerite MacIntyre) is horrified when Markos (guest star Raffi Barsoumian) uses violence against Tyler/Julian (Michael Trevino) to prove that Mystic Falls is now under the control of the Travelers. With new information from Sheriff Forbes, Damon comes up with a dangerous plan that relies on split-second timing from Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) and Matt (Zach Roerig). Liv’s off-hand remark regarding Stefan (Paul Wesley) gets a surprisingly emotional response from Caroline. As conditions on the Other Side worsen, Bonnie takes the opportunity to settle an old score. Finally, Damon’s plan causes a massive explosion in Mystic Falls, and everyone is caught up in the confusion, leaving a trail of heroism, sacrifice, relief and despair. Chris Grismer directed the episode written by Caroline Dries & Brian Young.

You’re not going to want to miss any of the action tonight, so tune in at 8PM EST to the CW to catch the latest. We’ll be live recapping the finale for you right here and in the meantime hit up our comments section and tell us your thoughts on the current season!

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Caroline holds Stefan’s dead baby and sobs. She has him on the sofa. Elena and Damon come in and Caroline says she couldn’t leave him outside and asks about Bonnie’s plan to bring people back. Damon says they will find a way. He covers his brother and says he needs to get him away from prying eyes. He covers his brother’s body. Ghost Stefan watches then fights against the white light that tries to suck him away from them. A hand grabs him to save him – it’s Lexi! She tells Stefan that she’s now saved him from literal and metaphorical darkness and says he owes her a beer.

Damon is in a rage over his brother’s death and asks Bonnie why she failed. Bonnie says the Traveler was sucked into oblivion. She says it’s more than the spell and they also need a dozen Travelers ready to overwhelm her. Damon says she needs motivation and he says his brother is there and reminds her that she’s on the line too. Damon reminds her that Alaric and her Grams are too. Bonnie tells him that Enzo is there too and he calls him butterfingers for letting the Traveler go. Enzo says he has a plan.

He says they need a witch to do the spell and Bonnie says she has someone – more or less. Luke is driving slow and Liv chews him out because a grandma passed them. He says no one is coming for them but then Elena is in front of them and Caroline behind. They have them trapped and Elena tells her that Stefan is dead so they got what they wanted. Liv says she is sorry about it and Elena says she’s going to help bring him back.

Liv says if both doppelgangers are alive again, the spell will reboot and all magic will be gone. Elena says it won’t happen because they will have to kill all the Travelers to boot the spell. Caroline reminds Luke that Stefan saved her life but he says he can’t risk it. Caroline breaks Luke’s neck killing him instantly to motivate Liv and tells her that since he’s now on the Other Side she should help.

Sheriff Forbes shows up to see Marcos and they discuss the snag they’re dealign with. They moved the town sign to where the spell starts. She says that they shouldn’t have picked a town full of vampires. They bring out Tyler and Marcos tells her that it’s Julian in his body and he betrayed them by killing Stefan and stopping the spell. Julian tells Marcos he’s no great leader and Marcos says the spell eliminates spirit magic but not earth magic.

Marcos explains that as soon as they bring Tyler across the spell line, his vampirism will be gone and he’ll be back to a guy with a broken neck and a werewolf gene. They drag him across the city line and his fangs pop out then are gone, his eyes yellow and then are gone, his skin burns and then his nexk twitches, rebroken and he collapses to the ground. The Sheriff is horrified.

Bonnie feels a twitch and says they have someone else they now need to bring back – Luke. She says his Traveler needs to show and then Tyler shows up as a ghost. He asks how he’s there and she says he’s back to being him and he’s dead. Tyler asks if he’s dead and Bonnie says they can bring him back. She tells him that at least his passenger is gone. He takes her hand and he passes to the Other Side.

Jeremy reports the zone of the spell. He tracked where his sensibility to kill vampires ended so he could define the limits. They shoot a pic of the map to Caroline and Elena. Matt and Damon plot mass murder. Matt says the Sheriff’s gas leak story to get people to evacuate is plausible and shows them a gas line that runs under town. He wants to blow up the town – or at least part of it. Damon says Caroline needs to get her mom to gather the Travelers in a spot for about 10 minutes so they can turn on the gas and blow it up.

