Image Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/The CW
The CW debuted its new supernatural Thursday last night, with the series debut of The Secret Circle following the season 3 premiere of The Vampire Diaries. The pairing makes perfect sense: Both shows, adapted from L.J. Smith novels, have teen heroines, and both come from Kevin Williamson, who loves twists and epic love stories equally. By scheduling them on the same night, the CW hopes those TVD fans who love a mythology-driven drama that moves will stick around for TSC. It worked in week 1: The Secret Circle retained nearly all of its Vampire Diaries lead-in. But what about next week? Are you in or are you out?
I’m in for The Secret Circle, largely because of Gale Harold (pictured). He plays Charles, the father of one of the teens who make up the secret circle of witches. I love that the show opened with him setting a fire that killed the mother of the main character, Cassie (Britt Robertson). He needed Cassie, now orphaned, to move to Chance Harbor, Wash. to live with her grandmother so she could meet the five classmates who’d tell her she’s a witch and completes their circle. They all lost at least one parent 16 years ago when something happened to their circle. What are Charles and Dawn (Natasha Henstridge), the high school principal who’s also a parent of a circle member, plotting? Williamson likes to introduce characters as one thing and have them evolve into something else. So Charles, while first appearing deliciously evil, can’t be all bad, can he?
The promo for next week is all about the teens, but according to Williamson, the parents are just as big a part of the show: “When [Natasha] got the second episode script, she called us up and was like, ‘Okay, I had no idea that this was my character,’” he told EW. “I think she thought she was going to be the mom on a CW show. She didn’t truly understand the extent of what she really is to the show. I’m like, ‘No, you and Gale Harold, don’t you worry. As much as it’s about this circle of young teenagers, it’s all about you guys.’ The most fascinating thing is understanding what makes them tick, why they’re up to what they’re doing, their moral compass and how it’s askew, and how they very much love their children but at the same time have an agenda and it gets a little bloody.”
I hope they feature Charles in more of the promos moving forward and make him this show’s Damon, the character you love to hate in season 1. The great thing about The Vampire Diaries, speaking as a woman in her 30s, is that you didn’t have to feel guilty for swooning over Damon and Stefan. Yes, Stefan was in high school, but he wasn’t actually 17. I now spend paragraphs talking about teens Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) and Tyler (Michael Trevino) in my TVD recaps, but that didn’t really start until season 2. I don’t know if I’ll be comfortable swooning over the boys of The Secret Circle in that way quickly, so I need Gale Harold to keep luring me in. Plus, we’ve seen the teen witch coming-of-age story before. Though I’m sure Williamson and fellow EP Andrew Miller have their own unique take, and I look forward to it unfolding, it’s whatever Charles and Dawn have brewing that is the unknown. Am I just old, or do you agree with me?
Your turn.
Read more:
The Vampire Diaries season 3 premiere recap
The Secret Circle series premiere recap
The Secret Circle: 5 reasons to love Kevin Williamson’s new show
‘Vampire Diaries’ premiere dips; ‘Secret Circle’ solid
The Secret Circle didn’t grab me, like TVD. Maybe it’s because they don’t have any eye-candy.
Ugh…with a few hours of my life to kill I finally watched the first three episodes of THE SECRET CIRCLE. This show is the polar opposite of the The Vampire Diaries. Weak acting, inane plotting, blah generic characters. And with truly horrible dialogue – “I KNOW your secret.” “What?!?” “You haven’t signed up for any extra curriculars!” – I can’t believe Kevin Williamson has anything to do with this series. Bored now.
I don’t watch anything in real time anymore, and I forgot to record TSC. I just don’t think I have enough time to check out all these shows!
Can’t decide. Liked it but probably not enough to forgo my previous Thursday night tv. Will have to watch a few more epis on the net to decide, but I think it was a smart move to make the parents as intriguing as the teens bc I’m also a 30 yr old girl!
TSC pilot wasn’t the best, but then again neither was TVD when it first premiered. It took TVD six or seven episodes before I was absolutely hooked, so I’ll give TSC about the same amount.
Reduced Fat Vampire Diaries. Almost the same in every regard except quality.
I just realized how I sounded like a pretentious douche with my reduced fat comment. Sorry, I suck!
How pretentious can I be when I watch half of the CW schedule?
Gale Harold is in the Secret Circle – duh CW!!! Why didn’t you showcase him in the promos. Now I’ll definitely try it. He’s all sorts of Damon-like Yummy!
LOL! I saw the pilot last week and said the same thing! I didn’t see him in any of the previews until this week! And seeing those promos made me really surprised because it basically gives away everything that happens in the pilot episode. Then again I never watch TV when it airs so I never see commercials or promos so maybe that’s just what they do now.
I wasn’t really drawn into the Secret Circle BUT I also wasn’t drawn to TVD at first either and now it’s can’t miss TV.
I am giving TSC a chance, it strikes me as a series that needs to get past itself and stop being so self conscious about being about witches and magic (heck, explain to themselves what their magic is, is kind of more feasible than even what Bonnie does). I am not sure of the eye candy element bc Britt Robertson brings it home for me, on Life Unexpected, she was loosely playing her age, and so were Shirley Appleby and Kris, whatever. And I was exactly their age. Now, I just have know for the whole time, the entire cast of TVD is older than they are playing and the vampire thing helps.
the pilot was okay- but I think they just had to set the groundwork..I think it’s gonna turn out to be a good show!
I love The Vampire Diaries and did like The Secret Circle. Yeah…I will watch both shows next week too
I thought that TSC was pretty good. TVD did not have a great pilot either so I’m going to give it a shot.
Was I the only one who was underwhelmed by Vampire Diaries last night?
Anyway, I was intrigued by the Secret Circle so I’ll probably stick around, and I definitely like how the adults will play a big part in the show. I’m kind of worried by the lack of adult supervision in Vampire diaries in how adults come and go and the kids do a bunch of stuff and no one in Mystic Falls seems to notice. I”m not saying reprimand the kids I’m saying add some adults to it.
TVD works because of Julie Plec. Kevin is great a what he does — surprises, cliffhangers, scary stuff. Great. But, imo, Julie is invested in TVD and it just shines through. She does the emotional stuff, the characters’ POV, the relationships, beyond anything what is on TV and that is what The Secret Circle is missing. (I promise I’m not her PR person or her mother…just her fangirl!).
Here in Canada we have them on at the exact same time on thursday nights so I cant watch both. So its just Vampire Diaries for me.
I am older and I like TSC and I love Gale Harold as Charles! I don’t watch TVD and have no desire to but I watched TSC because of Gale and I’ll be returning just as long as I can get my Charles fix. He’s plenty of eye candy for me.