Overview
The Vampire Diaries season 1 is the inaugural season of the American supernatural drama television series The Vampire Diaries. The series is an adaptation of L. J. Smith’s book series of the same name. The first season was developed for television by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec and produced by Warner Bros. Television in association with CBS Television Studios.
Broadcast details
- Network: The CW (United States)
- Original run: September 10 2009 – May 13 2010
- Number of episodes: 22
- Episode runtime: Approximately 42 minutes (commercial‑free)
Main cast
- Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert (also as Katherine Pierce)
- Paul Wesley as Stefan Salvatore
- Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore
- Kat Graham as Bonnie Bennett
- Candice King (credited as Candice Accola) as Caroline Forbes
- Steven R. McQueen as Jeremy Gilbert
- Michael Trevino as Tyler Lockwood
- Sara Canning as Jenna Sommers
- Matt Davis as Alaric Saltzman
- Zach Roerig as Matt Donovan
Supporting and recurring cast
Includes Joseph Morgan (Mikael), James Earl (Mason Lockwood), and others who appear throughout the season.
Production
- Showrunners: Julie Plec (season 1) and Kevin Williamson (co‑creator)
- Executive producers: Julie Plec, Kevin Williamson, Leslie Bory, and others
- Filming locations primarily in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with sets constructed to depict the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia.
Plot synopsis
The season follows Elena Gilbert, a high‑school student coping with the loss of her parents, as she becomes entangled in the supernatural world of vampires, witches, and werewolves. Central to the narrative are the Salvatore brothers—Stefan, who seeks to restrain his bloodlust, and Damon, who embraces his vampire nature—both of whom develop a complex relationship with Elena. The season explores themes of love, redemption, and the moral consequences of immortality while introducing antagonistic forces such as the Original vampire (Mikael), the witch Katherine Pierce, and various human conspiracies.
Reception
- Critical: The season received mixed to positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an approval rating of approximately 68 % based on contemporary critic reviews.
- Viewership: The series premiere attracted 3.17 million viewers in the United States, with average weekly viewership ranging from 1.5 million to 2.0 million across the season.
- Awards: Nominated for a Teen Choice Award (Choice TV Show: Drama) and a People's Choice Award (Favorite New TV Drama).
Home media
- DVD and Blu‑ray release: The complete first season was released on DVD and Blu‑ray in Region 1 on August 24 2010. The set includes all 22 episodes, a blooper reel, and featurettes on production design and cast interviews.
Legacy
The success of season 1 established The Vampire Diaries as a flagship series for The CW, leading to subsequent seasons (totaling eight) and spin‑off series, notably The Originals (2013–2018) and Legacies (2018–present). The narrative structure and character dynamics introduced in season 1 laid the foundation for long‑running plot arcs concerning vampire mythology, family legacies, and supernatural politics within the franchise.
All information reflects publicly available, verifiable sources up to the knowledge cutoff of September 2021.
