What 'The Vampire Diaries' Is About:
Beautiful, popular Elena (Nina Dobrev) and her younger brother Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) are teenagers adjusting to the death of their parents. Elena encounters a mysterious new student, Josef (Paul Wesley), whose beauty and strange behavior fascinates her. Josef is trying to live a normal life as a human, submerging his vampiric instrincts toward violence. But Josef's older brother, Damon (Ian Somerhalder), is not so mild-mannered. Josef and Damon find themselves competing for Elena's soul.
Status of 'The Vampire Diaries':
The Vampire Diaries is currently in production. It is shown on The CW. Premiere date: Sep 10, 2009. For current showtimes see Show Listings.
• Wesley to Star in Vampire Diaries
• Williamson Adapting Teen Vampire Series
Origins:
The Vampire Diaries is based on the 7-part young-adult horror series of books by L.J. Smith. (It's often forgotten that The Awakening (1991) far predates Twilight (2005): these are the original teen-girl-crushes-on-a-vampire books.) The writer-producers spearheading the TV adaptation are Kevin Williamson (Scream) and Julie Plec (Kyle XY).
• Vampire Diaries - Images from early episodes
Key 'The Vampire Diaries' Characters:
At least in this case the deliberate casting of unnaturally gorgeous actors is justified by their playing glamorous aliens. Fortunately, Paul Wesley (Fallen) and Ian Somerhalder (Lost) are also pretty good actors, and they contrast excellently. In the middle, and ostensibly the focus of the show, is hot nice girl Nina Dobrev (Degrassi). As the series progresses there's plenty of opportunitity to build up other characters, Buffy style, but the Twilight atmosphere will keep the focus primarily on the three leads.
• The Vampire Diaries Cast and Characters
Flavor of 'The Vampire Diaries':
The format is Dawson's Vampires, with very pretty faux teenagers obsessing angstily over very localized plot arcs. But the caliber of writers and performers involved creates an opportunity: Vampire Diaries seems wary of camp, and uses the dreaminess of vampires in an interesting way.
• What Can We Expect from The Vampire Diaries?
• Review: Pilot episode
