The Vampire Diaries on the CW

In September 2009, the CW network premiered the debut episode a new supernatural series on Thursday nights. Based on the novels of the same name by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries premiered to stellar ratings for the fledgling network (The CW is the product of UPN merging with the WB). The series stars Paul Wesley as Stefan Salvatore, Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert and Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore.

Vampire Diaries History

In the novel series, Stefan moves to Fell Church, Virginia to try to live a normal life. Initially, he avoids Elena because she looks so much like Katherine. However, Elena is determined to rock the "new guy's" world. Damon complicates her relationship with Stefan as both brothers vie for her attention. While this storyline is the framework for the series, the series departs almost immediately from the novels in several key areas. Elena is a brown-haired woman in the series versus a blonde-haired woman in the novels. She is less concerned with her image, popularity and social standing at the school. She lives with an aunt who is much younger and has a younger brother rather than a baby sister.

In the episode Bloodlines, Stefan reveals that he saw Elena for the first time the night her parents' car went off the bridge. He is the one who saved her life at her father's request. Unfortunately, he wasn't fast enough to save her parents. Intrigued by her resemblance to Katherine, he investigates her and learns everything he can. Captivated by how different from Katherine she truly is, he decides to stay in Mystic Falls, to get to know her. It is that moment that actually kicks the series off in the pilot as Stefan narrates:

"For over a century, I have lived in secret, hiding in the shadows, alone in the world. Until now. I am a vampire and this is my story. I shouldn't have come home. I know the risk. But I had no choice. I have to know her."

The Vampire Diaries on the CW

The series premiere of The Vampire Diaries earned an impressive 4.91 rating for The CW. The high ratings combined with the critical acclaim put the series on the fast track for best new series on The CW for the 2009-2010 year. The show took over the timeslot held by Smallville for eight seasons and was paired with Supernatural, featuring the popular monster hunting Winchester brothers. The shows worked well as companions and The Vampire Diaries ratings reflected the growing interest of the public as the series picked up momentum.

In the first ten episodes of the freshman season, Elena learned Stefan and Damon's secret, coped with the loss of Vicki Donovan (her ex-boyfriend's sister) and the revelation that her best friend Bonnie was a witch. Each episode answered questions, but revealed more. Damon disguised his return to Mystic Falls as an opportunity to torture Stefan, but soon Stefan and the viewers learned that Damon wanted to free Katherine from the tomb where Emily Bennett's (Bonnie's ancestor) spell transported Katherine and 26 other vampires.

Ian Somerhalder's Damon earned a fast-growing fan following not only for the actor's previous work on the series Lost but for his bad boy vampire who manipulates everyone around them. While the series is centered on the love triangle of the two brothers and Elena, other elements come into play, including:

• The Founder's Council awareness of the Vampires
• Other vampires seeking to open the tomb
• Arrival of newcomers with agendas such as Alaric Saltzman
• The Bennett family witch history
• The dark secret of Elena's adoption

Katherine isn't in the Tomb

In the episodeFool Me Once Damon is devastated to discover that not only is Katherine not in the tomb, she was never in it. She has been free for over 145 years and never sought him out. He has spent his entire vampiric existence driven towards one goal: freeing Katherine. The heartbreak in the cynical vampire's eyes and the loss are profound. It will be up to Stefan and more likely Elena to keep Damon back from the brink. Now the question viewers will wonder is where Katherine is now and when will she make an appearance in Mystic Falls?

About The Vampire Diaries

The Vampire Diaries airs on The CW network, Thursdays at 8 p.m. EASTERN. The first season's final eight episodes will begin airing on March 25, 2010.