Is The Vampire Diaries the next Buffy?

Before you go all batty on me, let’s break it down: I saw the pilot episode, and sure, there are elements of Buffy, but I think The Vampire Diaries borrows a bit from most of the vamp entertainment out there. The question is, will it be able to branch out and become unique and wonderful in its own right?

We’ve got high school kids, a good boy vampire trying to fit in, and an evil vampire trying to thwart the good boy’s efforts. Buffy, Moonlight, and Being Human, respectively.

Or, more Twilight-y, you say? It seems to reek of it, I agree, but if they do it right, we’ll end up with a smart show. Yeah, Twilight, I meant that.

There are some glimmers that The Vampire Diaries could have a hit, if the pilot is any indication. I’m overlooking the little moments of Kyle XY goofiness that are surely producer Julie Plec‘s touch, although keeping a light side isn’t a bad idea. Let’s just not go all after-school special on us, Vampire Diaries.

That said, be warned that it is also produced by Kevin Williamson, so you may be reminded of Dawson’s Creek … for better, or for worse. If we’re lucky, he may just insert a little of that Scream success formula in there, too.

The pilot had tension — both romantic and good versus evil — a smidge of gore, and lots of inner strife for our main characters to work through, both human and not so much. And murder, which always makes for a good pilot. They even have the very, very beginnings of a possible Scooby gang. This could be a stupid teen love story that steals elements from every hot show preceding it, or it could make the most of its talented cast and production team, and try to do what Eric Kripke has done for Supernatural.

So here’s how it will go if The Vampire Diaries does it right:

• Stefan (Paul Wesley), good vampire, will remind us of Angel‘s namesake, and Moonlight‘s Mick St. John, in only the best of ways. He’ll be appropriately broody, quite the romantic lead, and good friend to one and all. Wait a minute, now he’s starting to sound like Kyle “XY” Trager….
• Damon (Ian Somerhalder) will have that broody Angel quality too, but he’s much more Angelus, with a little of Josef, and even Being Human‘s Mitchell thrown in for good measure. We love to love him, because it makes us oh-so-bad, but we just can’t help ourselves.
• Elena (Nina Dobrev) will actually be a strong female lead who doesn’t act like Twilight‘s Bella at all, but is a little less super than Buffy.
• The psychic friend Bonnie will be used both for comic relief and for a supernatural element to the human side of the story. If she hones this power much like Willow did with her witchcraft, they’ll milk this character for the gold she could be.
• The story arcs will be so unique and gripping that the love story will take a back seat. Let’s face it: even Buffy and Angel were a bit of a gag fest, so can we really base a whole show on vamp love? Twilight sure couldn’t base a whole movie on it. There, I did it again; Twilight.
• Let’s have more murder. I like it.

I have no knowledge of the books, but I’m willing to give The Vampire Diaries a chance based on the pilot. Remember the first season of Buffy? Remember most of Moonlight? Will you be watching tonight?

Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Sep 10, 2009 @ 10:30 EST5EDT