The Vampire Diaries: Season 1

As a huge fan of vampire lore as well as other elements of the supernatural I will say that this series is one of the better takes on the vampire craze that has swept through the entertainment industry of late. There are so many shows/movies out nowadays dealing with vampires and their supernatural cousins werewolves plus witches too that it is hard to keep up with everything. My introduction into Hollywood's take on vampires came in 1987 when "The Lost Boys" was released and I fell in love with the concept of vampirism, especially when I saw how handsome the vamps were with their rock star good looks. Kiefer Sutherland made one great vamp. Then later "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" the movie came out in 1992 followed by the show in 1997 and its spinoff "Angel" all of which rekindled my affection for the genre. It didn't hurt that Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt also made it look appealing to have fangs and suck blood in "Interview With The Vampire" in 1994. So in keeping with my interest in the vampire mythology I began to watch all the newer vamp shows- "True Blood," "Being Human," the movies "Twilight"- and also "The Vampire Diaries." I have to say that Diaries in my opinion is the most appealing of all the recent takes on vamps and it even covers, as all the aforementioned shows do, the equally popular werewolf lore plus even throws in a witch or two. Now that the zombie popularity wave has swept through eclipsing the vamp/werewolf craze I'm waiting for a show or movie that combines ALL the different supernatural elements. Diaries is interesting for one thing b/c the books on which the show is based came out in 1991, way before any of these other popular shows burst onto the scene. I don't know why it took so long for them to be adapted into a tv show but I'm glad Kevin Williamson took an interest in developing them. Making a name for himself by bringing us movies such as "Scream" and "I Know What You Did Last Summer" he was the perfect visionary genius to translate this wonderful story of a girl in love with two brothers- one generally good, the other a bad-boy- to the small screen. I'm glad also that he chose to use television instead of film to do it so that the story can go on and on. Thankfully "Twilight" is now over but Diaries can go on and on with new characters and new stories adding to the old characters and stories. This show gives us a chance to grow with it- grow with the stories and the characters. The characters and plots are not one-sided but are multidimensional which makes for some great entertainment. At the center of the story initially is the love triangle between Elena and the vampire Salvatore Brothers- Stefan (Elena's smoldering white knight) and Damon (her smokin' dark knight)- both of whom are in love with her. This first season pretty much centers on their relationship while friends circle the periphery coming into their own with time. Elena's friends Caroline and Bonnie are a vampire and a witch respectively. Males also in Elena's world include Tyler who is coming to terms with being a werewolf and Alaric who is a vampire hunter plus ex-boyfriend Matt and little brother Jeremy who has his own problems. Elena is learning about herself while processing the changing roles of those around her and dealing with high school in the aftermath of her parents' tragic death. The show is dark and mysterious with very little tongue in cheek humor that made Buffy so clever. It explores the mysteries and past of the town instead of focusing on high school which is refreshing and appealing since we've had so much exposure to high school with Buffy and Twilight, just to name a couple. A big part of the show is the town's and the characters' past which is often shown in flashbacks. (I'm not sure why several reviewers seem to think the characters are time-traveling? It is obvious the past is being seen in flashbacks as the characters are remembering their history. As far as I can tell, no one does any time traveling here.) Season 1 has lots of good writing and storytelling plus lots of interesting characters and plot twists- never a dull person or moment with this show. It is rather exciting and not over the top graphic gore. The creators do not waste such a delicious premise by ruining it with graphic gore, sex or profanity. This show is plenty scary and is a bit mature in theme. I also like the creativity with which this show is made- that makes it more appealing than the dull Twilight theme which got old after the 2nd or 3rd installment. The actors are pretty good too. At first I wasn't happy with the show version of Elena since the book portrayed her differently. However, the tv Elena now seems a stronger character than the book heroine. I remember Paul Wesley from a "Smallville" episode and he has come into his own on this show as Stefan. To me, the most appealing star is Ian Somerhaulder who as Damon owns this character. This show is definitely worth watching and even holds its own among all the other vamp shows and flicks out there. I'd say it only takes a couple of episodes to get into it and once you're sucked in (excuse the pun) you won't want to quit. Expect to marathon watch the season through to the end. My guess is you won't be disappointed. I imagine it appeals mostly to teenage girls but I'm almost 40 and I've watched it with my 13 year-old godson who likes it, as well as with my 64 year-old mom who is addicted to it too. I don't think it is limited to any age group. It might appeal more to females than males but who knows?

