Posted by Vee | August 2, 2009, 5:20 (EST) | 21 Comments
Category: TV Series

This isn’t going to be a typical pilot review. We’ve had plenty of those and, at this point, no one reading this is going to have their mind changed by what others have to say – you’re all “in” until you can judge for yourself. So consider this an in-depth collection of thoughts from one fan’s perspective – general observation to meta, what I liked, what I was “meh” on, and everything in-between. These opinions are mine, not Red’s.

I’m going to try and keep this as major book spoiler-free as possible – there will be allusions (mostly in regards to characters), but nothing detailed. There will, of course, be spoilers for the pilot. Also, it would be disingenuous of me not to admit upfront that my love for the books is going to color my perspective. I long ago accepted that this would be a different vision, but 17+ years of book fandom is ingrained in my noggin and not easily pushed aside. And why should it be? This show is called The Vampire Diaries, no?

I mentioned some time back that I was “over” the pilot already, even though I had yet to see it. A pilot is a pitch, it’s set-up – and this is a story I know inside and out. Assuming the basic framework of events remains intact, I know where this goes, and that’s what excites me (and other fans). My personal enjoyment is going to come from seeing the surprises that are tossed in to flesh out and tweak the plot for television, in seeing the characters I love come to life (in whatever capacity) onscreen, and to see those touch points from the books that matter most to me.

And there are those moments in The Vampire Diaries pilot, from the small (Stefan laying his Mind Whammy Special on the school secretary), to the slight twist on a classic scene (Stefan’s authoritative smack down on Mr. Tanner during History class, which seemed to be an SDCC crowd favorite and revealed another piece in the Salvatore history/Mystic Falls puzzle), to the initial interaction between Stefan and Damon that, while not anywhere near the level of viciousness in the The Awakening‘s infamous Chapter 15, evokes the same sense of taunting and power play. (Hey, you gotta save something for sweeps, right?)

Reviews name-checking the “old school WB” feel of The Vampire Diaries pilot are on the mark, particularly in the teaser. (And Cindy Busby can indeed scream.) I think I’d underestimated my own nostalgia for what I watched in junior/high school; I’m a sucker for small town creepy happenings. During the SDCC panel, Kevin Williamson placed a lot of emphasis on the town of Mystic Falls and I was pleased to hear that. The “marked” nature of book counterpart Fell’s Church is not something that’s addressed until Dark Reunion, the fourth book in The Vampire Diaries, but the town is very much its own character. The show creators seem to have found a way around the whole “How did these Italian vampires end up in this podunk Virginia town, anyway?” origin (which some fans have always found a bit flimsy, but who cares? They’re Italian!), and I’m intrigued to see how the history of the Salvatore family and the town ties together, and how their connections to other families reveals itself. Certainly puts a potential new spin on the conflict between Stefan and Tyler, and it also makes me wonder if Katherine was a Gilbert or a Sommers, thus giving a bit more weight to the vague assertion in the book series that Elena must be related to Katherine.

But I’m getting sidetracked. I’m not sure I felt the full potential of Mystic Falls – the bright n’ shiny high school environment didn’t help matters – but I was excited to hear familiar-yet-different tidbits dropped when Stefan gets up in Tanner’s business with his own history lesson. He references the Battle of Willow Creek and a church thought to be harboring Confederate soldiers, but was actually sheltering civilians. Everyone inside was killed (I think by fire, I didn’t write that down for some reason). If you’ve read the books, you can connect those dots quickly; if you haven’t read the books, know that Mystic Falls is going to have some very interesting goings-on and I don’t think much of it will be Monster of the Week randomness. There’s definite groundwork being laid and hell yeah, I say: mythology is sexy.

But that’s not what most of you care about. You care about the beating, bleeding heart and that is, of course, Stefan and Elena. Accusations of Twilight-isms are inevitable and I don’t think anyone here is naive enough to think that we’re not getting this show because of the massive success of Twilight. Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that there’s a particular market the CW is reaching out to here, and that’s fine. Whatever. It’s a BIG market and we’re getting The Vampire Diaries on TV. Enjoy it, right?

