Vampire Diaries TV Series

From LoveToKnow Soap-Operas

The Vampire Diaries TV series is based on the books of the same name by L.J. Smith released in the early 90s. The series focused on the love triangle between Stefan Salvatore, Elena Gilbert and Stefan’s brother Damon. The brothers were rivals once before for the affection of Katherine, the vampire who made them.

Damon and Stefan Salvatore bring sibling rivalry to a new level.

About The Vampire Diaries TV Series

The TV series is set in the fictitious town of Mystic Falls rather than the book’s more real setting of Falls Church, Virginia. The small town faced tragedy four months before the series begins when Elena Gilbert’s (Nina Dobrev) parents died in a car accident after driving off a bridge and into the water with Elena in the backseat. Elena and her brother Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen, grandson of Steven McQueen) now live with their aunt who is only about ten years older than they are. Jeremy is wrestling with a drug addiction and Elena is trying to feel connected to the world again.

Stefan (Paul Wesley) returns to Mystic Falls where he lives with a descendant Zach who he refers to as his ‘uncle’. Stefan enrolls himself at school to be closer to Elena. Not far behind Stefan, however, is his brother Damon (Ian Somerhalder of Lost), a vicious killer intent on torturing his brother for some transgression in their past. Damon gleefully kills his way into town while Stefan struggles with his feelings for Elena and Damon’s taunts.

Books to Television

The enormous popularity of L.J. Smith’s novels came more than a decade before the world heard of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series. The popularity of Meyer’s books coupled with the film success put The Vampire Diaries TV show on the fast track with the CW. There are similarities in the series both featuring vampires in prominent, romantic roles with human women, but the similarities soon end in the storylines.

Smith released the first book in a new trilogy in 2009 with the second and third books due out in 2010 and 2011. The second trilogy focuses on Damon as the protagonist. The bad boy vampire brother created a lot of fans as he competed with Stefan for Elena’s affections.

The series combines the high school drama of other popular teen soaps such as Degrassi, 90210 and Smallville with the paranormal elements of the darker Supernatural.

Young Vampires in Love

Vampires playing a prominent role in a soap opera began with Dark Shadows in the 1960s. Blood suckers are very popular in soapy situations as demonstrated by the success of True Blood. The combination of teen angst, blood lust and forbidden love are perfect for the craziness of high school passion. Ratings for the pilot episode were reported by the CW as the highest of any debuting show on the network including flagship Gossip Girl. In September of 2009, the CW announced that Jasmine Guy would be joining the cast of Vampire Diaries as a witch.