The Vampire Diaries TV Review | Common Sense Media

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Parents' Guide to

The Vampire Diaries TV CW Drama 2009 The Vampire Diaries Poster Image
  • Common Sense Says
  • Parents Say 119 Reviews
  • Kids Say 544 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Kari Croop By Kari Croop , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 15+

Blood, violence are the real draw in angsty vampire drama.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Vampire Diaries is a slickly produced, bingeable supernatural drama based on L.J. Smith's bestselling young adult novels. The series plays into the perennial popularity of vampires and all things otherworldly. That said, it's…

 Why Age 15+? Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Most main characters drink alcohol socially, even though they're underage. Some

Violence & Scariness

Fantastical violence and conflict (including vampire attacks, torture scenes, bl

 Sex, Romance & Nudity

Heated kissing between teens and references to "hooking up" for sex. Seduction.

 Products & Purchases

Some advertising (for Bing) appears on-screen during the show. Various spin-offs

 Language

Occasional use of words like "crap," "jerk," "bitch," and "ass," along with offe

 Any Positive Content? Positive Messages

Themes include loyalty to family and friends, helping people in need, and learni

 Positive Role Models

Complex main characters have good intentions, but their behavior (including unde

 Diverse Representations

The few characters of color who exist are usually supporting players and quickly

  • Parents Need to Know

    Parents need to know that The Vampire Diaries is a slickly produced, bingeable supernatural drama based on L.J. Smith's bestselling young adult novels. The series plays into the perennial popularity of vampires and all things otherworldly. That said, it's a lot edgier than Twilight, making it an iffy choice for younger teens. The violence is pretty graphic -- there are torture scenes, bloody wounds, and combat shown -- and romantic scenes can get pretty steamy. The show also tends to portray underage drinking as commonplace without showing serious consequences. And if you're looking for an accurate portrayal of young people today, look elsewhere: Most of The Vampire Diaries' cast is White, with only one Black character seeing significant screen time.

  • Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

    a lot

    Most main characters drink alcohol socially, even though they're underage. Some drink to the point of being drunk; rarely are there consequences. Some characters smoke cigarettes, one character struggles with a substance abuse disorder.

    Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

    Get started Close

  • Violence & Scariness

    a lot

    Fantastical violence and conflict (including vampire attacks, torture scenes, bloody wounds and bites, and hand-to-hand combat that involves people throwing each other into buildings and out of windows, etc.) are part of every episode. Characters die.

    Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

    Get started Close

  • Sex, Romance & Nudity

    some

    Heated kissing between teens and references to "hooking up" for sex. Seduction.

    Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

    Get started Close

  • Products & Purchases

    a little

    Some advertising (for Bing) appears on-screen during the show. Various spin-offs exist, including Legacies.

  • Language

    a little

    Occasional use of words like "crap," "jerk," "bitch," and "ass," along with offensive terms such as "tranny mess."

    Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

    Get started Close

  • Positive Messages

    very little

    Themes include loyalty to family and friends, helping people in need, and learning from previous mistakes in order to make real changes.

  • Positive Role Models

    very little

    Complex main characters have good intentions, but their behavior (including underage drinking) isn't always exemplary. One vampire prefers to hunt animals rather than drink human blood.

  • Diverse Representations

    very little

    The few characters of color who exist are usually supporting players and quickly killed off. Women are often seen as helpless and in need of rescue. The most prominent Black character (played by Kat Graham) is given more agency as seasons progress.

    Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update .

Where to Watch

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The Vampire Diaries

Parent and Kid Reviews

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  • Parents Say (119)
  • Kids Say (544)
age 13+

Based on 119 parent reviews

Parents say this show is a captivating mix of supernatural drama and romance, making it a favorite for many, but opinions on its appropriateness for younger viewers are deeply divided. While some parents feel it is suitable for teens aged 12 and up due to the entertaining plot and positive themes about family and friendship, others express concern over its graphic violence, mature themes, and portrayal of unhealthy relationships, asserting that it can be harmful for impressionable youth.

  • age suitability
  • mature themes
  • graphic violence
  • positive messages
  • parental concern
  • mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
See all 119 parent reviews age 13+

Based on 544 kid reviews

Kids say the show is entertaining and has a compelling plot with strong character development, appealing to mature viewers typically aged 12 and up. However, it does contain elements of violence, sexual content, and some strong language that may not be suitable for younger audiences, making parental discretion advisable.

  • engaging plot
  • character development
  • mature themes
  • viewer discretion
  • suitable for teens
Summarized with AI
See all 544 kid reviews

What's the Story?

Based on the bestselling young adult novels by L.J. Smith, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES is set in the fictional town of Mystic Falls and centers on the interplay between orphaned Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) and two vampire brothers, Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder). Both Elena and Stefan keep track of their thoughts and feelings by writing in their journals, but Stefan's diary also contains fascinating details about his complicated past and the town's surprising supernatural history. Later in the series, the plot thickens with the arrivals of Elena's vampire doppelganger, Katherine (also played by Dobrev), "original" vampire Klaus (Joseph Morgan), and vampire hunter Rayna (Leslie-Anne Huff).

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Is It Any Good?

Our review: Parents say (119 ): Kids say (544 ):

Fans of vampires and young adult dramas might enjoy this show's style and themes, which include teen angst, dramatic tension, and conventionally attractive characters who become more complex in each season. The Vampire Diaries took off as a hit with teens and young adults, and maybe even a few of their parents. While there are obvious parallels to the Twilight storyline, it's worth noting that the book trilogy that inspired this series was originally released in 1991, predating Stephenie Meyer's Twilight bestsellers by nearly 15 years.

The Vampire Diaries delivers better-than-average entertainment, boasting a soundtrack that includes songs from artists like The Killers and MGMT. This Teen Choice- and People's Choice-nominated series also gets props for maturing along with its characters, expanding the plot to include much more about Mystic Falls' fascinating past.

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Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the ongoing appeal of seeing vampires and other supernatural beings in stories like The Vampire Diaries. Why do audiences find magical creatures so appealing?

  • How does the show portray teen behavior, particularly when it comes to sex and drinking? Do the characters' choices lead to real-life consequences?

  • If you've read the books that the series is based on, how does the show compare? Did the writers take any creative license? If so, why do you think they changed the story?

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TV Details

  • Premiere date : September 10, 2009
  • Cast : Ian Somerhalder , Nina Dobrev , Paul Wesley
  • Network : CW
  • Genre : Drama
  • Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Book Characters , School ( High School )
  • TV rating : TV-14
  • Last updated : December 19, 2025
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Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

The Vampire Diaries

Suggest an Update

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