That being said, the beginnings of this particular love story are a bit condensed. This is a notable example of where the producers/writers’ hands were more or less tied. The circumstances in which Elena and Stefan come together in the books are, on the surface, similar to Twilight. If they’d stuck to the whole vampire-shuns-girl model, the ignorant copycat accusations would have been even more painful. But I was very happy to hear Williamson and Julie Plec say that Elena will discover what Stefan is early on (three to four episodes) because that tension is needed. Oddly, you’d think it would work the other way around, that the secret of Stefan’s nature would add that tension to their interactions, but the budding romance is played so straight-forwardly here that you kind of want to shout at Elena, “HE DRINKS BLOOD! HOW HOT IS THAT?” Let’s be honest: Stefan realizing Elena has cut her leg in the cemetery doesn’t have quite the same overtones to it as Stefan sitting behind Elena in class, staring at her neck, and tonguing his teeth while he fantasizes about putting his lips on her. Yeah.

This is not to say that Elena and Stefan lack chemistry – far from it, in fact. But because there was little time with Stefan and Elena individually before their bump in front of the men’s room at school, I’m not sure I had quite the pay-off I wanted seeing them together. The love story between Stefan and Elena, once it actually culminates, is not a soft-lit, sunshine-y affair. It’s romantic, it’s often – to borrow KW’s term – earnest, but there’s a definite tint of desperation to it on a few levels. And the best epic romances are defined by pain and turmoil. So if we’re not getting the slow-burning, agonizing build-up, I do hope it’s established early on that Stefan loves Elena for who she is and not who she reminds him of, just as Elena’s decision to embrace Stefan in spite of what he is not only speaks volumes of her character but solidifies why these two are drawn to each other in the first place. A shared sense of loss only goes so far.

And, if I really want to be blunt about Elena/Stefan (and Damon): When it comes to the biting, Vampire Diaries gets right down to it. And thank GOD. Elena wants it. Stefan wants it, even though he plays the martyr for all of five seconds before sinking his teeth into her throat. It’s flaming-hot mutual desire that they act on almost immediately. There’s no b.s. moral high ground where Stefan doesn’t bite Elena because he’s “good” and Damon does because he’s “evil.” Salvatore men and their taste in women gets them in as much trouble as their taste for blood. And when Caroline asks Elena what she can do with two that she can’t do with one (in reference to Stefan and Matt), Meredith quips, “The same thing, only longer.” Thus making her as prescient as Bonnie staring into a spoonful of cranberry sauce and us readers (and viewers?) the happier for it. (highlight for spoilers).

I like Nina Dobrev. I knew I would after watching the extended preview back in May, even if this Elena is more introspective than self-centered, more vulnerable than prone to sociopathic tendencies. (Oh, c’mon, guys – you know it’s true. Go re-read The Awakening.) Most of fandom has gone off about what a bitch Elena is since forever – she has never been a beloved character for most fans. (I said “most” not “all.”) Respected, yes, but not universally well-liked. Is this Elena a blonde, blue-eyed Ice Princess? No. But I would not be so quick to underestimate her strength or capacity for putting The Bitch front and center when the time is right. There’s definitely an inner fire that shows through here and there, and as Red pointed out in the comments to this post, Elena’s very character, which is at the center of this story, is defined by her independence and sheer force of will. Perhaps we’re not getting the Elena who took a blood oath to ensure Stefan would be hers, but I do think we’re getting the Elena who can stand toe to toe with Damon and will protect Stefan and her friends at all costs. I just hope she comes into her own sooner rather than later. I don’t want to see Elena go all Buffy (or sprout magical wings, cough), but I do want to see her edge, her fierceness, and I think Nina can bring that and more. So often it’s Elena that props Stefan up. I want to see those aspects of the Elena we all know and respect; an Elena that isn’t defined only by her Salvatore troubles or personal tragedy.

