We're jumping from the daddy of vampire TV shows to the new kid on the block. When The Vampire Diaries aired, it looked like and likely was a cynical attempt to cash in on Twilight's success with an adaptation of a series of novels which centres on a love triangle between a teenage girl and two vampire brothers. The first few episodes aren't promising, with embarrassingly overwrought voiceovers from protagonist Elena as she writes in her diary and the trademark insufferable emo pop of the CW. Then, to the surprise of almost everyone, it got good. Yes, the emo pop remains, but now it only intermittently appears in between supernatural shenanigans with witches, doppelgangers, werewolves, and more vampires than you can count. The show has a cavalier attitude to death but arbitrarily decides to make some permanent, which keeps viewers on their toes. The mythology has also gradually but considerably expanded. Breakout characters like bemused and weary human Matt, conniving vampire Katherine (Elena's more interesting doppelganger) and bimbo turned compassionate bloodsucker Caroline give The Vampire Diaries a much-needed diversion from the love triangle at its heart. If you want the twenty-first century vampire, this is your go-to show.
