After reading Ken Tucker’s review of The Vampire Diaries, I knew the new show from Kevin Williamson (Dawson’s Creek, Scream) wouldn’t suck. But I’m still breathing a sigh of relief after watching last night’s premiere, because it’s one of the fall shows I was really counting on.
The setup, even if you haven’t read L.J. Smith’s young adult novels the show’s based on, is pretty predictable: Vampire Stefan (Everwood’s Paul Wesley) returns to Mystic Falls, the town he was raised in more than a century ago, and enrolls in high school because he “needs to know” Elena (Degrassi: The Next Generation’s Nina Dobrev), who bares a striking resemblance to a female named Katherine he knew back in 1864. Stefan’s brother, Damon (Lost’s Ian Somerhalder), also returns to Mystic Falls, and — surprise — unlike his brother, who he hasn’t seen in 15 years, he still feeds on humans. And he’s hungry. He wants to fulfill his old promise to bring Stefan an “eternity of misery,” so he leaves one of his victims alive so her first word upon waking up in the hospital is “vampire.” Having not yet read the books, I can tell you that was the perfect place to end the pilot: I want to know how long it takes the town to figure it out and what the reaction is when they do.
I can also tell you that the only reason I was happy that said victim, Vicki (Kayla Ewell), survived was because Elena’s younger brother Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen)likes her and there’s no way that understandably fragile boy could handle her death after the loss of his parents — who died four months ago in a car-falls-off-bridge-into-lake accident that Elena somehow survived. (Jeremy is mourning with drugs; Elena by writing in diary.) The actress who plays Vicki is fine, I just have no patience for young women who date total douches (and hers tried to date rape her in the woods before Jeremy broke it up). As for the other peripheral characters, Vicki is the sister ofjock Matt, Elena’s ex boyfriend played by Zach Roerig, who looks like he should be on Friday Night Lights — and was. He’s a bit of a snooze, but Elena’s maybe-psychic friend Bonnie (Katerina Graham) and frenemy Caroline (Candice Accola) are promising. Particularly Caroline, who got brutally rebuffed by Stefan (“Caroline, you and me, it’s not gonna happen, sorry”), has said she’s tired of always coming in second to Elena, and has now caught the eye of Damon.
Some would say the success of this show rides on the chemistry between Dobrev and Wesley. They’re the ones who’ll be compared to Bella and Edward.For the record: I like that Elena isn’t as awkward as Bella, that Stefan’s eyes go red when he’s lusting for Elena’s blood or her, that he’s already given us a shirtless shot, that he participates in class, and that we have a reason that she’s drawn to him other than his insanely good looks (which remind me a bit of EW’s Dave Karger, and therefore make me feel fuzzier toward him than I should): They both feel dead inside, and they both keep journals about it! Perhaps that explains why their dialogue is generally better — unless they’re talking about how Elena’s relationship with Matt “wasn’t passionate.”
For me, however, the show will live and die by Somerhalder. We only got a taste of him in the premiere. He’s bulked up a bit from his Lostdays, and he still has that ability to smirk in a way that makes you want to slap him. (POPWATCH POLL!) Again, I haven’t read the books, but I’m sensing from the ominous music that played when Damon entered Stefan’s bedroom, the way that he flung his brother against the side of the house to prove his superior strength, and the fact that he essentially threatened to steal the ring that allows his brother to survive sunlight, that we’re not supposed to like the guy, at all. He’s going to be pure evil, as opposed to True Blood’s Eric, who’s evil with a code. I hope that’s the case. After spending a summer loving vampires, I’m ready to hate one. Make me hate you, Ian Somerhalder. Do it!
What did you think of The Vampire Diaries premiere? Will you be tuning in for more?
P.S. If you want to discuss how the series compares to the books, please write the word BOOK at the start of your comment. That way, viewers who don’t want to be spoiled can skip it, and readers who want to join your discussion will be drawn to it.
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Liked the show more than I thought I would. Only thing that bothered me was the lifting of the ring allowing Stefan to go out in daylight; Angel covered that in the episode with the Gem of Amarra. Curious to know how the show is similar to the books?
Comments comparing this show to Buffy and other more recent Vampire shows/books is what is going to get to me. These books were written in the very early 90’s before the Buffy TV show even started. If anything Joss (whom I love) and authors like Stephanie Meyers have borrowed from this book. I’m a huge fan of Buffy, Twilight, and TrueBlood and now Vampire Diaries. It wasn’t perfect, but it was better than I expected and I’ll keep watching.
actually, the buffy movie script had been floating around since around 89.