I’m the first to admit that what I love about Stefan is not really in line with most of fandom. I don’t see him as loyal, virtuous vampire boyfriend material. Stefan’s capacity for darkness and cruelty is much greater than Damon’s because he has empathy, he cares, so when he loses it, he skips the community theater and goes straight to Broadway. And I see that in Paul Wesley. I fully own up to the fact that I was not all that familiar with his work when he was cast, so very much had the “Who the eff is this guy?” attitude, but there were moments in the extended preview where I saw “it” – that Stefan thing. A few close friends who are fans of his were also telling me, “Just wait.” And they were right. He was my big “aha!” moment during the pilot. The little details and moments – aloof but polite, the vaguely haunted look. Though I found the whole drink-spilling-in-lap scene in the Mystic Grill contrived, Stefan’s leveled stare and tiny smirk facing Tyler dispelled any lingering questions I had. That expression told me everything I needed to know, which was: “I could tear your head off your shoulders and pick my teeth with your spine.” That’s what I needed to see – that violence barely kept in check beneath the surface. Some fans have complained about Stefan’s passiveness throughout the original trilogy, and I do think we’re getting a Stefan more akin to Dark Reunion – edgy, dry sense of humor, and (hopefully?) his trademark self-righteousness. (It’s just not Stefan if he’s not being hypocritical about something.) And if events in the books are the framework for the season, readers know what’s coming, and I am stoked to see what Paul does. The fact his expression completely melted my cold, cynical heart when Elena invited him into her house says a lot for his ability to find that line and ride the hell out of it. Rest easy – he ain’t only gonna be lookin’ sad, writin’ in his journal, and munchin’ bunnies.

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that Damon’s arrival brought a huge boost to proceedings – you could feel it in the room. I’ve said from the start that the chemistry between Stefan and Damon was what would make or break a screen adaptation for me and I’m relieved to say they do not disappoint. If anything, it’s just an itty bitty teaser of how epically effed up their relationship is and will continue to be. Now, fans have seen most of this interaction in the released footage, but it’s the single brief moment that hasn’t been released that brought a huge smile to my face. Props to Somerhalder and Wesley for nailing, respectively, Damon’s ruthlessness and Stefan’s humiliation within ten seconds. It was perhaps the most classically book series moment in the entire pilot and it was so simple.

Will Somerhalder rock Damon? I wasn’t entirely convinced from watching the previews, but the moment he stepped on a prostrate Stefan and became quite still, voice dropping as he stated facts, I had the last of my worries laid to rest. Does this Damon have a more prickly, playful side? Yes. But it’s clear there’s been more immediate interaction between the brothers rather than centuries-long gaps in face-to-face time, so obviously their history is different (and I’m sure the writers are going to tell us all about it). But I do have one observation on Damon (from a book perspective): He only really gets physical when he wants to make a brutal point (usually to Stefan), which is part of what makes him so unpredictable. The power of his words alone should not be underestimated, especially since it’s what ultimately makes him so seductive and/or infuriating. (Though all bets are off if he ever utters the phrase “Queen of Shadows.” I will throw a shoe through my TV screen. Make that both of my shoes.) With Damon, it’s about effortlessness – he glides into situations and gets what he wants. He’ll hit on your great-grandmother if he has something to gain from it, and it’s this breezy equal opportunism that’s fueled the long-running fandom argument about whether he ever truly loved Katherine or Elena. We don’t know. No one knows anything about what Damon thinks or feels. What I liked about the exchange between Salvatores in the pilot is the ambiguity of Damon’s motivations and I hope that’s maintained even as the ramping up of the Damon/Elena happens. (It’s inevitable.)

