The Vampire Diaries

:

Season 1
Season #: 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
50

Mixed or average reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 22
  3. Negative: 7 out of 22
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Critic Reviews

  1. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    60
    The pop allusions (to Carson Daly, Alfred Hitchcock) and the fog-machine-based production design are flat and unambitious. But “The Vampire Diaries’’ nonetheless satisfactorily opens up yet another TV world of heightened youth, where blood-sucking is a metaphor for a whole range of fears and desires.
  2. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    60
    By staking turf between "True Blood" and "Twilight," Vampire Diaries hopes it has found the promised land. The danger is it could also be no man's land.
  3. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    60
    As teen shows go, the pilot is entertaining enough; future episodes will reveal if the show truly has much bite.
  5. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Paige Wiser
    50
    Since there's no "Twilight" movie in theaters right now, there's no point in resisting The Vampire Diaries, some prefab filler premiering tonight.
  6. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    50
    No, it's not Twilight--but it's not bad, either. The Vampire Diaries, The CW's new fang-gang drama, successfully hitches the sanguinary sexuality of the vampire ethos to the in-group/out-group dynamic of the teen soap.
  7. Slate
    Reviewed by: Troy Patterson
    50
    A tolerably flavorsome ball of crimson bubblegum.
  8. Philadelphia Daily News
    Reviewed by: Ellen Gray
    40
    Damon ("Lost's" Ian Somerhalder) complains. "Remember, Stefan--it's important to stay away from fads." If only the CW would listen.
  9. Kansas City Star
    Reviewed by: Aaron Barnhart
    40
    I’ve got nothing against Vampire Diaries. Since it lacks broad appeal and hasn’t a clever bone in its body, it will probably be a hit, unlike CW shows I’ve stuck up for (like “Reaper” and “Aliens in America”).

Awards & Rankings

86
#86 Best TV Season of 2009
5
#5 Most Discussed TV Season of 2009
3
#3 Most Shared TV Season of 2009

User Reviews

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User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 550 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 414 out of 550
  2. Mixed: 58 out of 550
  3. Negative: 78 out of 550
  1. HannahSalvatore
    Aug 27, 2010
    10
    THIS IS DEFINITELY MY FAVORITE SHOW. (can you tell by my display name? ;) much better than twilight. Damon is my favorite character. If youTHIS IS DEFINITELY MY FAVORITE SHOW. (can you tell by my display name? ;) much better than twilight. Damon is my favorite character. If you have any taste in shows AT ALL, you will like the vampire diaries. (: Alot of action, drama, and good story line. If you havent seen it before, go check it out! I promise you, you will like it. I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THE SECOND SEASON AND FOR ______ TO COME ON THE SHOW. (you know who i mean :)… Full Review »
  2. marc5477
    Jan 23, 2015
    0
    Might be ok for early teen girls, for everyone else its a pukefest of whiny, moping and unintelligible characters. I sat through the 1stMight be ok for early teen girls, for everyone else its a pukefest of whiny, moping and unintelligible characters. I sat through the 1st season because my wife wanted to give it a shot after watching the Originals and by episode 8, even she couldn't take it seriously and started playing games on her laptop during episodes. I hate every character in the show especially the worthless Elena and the retarded vampire brothers. You would think after living 150 years they would have gotten a little smarter but apparently their intelligence is fixed to high school level. I think for a grand finale, they should hire Wesley Snipes and have Blade eviscerate and stomp all over every character in the show until they turn into pudding.

    How does anybody watch this and keep a straight a face? And here I thought Teen Wolf was a joke.    … Full Review »
  3. chidime
    May 27, 2013
    3
    never hated a show like I do this one. The only reason why it doesn't get a zero is because the storyline is good. The show is annoyingnever hated a show like I do this one. The only reason why it doesn't get a zero is because the storyline is good. The show is annoying because the acting is so bad but with a good storyline such that I keep on watching it just to see where the story goes. However, the more I watch the more annoyed I get, but I can't stop myself. This show is stupid, to put in simpler words.… Full Review »
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