Vampire Academy season 1 episode 5 Recap: Near Guard, Far Guard

This article contains SPOILERS for Vampire Academy season 1 episode 5.

Rose leads other novices in an extreme test, but it comes at a terrible price. Meanwhile, Lissa does what she can to help her best friend.

Catch up here on everything from the last episode!

The episode begins with Rose and four other novice Guardians in an isolated area. Alberta tells them that they have to escort a Moroi Royal to a predetermined location and secure it by sundown.

Instead of using an actual Moroi, one of the novices will play the role. Since Rose is ranked number one, she is made team leader and put in charge of choosing who will be their pretend Moroi.

Rose says that a novice named Herk will be with her on near guard; meanwhile, Dean will be far rear, Meredith will be far front, and Eddie will play the role of the Moroi. Elsewhere, a Guardian fights to get a Strigoi into a tunnel.

Vampire Academy season 1 episode 5: Royal pains

The Strigoi gets angry and bites the Guardian, who struggles. Meanwhile, Lissa looks at a painting of St. Vladimir.

Suddenly, Lissa’s brother Andre appears, but he’s just a hallucination, part of the Darkness of Spirit. He says that the Darkness will twist away at Lissa until she remembers.

She yells at the hallucination of Andre to leave her alone. Meanwhile, Victor has been diagnosed with a terminal disease known as Sandovsky’s Syndrome and is telling his daughters about it.

Sonya asks how long he has, and Victor replies that it’s not long enough. She offers to heal him, but he and Robert are afraid of the toll it would take on her.

Another Council member comes in and interrupts the conversation, telling Victor that he’s made a terrible mistake. He yells at the Council for sending the novices to fight a real Strigoi, therefore putting their lives in danger.

The Queen is apparently aware of the Council’s decision, but Victor says she couldn’t have agreed to it. He suggests motioning to rescind the vote but is outvoted again.

Vampire Academy season 1 episode 5:  Two Strigoi for the price of one

Meanwhile, the novices are on their way to their destination. Eddie is pretending to be a rather spoiled Moroi, frustrating Rose.

She tells him to shut up before she kicks his teeth in. He tells her that he doesn’t get what Mason sees in her.

Rose comments that he really must not want his teeth. Eddie responds that Rose is rough around the edges and prickly, yet Mason worships her.

She says that she never asked anyone to worship her, to which Eddie responds that she doesn’t know how love works. Rose adds that Mason isn’t in love with her, and Dean suggests that he is.

Eddie tells Rose to cut Mason loose because she’s now got him twisted in knots. She responds by making fun of Eddie’s kite metaphor.

She then asks Meredith if there are wards set up around the training areas. Meredith states that there are, asking why Rose wants to know.

Rose responds that it’s nothing and that they should keep going. The novices pass right by the tunnel, where there are now two Strigoi.

Vampire Academy season 1 episode 5: A hot date/Council troubles

Mikhail is comforting Sonya after the news about Victor. Sonya apologizes for talking his ear off when Mikhail needs to work.

She says she wouldn’t blame him if he wanted a minute after the intensity of the previous night. Mikhail says it was good intense and that he likes dissecting cadavers and singing old Moroi operas in the shower.

He finds normal boring. The two of them kiss.

Mikhail tells Sonya she’s everything he’s ever hoped for and then some, and he’s here for it. She thanks him, and they make a plan to meet that night.

Alberta, Dimitri, and some other Guardians are tracking the novices. According to Dimitri, they’ll reach their destination in less than an hour, 45 minutes before sunset.

Bravo Team, the team who will evaluate the novices, arrived 15 minutes ago and is setting up base camp. Victor bursts in, asking Alberta to call off the test.

She says it’s impossible, and Dimitri wonders what’s happening. Victor mentions that the Council has put the novices with a real Strigoi.

Upon hearing this Dimitri says he’ll gather a unit, but Alberta tells him to stand down. She knows about the Strigoi but says that it’s their job to protect the Moroi and the Academy, not to coddle their own.

Vampire Academy season 1 episode 5: Survive by any means necessary

Dimitri asks if the Guardians know they’re going to face a real Strigoi and asks Alberta how she could do this. She tells him that she doesn’t have a choice; she just does what she’s told.

Alberta states that Dimitri should have more faith in Rose’s abilities, especially given the extra training he’s provided her. Meanwhile, the novices reach their destination, a human church.

Dean wonders if humans know about the Dhampirs and Moroi or St. Vladimir. Rose hopes not.

Meredith likes human things, and Rose teases her for it and for her crush on Mia. Meredith says that there’s a heart in there if you dig around a bit and that she likes what she likes.

Rose walks the perimeter, but Meredith tells her not to bother since it’ll be too late if she sees Bravo Team coming.

