Pilot

Episode Guide

The first episode of The Vampire Diaries doesn't waste any time diving into action.

We're in Mystic Falls, Virginia and witness the murder of a couple as it drives home from a concert. The local news reports this incident as an animal attack, but viewers will soon discover otherwise.

After this opening, we're introduced to Elena. She's a high school student living with her aunt and younger brother. The reason? Her parents were died in a car accident.

When the pilot kicks off, it's the first day of the new school year, as we see just how Elena and brother Jeremy handle seeing classmates for the first time since the accident: Jeremy smokes up and sells drugs; while Elena tries to put on a happy face.

Elena's BFF, Bonnie, can see right through her pal's act, however. She also claims that she's developing psychic powers. While Bonnie appears to be kidding, this is something worth keeping your eye on.

From there, we meet Stefan Salvatore. Everyone is school is captivated by this new kid, but he only has eyes for Elena. He keeps looking at her in class and later accidentally - so he claims - bumps into her at the cemetery.

Elena had been there, writing in her journal in front of her parents' grave, when fog began to grow dense and black crow flew by. Freaked out, Elena bolted, fell down and then ran into Stefan.

The two sort of flirt, until Elena takes a look at her wound, sees blood and looks up: Stefan has bolted.

We now go to to a coffee house, where most students hang out after school. Jeremy tries to talk to a girl named Vicki, mentioning to her how they hooked up all summer. She even took his virginity.

But Vicki blows him off and is all over a guy named Tyler.

Meanwhile, Elena leaves home to meet Bonnie at the same establishment, but there's Stefan again! He's at her front door, apologizing for his odd disappearance at the cemetery. These two make awkward small talk and Elena invites Stefan to the coffee house.

Once there, the entire room is talking about the seemingly random twosome. Tyler interferes - because he's good friends with Elena's ex, Matt - and spills beer on Stefan. The latter calmly excuses himself and goes home.

This home is his uncle's place, as Stefan's relative yells at him for "coming back" to Mystic Falls. He also scolds Stefan for murdering the aforementioned murdered couple, though says he didn't do it.

Upstairs in his room, Stefan looks at a photo of a woman named Katherine. She died in 1864... and she looks exactly like Elena!

The following night, students gather in the woods for a big shindig. Stefan and Elena spend time along there, as she even opens up to him about her parents' death. Turns out, she was also in the car, but survived the accident.

At one point, however, Stefan makes an excuse about getting the pair fresh drinks because his eyes and skin are starting to go all vampire on him. As he leaves, viewers are taken to Vicki and Tyler. They're making out against a tree, away from the party. When she says she doesn't want it to go farther, and Tyler insists, Jeremy steps in.

Exit Tyler, but don't act like a hero yet, Jeremy. Vicki tells him she can take care of herself and abruptly walks away. Sadly, she doesn't get far: Vicki gets attacked. Later, Jeremy finds her still-breating body, the police arrive and Stefan bolts away during the commotion.

In the hospital, when she awakens and her brother, Matt, is by her side, Vicki can muster the strength to say one word: vampire...

Back at Stefan's residence, the confused vampire goes to his room and a black crow flies past his head. Stefan turns around and spots a a face he hasn't seen in 15 years: his brother, Damon.

Stefan asks what Damon is doing here, to which Damon replies that he could ask the same thing, but knows the answer: Elena. During a subsequent fight between the siblings, viewers learn important pieces of information:

- Damon killed the couple at the outset of the episode; he also bit Vicki, but left her alive, seemingly to raise suspicions around Stefan.

- Both siblings sport a ring. It ensures they can survive during the daylight hours;

- Damon is must stronger than his brother. This is because Stefan stopped feasting on human beings a long time ago.

This is how the episode concludes: Stefan stops back at Elena's home. She invites him inside and he accepts. As the door closes, the saga of The Vampire Diaries is clearly just beginning.

Season: 1, Episode: 1
Air Date: 9/10/2009

User Rating: 4.7 / 5.0

(41 Votes)

Pictures

Quotes

Stefan: Stay away from Elena.
Damon: I take that as an invitation.