The Vampire Diaries — Season 1

Her world is upended with the arrival of Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley), a brooding, mysterious new student who seems to understand her grief. Their instant, intense chemistry is undeniable. But Stefan has a secret: he is a 162-year-old vampire. Worse, he is not alone. Hot on his heels is his older, more reckless, and dangerous brother, Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder). Damon, who has a personal vendetta against Stefan, returns to Mystic Falls to unleash chaos, reclaim a lost love, and open the town’s legendary vampire prison.

The season’s central, delicious twist is revealed immediately to the audience: Elena is the physical double of Katherine Pierce, the beautiful, manipulative vampire who turned both Salvatore brothers in 1864 and played them against each other. The Vampire Diaries Season 1

Season 1 of The Vampire Diaries succeeded where many shows fail. It honored its source material (the book series by L.J. Smith) while vastly improving upon it, deepening the mythology and characterization. It established the show’s signature pacing: breakneck, twist-filled, and unafraid to kill characters. It also launched Ian Somerhalder into superstardom and proved that The CW could produce a genre hit on par with Smallville and Supernatural . Her world is upended with the arrival of