After picking up the Twilight series from my local library back in 2007, I became instantly hooked on the idea of vampires. I began reading everything I could find on the subject, from adult and teen fiction to historical accounts of vampire myths in the real world. However, I found myself feeling a little bit disatisfied. All of the books that I was reading were pretty much the same. A beautiful girl falls in love with a beautiful vampire...blah blah blah. I was looking for something with a darker side . When HBO's True Blood came on the air in the fall of 2008, I was very excited "Yay! A vampire show about REAL, bloodsucking vampires!" Though I still watch the show to this day, I have to admit that I am slightly off put by its graphic sexual nature. The plot of the show is simply genius, but so many scenes of violence and sex are really not necessary to the development of the story. I discovered that I needed a healthy, balanced vampire story--something dark and delicious but not gratuitously graphic and violent. When I first heard that the CW was going to air a show about vampires, I was instantly skeptical. "Great. One Tree Hill, but with vampires," I thought to myself. Fortunately, I gave the Vampire Diaries a chance, and now I find it impossible to stay away. Though the first few episodes played out like your general tacky teen soap opera, by the Halloween episode at the end of October, I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I was very delighted to find that the characters of the show are so well developed--not your typical teen drama bores. Each and every character, no matter how small their role, has some sort of a backstory and contributes to the development of the plot. The main character Elena Gilbert is a true heroine, not your generic Mary Sue of vampire fiction (sorry Bella). Instead of waiting around to be saved by some gorgeous man, Elena is often the one to do the saving. She has some guilt in her past, but instead of moping around about it, she makes the decision to move forward. Stefan Salvatore is Elena's boyfriend, a vampire with a heart of gold who sometimes finds himself incapable of resisting his nature. Damon Salvatore is Stefan's delectably devious older brother, a vampire who has no problem raising the body count of the town if it means getting what he wants. His non-beating heart begins to soften at the end of the season, and after Elena bonds with him over his troubled existance, he slowly begins to stake his claim on her. This leaves young Elena miserably torn between two vampire brothers whom she loves very much. In addition to the main cast, the supporting characters are equally interesting. Elena's best friend Bonnie just happens to be a witch. Her brother Jeremy struggles with drug abuse, the loss of a very dear friend, and considers immortality as the only way out of his misery. Caroline Forbes is the wonderfully shallow queen bee, Matt is Elena's ever-loyal sidekick of sorts, and Alaric Saltzman is the history teacher with a major beef against vampires. Every character is well-rounded and wholly believable, and the superb acting makes this series a joy to watch. As most people know, the Vampire Diaries was first a series of novels by LJ Smith in the early 90s, with new stories having been released since the beginning of the CW show. While I definitely recommend the Vampire Diaries TV show to fans of the book series, just keep in mind that they are VASTLY different from one another. It is almost as if someone wrote a piece of fanfiction for LJ Smith's novels and turned it into a full-length TV show. In the novels Elena does not have a brother, Fells Church is the name of the city (not Mystic Falls), Bonnie is a ditzy redhead who still possesses powers but is not the descendent of Salem Witches, Elena has a second best friend named Meredith with whom she is actually closer than Bonnie, and Stefan and Damon were turned into vampires during the Italian Renaissance in the 1500s--not during the Civil War in 1864 (this is an extremely important factor to the story). In fact, with the exception of the characters' names and a few major plot points, the book and screen versions are nothing alike. But if you can overlook these details, you will find yourself widely entertained by a phenomenal show. The first season of the Vampire Diaries is for anyone who likes their vamps to be bad, but not outright offensive and sexually perverse. You will laugh at some moments and feel compelled to cry at others, while also being on your guard for the next big scare. But most of all, you will be captivated and utterly addicted to the story of a girl and her love for two vampires.