It’s difficult to make judgments on the supporting characters as the focus is undeniably on Stefan and Elena for most of the pilot. Elena and Jeremy’s aunt, Jenna, is onscreen so briefly that you just tick the box next to “young, scattered aunt” and move on. (I know there was a scene in the script that highlighted her struggle with her new-found role as caretaker in a more tangible way, and I’m sure this is something we’ll see developed as the show progresses.) Jeremy, Elena’s younger brother, was the character I was most concerned about going into this – not because he’s a character specific to the show, but because he read like an obnoxious troubled kid stereotype on the page. But Steven R. McQueen did not play it like I was expecting – I found him surprisingly vulnerable; he was less about attitude and more about a general listlessness, and I found him genuinely sympathetic. I’m still not sold on the whole drug thing – and, no, it’s not because I operate under some delusion about Kids Today (pleeeeease) but because, ultimately, there has to be a purpose for it other than to prove Jeremy’s “troubled” or why he and Vicki will continue to have regular interaction.

And speaking of Vicki – hrm. If I was supposed to feel any sympathy for her being attacked, the care!boat passed me by. But I fully own up to a complete block for girls who define their worth by who wants to get in their pants. (Oddly, I did not come away feeling the same way about Caroline, but more on that in a sec.) Vickie Bennett, on whom Vicki Donovan is based, is a plot device in the books more than a full-fledged personality, so I’m not opposed to her having a bigger role, but – man. I don’t know if I could take more than two episodes of Tyler walking all over her or Jeremy letting her walk all over him. As for Tyler – what can I say? He’s a dick and I couldn’t be happier. Watching him transition from entitled rich boy douche to something far meatier (…) is going to be strangely satisfying. And I’m looking forward to any and all expansion of the Lockwood (née Smallwood) family history. And Zach, that sweater-wearing guy in the boarding house – well, you’ve pretty much seen all of his scenes in released footage and, if you’re anything like me, you’ll want Stefan to drop him to the floor with a knee to the groin. I felt like I was missing solid context for him and that made his “You don’t belong here” spiel especially irritating.

Matt (now Vicki’s brother, which ought to spawn some interesting scenarios) is pretty much classic book Matt, if a little heavy on the unhappy lingering stares at Elena. Hopefully he won’t be butt-hurt over Elena breaking up with him for too long because their friendship (in addition to his and Stefan’s) is one of the relationships I most look forward to seeing on the screen. And, taking in the cast of characters we have here, we need that fundamentally decent guy who can be relied on to do what’s necessary no matter the risk. I know some are Not Happy about him being friends with Tyler, but I don’t see that friendship lasting long – especially with Vicki in the picture.

Considering Bonnie’s first scene involves her talking a million miles a minute, it doesn’t take long to get into the rhythm of this new incarnation. She’s not quite the whimsical, absent-minded Bonnie of the original book trilogy, but she’s not so far from the tougher, wiser Bonnie of Dark Reunion. The emphasis on her psychic abilities is there from the start (she’s descended from Salem witches here), though she herself doesn’t seem to take it at all seriously, and when she does have a genuine premonition, she dismisses it as being drunk. Bonnie’s story is one I’m particularly interested in, since her character arc throughout the books is one of the more fully realized. How her abilities manifest, and whether she’s at all aware of them as the plot gets driving, will be one of the major hooks. (Also, I have no doubts that Katerina’s gonna rock that infamous pink taffeta and black sequin Homecoming dress out. Wait, what do you mean Wardrobe burned that page? Awww.)

And then there’s Caroline. She’s the big question mark. Gone is the slinky, bronzed brick house of the books, replaced by what I believe the casting call referred to as a “slightly manufactured-looking queen bee type.” She and Elena are “friends,” though it’s obvious Elena doesn’t really care much for her, and Caroline, in the show’s closing moments, tells Bonnie that she sees herself as Elena’s rival. It should be pointed out that Stefan’s polite but “OUCH!” rejection of Caroline when she corners him at the party garnered a lot of favor from the SDCC audience, but it felt more like an example of Stefan’s laser-focus on Elena than anything specific to Caroline. In short, I found her a bit pathetic, but not unlikeable. Is this “rivalry” thing a possible hint at her future turn to the Dark Side? God, I hope so. It’d certainly give her an arc and provide a more immediate context to any potential fall-out with Elena. And who doesn’t want to see Caroline on a rampage?

