Despite having ended nine years ago, “The Vampire Diaries” remains a popular show today, with characters who continue to fascinate teens.

“The Vampire Diaries” is an American teen drama television series that ran for eight seasons, totalling 171 episodes, from September 2009 to March 2017, according to Lindsay’ Gallagher (staff writer for villanova.edu). Developed by creators Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, the series is set in a fictional town of Mystic Falls. It centers on the interplay between Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) and two vampire brothers, Stefen Salvatore (Paul Wesley) and Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder). The two brothers create a love triangle, while they battle the supernatural threats that arise throughout the series. 

The series features suspenseful and dramatic plot twists that leaves viewers on the edge wondering which characters are safe. 

Characters in the series have major personality shifts that influence how they interact with others throughout the storyline. For example, Damon Salvatore shifts from a villainous antagonist in the first season to an anti-hero later on. “My favorite character from the series has to be Damon Salvatore due to his acting skills. Damon gave off a charming/amusing personality especially when he was around Elena. One of my favorite scenes is when Bonnie and Damon go back in time and meet the evil brother that killed Damon’s whole family,” junior Katherine Elmore said. 

A recurring theme in the series is the struggle vampires face between embracing themselves in their own mind, while holding on to their morals. Having to restrain their vampiric instincts to live a normal life or concealing their human emotions to survive as powerful supernatural beings places characters in challenging positions. The series delves into how these choices affect not only the vampires, but also the people around them, including their family, friends and relationships.

Another villainous antagonist is Katherine Petrova (Nina Dobrev) because she prioritizes survival and achieving what she wants over her allies and relationships. She is a well-regarded character because of her unpredictable and ruthless actions, which makes fans engaged. “I personally like Katherine from the series because she gives off iconic baddie vibes and has no mercy [for] characters who interfere in her way. For example, throughout the series Katherine manipulated Stefan’s and Damon’s emotions because she would force them into a love triangle that would cause tension between the two brothers,” freshman Rayna Sophia Pizanda said.

Pizanda’s favorite moments in the series are the romantic scenes, especially when the characters have flashbacks of the past. “A favorite scene of mine was in season one when Stefan is chasing Katherine through the gardens near his house. I like how it shows them romantically playing before things take a turn later in the season,” Pizanda said.

Core protagonists in the series navigate through supernatural threats such as other vampires, witches and werewolves. Other characters, like Caroline Forbes (Candice King), act as organizers and defend their friends in difficult times. “The first character I think about in the series is Caroline because I like how she turns from [being] an insecure teenager in the beginning of the series to a confident and strong role model. For example, in season one, episode five she is getting chased by her toxic boyfriend Damon at the time. He is using his vampirism to control her. She resists his compulsion and rises above her need for approval,” freshman Savannah Collins said.