Media Type: Television Program
Episode: Pilot
Station: The WB
Air Date: September 10, 2009
Actors: Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder
Age Level: 12+
Viewer’s Annotation: When Stephen returns to the town of Mystic Falls Elena finds herself drawn to him and his mysterious life.
Summary: In the first episode viewers receive the basic set up. Elena is a normal teenager, living with her young aunt and her drug addicted brother after the car wreck that killer her parents. Elena is determined to start the new school year with a positive attitude so that the town around her stops the pitying glances and the whispered comments. Stephen is new in town, and seems mysteriously drawn to Elena and likewise. Bonnie, Elena’s best friend, hides her psychic gift, but can’t help but recognize something different about Stephen. At the end of the first episode viewers meet Damon, Stephen’s older brother, who antagonizes his younger brother and taunts him with Elena’s name. Viewers learn both are vampires who have returned to Mystic Falls, their hometown. But, what does Elena have to do with that?
Evaluation: The first episode stayed remarkably true to the original series, which was really refreshing. The actors are cast really well, and the African American woman playing Bonnie is a welcome change to Smith’s original character: a flighty red head with no direction.
Additional Info: This series is based on a series of books released in the early 90’s of the same name by L.J. Smith.
Selection: I still have the paperbacks of the original series. I am both highly amused and incredibly happy that the books have been reprinted; and a series created from the itles.