Rose wonders if it’s part of the test to see if the novices will stay in a location that they can’t defend. She suggests going to another structure, where they can make it by sunset if they leave now.

Meredith agrees, and Rose takes off her patch, saying that the other Guardians can’t fail them if there are no patches to pop. The novices head out to their new destination.

Vampire Academy season 1 episode 5:  A race for the throne/ Tatiana’s manipulation

Victor talks to the Queen about overturning the Council’s decision. She says that she won’t incite political upheaval, even for him.

She suggests that Victor run for the throne instead if he is so troubled by the Council’s decision. Elsewhere, Tatiana asks why Lissa’s interested in older Moroi art.

Lissa responds that art has always been her happy place. Tatiana says that she knows the collector who donated the piece of art Lissa is looking at.

She also notes that it’s a shame Lissa won’t be going on the Royal Tour. Lissa responds that since she doesn’t have a quorum, she can’t go on the Royal Tour and that Tatiana must know that.

Tatiana says that she knows that Lissa deserves to choose a spouse when she’s ready, not because Victor is desperate for votes. Lissa says Victor just wants what is best for her.

Tatiana says that if that were true, he would’ve prevented a Strigoi from being released on her friends. Meanwhile, at their new location, the novices make a plan for their defense.

Rose tells them that they can do it, and Meredith praises her leadership skills.

Vampire Academy season 1 episode 5: Moroi protecting Dhampirs?

The two Strigoi leave the tunnel. Dimitri is praying in a church when Lissa comes up to him, telling him that prayers won’t help Rose, but he can.

He gets on his motorcycle and heads out to do just what Lissa said. Lissa walks with Christian, who advises her against going to find Rose since he’s worried about her ability to defend herself.

Lissa says that she has to warn Rose. Dimitri might not find them in time or the Strigoi might find them first.

If the roles were reversed, Rose wouldn’t hesitate to come for her. Christian argues that protecting Lissa is what Rose has been trained to do.

Lissa just looks at him upon hearing that fact. He tells her that Rose is going to be so upset that he let Lissa do this.

Lissa just wants her friend to get back safely. Christian wonders how they will get there since Rose and the other novices are offsite.

Lissa assures he won’t like it, but it’s handled. The scene then moves to Christian, Lissa, Mia, and Mason in Jesse’s car.

Jesse says that it’s the Guardians’ job to protect the Moroi, not the other way around. Lissa counters that he could’ve just said no and not come with them.

Jesse replies that when the last Dragomir comes knocking, you answer. Lissa might find a way to make it up to him.

Vampire Academy season 1 episode 5: Hot date with a Strigoi

Meredith, Dean, and Herk find Mikhail looking at their patches left in the human church. They bring him back to where Rose and Eddie are.

He says he’s there to grade their defense strategy for Bravo Team, but it looks like they’ve got it well in hand. He tells Rose that he’s impressed but that the Guardians want to one-up her because she’s Janine Hathaway’s daughter.

Mikhail says that she needs to show them that Janine is just her mother because he has 1,000 mirs riding on it. He adds he’d happily split it with Rose, and she agrees to do it.

They touch their boots together, and Mikhail heads off, saying he has a date to get to. Robert sees Sonya getting ready for the date, humming an Old Moroi opera.

Mikhail returns to see the other members of Bravo Team killed by the Strigoi. One of the Strigoi then finds him and attacks, turning him into a Strigoi as well.

Strigoi Mikhail gets up. Victor bursts in on the Queen, telling her that Lissa was seen leaving the grounds with some other students.

Vampire Academy season 1 episode 5: Lissa to the rescue!

He asks her to guess where they’re headed and begs her to stop the test. The Queen asks who else was with her.

He names Jesse, Christian, and Mason. He also mentions that his daughter is with them.

Lissa and company arrive, and she asks where Rose is. Rose runs out, asking what Lissa’s doing there.

She tells Rose about the Strigoi. Rose initially doesn’t believe it but then realizes that Lissa is telling the truth.

Meredith wonders how Rose knows, but she says she just does. Meredith runs off when she hears that Mia is there, and Rose calls after her.

Lissa says that they have to warn the instructors, but Rose doesn’t know where they are. She wonders how they found them, but Mason explains it’s because he knows how she thinks.

She wonders what she would do next. Mason suggests that she’d have Dean go get Herk, but they already did that.

Vampire Academy season 1 episode 5: Friendly fire

When they all head inside, Dean arrives to find Herk being attacked by Strigoi Mikhail. Meredith yells at Mia for coming.

She says she was worried. Jesse hates to break up their lovefest, but he wonders where everyone else is since he’s starving.

Meredith replies sarcastically, and Jesse says he’s going to go. He offers to let Meredith get in the car but warns he’ll only offer once.