In the early nineties, a book series by L. J. Smith became popular that featured a young woman caught between two immortal brothers. The series introduced witches, vampires, and werewolves onto bookstore shelves and inspired some of the plot twists in the Buffy series, as well as the Twilight saga. While many changes have been made from the source material in bringing the series to the small screen, it maintains the creepiness and romantic edge of the books. It has been six months since the Gilberts' car plunged through the railing of a bridge outside town and the parents drowned in the river. Elena (Nina Dobrev) was pulled free of the wreckage and managed to survive, but has been left orphaned along with her brother Jeremy (Stephen R. McQueen). Living with their aunt Jenna (Sara Canning) and struggling to keep her brother out of trouble, Elena soon encounters the handsome and mysterious Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley). Tall, dark and charming, it doesn't take long for romantic sparks to ignite between them, much to the envy of her friends Caroline (Candice Accola) and Bonnie (Katerina Graham). What Elena does not realize is that Stefan is a vampire who abandoned the region years earlier and has returned to watch over her since Elena reminds him profoundly of Katherine, a woman he loved and lost during the Civil War. But her presence and his attentiveness have brought another immortal to town: his older and far more ruthless brother Damon (Ian Somerhalder). Having feuded over Katherine more than a century earlier, Damon has sworn to make Stefan "suffer for all eternity," and to do that he intends to corrupt Elena. Seducing Caroline into a relationship and injecting himself into Stefan's world, Damon is a growing threat and his brutal behavior around town sets off warning bells to those old enough to remember the last time the local vampires were out of control. In the meantime, Bonnie is dealing with the realization that she has magical powers, and all her instincts are warning her that Elena is not safe - especially around Stefan. When I first heard about this series I was not impressed, but the strength of the season as it gained momentum convinced me it is one of the most well thought out and paced shows on television. The writing is tremendous, full of constant twists and turns and minor revelations that build toward an intense finale. Fans of the book series should be forewarned, however, that only minor similarities to the novel remain. The characters are much altered in significant ways and other individuals are simply excluded altogether. Most of the history of the Salvatore brothers remains somewhat intact but the differences are noticeable. However, it does maintain the strength of the book in the fact that it accurately represents the creepiness of the original works. Everyone is great in their respective roles, but Somerhalder is particularly good as Damon. We are never quite certain if he is trustworthy but at the same time our interest in him continues to expand. Later on, two notable regulars join the cast -- Alaric Saltzman (Matthew Davis) as a professor with a dark secret, and Elena's sinister uncle (David Anders). There are several underlining mysteries that surround the town and its unusual heritage, and flashbacks provide an excuse to show off lovely Civil War costumes. It promises a twist ending every week and more than delivers. It features wonderful performances, a terrific soundtrack that includes a lot of popular songs, and immense creativity in its characters. It pays homage to the original books but strikes out in a new direction that leaves its audience hanging.

Spoiler free! This review only contains background information and general information. I was skeptical of this show at first, because I was told that it is a teen drama. Since I am 28, this did not appeal to me, until a 32 year old friend of mine showed me some clips from the show. I immediately had to watch it. While the first episode did seem a bit juvenile, the show quickly started to transition, and I would not hesitate to say now that this show is made for adults. While there are 22 episodes, one could easily sit down and watch each 45 minute episode back-to-back on a lazy Saturday... it would be worth the sleep deprivation. The Vampire Diaries has quickly become my favorite show (in case it helps you, my other favorite shows are Dexter, True Blood, Buffy, Veronica Mars, Bones...). So which audience is this show for? The CW targets the show towards 18-34 year old women. Yes, you read that right; this is not supposed to be a teen show (although they can watch it and enjoy it). The show centers around a small town (yes, the town is one of the main characters) called Mystic Falls. About 145 years ago, vampires existed in this town, but then the townspeople who knew about their existence torched them. Some escaped and moved to other places. Most of the current townspeople don't know that vampires exist. I think the actor who shines the most in his role is Paul Wesley who plays Stefan Salvatore, the eternal 17 year old vampire. Stefan has returned to Mystic Falls because of a teenage human named Elena who looks identical to an evil vampire named Katherine he loved, who was killed 145 years ago. Not to worry, the actor is 28 in real life, and he doesn't look like a teenager, so you won't have to worry about feeling like a cougar. Stefan is a lot like Angel from Buffy, because he broods and hates himself because of what he is; he refuses to drink human blood. He also has secrets and regrets, which he thinks about daily. You could think of him as the vampire with a soul if you wanted. Although he plays the sweet vampire, you can still sense (actually it will come out temporarily) that he has a dark side and could possibly be a bad boy if he wanted to. His acting prowess shows even more in season 2 when he gets over his issues and embraces his true nature. Ian Somerhalder plays Damon Salvatore who is Stefan's older vampire brother. This is the true bad boy. Well, the bad boy with a heart. Not a heart of gold, but he does have some humanity. Damon is the prime reason why some people I know watch this show. Actually, it's hard to tell if it's because of Damon or Somerhalder himself. Damon has come back to Mystic Falls for a couple reasons: to make Stefan's life hell and another reason which will be revealed later in the show. You see, Damon was also in love with Katherine and he can't live with the fact that Katherine turned Stefan into a vampire, since he thought that Katherine only loved him and wanted to share eternity with only him. Elena, played by Nina Dobrev (of Degrassi fame), is a 17 year old who has just lost her parents in a car accident. She feels dead inside, but then she meets Stefan and he fills the void. No, this isn't going to be just like Twilight (the Vampire Diaries is a unique story--it has a bite). Elena might not only end up with one suitor, because just like Katherine, she has more than one admirer. The viewer has to wonder if there is foreshadowing involved when Elena is warned that as long as she has a Salvatore brother on each arm, she's doomed. This love triangle is very subtle the first season, but it's impossible to miss. Again, another prime reason why some viewers tune in. The secondary characters are just as interesting and fun to watch, so while there are many story lines, none of them are boring. Watch this show for the great storytelling, Paul Wesley's acting, the eye candy, the love triangle, or for your favorite character (because you will have at least one and there is great character development).

