So, last night I watched the encore airing of the series opener for the Vampire Diaries on the WB. Now, up front, I have to admit that I walked out the sneak preview that was shown on Preview Night of the San Diego ComicCon. But, since the first airing of the premier had the highest ratings in WB history (with 4.8 million viewers and a 2.1 rating among adults 18-49) I thought I would give Vampire Diaries another chance. (the fact that my wife really wanted to watch the show also factored in my decision). And why not give it a chance? After all, this show was created by Kevin Williamson, creator of the Scream Franchise and Dawson's Creek. After a great opening scene, this show rapidly became way more Dawson.
More after the jump (with video).
More after the jump (with video).
The Vampire Diaries is based on the novels by L. J. Smith. The star of the story is Elena Gilbert, a high school student in Mystic Falls, Virginia, whose parents were killed in a car accident. She meets Sebastion, a good vampire who has come to the town for a new start. Eventually, we are interested Sebastion's less altruistic brother, Damon. Elena, who looks like her ancestor Catherine, becomes the object of passion for the two vampire brothers—one good, one evil—who fight for her heart and for the souls of her friends, family and all the residents of the small town of Mystic Falls, Virginia. The show gets its name because both Elena and Sebastion keep diaries (her in a journal and him on a computer) and the narration of each episodes is what is written by the characters. (Although when Sebastion does it, I get Doogie Howser flashbacks and half expect Vinnie Delpino to come in through the window). The diary device was heavily used in the opener and reached a point where it became distracting. I have a feeling it will not be as prominent in the series.
Here is the promo for the show:
Here is the promo for the show:
Of course, the dialogue is witty (it is Kevin Wiliamson after all). The cast does a good job delivering it. There are a few notable stand outs in the show. Nina Dobrev stars as Elena (from Degrassi: the next Generation. But, I would point out that she previously took on the supernatural with Kevin Sorbo in Never Cry Werewolf.). Pretty boy Paul Wesley (Everwood) can brood as well as Boreanaz or Pattinson. Ian Somerhalder (Lost) was sufficiently mean. Buy personally, I like the character of was caroline (played by Candice Accola (Kyle XY)). As the insecure town slut, Caroline has the both the shallowest and the deepest of the characters on the show. I think she will end up being Williamson's muse on the show.
On the mythology side of vampirism, it appears that these vampires have mind control abilities, can control fog and ravens, and must be invited into homes. Something new for this show is the existence of rings that allow the vampires to exist in sunlight. I should also point out the irony that, although this show is riding the coattails of Twilight and True Blood, the books the show is based on were released years before those other franchises. I should also note that, if you are a die hard fan of the books, there are a lot of differences between the books and the television show. Including, but not limited to changing the name of the town, the creation of new characters and a change to the back story of the vampires (it appears they took a page out of True Blood by making Sebastian a Civil War vampire.)
At the end of the day, the dialog is witty and the cast is pretty, but there just isn't enough to keep me committed to a whole season of Vampire Diaries. I found the Twilight-like cliches a bit laughable. (Of course Elena broods in the Cemetery--no one broods in their house and several times in the episode, I also wonder how much of the shows budget was spent on the fog machine. Not to mention the obvious question of why a 200 year old vampire would even want go back to high school, of all places.) Still, the show has promise. If the Vampire Diaries ends up being more Supernatural and less 90210, perhaps I will pick it up when it hits DVD this summer.
Of course, I just read that the female stars of the show were just arrested for flashing their breasts at passing motorists may be enough to merit a second viewing. :-)
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