Lexi and Stefan are on a hunt for Alaric. She asks why he never met her in Portland and he explains that he was locked up and drowned by Silas. He asks what she wants to say to him and she says Caroline and he says what. They see the Sheriff and Marcos talk and she offers an open bar for a Traveler meeting. Stefan sees this and realizes there is some sort of plan afoot. Bonnie talks to Jeremy and says she has to stay put so she doesn’t blink out of existence. She tells him he needs to go be Bruce Willis and she says that she’s a gateway but once the Travelers die it will push the gate wider and the dead people that need to come back will come through her.

She says then she will stop being the anchor and he asks how she will come back. She tells him she’s taking care of it. Stefan shows up but he’s not acting like himself and Bonnie realizes it’s Silas. She reminds him he killed her Dad and he says he’s there to help to bring himself back as well and tells her they need to let bygones be bygones.

[8:37:46 PM] Rachel Rowan: Stefan and Lexi wander the school looking for Alaric. They wonder if he’s moved on and found peace. Lexi says maybe she still has something to do. Stefan says they need to make a pledge to find peace together if they end up stuck on the Other Side. She says they need to find a way back so he can get a first date with Caroline.

Silas tries to teach Bonnie a spell to bring them all back. Elena and Caroline are there and they can’t see Silas since he’s ghosty and Bonnie lies about who’s helping and says it’s an old spooky lady. Matt tells Jeremy it’s ironic they’re going to blow up the only place in town dumb enough to hire them both. Jer says the Salvatores will make a reconstruction donation and Matt says that’s if killing the Travelers accomplishes what they need.

They hear noise and revelry and realize the Travelers are all gathered. They are drinking and partying and Marcos tells the Sheriff he didn’t think they would give her a chance to speak. She says since they’re not going to listen, she’s going to evacuate as well. He wants to convince her to stay and keep her home there and she says her home has to be a place her daughter can come but Marcos won’t let her go.

Damon tells Elena that Matt and Jeremy are going to blow up the Grill and then he tells her the truth – that someone has to set off the explosion. Elena says no and asks if he sees a future with her. He says it’s all he has seen since the moment he met her. She asks why then would he go on a suicide mission and he says it’s only half of one because if he dies, he will get brought back with the others. He tells her it’s his choice and she has to respect it. He kisses her and tells her he promises to come back to her. He repeats his promise then kisses her again.

Enzo asks Bonnie if all is good at the tomb and she says they are but Silas is a crappy mentor. They hear a whispery sound as the wind blows around and Enzo says it’s back. Silas comes out and says she’s ready. Enzo is getting dragged away and Silas and Bonnie try to help. They hang onto trees and she reaches out to Silas but then says bygones and he flies away into the wind. Inside the crypt, Liv lights the candles, checks the time – 6:59 – and begins chanting. Ghost Luke is there and says she can do it.

The clock in town chimes seven and Matt and Jeremy bust open the gas main. They turn on all the valves and run off. The Travelers continue to party upstairs.

Bonnie stares at the Bennett graves and asks where her Grams is. She shows up finally and tells her not to rush her. Bonnie says she found a way and Grams says she won’t survive it. She tells her it’s been her privilege to watch her grow. Bonnie is teary and tells her to pass through when the gate opens but Grams says she’s staying.

Bonnie says it’s imploding and Grams says she’s going to be fine and has found peace because she has made sure Bonnie will find hers. Bonnie doesn’t understand but Grams tells her to just know she looked out for her. They hug. Grams tells her she loves her and tells her to stay strong. They’re both bawling and Bonnie tells her she loves her.  Stefan and Lexi are there at the crypt now as well.

The Sheriff and Marcos sit at a table and he asks if she’s up to something. She asks if he smells gas. She says she thinks there’s a leak and they go to investigate. When he leans down to check she pistol whips him and then texts the gang to do it now. But then Marcos wakes up and lunges for her.

Damon gets the text from her. He’s right across the city line. He hops in his car then Elena does too. She say she’s respecting his choice but he has to respect hers too. She tells him she’s all in even though he reminds her she’s about to relive her drowning. She tells him to get going and he cranks they car. They zoom across the town line.

they’re still vampires. She starts to choke on water and they clasp hands as they drive the car head on into the Grill. They crash through the window and it goes up into a fireball. Viv chants and chants and Luke encourages her, unbeknownst to her. Bonnie stands in the woods as the Travelers, Marcos first, march out of the woods.

