Posted by Red | June 10, 2009, 22:51 (EST) | 22 Comments
Category: TV Series
Futon Critic‘s Brian Ford Sullivan has weighed in with his thoughts on the Vampire Diaries pilot.
I’m sure this show will have its audience, but boy am I not among them. The final product proves to be just as predictable and cliche-filled as we expected…
All in all, “Diaries” at best plays like a 44-minute music video for a much more interesting show and at worst a lifeless clone of things we’ve seen done before, and done much better.
Read the entire review on Futon Critic.
It’s not exactly a glowing review, and there doesn’t seem to be much different that hadn’t already been said in his earlier review of the script. The reader is left with the impression that this particular TV series just isn’t the reviewer’s cup of tea.
Conversely, GayWired‘s Jason Bristow is giving it a rave review, despite originally going in with low expectations.
Twilight disappointed me and since this latest book series adaptation looked like a blatant ripoff of that Hollywood blockbuster, I expected it to disappoint me as well. Boy, was I wrong!
This show was fantastic. Literally, I cannot think of enough superlatives to describe the pilot. Immediately, I was sucked in by Kevin Williamson’s script and direction.
Read the entire review on gaywired.com.
We were already expecting the slash fanfiction fans to be all over this show, now we’re wondering if it’s set to get a sizable gay following, too?
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11:00 pm on June 10th, 2009
I’m not surprised by the Futon Critic. TVD is not BSG or some hi-end propped sci-fi series. I love that TVD isn’t trying to be something it isn’t, the show is clearly a YA series about a love story between vampires. And as far as the cliches? There is only so much one can muster in reinventing a genre before it gets thrashed.
Personally, I really look forward to the series and cliches be damned, it’s a refersher to what Twilight has done with its idea of vampires. Scarlett(Quote)
11:10 pm on June 10th, 2009
Yes, quite. It’s just not something that particular reviewer is interested in watching, and it shows. I prefer to keep a positive frame of mind about it all, and honestly from what I saw of the trailer, there’s some chemistry going on between Stefan and Elena, and Stefan and Damn. Plus, it’s a pilot – that chemistry is only going to improve as they learn to work together.
As for the cliches… well, we’re talking about books that were being written in 1990, and – for the time – they were pretty original, definitely in the YA genre. What’s cliched now certainly wasn’t back then. L.J. smith is, quite possibly, the source of some of the material that has become cliched in the vampire YA genre. There are some things that are crucial to this particular story that are going to seem cliched, and we can just hope that the writers and producers manage to work around that and do the story justice despite perceived cliches.
And yeah, give me my traditional, cliched, fanged vampires. I love them best of all. :D Red(Quote)
12:10 am on June 11th, 2009
the 1st guy is crazy and the 2nd is not to bad but i love the Vampire Diaries and twilight ! kat(Quote)
12:51 am on June 11th, 2009
true true. I just think that while I love TVD the books and anticipate the upcoming series? I’m very well aware it’s not the sort of drama or genre which is highly praised in the industry. It’s more of a trend, and that’s okay.
I just have a feeling that the situation with TheCW is really different than the other networks. After this last season for Supernatural and Smallville, what’s left? It reminds me of when Dawson’s Creek, Buffy, and Angel were ending around the same time.
The studio needs a show that will continue to carry on with the tone of that slotted night. Thursday typically is more of the horror/sci-fic/supernatural night for the past 3-4 years now.
I believe The Vampire Diaries fits along the tradition of being a lasting show in the same way of Smallville and Supernatural. Scarlett(Quote)
3:15 am on June 11th, 2009
The bit that is most concerning for me from the first review is the mention of the lack of chemistry between Elena and Stefan. While I am not exactly watching for their relationship it IS one of the cornerstones of the series, and if we aren’t loving it by the end of the show, there is something wrong. And you can’t really rely on other characters and things to hold the show together if Elena and Stefan don’t work. Adia(Quote)
11:22 pm on June 11th, 2009
I would take it with a grain of salt. I mean chemistry is entirely subjective. Personally, the scene alone between the two of them at the bridge shows there is a spark. And in the extended preview between the two of them in the hall way trying to pass one another? I saw that awkward cute tension.