(Oh, and how can I forget Mr. Tanner? Not the sniveling weasel of the books. Not by a long shot. But he rocks the Clark Kent hairdo and pomposity, so for that I salute you, Mr. Ayres. I, uh, would have paid attention in your class.)

For all these characters, familiar and new, I can’t deny that Meredith’s absence was glaring. I’m not going to dwell on it for too long, but at this point I have no clue how they can bring her into this circle of friends and have it seem natural. Meredith is more than just her back story and her wit – she’s the one who understands Elena better than anyone else, even Bonnie. So I’m just going to cross my fingers real hard-like and prepare to be pleasantly surprised.

I’d heard some complaints about the voice-over narration from Elena and Stefan, that it was awkward, but I thought it worked just fine. I’m curious as to whether the diary/journal excerpts will be a recurring motif throughout each episode of the series, or something that will be a touch point when needed to tie everything back to the Diaries of the title. A peek at the shelves stuffed with journals in Stefan’s room hints at their possible role in future events – though that’s probably me projecting. (I’m allowed to keep adding to this running wishlist I have, right?)

I only had major issues with two things, both of which I think are probably unique to the pilot:

The Fog Effect From a TV perspective, I get the desire for a visual touch point. Hell, I love the eye effect for the vampires – it’s subtle, and strikes a nice balance between indicating preternatural power and keeping faces pretty. But the fog effect just did not work for me. Unless you count the “dark mist” Vickie Bennett refers to after being attacked in The Awakening (which makes an appearance at other key points), there is only one notable use of it in the books and it (barely) works there because of the circumstances – Elena, alone, in an enclosed space, and Damon making with the seduction. Damon’s ability to control the (other) weather is a much bigger deal, whether it’s maintaining a constant cloud cover (which would be impractical for the show) or whipping up a snowstorm out of nowhere (which I very much hope to see). I could almost buy the use of it in the graveyard if the overall execution had been better, but I didn’t buy it in the woods with Vicki at all. It actually sucked the tension out of the scene. If the fog is going to remain part of Damon’s normal schtick (and used for other unnamed spoilery purposes), I hope there’s some tinkering with the overall effect. Oh, and I’ll take this opportunity to add: NO complaints about the crow. It is big, it is black, it makes the sexy, sinister eyes – awesome. No matter how many times I’ve seen that crow fly through the damn window, it still gives me a little thrill.

The Music Not the choice of music but the sheer amount of it. I know that this came down to needing music, period, and less a conscious decision to cram as many songs in as possible, but it was often distracting and detracted from the performances. The one scene that really sticks out for me is when Stefan is at the boarding house and pulls out the photo of Katherine; Placebo’s cover of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” plays over the scene. Now, I love this cover. LOVE. IT. But I felt like the song was narrating how I was supposed to feel watching this, rather than allowing Wesley to sell it. In short, it felt very fanvid-y*, as did a few other moments which, unfortunately, always seemed to involve Stefan and/or Elena. But this is something I think (and hope) will be tempered as we move into the series, what with an original music composer and all.

A question a lot of people have been asking is “Does it feel like The Vampire Diaries?” As in the books. You may as well ask me what heaven tastes like – I say Nutella, but I’m sure plenty of people disagree with me. It’s an impossible question to answer because every single fan has their own expectations. And, frankly, the goal of the producers, writers, crew, and actors is to make the best show they can. What I feel comfortable saying, because I can only speak for myself, is that I’m really liking what I’m hearing from the producers about their overall vision. There’s definite potential here and I think the show can easily strike a balance between its core love story and supernatural happenings now that it has the time to develop and twist and raise the stakes. I want to see where these characters go, how events unfold, and I’m still in awe that I’ll get to watch them every week.

Is it September yet?

_______

*Before the fanvidders get out the pitchforks, I’m a total sucker for a good fanvid. There’s nothing my inner music junkie and fangirl sides love more than a collision of wickedly edited fandom awesomeness. Now we just need to start using less Kelly Clarkson and Paramore and more bands that have “black” in their name (Black Angels, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Black Mountain, etc.) for Salvatore YouTube Happiness, yes?

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