Meredith takes his keys. Jesse yells at her to give them back, but she refuses.

He threatens to feed on her resulting in Meredith challenging him to try. Suddenly, Jesse is having trouble breathing, thanks to Mia.

Meredith tells Mia to look at her and that it’s okay. Jesse warns them that neither of them will get away with attacking a Royal.

They hear screams, and its Dean returning to where the others have set up camp with the bad news that Mikhail is a Strigoi and that he got Herk.

Vampire Academy season 1 episode 5: A hard choice

Rose says they have to go, and they head out, but Strigoi Mikhail finds them. Christian sends a bunch of fire at Strigoi Mikhail but doesn’t know how to control it.

Christian warns Rose that she has to figure something out, or they’ll all be doomed. Rose says that she’ll distract Strigoi Mikhail.

She tells Mason to get everyone else to the car. Christian can’t hold his fire magic much longer and eventually leaves.

Rose fights Strigoi Mikhail while everyone else reaches the car. Dean is bleeding heavily, and Mason says to stop the bleeding, then get him in the car.

He tells Eddie and Meredith to help him set up the perimeter until Rose catches up with them. Strigoi Mikhail seems to have gotten the upper hand in the fight against Rose, but then Dimitri shows up and kicks him away.

Dimitri helps Rose, and they fight Strigoi Mikhail together. Rose defeats and kills him.

Meanwhile, Lissa uses her newfound Spirit powers to heal Dean. Rose is upset about Mikhail’s demise and refuses to believe he’s really gone.

Dimitri does his best to comfort her, calling her Roza again.

Vampire Academy season 1 episode 5: Hard losses and new revelations

Alberta and some other Guardians arrive when Rose tells her that Herk is gone, and so is Mikhail. Dimitri says that whoever turned them is still out there.

Alberta says that the Guardians will fan out and find them. She tells Dimitri to get Rose home.

Back at St. Vladimir’s, Rose and Lissa reunite, hugging. Lissa asks Rose how she is, heals a wound on her hand, and tells her that she healed Dean.

Lissa excitedly shows her friend a painting of St. Vladimir compelling someone, but Rose wants her to take it easy. She is worried because she’s been picking up on Lissa’s emotions.

But Lissa says it has to be a good thing because St. Vladimir lived his life in peace. She mentions a nursery rhyme about St. Vladimir on a farm with someone named Anna beside him.

St. Vladimir is the founder of their religion, and that someone too emotional wouldn’t be on so many statues. Lissa wants to talk to the owner of the collection to find out how St. Vladimir handled Spirit without losing his mind.

But she can only do so on the Royal Tour because the owner is in Lisbon. Lissa agrees to marry Jesse to get her quorum back but wants to spend time with his parents on the Royal Tour first.

Vampire Academy season 1 episode 5: Love triangle?

Mia tells Sonya about what happened to Mikhail, but Sonya refuses to believe it. She says that it kills Mia to see her happy.

Sonya leaves, upset, and Victor follows her, telling her it’ll be okay. She says it won’t be and that she won’t lose him too.

She uses her abilities to heal him, and Rose wakes up from a nightmare to see Dimitri. He asks how she is.

She says she feels like she killed a piece of herself and that she’s wondering if she even wants to do this anymore. Dimitri wishes he could tell her it gets easier, but it doesn’t.

He apologizes for not stopping Lissa from getting involved as it’s his duty to protect her. He says his mind should have been on Lissa instead of Rose and whether or not she was safe.

Rose and Dimitri share a moment, just looking at each other before they are interrupted by Mason looking for her. Mason asks how Rose is doing and says he doesn’t know how to process losing one of their own.

But he doesn’t want to be mad at her. He says that when Rose gets back from the Royal Tour, he’ll be there waiting, and kisses her cheek.

Vampire Academy season 1 episode 5: Rising and falling

The Council argues over the test for the novices since there are seven dead and four wounded. Tatiana says that it might not be the result they hoped for, but it is what they needed,

She argues that they need better-equipped Guardians to deal with the influx of Strigoi attacks. Victor arrives and says that they all deserve better, Moroi and Dhampir alike, and announces his candidacy for the throne.

Lissa discusses her feelings for Christian with him, saying that there are things she has to do for her family but that they don’t change how she feels about him. She admits that she wants to be with him.

Christian says she can do whatever she needs to. They kiss and sleep together.

Rose is training when Sonya tries to jump off a window. Thankfully a bunch of birds catch her and lift her back up.

Rose throws something at the Guardians’ leaderboard, damaging it. The episode ends with Sonya walking somewhere with feathers all around her.

Will Rose still want to be a guardian? How will Lissa deal with the Darkness that comes with Spirit?

Let us know your answers and opinions in the comments below!

Watch new episodes of Vampire Academy Thursdays on Peacock.