Again, considering this subgenre isn’t his thing, I’m not surprised. I mean look at the way Rob and Kristen are on Twilight? I don’t see any chemistry at all between them onscreen, but that’s just me.
Let’s not jump the gun on the lack of chemistry from someone who clearly mentions he’s not much of a fan to it. Scarlett(Quote)
1:44 am on June 12th, 2009
What are you talking about Kristen and Rob had chemistry not as strong as the book but just by the looks of the New Moon movie it seems to have gotten stronger. There’s a reason why the Twilight books are really really popular. The Twilight books love story is way more stronger than the vampire diaries so the connection has to be there for Twilight. These books are the same way but I DON’T KNOW IF IT COULD BE DONE.
LET’S CROSS OUR FINGERS that it does and WE NEED THE TWILIGHT AUDIENCE LET’S BE HONEST HERE !!! Sia(Quote)
1:49 am on June 12th, 2009
Twilight was a refresher what are you talking about ? There’s a reason why the Twilight books are more loved than the vampire diaries because if that was the case for Vampire Diaries it would of became a hit like Twilight but it wasn’t. JUST THE TRUTH PEOPLE ! Sia(Quote)
4:38 am on June 12th, 2009
Oh c’mon, deal with someone’s opinion, lol. I personally don’t see Rob and Kristen’s chemistry. It’s nothing personal, but clearly to a lot of fans it is…so whatever, I’m not bashing, I just don’t agree and there’s a big difference. Anyhow, you’ve actually proved my point completely. People will see different things. Clearly you’re a fan, and that’s all fine. The Futon Critic just isn’t someone who likes this style or niche of vamp show, and that’s fine. I just don’t agree and take it with a grain of salt. Scarlett(Quote)
5:01 am on June 12th, 2009
AND WRITING IN CAPS MAKES AN OPINION MORE VALID, RIGHT? LMAO.
Really, Sia you need to chill out. Vampire Diaries are completely beloved as much if not more because after 15 years people are still talking about it, and loving it. As far as Twilight is concerned? It’s as much of a success because of its aggressive marketing fueled completely by the major absence of the Harry Potter series. Is it a coincidence that as soon as Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince , and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows came to a close that Twilight got picked up for production and the books became more visible than usual? I think not. This doesn’t mean Meyer’s is bad. Obviously she has to be good if people are willing to buy her stuff and watch them as films.
The quality of the books are completely subjective, meaning it depends on what a person values as being “great”. So what really remains is being objective, looking at the have and have nots. And without getting into too much detail with such a limited space, one can definitely make a debate for the success of Meyer’s work being an indirect need for the publishing and YA market to transition after HP makes its final departure.
The TRUTH as you mentioned is that while you have every right to love Twilight, you don’t score “better” points based on something completely weak as just a personal bias. Twilight is good for what it serves to its audience as entertaining and fun. I just feel it is riding on the tails of so many well crafted stories within vampire lore. Also the trend in the youth market and reading in general back in 1992 wasn’t the popular franchise it is now. In a way, people like Oprah and JK Rowling really blew the doors open with reading and book clubs.
If TVD came out then, just around the bend in the late 90s early 00s? I have no doubt it would be as equally popular of a franchise. Also, a testament to Smith’s work is the fact that outside of TVD other non-vamp related work has already been doing well. It’s all about the marketing, pure and simple. Half the greatest artists/writers got their biggest break when it became embraced by a patron of sorts. Scarlett(Quote)
8:27 am on June 12th, 2009
Yep, I agree about the cliched, fanged vampires. I hate it when they adapt traditional things TOO far. Nilly(Quote)
8:35 am on June 12th, 2009
I so agree with you scarlett! I’ve never thought about that Twilight might have benefited from the absence of Harry Potter. Interesting point!
@Sia you might consider that popularity doesn’t always come from more quality. Twilight was to a certain extent just lucky! the film came at the right time!
Your love for Twilight is obvious and there is nothing wrong with it but that are your feelings not THE ABSOLUTE AND ONLY truth. I detest Twilight but I’m really looking forward to Vampire Diaries in fall. cassi(Quote)
2:17 pm on June 12th, 2009
Well..
