The Vampire Diaries may be an older series, but it just won’t let go of MeinMMO author Fabienne Kissel. She keeps watching the vampire story over and over again.
There’s that one series that just never leaves you, no matter how many times you’ve seen it.
For me, that series is undoubtedly The Vampire Diaries. No matter how many times I’ve experienced the adventures in Mystic Falls, the allure of this vampire story simply doesn’t fade. I’ve already watched the series at least 30 times – sometimes actively, sometimes in the background while gaming – even though I should have outgrown the teen drama by now.
What is The Vampire Diaries about?
I’ll try to stay as spoiler-free as possible here – even though the series is older. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who might be watching The Vampire Diaries for the first time.
The Vampire Diaries is a US television series based on the book series of the same name by L. J. Smith, although the books and the series differ. The series premiered in 2009 and ran until 2017. There are a total of 8 seasons. You can currently watch the series on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
The story begins in the fictional small town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, and revolves around high school student Elena Gilbert (played by Nina Dobrev). She and her brother Jeremy (played by Steven R. McQueen) are trying to return to normal life after the death of their parents.
Their lives change drastically when they encounter the mysterious Salvatore brothers: the handsome and charming Stefan Salvatore (played by Paul Wesley) and his equally attractive yet enigmatic brother Damon Salvatore (played by Ian Somerhalder).
Elena and Stefan fall in love, but the arrival of Damon in Mystic Falls adds an additional dynamic to the love story.
The plot thickens when it becomes clear that the brothers are vampires and Elena is caught in the middle. Over time, more secrets and facts are revealed. Stefan tries to be the good
vampire and act morally correctly, while Damon is the type who likes to play by his own rules and acts impulsively.
The series unveils dark secrets about the brothers’ past, their connection to the vampire story, and the existence of other supernatural beings.
In addition to the bloodsuckers, werewolves, witches, and other creatures also appear. With love triangles, drama, betrayal, loss, friendships, family secrets, and action, it never gets boring.
Why The Vampire Diaries is my favorite series and why I keep rewatching it
I simply can’t stop rewatching The Vampire Diaries. The series will never get boring for me. It almost sounds absurd because I’ve missed out on numerous series I could catch up on. Currently, I’m excited about Percy Jackson and eagerly awaiting the second season of Wednesday and Arcane.
Unique Charm
But The Vampire Diaries has a unique allure for me that draws me back in. The dark 2000s vibe that is so present in the first three seasons creates an atmosphere that simply captivates me. It’s a cozy feeling, a feeling of home – I wish I could slip into that world – which sounds crazy!
Cool Characters
The Vampire Diaries holds a unique place in my heart. Both the main and supporting characters are, in my opinion, carefully crafted, and the cast brings these characters to life in an impressive way. The dynamics between the characters, the palpable chemistry between the actors – all of that makes the series a unique experience for me.
The villains also stand out, are well conceived, and challenge my notions of good and evil. Moreover, the series has created its own mythology and provided backstories and reasons for all these supernatural creatures.
Yes, the entire cast of The Vampire Diaries is also incredibly good-looking, but it’s more than just that.
The series manages to evoke strong emotions in me. Even after numerous rewatches, some scenes still bring tears to my eyes and give me goosebumps.
The characters are multifaceted and undergo impressive developments. Everyone in the series, whether human, vampire, or another supernatural being, struggles with real-life problems involving family, friends, or love. Fantasy blends beautifully with real
life here.
In The Vampire Diaries, the interpersonal relationships of the characters take center stage, and the series skillfully uses storytelling techniques to create an emotional bond to these relationships.
I find myself empathizing with the characters and experiencing their emotions, and I care about what happens to them. You don’t just empathize with the characters, you are literally drawn into their world, which makes the series something truly special for me.
The Vampire Diaries also has two spin-offs, including The Originals and Legacies. Here you can watch the trailer for The Originals:
Pure Romance
And I must admit I’m a fan of romance. In The Vampire Diaries, there are many beautiful romances, passionate kisses, and emotional moments that touch me.
It’s always a joy to see how the characters evolve throughout the series, how they change and grow. The hurdles they master and the dramatic as well as exciting moments continually captivate me. You just want to see it again and again.
Many Plot Twists
The series also excels through the many twists and surprises in the plot that keep it from getting dull. Almost every episode has a nasty cliffhanger that one can’t resist. This no longer affects me, but could be interesting for those of you who want to watch The Vampire Diaries for the first time.
Perfect Music Selection – Indie Songs in the Spotlight
The selection of songs in The Vampire Diaries is not only fitting but also adds to the emotionality of each scene. Every song seems perfectly matched to the mood.
What I find particularly cool is the inclusion of some indie tracks that not everyone is aware of. Personally, I discovered many of my favorite songs through The Vampire Diaries, which still hold a place in my playlist. The music is just on fire.
One example you can see here – A Drop in the Ocean by Ron Rope:
Some of my favorite songs from the series include:
- Cut – Plumb
- Never Say Never – The Fray
- All I Need – Within Temptation
- We Don’t Eat – James Vincent McMorrow
- Amen Omen – Ben Harper
- Gravity – Sara Bareilles
- Take on the World – You Me At Six
- Bloodstream – Stateless
- This Woman’s Work – Greg Laswell
- Wings – Birdy
- Hunger – Ross Copperman
- Scars – Michael Malarkey (actor from The Vampire Diaries)
From Embarrassment to Community Feelings
In the past, you might have been laughed at for being a fan of The Vampire Diaries, especially when vampire stories were influenced by Twilight. Twilight received a lot of acclaim, but also met with a lot of backlash – which made me feel a bit embarrassed at times.
Now the opposite is true, and I’m happy to stand by it, even though it’s only
a series.
More than just a series
The Vampire Diaries has given me so much more. Through the series, I’ve made some friendships and became part of a community on Facebook, Instagram, and also on Vinted (formerly Kleiderkreisel), where collectors and fans of the series gather, share about the series, and sell and trade clothing items from the show. I’m one of them.
My passion for the series has grown to the point where I’ve started collecting clothing items from the show. Items that are recognized by other fans – such as the iconic necklace worn by Elena Gilbert. And I wear this Elena-inspired necklace every day.
Recently, I went to the hairdresser. I wore the necklace from Elena that day, and we started chatting about The Vampire Diaries because the hairdresser recognized my necklace. It turned out that my hairdresser is also a huge fan of the series. We shared our enthusiasm for the gripping plot and the cool characters and exchanged thoughts about the series. And that’s just one story of many.
Next, I plan to attend the German Salvatore Brothers Con in Oberhausen, which has already taken place a few times and will happen again in 2024 because the community is so large.
There, numerous fans gather to see the cast of The Vampire Diaries – in this case, Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley. I’m excited to see what stories will unfold there.
In short: I love The Vampire Diaries a lot because it has become an important part of my life, and I associate the series with nostalgia, friendships, and a good feeling. Whenever I’m feeling down, I look forward to this series.
The series is not perfect, and some things annoy me (especially in the later seasons), but it will probably always be the show that I watch at least once a year.
You can’t deal with vampires and are looking for series related to gaming? Then these might be something for you:
