To skip or not to skip: Is The Vampire Diaries worth watching before the show leaves Netflix?

Now that Legacies has aired its series finale, the Vampire Diaries universe has been laid to rest…for now. There have been rumblings about another jaunt into this world at some point down the line, but it won’t be for awhile. As such, there’s plenty of time to dive into the series that started it all, The Vampire Diaries.

Based on the popular YA books by L.J. Smith, the show initially followed Elena Gilbert’s relationships with Stefan and Damon Salvatore. When the two arrived in Mystic Falls, they brought with them a whole heap of trouble and drama, especially Damon. After all, wherever a supernatural being like a vampire goes, others are likely to follow. Either because said vampires make a mess of things or they betrayed someone a long time ago.

Also, worked into the folds of this show are witches and werewolves. As Elena’s friend, Bonnie Bennett, starts to come into her gifts, she also must contend with her place in the supernatural world. It seems that vampires have the lay of the land, the more dominant position, but that doesn’t mean she’s willing to kowtow to their demands or their penchant for leaving bodies in their wake.

And then there are the werewolves. There is no blood feud thicker than that of weres and vamps. From story to story, lore to lore, there seems to always be an opportunity to bicker, fight, and war between these species and The Vampire Diaries isn’t an exception to this rule. Though, we can say there’s a twist in this series that leads to its own spin-off down the line.

Given just a taste of what this show has to offer, is it worth bingeing the series before it leaves Netflix sometime in the (possibly near) future? Here’s what we think!

Is The Vampire Diaries worth watching?

Yes, the show is worth it. Like all long running series–The Vampire Diaries clocks in at eight seasons with a total of 171 episodes–it does fall off towards its end. Anyone who’s watched a show that’s been on that long knows that’s going to happen. But those first few seasons? They’re some of the best TV that’s aired period not just on The CW.

The series pulls you in with its romance, lore, horror, and storytelling, Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce is a masterclass on acting and commanding the screen in multiple roles at one time. Paul Wesley juggles Stefan Salvatore’s struggle with his humanity and his vampirism so well. Also, the storylines that focus on his character being a ripper are fun, dramatic, and they complicate who Stefan wants to be and who he naturally is when his switch is off.

Not to mention, there’s a reason why Ian Somerhalder’s portrayal of Damon Salvatore was considered to be scene stealing. Yes, everyone loves a bad boy, but it was Damon’s seasons long redemption arc that was the standout for his character besides his feelings for Elena.

Kat Graham as Bonnie Bennett was a force. If there’s one detraction to make about this series, it’s how they handled her character. While she did amazing work and has hands down some of the most powerful moments on The Vampire Diaries, Bonnie is often playing a sacrificial role and going through a lot of trauma.

It can be hard to watch as a fan of both the actress and the character. This is a critique that was made throughout the show’s run and one that will always be made about the series as a whole.

Still, The Vampire Diaries is worth the watch. Candice King’s character Caroline Forbes probably has the most growth in the whole show. And, if you’re a fan of Michael Trevino through his turn as Kyle Valenti on Roswell, New Mexico, you’ll want to check him out in this series. We’ll warn you though, things start out a bit rough with his character, Tyler Lockwood, but they do improve!

If what we’ve shared has enticed you, all eight seasons of The Vampire Diaries are available to stream on Netflix now. There’s been no word on when the series will be leaving the streamer this year. We’ll keep you posted. Stay tuned to Hidden Remote.

Ahead of the Legacies finale, The CW Spiral podcast paid tribute to The Vampire Diaries universe, one of the most iconic interconnected worlds ever to be on television. Check it out the episode below and subscribe to their Youtube for more content!