Why I like Vampire Diaries

Why I like Vampire Diaries
- good drama, thanks to good writing
- 3-dimensional characters with real conflicts
- lots of charged confrontation between vampires
- good flashback-based storyline
- new characters, lots of deaths keep cast rotating, but a little confusing when a new vampire appears and only stays around for a while (ie. Logan)
- my favourite characters: Alaric, Anna, Stefan, Elena, Matt

on another note, when I saw the episode “Isobel,” I immediately thought of the Golden Compass. It took me a while to realize what was triggering familiarity with this storyline, especially when Isobel and John consulted on good terms at the end for the sake of their daughter.
here is why The Golden Compass is similar:
- the mother comes to town to meet her daughter
- the mother shows little compassion towards her, uses the daughter mostly for her own purpose: the alethiometer and the device
- is able to meet her daughter on her own terms, has a lot of power over others
- the protecters of the daughter can’t stop the mother from meeting with her because of power
- the final secene is an exchange between the girl’s mother and father, reveals that they ultimately care about her well-being
- the girl’s father was posing as her uncle the whole time

conclusion: very different stories that contain a very similar storyline. while watching, it had me thinking “where have I seen this before?”