I am very disappointed that The gal playing Elena does not have blonde hair!
I mean come on!
That was a HUGE part of the story!
That is what made stefan compare her so much to Katherine and realize they were nothing alike AT ALL.
I hope they dye the gals hair blonde :]
or else i prolly wont watch the show. April(Quote)
6:27 pm on June 12th, 2009
Well said, Scarlett and Cassi. So much has to do with timing… who knows how well Twilight would have done if Buffy, Angel, Harry Potter, Supernatural, etc. didn’t “pave the way”? We can only speculate, but ‘quality’ is clearly subjective.
That said, I’m hoping TVD Series will win over some Twilight fans. Even if we end up differing on our opinions on which (book) series is better, the more viewers the better! :) Glitterati(Quote)
6:32 pm on June 12th, 2009
Hm, I wonder if the FutonCritic guy would have liked the pilot more had they kept the story line a bit more true (i.e., Stefan trying to stay far away from Elena, despite her best efforts). It would add a bit of tension to be sure, but I feel the network execs kind of want to get the story moving, and the original plot line would have taken too much time.
I too hope the chemistry thing isn’t as bad as he says. I still (even after watching the trailer, oh, 34 times…) don’t love Wesley in the role, but I thought I saw some sparkiness when Elena invited Stefan into her house. Glitterati(Quote)
6:11 am on June 13th, 2009
Well, the fact that Elena was the spitting image of Katherine was the issue, they both happened to be blonde. In the TV series, Nina Dobrev is playing Katherine, too, so they’re both brunette instead of blonde. It’s disappointing for fans that Elena isn’t, sure, but the plot still works with them both as brunettes. Red(Quote)
8:18 am on June 13th, 2009
oh my, well I guess that’s one less viewer. As Red mentioned below, the whole point of Elena being a blonde was for the point of comparison. It was written to show why Stefan was attracted to her in the first place.
But honestly, it’s just hair. I understand the point that there’s value in staying true to the book, yet it’s a bit exaggerated to presume the series won’t match the quality of the books just because of her hair.
Yet, it’s your opinion, and if you feel that strongly? Godspeed. Scarlett(Quote)
8:21 am on June 13th, 2009
Well, all things considered, Williamson has hinted that they’re getting to the Halloween scene now, which if we do the math is probably going to somewhere around episode 5-8ish.
Piecing the puzzle together, it’s clear they want to establish their connection first, and the whole point of Stefan avoiding her was his feelings; whether it’s shown in the pilot or the second episode, etc, there are a couple of things that are important. Stefan continues to stay in character and want to protect Elena…how that comes about based on approx. ten minutes of footage, and the opinions of one of the lesser fan critic, we’ll see. It’s all guesses now until the pilot airs. Scarlett(Quote)
10:31 pm on June 13th, 2009
I think it’s a bit silly to not watch a TV adaptation simply because a character is now a brunette instead of a blonde. There are many other aspects changed in the adaptation, and that superficial aspect is a deal breaker?
I just can’t wrap my head around a mindset like that. So long as Elena is like Elena in personality, she can have blonde, brown, red or black hair for all I care. It’s the least of my worries, when they could do so much worse to her in the adaptation. Catherine(Quote)
12:12 am on June 15th, 2009
I have to admit, I don’t really know or care what this futon dude is on about throughout most of the review. From the brief clips I’ve seen, I thought they did well to get Elena and Stefan to find common ground (eg. the whole parents thing) which wasn’t actually done in the books. But I would have rather had them stick more to the storyline, like Elena chasing and Stefan running at first. Anyway. The only thing that I agree with this guy is the fog-trick. (cringes) They could have done better, really they could have! clairavance(Quote)
12:44 am on June 15th, 2009
I said this elsewhere, but I hope this is the only appearance of the fog. There’s only one notable use of it in the books – Damon’s influence over the weather is a far bigger deal. Vee(Quote)
11:10 am on June 25th, 2009
why are you bashing vampire diaries on a vampire diaries fansite? Katie(Quote)