Like a lot of people stuck at home, I’ve started binging all those shows I’ve been wanting to watch. I put this one off because I’m not an unbiased viewer. As a teen I was a huge LJ Smith fan. Fan activities and informal clubs led to some major life events, some friendships I still have today, and had a heavy influence on my own writing. So I’ve been nervous that either the show itself, or my nostalgia would color my opinion of the show.
Some of that nervousness came down to another question; how would the Salvadore brothers look in a post-Twilight vampire culture. The answer? Tasty.
Vampire diaries, on its surface, looks like another supernatural love triangle, but the show absolutely captures one of the important elements that is easiest to miss in the original books–the bromance between two brothers who both fell in love with and were deeply changed by a selfish, evil woman.
In the first season Vampire Diaries expands dramatically on the books’ world setting. But the main questions still remain; How long will it take for Elena to figure out Stefan is a vampire? (Even with monster eyes and super healing it takes six episodes. And, will Damon stop killing people? (No.)
Damon makes the show, with his wry comments and personality set with one foot outside the teen angst setting. But it wouldn’t work without Stefan providing the straight man base. The brothers display the two most well-recognized reactions to trauma– guilt (Stefan) and anger (Damon).
And while I know not everyone reads and watches for the psychological realism, these elements are what make characters relatable and engaging rather than just another set of eyeroll-worthy brooding vampires.
I definitely enjoyed my VD binge and recommend it, at the very least, for the eye candy and Damon-snark. But I assure you, Vampire Diaries has a lot more to offer than just that.
Contains: Violence, sex, underage drinking, sexual content