I should never even have watched the first episode of the Vampire Diaries... I am not the target audience for either the show or the CW network (I'm 35, well past my tween, teen and college years). Unlike many who fell in love with Dracula, Interview with a Vampire and Anne Rice, I was never into vampires or any other supernatural/science fiction melodramas. In fact, until recently, I had never even heard of True Blood or Twilight (and I have yet to see either of those franchises). So you may wonder -- how is it possible that I am now a Vampire Diaries addict? It's really very simple -- vampires or no vampires, it is the best show on television right now. The writing, direction, production, pacing and acting is all superb (especially given how many of the young actors on the show had little or no experience on television series before they landed this show). The casting was spot-on (especially the three stars) and right from the beginning I was able to relate to all of the characters. Even the guest stars have been cast perfectly (although given the death toll on this show, I have learned not to become too attached to any of the cast members, be it a guest star or one of the contract players). This show could easily have degenerated into an annoying teenage melodrama (especially since the first season has focused on setting up a love triangle between a seventeen year old human girl and two centuries-old vampire brothers and I have always hated triangles). Somehow, despite its premise, the actions and reactions of the characters have managed to stay believable (for the most part) and relatable (and I don't even mind the triangle -- yet). Even the non-supernatural storylines manage to surprise you (the teenagers don't react the way you expect TV shows to write them and the relationships are surprisingly mature, open and real). Thanks to the writers, the pacing of the storylines is so fast that most story arcs begin and end within two episodes, usually by hitting you with shocking cliffhangers which are then answered immediately within the same episode or the next episode. And, despite the dark and supernatural storylines, the show manages to not take itself too seriously and infuse just enough snarky humor to keep it entertaining. The show runners like to say that what drew them to the show was that it wasn't just about vampires; it was about a town with a rich history of relationships and a history of the supernatural. That is true, but what drew me to the show were the terrific characters, writing and storylines. Most of the time, I forget the show is even about vampires (and that is high praise, given that I'm not really a vampire lover). So in sum, despite my normal aversion to teenage shows, vampires and the supernatural, I am now utterly addicted to a teenage vampire drama on the CW called The Vampire Diaries -- in fact, don't bother to call or e-mail me at 8:00PM EST on Thursdays -- I won't answer because I am completely engrossed in the goings-on in a town called Mystics Falls. Come join me -- I guarantee it won't take long for you to get addicted -- maybe then, we can start a support group for TVD addicts.

I'm the type of fan who uses her DVD's extensively for fanfiction, character studies and the like. Growing up with shows and books like Buffy the Vampire Slayer & Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, I'm well versed in the vampire genre. Those who are opposed to premises too much like the Twilight Saga will be weary of this series at first. Even keeping in mind that The Vampire Diaries came before Buffy and Twilight, at first glimpse, it may feel a little too much of a repeat of the same plot again and again. Personally, I've given L.J's Smiths books a try but haven't really gotten into it. Again, far too much like every other series out there (Vampire Academy, comes to mind here). The show, however, is nothing like the series. Yes, it borrows surnames and personality types but essentially, the show is it's own title. What makes the television series different is the complexity of the plots. Yes, there's the high school vampire trying to live a normal life by dating a fairly plain heroine but the show has layers. Ultimately, it's a show about relationships and people. Vampires are just catalysts that puts plots into motion. While Stefan remains the original brooding vampire (not counting Luis of Interview with the Vampire), he is his own personality. He is not a controlling boyfriend and is determined to let his love grow on her own while still being there when she needs him. That being said, Elena is different from most heroine's as well but if you've read the book series, you'll see right away that she is not the Elena Gilbert of the books. While she isn't my favorite character of the show (Caroline Forbes holds that spot.) I approve of the way she was designed. She is no Buffy but she refuses to let the love of her life take over everything about her. Even when he does. That being said, I also applaud Nina Dobrev of her skill. She really showed her talent towards the middle of the first season and later in the second. Even as the show holds its own stereotypical characters, it also has a multitude of original *people*. The secondary characters (Caroline Forbes, Bonnie Bennett, Matt Donavon, etc) have their own layers and issues. Their lives do not revolve around the main characters as so many shows force upon them. As far as the actual DVD set goes, if you're a fan of the actors you'll love the bloopers. They are hilarious and really show how much the cast has fun with the show. The picture quality is great on smaller televisions but if you want to view these on those big wall tv's you're better off getting High Def. Like wise, if you're looking for screencaps and the like, you'll also want High Def for better quality. The quality is good enough, however, that it will not take away from the viewing experience if you want to pass up on the HD. In the end, The Vampire Diaries is *not* another Twilight. It has it's own feel and really makes the entire cast of the town of Mystic Falls come to life. Even stock characters like Bonnie Bennett cannot rely on that label. This show isn't afraid to take risks with their characters and plots. It'll wow you again and again.

This series is interesting and entertaining for multiple reasons. I'll give the good first then the areas lacking without trying to give away any direct plots. The setting is decent enough and the sets are more than adequate, but where the series scores is in the depth of the young acting talent coupled to the historical tie-ins that become more pronounced as time rolls on. The umbrella story is timeless, boy meets girl and relationship has issues. That said the interweaves get better as the series progresses, by the end of the second DVD the personalities are really beginning to emerge. It improves. The dynamic and story between two of the rather timeless principles is a difficult aspect of the series that is well portrayed. The downside is that there's a little too much teen girl drama for my tastes, but it can't really be described as completely over the top. The atomosphere in the series was decidedly "made for TV" but still really enjoyable for all that. If you're into this genere at all it's probably best described as a bit better than an average investment.

WARNING: may contain spoilers! FYI: I'm reviewing strictly as a viewer of the series. I've never read the books upon which the series is based. Vampire stories, films, and series have been done, re-done, overdone and underdone, for a good long while. A lifelong fan of the genre, I've made peace with the reality that a certain amount of repetition is inevitable in paranormal dramas. "The Vampire Diaries" revisits many devices common to vampire fiction: Good Vampire Brother versus Evil Vampire Brother; Present Day Love Interest has identical looks to Vampire's former, long-lost love; Evil Pyschopath Vampire Brother may not be quite so evil as he seems. Despite these "been there, done that" plot devices, "The Vampire Diaries" earns its place as an entertaining, memorable series. The show manages to reinvent the devices and make them its own. Multi-dimensional characters, great acting and excellent continuity contribute to a compelling viewing experience. The series unfolds like a great book that starts out a tad slow and takes a while to build up to the "good stuff" only to sweep its readers away through a fantastic read. Patient viewers will appreciate "Vampire Diaries" for taking the time to "tell the whole story." Many of the early episodes introduce a lot of information and character development that enhance the later episodes. After avoiding "Twilight's" appalling mediocrity, I was reluctant to view a new teen paranormal series. I'm pleasantly surprised. I like that Elena is an ordinary person (not a "slayer" or other "special" person/creature,) but she isn't the chronic "Oh I am nobody without my vampire boyfriend!" type. She does not depend on vampire muscle to save the day, and has definitely done her part to save the day for vampires sometimes. The one disappointment I have for this series is the casual portrayal of and/or mention of teen indulgence in alcohol, substance abuse, and premarital sex. It's not a moral issue in my mind so much as pathetic to see all these "good" teens getting drunk/wasted (or talking about getting drunk/wasted) or having sex pretty casually. Just because it might be "real" doesn't mean I want to see it, especially if it's not relevant to the storyline. Fasinating secondary characters and storylines have emerged in this series. Jeremy and Anna's storyline is particularly touching. The writers manage to mix so many issues -- grief/bereavement, child abuse, child neglect, divorced families, classism -- into their storytelling. Never a dull moment. Numerous vampire citizens and guests reveal facets of a fascinating culture all their own. Interesting, for example, vampires don't seem hung up on race concerns. Finally, I really applaud the producers for featuring "Vampire Diaries" in a small, Southern town and not featuring a ton of "hillbilly" stereotypes and people talking with drawling accents that have become so typical of any Southern town portrayal. "Vampire Diaries" introduces very believeable people, even the paranormal ones. Well worth a look.

Enjoy this series and want it for a future viewing

Me encantó porque llegó a tiempo. Llegó impecable el producto hasta la caja. ¡100% recomendado!

There are some amazing reviews on here, just read them and take a punt. You will not regret investing in this series. Infact why not get season 2 too! You won't regret it and you will be ready for series 3 in the autumn of 2013! If you enjoyed the Twilight series, then be prepared for something utterly superior in every conceivable way. Vampire Diaries is Shakespeare when compared to the shambles that was the Twilight saga, which was made for the teen market. With its elegance and sophistication, it can be enjoyed by young and old alike. My husband and I who are in our forties have enjoyed this series immensely. The chemistry between the actors is scorchio! Ian somerhalder smoulders as Damian, and is a definite plus factor for the ladies; whereas the enchanting Elena is the eye candy for the guys. If you have a fascination for vampires and enjoy a vampire love tryst that twists and turns and leaves you wanting to watch the next episode immediately, then buy now. You will not be disappointed!7

Inhalt : Die High-School-Schülerin Elena Gilbert hat ihre Eltern bei einem Autounfall verloren. Ihre Tante Jenna Sommers, die jüngere Schwester der Mutter, ist nach Mystic Falls gekommen, um sich um sie und ihren jüngeren Bruder Jeremy zu kümmern. Als der neue Mitschüler Stefan Salvatore auf der Bildfläche erscheint, weckt er sofort Elenas Interesse. Sie ahnt nicht, dass es sich bei Stefan um einen bereits jahrhundertealten Vampir handelt. Als dann noch Stefans älterer Bruder Damon auftaucht, der von Elena ebenfalls angezogen ist, überschlagen sich die Ereignisse. Stefan wird misstrauisch, denn er weiß, dass Damon nichts Gutes im Sinn hat. Elena wird in eine Welt hineingeworfen, von deren Existenz sie bislang nichts geahnt hatte. Meine Meinung : Was die Spannung bzw. den Spannungsbogen angeht, so ist dieser sehr durchdacht aufgebaut. Die Story ist sehr "dicht" (mir fiel kein passenderes Wort ein :-) [Was genau ich damit meine, erläutere ich später unter dem Punkt "roter Faden"]. Die Höhepunkte sind so zahlreich, dass man zwischendurch fürchtet, die Drehbuchautoren würden ihr "Pulver" zu schnell verschießen. Diese Furcht war, wie sich herausstellen sollte, vollkommen unbegründet. Im Laufe der Story ist eine vorbildlich stetig ansteigender Spannungsbogen zu verzeichnen. Dieser mündet am Ende der Staffel in einem der denkwürdigsten Cliffhanger, die ich bis dato erlebt habe. Einmal mehr gelingt den Drehbuchautoren hier ein Geniestreich sondergleichen. Besser kann man einen Cliffhänger kaum setzen. Diejenigen unter Ihnen, die die Serie noch nicht kennen sollten, fragen sich natürlich völlig zurecht, was die Serie vom üblichen "Fantasy-Serien-Sumpf", unterscheidet. Warum hat die Serie so einen immens hohen Suchtfaktor ? Die Erklärung setzt sich aus mehreren Komponenten zusammen : Da wäre einmal der berühmt berüchtigte ROTE FADEN 5/5 : Dieser ist einer der Hauptgründe (sowie die damit praktisch einhergehenden "Cliffhanger", siehe nächster Spiegelstrich) für das o.g. Suchtpotential, weil er wie bereits erwähnt äußerst dicht gewebt ist. Soll heißen, die einzelnen Episoden sind nicht in sich abgeschlossen, sondern