I agree with you Tracy, the endless comparisons to other vampire books and shows is getting tired. I wasn’t overwhelmed with Vampire Diaries, but it definitely has potential. People need to judge this without making comparisons. I’m a huge Twilight and True Blood fan, so I am holding out hope that this gets better.
Sorry Jeff, but the ring situation came way after the books did. The script for the movie may have been around, but that’s not what the other comments were getting at. The Gem of Amarra (sp?) came after. Still doesn’t change the fact that I love me some Buffy.
Branwell, the concept of the ring that allows Stefan to go out in the daylight is taken from the book series which was written in 1991, years before Angel…
Love it! I thought this show would suck but man a few minutes in and I was hooked. I really like the cast too.
Omg! Me too. I had a feeling this show was going to be a new favorite of mine but also felt it was going to be another Twilight or TrueBlood but it was somewhat different. I am now like in love with Paul Wesley though i feel they are trying to make him in the style of Edward. Otherwise, CW has a new veiwer for every thursday night at eight o clock. Loved it!!!
I like it for teens and maybe older but honestly everytime I see a vampire themed movie or show I wish Moonlight had surfaced even six months or so after Twilight so that the cult of fans for Moonlight did not have to have such disappointing ratings leading to it being cancelled. It was an excellent show!
I loved Moonlight and miss it. I did like the premiere of Vampire Diaries but still mourn Moonlight. I will watch VD to see how it develops.
omg I was thinking the same thing.
I miss Moonlight too
I miss Moonlight! It only survived sixteen episodes, but everything was well done. Not to mention everyone’s arrogant vampire , Josef.
I have not read this series of books. I have read the other series Sookie Stackhouse, Twilight and even some of Interview with a Vampire books. I have seen all of the shows involved. Overall this show is ok particularly for the age it is written for. I found it a bit tired, but then I think we are quickly approaching Vampire over kil. As usual the entertainment industry finds one small success and drains every last drop until boredom sets in and we change the channel.
TOTALLY agree with your last statement, Val. Well said!
Gold star, Val.
Vampires have always been in as witnessed by older shows that were popular- Buffy, Moonlight, Port Charles went all vampire with Caleb and it was popular and wasn’t there even a soap called Dark Shadows? People like the genre and Hollywood is just capitalizing on that.
*in, as witnessed by
Speaking of Dark Shadows, this too will become a movie and JOhnny Depp is set to play the Vampire. I cannot wait! I love vampire movies!
An Interview with a Vampire. Queen of the Damned(RIP Aaliyah), Underworld(Kate), The Wesley Snipe movies….I can’t think of the name…jeez….If someone remembers let me know.
Ummmm…..ever heard of a little book/movie called Twilight??? What a pathetic attempt at cashing in on the new vampire craze. Laughable really……LOL
The Vampire Diaries books were written many years before Twilight.
Um…I found Twilight to be pretty darn pathetic. This show…not so much. Enjoyed it quite a bit.
Ever here of a book called Dracula?
your precious Edward and Bella would not exist without the Count
I thought the show was ok – but if I have to chose between Diaries and Bones – then I have to choose Bones
Yes! Thank you!
i have to choose diaries but i would probably be switching chanels during break.
I think it was awesome, better actually then twilight surpisingly considering i am a huge fan of the series
Bones will win for me, but I will DVR Vampire Diaries to watch with my 13 year-old daughter. Much more enjoyable to lust after ‘teenagers’ when you can lust with family.
(Booth and me have ‘private’ time. I don’t share him with the 13 y.o. 
To share Booth is unthinkable!
The Vampire Diaries came out 1991. WAY before Twilight.
THANK YOU! I’m sick of everyone comparing all the vampire shows to Twilight.
Yeah, but here’s the thing. In the books, Elena is a blond, spoiled princess center of the universe type of character. And in the show they totally made her shy, brunette…..and, sort of like Bella. They totally Twilight-ed the show – it’s now much more like the Twilight books than it is like the original Vampire Diaries books. So the books might have come first, but the changes they’ve made to the characters and the story are totally a result of the Twilight craze. Plus, I have to say, the show is just BAD. The dialogue, the lack of any sort of plot or purpose. I love me a good vampire book, tv show, movie, whatever…but this just isn’t good.
