The Vampire Diaries

The few characters of color who exist are usually supporting players and quickly killed off. Women are often seen as helpless and in need of rescue. The most prominent Black character (played by Kat Graham) is given more agency as seasons progress.

Fantastical violence and conflict (including vampire attacks, torture scenes, bloody wounds and bites, and hand-to-hand combat that involves people throwing each other into buildings and out of windows, etc.) are part of every episode. Characters die.

Heated kissing between teens and references to "hooking up" for sex. Seduction.

Occasional use of words like "crap," "jerk," "bitch," and "ass," along with offensive terms such as "tranny mess."

Most main characters drink alcohol socially, even though they're underage. Some drink to the point of being drunk; rarely are there consequences. Some characters smoke cigarettes, one character struggles with a substance abuse disorder.

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.