The Vampire Diaries

TV review by Kari Croop, Common Sense Media
The Vampire Diaries Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

Blood, violence are the real draw in angsty vampire drama.

CW Drama 2009
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Parents say

age 13+

Based on 127 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 508 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Vampire Diaries is a slickly produced, bingeable supernatural drama based on L.J. Smith's bestselling young adult novels. The series plays into the perennial popularity of vampires and all things otherworldly. That said, it's a lot edgier than Twilight, making it an iffy choice for younger teens. The violence is pretty graphic -- there are torture scenes, bloody wounds, and combat shown -- and romantic scenes can get pretty steamy. The show also tends to portray underage drinking as commonplace without showing serious consequences. And if you're looking for an accurate portrayal of young people today, look elsewhere: Most of The Vampire Diaries' cast is White, with only one Black character seeing significant screen time.

Community Reviews

Morganhaley18
Morganhaley18 Adult
July 30, 2021
age 15+

Loved it, but definitely 15 yrs +

Absolutely LOVED this show. I thought it was going to be like Twilight (which I didn’t like) so I was skeptical. But I ended up loving it. I love the positive messages of family & the love/sacrifice they have for each other. The messages of friendship and, again, more sacrifices for those they love. It teaches that mistakes happen, but you learn from them and better yourself—you do what you can to fix them. The things you should be cautious of are the underage drinking and drug use. (The use age of drugs was a smaller amount in the first season, but they were taught not to do them and encouraged to stay away from them.) However, the drinking is very consistent. Another thing that made me hesitant to watch the show was sex. The books were violently sexual—I did not read them myself but have friends who did and said it was quite explicit. However, the tv show is not like that. There is lots of kissing and make out scenes (one or two where a girl is in her bra and panties) but no sex scenes or nudity in that regard. Obviously there are implications of sex (guy & girl in a bed together) and some mentions of “hooking up” but no graphic or explicit content. There isn’t a ton of language and there’s lots of blood and death. But nothing super gory.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
4 people found this helpful.
parentuser101
parentuser101 Adult
November 4, 2022
age 10+

would deffinitly recomend for tweens

great show!

This title has:

Great messages
2 people found this helpful.
See all 127 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on the bestselling young adult novels by L.J. Smith, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES is set in the fictional town of Mystic Falls and centers on the interplay between orphaned Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) and two vampire brothers, Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder). Both Elena and Stefan keep track of their thoughts and feelings by writing in their journals, but Stefan's diary also contains fascinating details about his complicated past and the town's surprising supernatural history. Later in the series, the plot thickens with the arrivals of Elena's vampire doppelganger, Katherine (also played by Dobrev), "original" vampire Klaus (Joseph Morgan), and vampire hunter Rayna (Leslie-Anne Huff).

Is It Any Good?

Fans of vampires and young adult dramas might enjoy this show's style and themes, which include teen angst, dramatic tension, and conventionally attractive characters who become more complex in each season. The Vampire Diaries took off as a hit with teens and young adults, and maybe even a few of their parents. While there are obvious parallels to the Twilight storyline, it's worth noting that the book trilogy that inspired this series was originally released in 1991, predating Stephenie Meyer's Twilight bestsellers by nearly 15 years.

The Vampire Diaries delivers better-than-average entertainment, boasting a soundtrack that includes songs from artists like The Killers and MGMT. This Teen Choice- and People's Choice-nominated series also gets props for maturing along with its characters, expanding the plot to include much more about Mystic Falls' fascinating past.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the ongoing appeal of seeing vampires and other supernatural beings in stories like The Vampire Diaries. Why do audiences find magical creatures so appealing?

  • How does the show portray teen behavior, particularly when it comes to sex and drinking? Do the characters' choices lead to real-life consequences?

  • If you've read the books that the series is based on, how does the show compare? Did the writers take any creative license? If so, why do you think they changed the story?

TV Details

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