The Vampire Diaries' eight seasons proved some of my beliefs correct, but they also managed to surprise me. I'd picked up bits and pieces about the show online, but I was largely unaware of how they all fit together.

Watching the series from start to finish allowed me to fill in the gaps in my knowledge, and it made me realize why so many viewers love this show. The Vampire Diaries is very much the supernatural romance story I'd imagined it to be, but it's also so much more than that. There are so many elements of the CW series that managed to surprise me, and these made me appreciate The Vampire Diaries even more.

8 The Vampire Diaries Is Equal Parts Teen Soap Opera & Supernatural Show

It Strikes A Great Balance Between The Two

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Before starting the Vampire Diaries, I knew the show had a heavy romance plot between the Salvatore brothers and Elena Gilbert. But apart from that, I expected it to be more of a supernatural series than anything else. Several seasons in, I realized I was wrong about the CW show. The Vampire Diaries is a teen soap opera as much as it's a supernatural adventure, and I wasn't expecting the former. I knew there would be fights between vampires and supernatural mysteries, but I wasn't prepared for so much drama.

The Vampire Diaries has no shortage of emotional moments, and it actually works to the show's advantage. The series is the perfect mix of 2000s teen drama and supernatural fantasy series. It's no wonder it's so difficult to find more The Vampire Diaries. Not many of them try to strike this balance in the first place, and even fewer actually succeed at it. I have a feeling I'll be revisiting TVD just to experience this combination of genres again.

7 The Vampire Diaries Isn’t Just About Vampires

There Are Witches, Werewolves, & Doppelgängers, Too?!

I probably should have expected more supernatural creatures in The Vampire Diaries, but for some reason, I thought the show focused primarily on the titular predators. The first outing of the CW series seemed to this, but I soon realized how wrong this assumption was. The Vampire Diaries introduces werewolves, witches, ghosts, and even doppelgängers — and all of these beings have a much larger impact on the main story than I anticipated.

I suppose The Vampire Diaries couldn't have gone on for eight seasons without delving into other supernatural creatures, and I'm glad it didn't try to.

I suppose The Vampire Diaries couldn't have gone on for eight seasons without delving into other supernatural creatures, and I'm glad it didn't try to. Some of the most interesting storylines involve werewolves or witches, and the main story would have started to feel dry and slow without these additions. It also makes sense that a world with vampires would also have other extraordinary beings lurking beneath the surface. That's probably why vampires, werewolves, and witches crop up together so frequently.

6 The Vampire Diaries Gets Much Darker Than I Expected

There Are So Many Deaths & Gruesome Scenes

With so many people declaring The Vampire Diaries their comfort show — and a central character dynamic that feels very young adult — I was surprised by how dark the CW series actually gets. The Vampire Diaries doesn't shy away from killing off important characters, and deaths like Vicki's, Anna's, and Jenna's truly shocked me. Sure, the stakes seem lower in the later seasons, which bring back several of the characters they seemingly kill off. Even so, The Vampire Diaries has far more character deaths than I anticipated.

There's also more violence than I expected from a CW show, with numerous torture scenes in addition to all the on-screen deaths. The Vampire Diaries establishes the world's stakes with moments like these, and they fit well with its themes. However, it's somewhat shocking it was able to get away with such scenes when it was airing on network TV. It's even more surprising when you consider that TVD is aimed at a teenage and young adult audience.

5 Team Stefan & Team Damon Both Make Good Points

The Vampire Diaries' Love Triangle Actually Works

I've apparently spent a lot of time on the "Delena" side of the internet, so I always expected Damon and Elena to end up together while watching The Vampire Diaries. What I didn't anticipate was that Sefan and Elena's relationship would last so long — or be equally compelling at times. So many teen shows and movies introduce love triangles where it's obvious who will win the main character's heart. This isn't the case with The Vampire Diaries, and had I not already known the ending, I would have been wondering who Elena would choose.

