The Vampire Diariesaired on the CW throughout the 2010s, but I didn’t dive into the supernatural drama until 2024. Because of the series' popularity, I’d heard enough about it to start my viewing experience with assumptions and expectations.The Vampire Diaries’eight seasonsproved some of my beliefs correct, but they also managed to surprise me. I’d picked up bits and pieces about the show online, but I was largely unaware of how they all fit together.
Watching the series from start to finish allowed me to fill in the gaps in my knowledge, and it made me realize why so many viewers love this show.The Vampire Diariesis very much the supernatural romance story I’d imagined it to be, but it’s also so much more than that. There are so many elements of the CW series that managed to surprise me, andthese made me appreciateThe Vampire Diarieseven more.
8The Vampire Diaries Is Equal Parts Teen Soap Opera & Supernatural Show
It Strikes A Great Balance Between The Two
Before starting theVampire Diaries,I knew the show had a heavy romance plot between the Salvatore brothers and Elena Gilbert. But apart from that, I expected it to be more of a supernatural series than anything else. Several seasons in, I realized I was wrong about the CW show.The Vampire Diariesis a teen soap opera as much as it’s a supernatural adventure, and I wasn’t expecting the former. I knew there would be fights between vampires and supernatural mysteries, but I wasn’t prepared for so much drama.
The Vampire Diarieshas no shortage of emotional moments, and it actually works to the show’s advantage. The series is the perfect mix of 2000s teen drama and supernatural fantasy series. It’s no wonder it’s so difficult to find moreshows likeThe Vampire Diaries.Not many of them try to strike this balance in the first place, and even fewer actually succeed at it. I have a feeling I’ll be revisitingTVDjust to experience this combination of genres again.
7The Vampire Diaries Isn’t Just About Vampires
There Are Witches, Werewolves, & Doppelgängers, Too?!
I probably should have expected more supernatural creatures inThe Vampire Diaries,but for some reason, I thought the show focused primarily on the titular predators. The first outing of the CW series seemed to support this, but I soon realized how wrong this assumption was.The Vampire Diariesintroduces werewolves, witches, ghosts, and even doppelgängers — and all of these beings have a much larger impact on the main story than I anticipated.
I supposeThe Vampire Diariescouldn’t have gone on for eight seasons without delving into other supernatural creatures, and I’m glad it didn’t try to.
I supposeThe Vampire Diariescouldn’t have gone on for eight seasons without delving into other supernatural creatures, and I’m glad it didn’t attempt to.Some of the most interesting storylines involve werewolves or witches, and the main story would have started to feel dry and slow without these additions. It also makes sense that a world with vampires would also have other extraordinary beings lurking beneath the surface. That’s probably why vampires, werewolves, and witches crop up together so frequently.
6The Vampire Diaries Gets Much Darker Than I Expected
There Are So Many Deaths & Gruesome Scenes
With so many people declaringThe Vampire Diariestheir comfort show — and a central character dynamic that feels very young adult —I was surprised by how dark the CW series actually gets.The Vampire Diariesdoesn’t shy away from killing off important characters, and deaths like Vicki’s, Anna’s, and Jenna’s truly shocked me. Sure, the stakes seem lower in the later seasons, which bring back several of the characters they seemingly kill off. Even so,The Vampire Diarieshas far more character deaths than I anticipated.
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There’s also more violence than I expected from a CW show, with numerous torture scenes in addition to all the on-screen deaths.The Vampire Diariesestablishes the world’s stakes with moments like these, and they fit well with its themes. However, it’s somewhat shocking it was able to get away with such scenes when it was airing on network TV. It’s even more surprising when you consider thatTVDis aimed at a teenage and young adult audience.
5Team Stefan & Team Damon Both Make Good Points
The Vampire Diaries' Love Triangle Actually Works
I’ve apparently spent a lot of time on the “Delena” side of the internet, so I always expected Damon and Elena to end up together while watchingThe Vampire Diaries.What Ididn’tanticipate was that Sefan and Elena’s relationship would last so long— or be equally compelling at times. So many teen shows and movies introduce love triangles where it’s obvious who will win the main character’s heart. This isn’t the case withThe Vampire Diaries,and had I not already known the ending, I would have been wondering who Elena would choose.
It’s hard to pick a side inThe Vampire Diaries’central love triangle, which is a testament to the writing. Stefan and Damon both have major flaws, but they’re also good for Elena in entirely different ways.I expected an obvious choice for Elena inThe Vampire Diaries,but I found the characters and relationships to be more complex than I imagined. This was a pleasant surprise, especially when so many series have boring and predictable love triangles.
