The Vampire Diaries (2009 - Present): Review By Vamp

"The Vampire Diaries" as many know is a CW television show based upon the series of books by author L.J. Smith. I read these books last year after my mother, knowing my love for vampires, got them for me for my birthday. The minute I began reading the books, I was hooked. And a few months after, I heard that they were planning on turning these books into a television show. I was a little worried about what they might do to the series, especially after watching the previews for the pilot episode and seeing how they mismatched everyone's appearance. However, once I saw said pilot, all worry was wiped from my mind, as cliche as that may sound. Now, eight episodes into the series, I have become completely and totally hooked. This episode was awesome. Almost as awesome as the previous episode, and I didn't think any other episode would be able to top that. I'm going to have to let that expectation drop now, assuming each coming episode is going to continue topping it's predecessor. This show has grown so much from it's tentative start, and I love it more and more with each coming episode. The thing that saddens me, though, is the fact that people are refusing to watch the show just because it's a vampire romance, and "The Twilight Saga" has embittered them. Well let me tell you, it's almost impossible to have something with vampires without romance in it, unless you want the mindless killing vampires like in "I Am Legend" and "30 Days of NIght." But let me also tell you that if you continue to follow this, then a lot of vampire movies are pretty much out of your way. I know that this kind of show isn't for everyone, but don't shun it unless you've at least seen an episode of it. Anyway, I'm done preaching that for now. This was a fantastic episode, and one that really shows the prowess of not only the actors, but of the series as a whole, as well as the ability to captivate it's audience very well because that's exactly what this episode does.

The visuals, as always, are absolutely stunning. Each moment that requires some intense visuals are used completely and totally. There are so many scenes in this episode alone that utilize such visuals to further the point it's trying to make. As always, the vampires in their vamped-out state, as I like to call it, look positively awesome. In this episode, one of Stefan's old vampire friends shows up to wish him well, and we see her vamp out in all of her glory, and it looks absolutely awesome. Especially when she puts Damon in his place (which I won't explain so that nothing is ruined for those who missed this episode and are going to make a jump to see it). In the same scene we see the sheer speed that the vampires have. This has been shown in past episodes, of course, but it's still awesome to see them blur across the screen in mere seconds, showing just how powerful they really are. Once again we get that eye contraction from not only Damon, but also Stefan's friend, Lexi. I know it's kind of a weird thing to explain in the visuals because it's so minimal, but it just looks so cool, and it really adds to the effect of the vampire. To top off all of the awesome visuals that this episode contains, we get what we haven't seen since in a while: a full-force fight between Stefan and Damon. It's not a very LONG fight, of course, but it's still an awesome fight nonetheless. Watching them blur after eachother on the screen, fangs bared, faces contorted, it was very cool. So were the visuals effective? Why yes, I'd say that they most undoubtedly were effective!

As it has been in the past few episodes, the storyline has reached that point where most televsion shows must eventually reach, where they stop focusing on making sure the characters are known, developing personalities and whatnot. They plunge full force into the thick of things, knowing that the audience has had it's chance to get to know these characters. So for those of you who are just starting out, it would be wise to find a website with all of the previous episodes available to watch, and catch up before you decide to start watching. It'll save you a lot of confusion because even though you get the "previously on 'The Vampire Diaries'" prologue, it's not always going to help you understand the characters and what they've been through in the past episodes. Elena Gilbert (played by Nina Dobrev of "Degrassi: The Next Generation") has been through a lot in the past few days, and things finally seem to be settling down. She's answered the police's questions in regards to Vicki Donovan's (played by Kayla Ewell of "Fired Up!") disappearance, and it seems that they generally believe she's skipped town. What's haunting Elena, is the fact that she must bear the burden of knowing that Vicki was turned into a vampire, and then staked because she was going to kill Elena. Elena also starts to develope her knowledge of what Stefan (played by Paul Wesley of "Killer Movie") and Damon Salvatore (played by Ian Somerhalder of "Pulse") really are: vampire brothers. However, Elena is glad that her brother, Jeremy Gilbert (played by Stephen R. McQueen of "Club Soda") isn't affected, since Damon wiped his memory. Though her and her aunt Jenna Sommers (played by Sara Canning of the made-for-TV movie, "Taken In Broad Daylight") notice that Jeremy is acting very differently. Elena worries what Damon may have done. Meanwhile, it's Stefan's 162nd birthday, and his oldest friend, Lexi (played by Arielle doe Kebbel of "The Uninvited") has come to make sure he parties it out. Damon, in the meantime, is working on getting the town off of their back, and he's gotten in good with Sheriff Forbes (played by Marguerite MacIntyre of "Red Dragon") so that he can devise his plan, while at the same time using Caroline Truitt (played by Candice Accola of "Juno") to get back his amulet from Bonnie Bennett (played by Katerina Graham of "17 Again") who found out from her grandmother, Tituba Bennett (played by Jasmine Guy of the made-for-TV movie, "The Feast of All Saints") that it was an heirloom, and a symbol of her power that she must keep with her always. Elena must finally decide where she stand throughout all of this mess because she knows that she loves Stefan, but she's not sure whether she can trust him.