It's hard to pick a side in The Vampire Diaries' central love triangle, which is a testament to the writing. Stefan and Damon both have major flaws, but they're also good for Elena in entirely different ways. I expected an obvious choice for Elena in The Vampire Diaries, but I found the characters and relationships to be more complex than I imagined. This was a pleasant surprise, especially when so many series have boring and predictable love triangles.

4 The Originals Are Actually A Huge Part Of The Vampire Diaries

I Didn't Expect Them To Stick Around So Long

I'd seen some of The Originals prior to starting The Vampire Diaries, and I knew the characters had made their debut in the earlier show. However, I didn't realize what a huge role the Mikaelson family played in TVD. I was expecting them to be the villains for a season or so, then disappear into their own story. Instead, Klaus, Rebekah, and Elijah stuck around for several outings of The Vampire Diaries — and their appearances were a highlight of each season.

I was surprised to realize how much The Vampire Diaries and The Originals impacted each other, even knowing they were connected.

I was surprised to realize how much The Vampire Diaries and The Originals impacted each other, even knowing they were connected. Klaus and Rebekah play significant roles in Elena's journey, even if they were the villains the majority of the time. The Mikaelsons also had intriguing relationships with The Vampire Diaries' major characters, with Klaus pursuing Caroline and siring Tyler and Rebekah constantly threatening and making deals with Elena's friends.

3 Elena Becomes A Vampire Much Faster Than I Thought

It Was Inevitable, But I Thought It Would Happen Later

Whenever a story features a human falling in love with a vampire, I assume they're going to become a vampire themselves at some point. I was fully prepared for Elena's story to go in this direction, but The Vampire Diaries surprised me by having her turn so soon. I figured she'd make the decision towards the end of the series, opting to live an eternal life with whichever Salvatore brother she chose. Of course, this isn't what happened — and the reality of Elena's transformation is far more shocking and tragic.

With so much focus on Elena making her own choices, I was surprised that The Vampire Diaries made her a vampire without her agreeing to the transformation. I was also shocked that the series would actually kill Elena during its run, much less at the end of season 3. It doesn't feel like Elena spent that much time navigating the supernatural as a human, but it is intriguing to see how she fares as a vampire. This turn of events also showed me that The Vampire Diaries knows how to keep its viewers guessing.

2 The Worst Characters Are Often The Most Compelling

The Vampire Diaries Knows How To Write Interesting Characters

I knew Damon was the "bad boy" antihero of The Vampire Diaries, but I didn't realize how many morally dubious characters the show contained — or anticipate that I'd end up loving them the most. Damon continues to make poor choices well into the series, but that's nothing compared to what Klaus and Rebekah get up to. Despite Klaus and Rebekah doing irredeemable things, I found myself intrigued by them. I guess all it takes is a tragic backstory and a few positive moments to make such characters compelling.

Katherine is another self-interested but fascinating character, proving that The Vampire Diaries is really good at writing morally complex figures. It's also good at making you feel for them, even after they've done something you shouldn't be able to look past. It's no wonder The Vampire Diaries has a reputation for making viewers fall for morally gray to outright villainous characters. It's not just Damon who earns the show this reputation, though he's certainly the best example of it.

1 There’s A Reason People Rewatch The Vampire Diaries Every Year

The CW Series Really Is Entertaining

Perhaps the biggest lesson I learned after starting The Vampire Diaries in 2024 is that there's a good reason so many people rewatch this show every year. I'd wondered what all the hype was about, both when the show was airing and when it remained popular years later. I'm glad I finally decided to dive in and see why people love this series. It's far from a perfect show — in fact, there are many The Vampire Diaries, years later — but there's something about it that keeps you hitting "play."

It could be the comforting, small-town vibes Mystic Falls gives off, or it could stem from the lovable characters The Vampire Diaries introduces. All of these aspects of the series contribute to its charm, making it so easy to fall into. And once you're immersed in the CW show's world, the drama and plot twists make it an incredibly gripping ride. The Vampire Diaries is every bit as entertaining as people say, and that makes this a difficult series to put down. Fortunately, it's an easy one to pick up again.