Vampire Academy Season 1 Episode 7 Review: Beyond the Wards

Vampire Academy Season 1 Episode 7, “Beyond the Wards,” is a deceiving episode.

For the bulk of it, everything is going well. Lissa and Rose are having some wonderful friendship moments as they bask in the glow of the human world, getting to shed their royal and Dhampir roles for a bit and just be carefree.

Dimitri and Rose also get to have some moments away from the prying eyes at St. Vladimir’s. Granted, if their plan was to be discreet, they could’ve been keeping an eye out to make sure Lissa and Adrian didn’t sneak up on them, but neither seems too bothered by their discovery.

All in all, “Beyond the Wards” is a great time where we’re able to just enjoy spending time with these characters. They’re a fun group. Dimitri is a work in progress.

We should’ve known things were too good. We were too happy. Vampire Academy teased us with the possibility of it, and then ripped it away from us. The end result is, naturally, pain, but also a fantastic episode.

Aside from the joy of seeing our group out in the human world, we finally get some answers about the mind link and the darkness! Thank goodness. This mystery was going on for far too long.

It’s a relief that essentially every answer we currently have about spirit users is answered. It’s not as if Clarice only answered the mind link question but didn’t have any idea about how Vladimir handled his darkness. She is a one-stop shop for Vladimir answers.

By the end of the episode, I was fully prepared to for the show to leave what Clarice told Lissa a mystery to be revealed at another time. The second option I figured would happen is that we would find out but Rose wouldn’t. The show would’ve done this to add some suspense as we wait for the truth to come out.

Thankfully, that’s not what happens. It’s such a nice change of pace that Lissa doesn’t keep it from Rose. She tells her the truth as she shuts the door in Rose’s face, which is hurtful, but hey, one less mystery for the show to drag out.

Rose: But you felt it, right? What we could be?

Dimitri: Every second of it but never again.

By Lissa sharing that devastating revelation with Rose, Vampire Academy is setting us up for some angst.

Rose loses her relationship with Dimitri as well as her plan for her future now that Lissa doesn’t want Rose to be her guardian any more. It seems highly unlikely that choosing another guardian will be enough to stop Lissa from unconsciously passing off the darkness to Rose.

After all, the link happened because Lissa brought Rose back to life. None of that changes by Lissa changing things. But hey, worth a shot to try it out.

As awful as it sounds, it’ll be interesting to see how Rose and Lissa are coping with all of this during Vampire Academy Season 1 Episode 8, “The Trials.” I’m guessing Rose will turn to Mason or maybe even Meredith, while Lissa will spend time with Christian.

Stray Thoughts

• I love that Dimitri’s not stupid; he picked up on Rose’s cues that signaled either Strigoi or that Lissa’s in danger.
• Adrian’s flirting with Rose, more specifically Dimitri’s reaction to the flirting, is hilarious.
• Adrian is such a good friend for giving Lissa the full list of potential suitors.
• However, I will need more sparks from Lissa and Christian before I consider getting on board with their marriage.
• Victor is not ready for the elemental trials, whatever they may be.
• Can anyone enter the trials to become Queen/King, or just those already in the running, aka Tatiana and Victor?
• We seemingly get confirmation that Lissa is unaware that Sonya is a spirit user, so I can’t wait for her to find that out.

What did you think of this episode of Vampire Academy? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

New episodes of Vampire Academy premiere Thursdays on Peacock.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

20 Fantastic Classic LGBTQ+ Couples on TV