Marcos says he looks forward to continuing to come back through her no matter how many times her friends kill her. One Traveler comes back through. Elena is there and Damon too. She tells them to pass through and then come back as fast as they can to get back to their bodies. They agree and grab her hands. Elena sees the charred wreckage at the Grill and then Alaric is there.

He tells her to go home fast and promises to find Damon and send him on his way. Damno is unconscious on the ground but wakes to flickering lights. Damon finds the Sheriff’s body and tries to lift an obstruction off her. Alaric is there and helps. He tells him when he finally gets the girl, he shouldn’t blow her up. Liz comes to and Alaric thinks she will be okay.

Viv chants and then Luke runs out and says they have to start now. Stefan says they have to wait on Damon but Luke says no and grabs Bonnie. He comes back to life and then rushes to Liv and tells her to stop. She says she promised to help and continues. Bonnie tells Tyler to come on but he wants to wait. Enzo heads through her and is back. He tells Caroline that he’ll see her soon. Tyler comes through and hugs Caroline – he says it felt different. He realizes that he’s human again.

Bonnie calls out to Stefan and Lexi and she tells him he has to go. Elena runs up and says she can’t find Damon and won’t leave without him. She says no but Bonnie grabs her and forces her through. Bonnie starts coughing up blood. Stefan touches her to help but that makes him pass through. Bonnie tells them that it’s okay and says she can do it. Lexi calls to Bonnie and asks if it’s killing her. She tells Lexi she can do it.

Marcos comes and tries to pass through buthe and Lexi struggle and then she throws him into the beyond and he’s sucked away. She tells Lexi to come on but she says she can’t come through because it might kill her then Damon couldn’t pass through. Lexi gives herself over to peace and tells the power that’s sucking people in that it won’t get her.

Damon finally shows up with Alaric. She touches him but then Viv stops chanting for a moment. Luke starts chanting with her. Bonnie tells Damon that Elena made it through. She touches him but nothing happens. He says – well, will you look at that. Elena rushes into the crypt and sees that Liv has stopped. She says they can’t stop because Damon is still on the other side. Bonnie says it’s too late and they missed their one shot. Elena breaks down sobbing. Bonnie tells her that Damon is there and that she can say good bye. She leaves to give them privacy.

Caroline comes to sit beside Stefan. He says he lost them both – two people he’s known longest in this world are both gone. She asks about Lexi and he says she never came out and he knows that it has to be her that stopped Marcos – says it was her unfinished business. He says Damon finally had everything he wanted and he was happy. Stefan says he should be there and hangs his head to cry. Caroline comforts him.

Elena cries and tells Damon that he lied to her. He reaches out to her and says he wouldn’t apologize even if she could hear him. She begs him not to leave her and he says he has no choice but that she’s the greatest thing that has happened in his 173 years. He says knowing he died being loved by Elena is the epitome of a good life. She slumps to the floor and lets her grief flow. Damon says he loves her. Elena says she wants him to come back to her. She cries and cries.

Bonnie tells Jeremy that she lied – she can’t come back. She says when the Other Side goes, so will she. She says she didn’t want to ruin their last days together. She tells him she died the day after graduation and all this other time has been a gift. She tells him to take care of Elena and tells him she loves him. He tells her not to hang up but she does. Matt comes in and tells Jer the gas line is off. He says he has to get to Bonnie and runs out.

Elena sobs. Alaric is there and she tells him that Dmaon is gone. He hugs her as she cries. They hear Jeremy screaming for Bonnie outside. They go out to see what’s going on. Jeremy runs up screaming for her. He sees her for a moment and then she’s gone and is on the Other Side with Damon. Lights come out of the trees and everything starts shaking.

Damon asks if it’s all going down and she says it is. She says there’s a million other people they’d each rather be with right now, but they take each others hands for comfort anyway since they are all that’s available. She asks if he thinks it will hurt and he says he doesn’t know. The lights and wind escalate until it’s all bright white and then there’s only silence and we don’t see them anymore.

THE END!!!