All of the actors and actresses in this episdoe once again show just how awesome they are at playing each of their respective characters. Like always, Nina Dobrev does an absolutely fantastic job at playing Elena Gilbert. While the appearance of Elena differs from what the book describes, everything else seems to be quite the same, and Dobrev handles herself spectacularly, making Elena's confusion incredibly tangible. Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder, as always, show how good they are at playing the constantly bickering siblings who in all reality cannot stand each other. Wesley has Stefan's emotions and his lifestyle down completely, while Somerhalder has Damon's fierceness and his cleverness mastered spectacularly, and when these two are in the vicinity of each other they have spectacular chemisty as onscreen siblings. Arielle Kebbel does a spectacular job in her guest appearance on the show as Stefan's best friend, Lexi. The character is bubbly, friendly, and just what you'd expect from a bestfriend. At first you expect her to be a real bitch, but she proves to be a very good friend to Stefan, and Kebbel manages that role nicely, making her a very likeable character. Sara Canning and Stephen R. McQueen don't really have major roles in this episode, but as always they play their parts respectably and add nice cameos to the episode, and the same can be said of Jasmine Guy who returns to play Tituba Bennett, Bonnie's "grams." Candice Accolla makes her return to the show as Caroline, and once again does a fantastic job at playing her. You feel sorry for Caroline in this episode when you watch how Damon treats her. Katerina Graham also returns, and while she's not in the episode for a WHOLE lot of time, she continues furthering Bonnie's knowledge in the occult, doing so very well, and making the character even more likeable. Marguerite MacIntyre also returns in this episode as Sheriff Forbes, who continues in her quest to bring down the vampire menace in the city of Mystic Falls. She's one of those good guys that you wish would stop, and MacIntyre plays that role excellently, making for some suspense in the film, especially when she deals with Somerhalder's character, Damon. So all around the cast in this episode do a great job and help to bring us another awesome episode.

So if you're still looking for that show to keep your interest on Thursday nights, then "The Vampire Diaries" is definitely the show that you need to watch. I'm not going to try shoving the show down your throats. That's not what I want. But I do want you to at least give the show a try. Teen vampires have kind of become a tabboo for the world because of the rift that has been created from the "Twilight" buzz, but don't let that ruin this show for you because this is truly a really good show, and one that I hope you will consider watching after reading my reviews. I must, as always, insist that you watch the first seven episodes before you try starting at this point in the series. It's going to be very confusing to you if you don't. I know what's going on, but I also know that those who haven't been watching will be scratching their heads, and wanting to know who Katherine is, or why Elena refuses to be polite and courteous to Damon, or why, even, Stefan and Damon loathe each other so much. So definitely make sure that if your're going to give this show a shot, like I asked, that you start with the beginning. This episode, entitled "162 Candles" is definitely another awesome episode, and makes it's way towards the top of my favorite episodes list. It's got everything that the past episode had, and more, and it mixes all of the comedy, the tradgedy, the tears, the suspense, and the thrills together nicely, making for another awesome entry into "The Vampire Diaries" series. The show is worth a shot, and I really hope you decide to give it a try. I am completely hooked on it, and I definitely cannot WAIT for the next episode to air!!!!!