4The Originals Are Actually A Huge Part Of The Vampire Diaries
I Didn’t Expect Them To Stick Around So Long
I’d seen some ofThe Originalsprior to startingThe Vampire Diaries,and I knew the characters had made their debut in the earlier show. However,I didn’t realize what a huge role the Mikaelson family playedinTVD.I was expecting them to be the villains for a season or so, then disappear into their own story. Instead, Klaus, Rebekah, and Elijah stuck around for several outings ofThe Vampire Diaries— and their appearances were a highlight of each season.
I was surprised to realize how muchThe Vampire DiariesandThe Originalsimpacted each other, even knowing they were connected.
I was surprised to realize how muchThe Vampire DiariesandThe Originalsimpacted each other, even knowing they were connected.Klaus and Rebekah play significant roles in Elena’s journey, even if they were the villains the majority of the time. The Mikaelsons also had intriguing relationships withThe Vampire Diaries’major characters, with Klaus pursuing Caroline and siring Tyler and Rebekah constantly threatening and making deals with Elena’s friends.
3Elena Becomes A Vampire Much Faster Than I Thought
It Was Inevitable, But I Thought It Would Happen Later
Whenever a story features a human falling in love with a vampire, I assume they’re going to become a vampire themselves at some point.I was fully prepared for Elena’s story to go in this direction, butThe Vampire Diariessurprised me by having her turn so soon. I figured she’d make the decision towards the end of the series, opting to live an eternal life with whichever Salvatore brother she chose. Of course, this isn’t what happened — and the reality of Elena’s transformation is far more shocking and tragic.
With so much focus on Elena making her own choices, I was surprised thatThe Vampire Diariesmade her a vampire without her agreeing to the transformation. I was also shocked that the series would actually kill Elena during its run, much less at the end of season 3. It doesn’t feel like Elena spent that much time navigating the supernatural as a human, but it is intriguing to see how she fares as a vampire. This turn of events also showed me thatThe Vampire Diariesknows how to keep its viewers guessing.
2The Worst Characters Are Often The Most Compelling
The Vampire Diaries Knows How To Write Interesting Characters
I knew Damon was the “bad boy” antihero ofThe Vampire Diaries,but I didn’t realize how many morally dubious characters the show contained — or anticipate that I’d end up loving them the most. Damon continues to make poor choices well into the series, but that’s nothing compared to what Klaus and Rebekah get up to. Despite Klaus and Rebekah doing irredeemable things, I found myself intrigued by them.I guess all it takes is a tragic backstory and a few positive momentsto make such characters compelling.
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A lot of The Vampire Diaries focused on the tension – and eventual romance – between Damon and Elena, but these episodes showed them at their best.
Katherine is another self-interested but fascinating character, proving thatThe Vampire Diariesis really good at writing morally complex figures. It’s also good at making you feel for them, even after they’ve done something you shouldn’t be able to look past. It’s no wonderThe Vampire Diarieshas a reputation for making viewers fall for morally gray to outright villainous characters.It’s not just Damon who earns the show this reputation, though he’s certainly the best example of it.
1There’s A Reason People Rewatch The Vampire Diaries Every Year
The CW Series Really Is Entertaining
Perhaps the biggest lesson I learned after startingThe Vampire Diariesin 2024 is thatthere’s a good reason so many people rewatch this show every year.I’d wondered what all the hype was about, both when the show was airing and when it remained popular years later. I’m glad I finally decided to dive in and see why people love this series. It’s far from a perfect show — in fact, there are manyharsh realities aboutThe Vampire Diaries,years later — but there’s something about it that keeps you hitting “play.”
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The Sun Also Rises
It could be the comforting, small-town vibes Mystic Falls gives off, or it could stem from the lovable charactersThe Vampire Diariesintroduces. All of these aspects of the series contribute to its charm, making it so easy to fall into. And once you’re immersed in the CW show’s world, the drama and plot twists make it an incredibly gripping ride.The Vampire Diariesis every bit as entertaining as people say, and that makes this a difficult series to put down. Fortunately, it’s an easy one to pick up again.
The Vampire Diaries
Cast
Based on the novels by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is a story about the developing love triangle between Elena Gilbert and two vampiric brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Set in the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, the show follows the trio from high school through college as they battle for one another’s affection.
