Vampire Diaries Episode 1 |verified|

Enter (Nina Dobrev). She is the girl with the tragic backstory—her parents died in a car accident she miraculously survived. She’s writing in a diary (meta!), trying to navigate high school grief with her drug-addicted brother, Jeremy, and her best friend, Bonnie the "psychic" (or so she thinks).

: Elena's best friend, Bonnie Bennett , begins to realize she may have psychic or magical abilities, often feeling "vibes" about people and events. Atmosphere and Soundtrack vampire diaries episode 1

: The episode introduces Stefan's older brother, Damon Salvatore , who returns to Mystic Falls with a darker, more predatory agenda. Unlike Stefan, who avoids feeding on humans, Damon embraces his vampiric nature. Enter (Nina Dobrev)

It’s the episode that started a fandom, launched a thousand fan-fiction stories, and proved that the CW could do dark and gritty long before Riverdale . : Elena's best friend, Bonnie Bennett , begins

Elena goes to the Salvatore Boarding House to return a pocket watch Stefan dropped. She meets Damon, who (politely, for him) invites her in. But the real kicker comes when she leaves. Stefan reveals to Damon why he came back to Mystic Falls.

But we quickly learn Stefan has a secret. He’s a vampire! And he’s returned to Mystic Falls for a specific reason: he’s been watching Elena. It’s creepy if you think about it too hard, but in the context of the show, it’s romantic destiny. He’s trying to live a "humane" life, drinking animal blood and squinting in the sunlight (thank god for lapis lazuli rings).

Here’s a solid, concise review of The Vampire Diaries – Episode 1, “Pilot”: