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Damon Gets Seductive in This Hot Vampire Diaries Promo!

BuzzSugar — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:30:00 -0700

When we got a peek at the photos from the March 25 episode of The Vampire Diaries, "A Few Good Men," I speculated that it looks like some kind of bachelor auction at the Mystic Grill, and I was right!

The show has a sexy new trailer spotlighting Virginia's most eligible vampire, Mr. Damon Salvatore. Of course he's being auctioned off: he's "total cougar bait," to quote Caroline. It also sets up a perfect opportunity for Damon (and us) to meet a new character, Kelly Donovan - played by The O.C. alum Melinda Clarke.

Watch the steamy clip when you read more.

Photo courtesy of The CW

New Pics of The Vampire Diaries!

BuzzSugar — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:30:00 -0800

The Vampire Diaries comes back with a new episode in a couple of weeks, "A Few Good Men," with a few new guest stars! From an OC alum (Melinda Clarke) to a new vamp, the series has fresh blood in addition to hot new storylines. Check out the new pics!

Photos courtesy of The CW

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The Vampire Diaries "Fool Me Once": The Good, The Bad and The Bloody

BuzzSugar — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:30:00 -0800

It's tomb raider week on The Vampire Diaries as we finally set foot inside - while some step out - of the storied tomb.

The show is as intense as we've come to expect from the freshman series, and I think it's a fitting way to end things for a bit (the show is on hiatus for the next few weeks). I'm dying to discuss it, but since everything's a spoiler, come chat with me when you read more.

The Good

I liked that everyone is on the same page in this episode. This week is all about the tomb - everyone either wants in or is somehow involved in getting in. Anna and Ben are holding Bonnie and Elena in a motel room to get in on the action - Elena's leverage and Bonnie is needed for her witchery. Damon's M.O. has been all about the tomb for the past few episodes, Stefan is trying to keep Elena safe, Grams has to help Bonnie with the spell, and finally, a freezing-looking party in the woods means Jeremy is nearby too.
Damon and Elena have some amazing moments this week. When he's still angry with her, he coldly tells Stefan that he hopes Elena dies at the hands of Anna and Ben. You know what they say about a vampire scorned . . . anyway, Elena tries to make good with him in order to get the spellbook, and even though she goes because she's trying to manipulate him, they both get vulnerable. "You and I, we have something," she tells him. Yeah they do. Wanting him to trust her, she removes the necklace. How sexy is Damon re-fastening it on her? I had chills. More chills came when he tells her that he never compelled her on their road trip because he "wanted it to be real." The hug they share later when Damon doesn't find Katherine in the tomb is a comforting one - not sexy, but another thing that's real between them.
It's always awesome when Grams is around, especially when she's literally giving Damon a headache. Just for giving her attitude! Love it. The sassy grandmother is necessary to help with the spell, and even tries to trick Damon; she never unseals the tomb, she just opens the door and makes it so vampires can't come out. Sadly, it demands too much of her and she passes away later that night. I was devastated at this turn, since I love Jasmine Guy's character and wonder what this means for Bonnie. How will she learn to be a better witch?
Twist! Katherine is not inside the tomb! I honestly did not see that coming, but it's a juicy development. Pearl, newly freed by her daughter Anna, tells Damon that Katherine charmed her way out of the tomb, seducing a guard. Pouring salt directly into his wounds, Anna admits she saw Katherine in Chicago in 1983, and knew where Damon was but simply didn't care. Damon's evil, but his heart is breaking; what's he going to do now that his hundred-plus-years quest to find the woman he loves was all a waste? My guess is that this demoralized Damon will continue to hunt Katherine - but this time, with bitter malice.
Is it wrong that I don't hate Anna so much? She just wants her mom back and doesn't kill Jeremy even though she could. I also kind of want her - and Pearl - to stick around.

The Bad

Look alive, Bonnie and Elena - before Stefan throws the curtains in the motel open to save the girls, I was exasperated that they hadn't thought of that themselves first. Even if one of them weren't a witch, I'd think these two could think of some way to escape Ben. Just once I'd like to see a girl on this show, namely Elena, rescue herself.
Jeremy ~~Googles~~ Bings vampires . . . because? I know he had been doing research into Mystic Falls's monstrous history, but it kind of comes out of left field. I don't know what I'm more perplexed by - the blatant product placement or the lack of reasoning for Jeremy to be researching with a headache.

My skin crawled the whole time Elena is inside the tomb. All those gray, dessicated faces and bloodshot eyes! Eek. That's not even as bad as it gets for her inside; Anna uses Elena's wrist as a snack for her mom to come back to life.
I knew nothing good would come of the blood bag Damon smashes on the wall of the tomb when he can't find Katherine! One vampire gets a taste and the strength to leave. Look forward to some animal attacks in the near future, Mystic Falls.

Considering we have a few weeks until we get another new episode of the show, I'm pretty satisfied with this episode. We finally have an ongoing storyline wrapped up, and the cliffhanger isn't as torturous as it could have been. What did you think of the episode? And what do you think Katherine has been up to - and how soon we'll see her? Tell me below, and in the meantime, don't forget to join the Hooked on Vampire Diaries group in the Buzz Community!

Photos courtesy of The CW

The Vampire Diaries "Children of the Damned": The Good, The Bad and The Bloody

BuzzSugar — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:30:00 -0800

We might have been prepared for The Vampire Diaries flashback episode "Children of the Damned" with this sneak peek a while back, but watching this week's episode filled in a lot of blanks. I love the jump from the modern-day mystery to the 1800s ancestral stories, but even more, I love how layered the story is.

I'm ready to talk about everything that went down, so let's tackle the good, the bad, and the bloody when you read more.

The Good

Katherine is so bad, she's great. Nina Dobrev said she has a lot of fun getting to play Katherine and it's obvious why - she gets to step out of Elena's goody two shoes and be pure, sexy evil. I enjoy seeing her as Katherine too, especially when she's all up on Damon - it's like an antidote to all that sexual tension between Elena and Damon. Speaking of, isn't it great to see Damon as a meek human, so unsure of himself and a little frightened?
Way to interweave a new character into the show, and have her seamlessly be part of the action from the beginning. One of the big surprises is that vampire Anna is Pearl's daughter from the 1800s. Damon recognizes her immediately, tracking her to her hotel room and discovering that she has the journal with the whereabouts of the Grim-whatever (we'll just call it Emily's spellbook). She tells him she's been watching everything go down from afar since the comet appeared. Another reveal this episode? She's the one who turned Logan.
Loved the guest stars this episode! Kelly Hu's Pearl gives us another vampire of the many trapped in the tomb, and James Remar is perfect as Giuseppe Salvatore, Stefan and Damon's father. I hope we see him again - and we know we'll see Pearl soon enough.
Lots of Damon/Elena interactions this week, but it was more than just combative flirting. She showed him compassion, telling Stefan she thinks everything he's done, he's done for love. In one of my favorite scenes, he gets close to ask if he could trust Stefan and assures her he's not compelling her. When he finds Elena and Stefan at Giuseppe's exhumed grave and sees that she was lying, he seems truly disappointed.
Damon is at family night now? Can I get an invite? He gives Jeremy quality advice: "Hot trumps weird."
That confrontation between Stefan and Alaric is pretty intense. Alaric reveals he knows that Stefan and Damon are vampires, and that Damon killed Isobel. Rad tidbit: Isobel was a parapsychologist studying paranormal activity. And finally, Alaric reveals that Isobel was killed but her body . . . dun dun dun . . . was never found. Is she a vampire somewhere?

The Bad

There's a timeline question that bothered me a lot: Stefan and Damon both seemed to still be human at the time Katherine is carted off to the church to be sealed in. We know that she is the one who turned both brothers, so when did she do it? Stefan had ingested vervain, exposing Katherine, and Jonathan Gilbert's compass didn't point to Stefan or Damon. Is this a goof or did I miss something?

The Bloody

Katherine demanding a bloody make out from Damon was a little much for me. Wipe your face, honey.
How creepy are those Hannibal Lecter masks the old townspeople slap on Katherine and Pearl?
Bonnie sees Ben's veiny vampire face when their date goes sour. Surprise - their kiss reveals that he's not human. He senses she knows and attacks her, taking her somewhere. She's not the only abductee; where has Anna taken Elena?

I can't wait to hear what you thought of this episode, as well as your various theories. Do you think Isobel is a vampire, waiting to surface? Could she be some other kind of being, descended from vampires? Chat with me below and, if you're a big fan of the show, join the Hooked on Vampire Diaries group in the Buzz Community to chat more!

Photos courtesy of The CW

The Vampire Diaries "Unpleasantville": The Good, The Bad and The Bloody

BuzzSugar — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:30:00 -0800

The Vampire Diaries hit us with its second episode since it came back from Winter hiatus, and I'm just as impressed with "Unpleasantville" as I was with last week's "Bloodlines."

We had already had a peek at the '50s-themed dance that the ep revolves around, but the real excitement happens in the cafeteria, the Gilbert household, and out on the streets of Mystic Falls.

I'm champing at the bit to talk about this week's episodes and all the gory details, so to break it down (spoilers ahead!), just read more.

The Good

My spine tingles each time someone gets invited in, and the pizza guy - AKA hooded vampire creep Elena hit with her car - finds a new creative way to get inside the Gilbert house. I'm glad that Noah wasn't a one-off villain either; he's just the tip off that there's a new vampire gang in town, and they're not as sweet as Stefan. Which leads me to . . .
Anna's a vampire! And hot bartender/former football star Ben (Sean Faris) is too! I was kind of expecting Ben to be somehow shady, but I'd just thought Anna was creepy, maybe annoyingly into Jeremy, but I so did not suspect that she was also a vampire. Like Damon, she has a plan to get into the tomb where Katherine is as well - but what's her motivation? The race is on for the coveted journal of Jonathan Gilbert, which is now in the hands of Alaric Saltzman.
Elena's adoption plot thickens, and the new detail's a doozy: her birth mother's name is Isobel - which is also the name of Alaric's late wife. I figured it out when Jenna first reveals her name to Elena (how many Isobels can one show have?), but it's Jenna herself who connects the dots when Alaric mentions his wife's name while asking Jenna out on a date. That's going to make for some awkward dinner convo.
So Matt and Caroline's story doesn't add much to the overall interwoven mystery of the show, but I admit it, I like them now. Plus, their cute, blossoming relationship is a welcome diversion from all that tomb talk.
Um, I watched that sweet '50s dance move that Stefan busted on Elena at the dance at least three times.

The Bad

I'm kind of annoyed with Stefan and his handling of the whole Damon/Katherine/tomb situation. What's the point of lying to Damon about helping? Either help or don't help - we all know Damon's getting into that tomb. I just hate how Stefan acts so self-righteous about everything.

The Bloody

I was so psyched when Elena gets all Buffy on Noah in the cafeteria - well, almost. She still wields that makeshift wooden stake like a champ, breaking a broom handle over her knee. At least she did get in some good pencil stabs. Not terribly effective, but a defense move just the same. I somehow doubt that this is the last time we'll see her playing slayer.
Vampire torture by broom handle! Ouch. Stefan and Damon get all the details out of Noah they could by jabbing him, and learn what's needed to open the tomb: a belonging of Emily's, the whereabouts of which is in Jonathan Gilbert's journal.

This is another fantastic, layered episode - as usual, with as many questions that were answered, we got as many new questions that we hope to see answered next week. Among them: when will Damon and Alaric face off? Who will get to Jonathan Gilbert's journal first? Is Jenna going to look into Isobel being Elena's mother? And speaking of Isobel, since she's likely related to Katherine's family, I'm doubting that Damon's attack on her was random. Deconstruct the episode below, and you can always join the Hooked on Vampire Diaries group in the Buzz Community to chat about the show further!

Photos courtesy of The CW

The Vampire Diaries "Bloodlines": The Good, the Bad, and the Bloody

BuzzSugar — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:30:51 -0800

The wait is over! The Vampire Diaries returned this week, and even though I gave you not one but http://www.buzzsugar.com/7103798">two sneak peeks of the brand-new episodes, it's so much more satisfying to be able to sit down with an episode.

The story picks up where its mid-season cliffhanger left off - with Elena injured in a car crash and a creepy creature coming for her. But there were also amazing storylines picked up for not just Elena, but Bonnie, Jeremy, and Alaric as well, so to start talking about this week's episode, spoilers and all, just read more.

The Good

Finally, we got that Stefan and Elena alone time that Nina Dobrev mentioned at the TCA. It all starts when we revisit Elena's crash site, and the hoodie-wearing monster (which we now know is a vampire) doesn't get Elena, but Damon does, rescuing her from the car. I loved the gentleness with which he talked her out, even if he does kidnap her to Georgia for kicks immediately afterward. Baby steps. The whole interlude in Georgia is actually enjoyable, since we meet Bree, Damon's wronged bartender ex, and Elena lets loose and gets drunk with Damon. Nice to see her being less intense, less encumbered.
Poor Bonnie finds herself de-witched - she needs to "clear out" whatever is frightening her, so she goes to the tomb. And falls in. She falls into a tomb, you guys. Well, tomb adjacent, anyway. And there's a pentagram on the door, which gave me the heebie-jeebies like you wouldn't believe. It's such an effective and chilling scene too - you could hear, with Bonnie, the wails of the vampire souls trapped inside. Just the sentence Stefan says, "They're starved to the point of dessication," gives me the shivers all over again.
Hey, who's the nice-looking young man? It's Jeremy! Elena's formerly hoodlum little bro has found reasons to live besides sex and drugs, and it turns out he's both cute and very smart. He continues his research about the Gilbert family and finds a new love interest (Anna) and a lead . . . about vampires in Mystic Falls.
I appreciate that the show didn't just drop Lexi and Damon's murder of her; apparently, her friend Bree and boyfriend didn't forget it either. Bree sicks Lexi's still-despondent love on Damon, who nearly kills him, if not for Elena's desperate appeal.

The Bad

And the most shocking plot twist I wasn't expecting: Elena's adopted! It explains how she could be a Gilbert while Katherine was a Pierce, which brings me to the only thing that bothered me this episode. Why do Stefan and Elena assume that she has to be a direct descendant of Katherine? As in directly from Katherine's womb? Didn't she have family, siblings that could have either produced Elena generations later, or have married Gilberts at some point? Anyway, now that we know Elena is adopted, I'm assuming these ideas will occur to the teen detectives, but still. And frankly, isn't it weirder that Elena and Katherine look exactly alike, rather than just weird that they don't share the same last name when there's a resemblance?

The Bloody

I know Bree betrayed him and all, but did Damon really have to tear out her heart? With her blood pumping full of vervain, I get why he didn't bite her, but listen closely when I say: bleh, yucky, grody gross. He could have snapped her neck or something else far less icky.
Oh, Damon, come on, guy! He's in trouble for killing two men's lady loves in this episode alone; first Lexi, and now Isobel, Alaric's wife (and by the by, it seems Alaric is a vampire hunter, but not also a vampire himself, as evidenced by losing his ring but still being in the sun). In one glance we see Alaric realize two things: that Damon is a vampire, and the same one that fed on Isobel. He is very upset.

So, what did you think? Wasn't it nice that we ended an episode without Stefan and Elena breaking up? And once again, for as many little threads that were sewn up, there were as many brand-new threads of the story that I can't wait to explore. How do you think Katherine and Elena are related? Who is the hooded monster? Chat with me below, and to show your ultimate fandom, join the Hooked on Vampire Diaries group in the Buzz Community!

Photos courtesy of The CW

Vampire Diaries Sneak Peek: "Children of the Damned" Flashback Episode

BuzzSugar — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:30:00 -0800

The countdown for the return of The Vampire Diaries is almost over - the freshman drama returns tomorrow night! I already gave you a sneak peek of the first couple of episodes, and now I have even more - there's going to be another flashback episode featuring Stefan and Damon in their prime, the deliciously evil Katherine and a couple of recognizable guest stars. Check out the photos for hints of what's coming this season.
Photos courtesy of The CW

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Tasty Bites: The Vampire Diaries Cast Dishes

BuzzSugar — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:30:54 -0800

I know we've all been waiting and waiting for some new episodes of The Vampire Diaries, and there are just a few days to go! Now that we've seen a sneak peek of what's to come, here are a few fun quotes I got from the big three - Ian Somerhalder, Paul Wesley, and Nina Dobrev - at the Winter TCA. First take a peek their sexy new Nylon cover, then check out the highlights where they dish on werewolves, alter egos, and upcoming episodes:

Paul on whether or not we can expect werewolves: "I know that in the books that happens, but it hasn't been confirmed. It's been insinuated, and if you want my personal opinion, I think it would be fantastic."
Nina on what we can expect from Katherine: "There's going to be an episode soon where you see a lot more Katherine. And you see how crazy she is, and how everything she does is for herself. Like boys, and how she likes to use them for her toys. They're just there for her amusement."
Paul on Stefan's dark side: "I want to explore that. I think he indulged as a vampire for a little bit. And now, if things don't go his way, and Damon gets his girl, and things are coming to an end, he may have to resort to violence and some malicious activity."
Ian on what he wants to see from Damon: "I told Kevin [Williamson], I need to find Katherine soon. This brooding, not eating people, not having a lot of power Damon is killing me. I want to be munching. I want power. I want to be flying. I want to be eating people. And I want to be having a blast."

To see what else Nina had to say about what's in store for Katherine and what Ian would be doing if he wasn't an actor, just read more.

Nina on playing Elena and Katherine: "I did read the books, and at first when I read them I was kind of excited to be that bad girl. Elena, in the books, is one of those mean girls that gets what she wants, popular . . . and she's blonde and blue eyed. Kevin specifically told me that the angle we wanted to go for was the relatable, nice, girl next door, who the audience roots for. So he made a conscious decision to change that. And that's why she contrasts so much with Katherine, because Katherine is that conniving, narcissistic, bitch. I think have one of the coolest characters on the show - I get to play two completely different people on opposite sides of the spectrum and I just have so much fun doing it."
Paul on his favorite TV shows: "I love Six Feet Under. There are certain shows I'll get on DVD, I just started watching The Sopranos for the first time, but I've never watched live television. That's why I still haven't seen Jersey Shore.
Ian on what he'd be if not an actor: "I'd probably be a marine biologist."

TCA Tidbits: The Vampire Diaries and Life Unexpected

BuzzSugar — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:30:31 -0800

The Winter TCA is chugging right along, bringing this morning's exciting news about Glee's renewed second season. Before that, though, I had the opportunity to learn a bit more about the CW's Spring programming with panels on The Vampire Diaries (get a sneak peek at upcoming episodes here) and Life Unexpected. Here's more:

The cast and showrunners of The Vampire Diaries were all smiles on the panel and seemed to have a close-knit relationship. In fact, Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley repeatedly mentioned how close they are, even dressing alike and hanging out together after work - love that.
As far as plot goes: Vicki isn't coming back, though her death will continue to have an effect on Jeremy and Matt. Matt's mother will be making an appearance in the upcoming seasons, along with Mia Kirshner, who will play Alaric's dead wife in his flashbacks. We'll also learn about his agenda in Mystic Falls.
Alaric isn't the only one with plans. Creator Kevin Williamson revealed,"Damon has an agenda. He’s going to save Katherine. He’s going to do everything possible he can to get to her. And so, that tomb is still in play."
Nina spoke a little about the love triangle heating up, saying, "Well, it’s not a love triangle with only two people. And now that the necklace is off, she’s very vulnerable. And in this next episode that we’re going to see, there are going to be a lot more of Damon and Elena." Williamson added, "One of the things that’s going to be really interesting in this upcoming episode is Damon and Elena sort of have some alone time. They have a little bit of an adventure where they’re sort of - you know, there’s no Stefan. There’s just the two of them." Hot!
After the panel, Paul said there's been nothing specific in the script about werewolves just yet, though he thinks the idea is "fantastic." Kevin Williamson also said that though Elena is turned into a vampire pretty early on in the books, we won't see Nina Dobrev playing any bloodsucker besides Katherine anytime soon.

To read about what to expect from Life Unexpected, just read more.

In case you haven't heard about it yet, Life Unexpected is a cute little show that will be filling Gossip Girl's slot for the next few months - check out my thoughts on the pilot here.
As it turns out, the idea for the show came from creator Liz Tigelaar's own experience growing up with an adopted family. She also wanted to create a coming-of-age story for grownups, which is where Shiri Appleby and Kristoffer Polaha come in as a pair of 32-year-olds who've just reunited with their 16-year-old daughter for the first time - and immediately have to get into parenting mode.
Though I'm skeptical about how the sweet show will fare on the CW (Privileged, anyone?), I've got high hopes for this one. The cast (which also includes Dawson's Creek's Kerr Smith) is precious.

The Vampire Diaries Return Sneak Peek!

BuzzSugar — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:30:23 -0800

Breathe a sigh of relief, fans of The Vampire Diaries! The breakout show (and recent People's Choice Award winner for best new drama) is set to return on Jan. 21, ending its hiatus and bringing back Ian Somerhalder, Paul Wesley, and their combined 12 abs. The story is set to pick up, too, with new characters and facets to the current mysteries, and I've got a nice little sneak peek of the first two episodes right here. You can also take my Vampire Diaries quiz in the meantime! Photos courtesy of The CW

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