treiben die Story episodenuebergreifend stetig voran. [Anders der Fall bei den meisten übrigen Serien, deren Episoden man sprunghaft sehen kann, da der rote Faden entweder nur lose gesponnen ist (z.B. bei "Bones" oder "Eureka") oder schlichtweg gänzlich fehlt (wie bei "Psych")]. Nun zu dem zweiten Hauptgrund, die CLIFFHANGER 5/5 : Aus gerade genanntem Grund eignen sich die Episoden perfekt für Cliffhanger. Die 1. Staffel ist regelrecht gespickt mit solchen. Und deren Qualität ist stets hoch. Das hat den Effekt, dass es einem extrem schwer fällt sich zusammenzureissen und nicht alle 22 Episoden am Stück zu verschlingen. DARSTELLER 4,5/5 : Bis auf Jenna Sommers (verkörpert von Sara Canning) sind die Rollen gut bis sehr gut besetzt, bis hin in die kleinste Nebenrolle. CHEMIE ZWISCHEN DEN CHARAKTEREN 5/5 : Wirklich astrein. Ob nun die Salvatorbrüder, die eine "gewisse" Hassliebe für einander hegen, die Familie Gilbert oder die stinkreichen Lockwoods, die nicht gerade den sympathischsten Eindruck machen ... Alle blühen in ihren jeweiligen Rollen geradezu auf, sodass es keinerlei Mühe bedarf, ihnen ihre Rollen abzukaufen. ATMOSPHÄRE 5/5 : Ist genauso, wie man es sich vorstellt: ein uriges, mitunter geheimnisvolles Städtchen mit dem passenden Namen "Mystic Falls". Es gibt das herrschaftliche Anwesen der Lockwoods, (das einem Schloss ziemlich nahe kommt) mit einem ebenso imposanten Grundstück inklusive eines idyllischen Sees. Nicht zu vergessen das ebenfalls sehr eindrucksvolle, verwunschen anmutende Anwesen der Salvatorbrüder, und, und, und ... U.S.A.-Feeling pur. Apropos Atmo, die Verwandlung der Vampire ist wirklich "megageil" inszeniert. Besser hätte ich mir diese in meinen kühnsten Träumen nicht vorstellen können. DRAMA (und ja, sogar ein Hauch von Humor) 5/5 : Was soll ich dazu noch großartig sagen ? Da bereits der rote Faden sowie die Cliffhanger ausgezeichnet sind, ist es demnach nur eine logische Konsequenz, dass die Serie auch in Sachen Drama punkten kann. An dieser Stelle sei noch darauf hingewiesen, dass das Auftreten von Damon Salvatore einsame Spitze ist. Sein Verhalten ist geprägt von purem Zynismus und Sarkasmus, wobei es schwer fällt, diese voneinander zu unterscheiden, da deren Übergänge praktisch fließend sind. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gesamt 29,5 / 30 Fazit : Wer auf Fantasy mit Vampiren steht, darf sich diese Serie unter gar keinen Umständen entgehen lassen. Diese Serie zeichnet sich durch eine hohe Intensität, Spannung sowie Komplexität aus. Das Preisleistungsverhältnis kann sich sehen lassen : 9,99 € für 22 Episoden je 40 Minuten, macht eine Gesamtlaufzeit von knapp 900 Minuten / knapp 15 Stunden (Chapeau :-) Eine klarere Kaufempfehlung als diese gibt es kaum. 4,9 / 5 Sternen (Einfach genial) Ausblick auf die nächste Staffel (ohne Spoiler) : Aufgrund des bereits erwähnten denkwürdigen Cliffhangers am Ende dieser Staffel ist die Erwartungshaltung der 2. Staffel natürlich dementsprechend hoch. Doch kann die 2.Staffel die Erwartung erfüllen ? Die Antwort lautet zweifellos : Ja, sie kann.

こちらのドラマ、ニーナドブレフさんが確かにメイン。ではありますが、こっちのが親しみ持てるねと思ったのがアンナ役で出ているこの人。ところで誰？と調べました。東洋系のお顔だけどまさか日本ではないし、お名前はマリース・ジョーさんというそうで、中国系のアメリカンハーフだそうで納得。しかもまあというか良くこれだけイメージの合うふき替え声優さんを探したもんだでパーフェクト。シーズン1は楽しめます。でもアンナは切ない役どころでした。