YAB Review: 'Vampire Diaries'

Today’s Ypulse Youth Advisory Board post is a TV review from Caroline Marques, an American teen in Switzerland, who picked “Vampire Diaries” as one to watch for our Fall TV Preview. As always, you can communicate directly with any member of the Ypulse Youth Advisory Board by emailing them at youthadvisoryboard at ypulse.com…or just leave a comment below.

YAB Review: ‘Vampire Diaries’

What was the biggest draw?
I saw the ad for this show a while ago, and it was one of the fall TV show I decided to check out (along with ‘Melrose’, ‘Glee’ and ‘Modern Family’). I watched the trailer, liked what I saw and decided to give it a try (after all, there’s nothing like fall to have a huge list of pilots to watch!). I watched the first episode out of curiosity and then the second to see if it would get better. Luckily it did. So now, I truly like the show, and I’m starting to get attached to the characters and feel the need to find out what will happen. Since it’s still relatively new, I don’t really know what to fully expect, but the excitement and suspense are drawing me in.

What did you expect going in? How much did you know beforehand?
I saw the trailer and wanted to find out more. I really didn’t know much about it, living in Europe there was absolutely no buzz about it. The first episode didn’t impress me that much; I thought it might bore me because it would resemble Twilight too much. But I still watched the next episodes to find out what it’s really about and I’m glad I did.

How did you tune in? Did you watch commercials?
I watch the episodes online: so there are no commercials on my TV, but I still watch the promos when I have time. I usually just wait for the episode, I’m patient enough to wait one week. I’ve watched all the episodes pretty much the day after they come out in the US and it’s the highlight of my day. I know when I’m at school that I’ll be able to watch the show later when I go home. I can basically watch it whenever I want, so I don’t need to worry about it being on at the same time as another show (because I’d still choose my favorites like “Gossip Girl” and “90210” over it, but VP is climbing slowly to the top.)

Sum it up:
Vampire Diaries is a show about vampires (obviously) that takes place in a small town. Contrary to common belief, it is not that similar to “Twilight.” Although there are several love stories (the main one is between beautiful Elena and 150-year old sweet vampire Stefan), it is not a typical ‘happy’ show. No, the characters have to deal with devious characters (Stefan’s vampire brother, Damon), tragic deaths, jealousy, rage, the supernatural as well as normal teenage problems. All of that while keeping most of it undercover. The show has both gossip and high school betrayals, but also some deeper, darker storylines.

Did you spot any brands?
I didn’t pay that much attention, but I do remember a “Twilight” reference that made me laugh. I know there must be some popular brands included though, because the characters are usually fashionably dressed.

So, what did you think?
It wasn’t what I expected. I now watch it regularly, and I think that even with the media making it seem as though the end of the craze is near with stories like “vampires finally out, zombies in,” that won’t stop the vampire trend from completely fading out. I like both “Vampire Diaries” and “Twilight,” but aside from vampires they don’t have that much in common. I’m probably going to buy a few books in the VD series. [In Europe] I feel like the show hasn’t been paid a lot of attention, though it seems to be gaining some steam (Paul Wesley, the sweet vampire Stefan, was just in the most recent issue of Teen Vogue.)

Maybe hearing about vampires gets tiring, but this show isn’t just about vampires. It’s also about high school, and I don’t think shows about high school are ever going out of fashion. For those who read “Twilight” a few years ago, “Vampire Diaries” may be the new goth romantic thing to tide them over during the months of waiting for “New Moon,” but they are different.  VD has more danger and more suspense and I really enjoy watching the show for now. I can relate to a few characters (and all of them are really attractive so that doesn’t hurt) and I can’t wait for the Halloween episode!

About Caroline

Caroline is an American student in eleventh grade in Geneva, Switzerland and enjoys it a lot. This year will be her second year serving on the Youth Advisory Board, which she loves because she’s currently an international student and she likes keeping up with the numerous U.S. trends in various departments. Between YAB, sports, school (as well as traveling, trying to master several languages, spending a lot of time on the computer, writing long papers, music and watching American TV), she doesn’t have a lot of time on her hands, but always finds time for the two passions she’s always had: reading and writing.