And Buffy was way before Twilight too – vampire in love with a human. Twilight is not that original so jump off your high horse.
i haven’t heard anyone say Twilight was original! There is nothing originl anymore so we just have to deal with the entertainment that’s presented to us and either like it or not!
Ralisa as for your “pathetic Attempt” comment, how about you get more informed before you start running your mouth. The Vampire Diaries was written long (about 10 years) before Twilight so if anything Stephanie Meyer and Charlaine Harris jumped on the vampire craze of the early 90’s that the Vampire Diaries and Interview with a Vampire started. I have read all of them and loved them all. I thought the show was good (if you didn’t read the books), it didn’t really follow the story as much as I would have liked though, but neither did the Twilight movie!! I will definitely not be removing the show anytime soon from my season pass list!!
Although Diaries came about 14 years before Twilight, it’s true what you said. Twilight started the craze (Twilight, True Blood and now Diaires). Before Twilight, the only vamp show was Buffy! So… All you people kind-of misinterpreted what she was trying to say.
Yes, Diaries came out first, but what made this genre popular was Twilight.
no, not really – I think it was more Bram Stoker (translated into film numerous times) and then Ann Rice had some fun with vampires a while ago too.
Nothing is really original under the sun anymore…but, Twilight is not the only reason vampire lit is on the rise again.
Read the Vampire Diaries books. You will see Twilight lifted quite a bit of text from them.
Are you high?
The Vampire Diaries books were written waaaaaay before the Twilight books. Check the copyright dates before you say something stupid, please and thank you.
it was okay the vampire is cute…but i think the drinking and smoking is kinda a bad example to set…lots of teenage girls are watching these shows and showing parties with drinking and having
drinking problems are very true in reality but it was just really wierd seeing that because 10 or even 5 years ago you would never see that on cable network show.
It’s a reflection of the real world.
Exactly. I really hope that TVD continues to show teens as they are. Some drink, some don’t. Some do drugs, some don’t. But a high school full of teens that’s completely dry and sober is unrealistic.
It is up to the parents to regulate what their child watches. Its their responsibility to be informed of what they are watching and if they feel it is appropriate for their child to watch, from sitcoms to movies.
It also showed that poor judgment by drinking allowed you to be subject to unwanted sexual advances and being led into the woods to be bitten by a deadly predator. I don’t think it portrayed drinking in a glamorous way at all. And did the brother seem happy on drugs? They’re going somewhere with his storyline to prove a point…
ever see Skins on BBC America, teens drink smoke and have sex and just like real life sometimes bad stuff come of it and sometimes its just fun. I hate that American TV shows seem to want to lecture and judge. Also I thought all the actors are way to old, Stephen played a teenager in Wolf Lake oh about 10 years ago.
Some High Schoolers do go to parties and drink, and they sometimes do have sexual encounters they later regret. Some high schoolers take drugs and more often than not now it is in the form of pills. Some high schoolers do not. It showed reality. If you are concerned about the image it projects, use it as a discussion point with your kids after watching it.
Highschoolers know all about that stuff. They aren’t oblivious to the world around them, and they are (hopefully) smart enough to understand that it’s their decision. However many years of health class is pounded into their heads, and smoking as taken a decrease. You can’t put the blame on a T.V. show – its all around you already.
I liked the show, it was very good, but, can we expect anything less from Kevin Williamson?Some people have said that Vampire Diaries is a ripoff of Twilight…you’re wrong, it’s the other way around. TVD series came out in the 90’s along with Secret Circle and Dark Visions, all from LJ Smith. When I read Twilight I recall feeling like a lot of the scenes were almost identical to those in TVD. My daughter, after reading both series’ tells me that TVD are much better than Twilight…I guess it’s a matter of opinion, but I too like TVD more, and it was first. Anyway, although I did not love ALL of the numerous and drastic changes that were made from the book to the screen, I understand that they had to be made in order for the books to fit better and be more relevant to the now when turned into a show (no cell phones yet in ‘92).For those of you who have not read the books, u should read them, they’re very good but quite diff from the TV show. I hope this program does really well, it has promise, the actors are good and Somerhalder is hot, not Blood Ties hot, but still very hot. Good job!!!
I loved Secret Circle. That should be a TV show. I think it would be a good one (or at least a 3 part movie franchise).
I thought the show was fine. I’m a bit old and cranky for the Dawson’s Creek stuff but I like sci-fi/supernatural shows and gave it a shot. Maybe it’s just the parent in me, but the writers are pretty nonchalant about teens drinking alcohol.
I too was unhappy with the drinking in the show. The brother and the drug problem is probably an intregal part of the storyline, but the rest wasn’t necessary particularly given the age of the intended audience.
I love that people think that if drinking and drug use isn’t shown on TV then kids won’t do it!! It wasn’t on TV in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and look at the problem was still there.I think Rachel has a point that showing the “bad” side of it is needed.
Its just trying to be realistic. Don’t be so puritanical people! Teens do drink in high school, especially the popular crowd. And there are stoners. Watching on TV what your kids see and hear at school everyday will not effect their conception of whats “cool” or “appropriate” its up to parents to teach their kids right from wrong. Seeing a bunch of kids drinking on a fictional TV show about vampires is a lot less likely to start your teen going to keggers than an invite to one by a real live cute guy at school will.
shows like this and situations like these could prompt meaningful conversations between you and your child where you have a chance to voice your opinion about teen drinking. pretending it doesn’t happen, or isn’t an issue and hoping it goes away wont work.
I agree – it would be better to watch it and discuss it with kids than to turn it off and think your child is not exposed to it.
I have not read the books but I was intrigued by the show. It is very promising and it got even better when Damon showed up. Can’t wait till next week!
I enjoyed TVD very much. I’m going to get real annoyed real fast with all the ignorant people trying to say it’s ripping off Twilight when the series was written nearly 15 years prior, however.
angela I agree with your concerns about the way drinking and drugs are so casually included in this world…no real consequence and, apart from very weak admonitions from Elena, no sense that it is a wrong thing to do. I hope that casual inclusion doesn’t become a feature of the show. Better to face Jeremy’s drug use and abuse and the real damage that can cause in people and relationships.
Off soapbox now…I really liked it and am excited for more, especially backstory on Stefan and Damon.
I really liked it. I didn’t dislike Stefan as much as I thought I would. So much better than Bill from True Blood. And Damon was pretty awesome. I’m drawn to the “evil” ones, I suppose. I’m excited for next week!
Don’t mess with my Bill
.
i’m with you on that, sara!
I expected Stefan to be like Edward from Twilight, but he was so much better than that. He’s more charming and its plausible to see how girls would fall for him. He doesn’t make that constipated face either. And yeah…Stefan…is better than second season Bill…but then again Stefan is still in his first season. He might mature into what Bill is today.
I have read the books and absolutely LOVED the pilot last night. This is one show I will be following all season. The music throughout the show was really good too. Good job with the transition!
Darn it, I missed it! Does anyone know if the premiere will be re-played anytime soon?
Sorry – they repeated it Friday, but I don’t see a listing for it today.
I loved the show!! Have been skeptical on wether it was a Twilight rip-off, but I was pleasantly surprised! I think the casting was perfect, and unfortunately better then twilight casting… I havent read the books, as they were geared towards teens, but am deffinately thinking of getting the set now!! however, as a Twilight FANATIC, I do have to admit i like vampire diaries deffinately MORE… The graphics, casting, acting, music.. So much more then what Twilight gave us…
i agree… i loved the Twilight books but thought the first movie was terrible. i would have liked to have seen someone like the actress who plays Elana play Bella, so much less awkward and definitely more chemistry between these main characters than those in the twilight movie. also these actors are in my opinion much better looking and overall i found the show to be awesome. best new series i have watched in a few years. (i don’t get HBO so i can’t comment on True Blood but i am sure that’s fantastic too)
Bella was awkward in the books though, so that fit. Elena was never awkward, she was the popular girl.
Does anyone know what else the actress who plays Elena has been on…. I kept thinking her voice and face were so familiar. I agree she would have made a better Bella. I love twilight, books and movie, I like Rpatz as Edward. I also like TVD a lot and am going to get the books. I have read and loved all the Vampire Cronicles by Anne Rice and all the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlain Harris, plus am an avid fan of True Blood- especially Eric and now will probably like Damon better too, course I liked Spike better tha Angel:) Anyway, point is they are apples and oranges, one does not have to better.