For years the only vampire fiction I liked was the Joss Whedon universe in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. I still refuse to watch Twilight due to their absolute failure in having Vampires able to walk around in the daylight without harm. However, recently I got an ache to find a Teen Drama to get addicted to, and so I gave Vampire Diaries a try. For the first two or three episodes, it was exactly what I expected in terms of pure teen angst with Vampires that were able to walk around in the sunlight. Then the show started to grow on me, and I forgave them this flaw. I mean, at least they have magic rings to explain why they can walk in the sun. I have fallen in love with this show, not as some dramatic masterpiece by any means, but as a guilty pleasure that I will actually defend to my friends for being well written and compelling television. So let's take a look at what Vampire Diaries does right.
Here are 10 Reasons You Should Try Vampire Diaries
1. The Vampires Actually kill people. This was very important to me, and it was part of the reason I was able to keep with the show even after a few episodes that were a little been dumb, to be honest. The Vampires in this series actually kill people, and from the very beginning of the show there is a high body count. It keeps up the mythology of vampires being demons which I consider crucial, and with so many people dying, there's a sense that outside of the three main characters, anyone can die. This adds danger to the entire show, as every episode I actually feared for the survival of several characters.
2. The Minor Characters grow into Main Characters. It is because I thought any of these minor characters could die, that I was able to connect with minor characters that otherwise would have been annoying, eventually reaching the point where I liked them enough to enjoy their promotion to the main cast. Tyler and Caroline were both seemingly minor annoying frenemies with the main characters in the first season, and yet by Season 4, they are driving the main story. It's been an impressive journey for these two, and it's a sign of good writing that they've been able to pull it off.
3. Everyone drinks a lot. I don't know why I like this so much, since teenagers having access to such large amounts of alcohol actually grates on me as a trope of teen drama. I guess it's part of my enjoyment of flawed characters, and the sign that everyone on this show is deeply troubled.
4. Cliffhangers. A 22 episode season is hard to pull off, but Vampire Diaries manages to actually do it quite well by telling very tight stories in that you are always being pulled through the running story of the season. And they do that with some very well done cliffhangers.
5. There's a True Compelling Love Triangle. At the heart of Vampire Diaries is a love Triangle, (actually two, forming more of a love square, but let's focus on the main three) between two immortal brothers who both have dark pasts who have fallen completely in love with this mostly innocent young girl that is attracted to different aspects of both of them. The Love Triangle is compelling, because despite Elena and Stefan being presented as the main coupling of the series, Damon and Elena's interactions are so much more rewarding, but the obstacles standing in their way are also more problematic. She really could end up with either of them, and many fans would be elated, while many others would be crushed. More importantly though, is the fact that no matter who she does end up with, the relationship between the two brothers is broken which is why I consider this to be a "true" love triangle. Like Joey/Pacey/Dawson, the relationship between the two rivals is a strong and contentious as either of the romances. Whether you're Team Damon or Team Stefan, we all want Damon and Stefan to get along, but it doesn't seem possible because of this love triangle, and so the story is out of necessity a tragedy.
6. Everyone has blood on their hands. I love flawed Characters, and the character in Vampire Diaries are as flawed as any. It also allows any relationship in this series to be feasible, because no one has any real moral high ground.
7. Hot Actors
8. A Growing Mythology that hasn't crossed into the ridiculous...yet. Okay, maybe it has recently, but especially in Season Two, I was impressed with the show's ability to add to the Vampire Canon and Werewolf Canon without crossing into ridiculous territory. Yes, at times the new mythology seems to be there just to spur on the plot, but I do enjoy the plots brought on enough not to really care.
9. Sympathetic Antagonists. It's a mark of a good show, when you're rooting for both the protagonists and the antagonists at the same time. That's one of Vampire Diaries' greatest strengths. Even as you're afraid of a Klaus or an Elijah, you also can't help but like them or sympathize with where they are coming from. It also allows many of the antagonists to turn coat and become heroes which is always fun to see.
10. Damon is without a doubt the best thing about Vampire Diaries, and he is quickly becoming one of my favorite TV characters of all time. He combines humor and self deprecation, with ruthless brutality, and also a sweet and endearing vulnerability that makes pretty much every scene he is in compelling television. I would say he's like a cross of Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer with Pacey from Dawson's Creek, and to be honest I think he's better looking than either of them.
So there you go. I hope readers will at least give this show a chance. Give it a few episodes to grow on you, and this show will definitely hook you in. Or not. I could be dead wrong...
Pun intended...
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