9 Addictive and Mysterious TV Shows Like "The Vampire Diaries"
"The Vampire Diaries" (2009–17)
Blood, Lust, Sex, Violence, and Drama
The Vampire Diaries on the CW has everything you want in a supernatural series, namely blood, lust, sex, violence, and high-voltage drama. Just like other shows in the genre, The Vampire Diaries has its own definition of death. People die, come back, and then they die again, only to be revived once again.
If anything, TVD has taught us one thing: If your favorite character dies, there is a good chance that they will come back later on. Those who watch the series love all the mayhem and twists frequently thrown at them. Some people hate it while others follow it religiously. Well, we are not here to debate it. If you're here, it’s obvious that you are looking for some TV shows like The Vampire Diaries.
9 Best Series Like The Vampire Diaries
- Teen Wolf (2009–17)
- The Originals (2013–18)
- True Blood (2008–14)
- Supernatural (2005–20)
- The Secret Circle (2011–12)
- Being Human (U.S. version, 2011–14)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)
- Fringe (2008–13)
- Angel (1999–2004)
"Teen Wolf" (2009–17)
1. Teen Wolf (2009–17)
Scott gets bitten by a werewolf and then his athletic abilities get a boost as he gets faster and stronger. With these powers come a hoard of new responsibilities and dangers. But will it be too late before he learns to disguise himself?
The series is loosely based on the 1985 comedy film starring Michael J. Fox. However, this adaptation is much darker as it is a more serious drama with violence and gore. It uses the protagonist's condition as an allegory for adolescence as he copes with a changing body and new urges.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that Teen Wolf is all about teens. While it’s true that the main focus is on teens, the show is about much more than that. The first season isn’t that good since it is your typical werewolf narrative that we've seen before. Things pick up in the second season as more characters are introduced and the plot becomes more ambitious. From the third season onward, the plot becomes more complex and compelling as a mythology is developed.
We learn that werewolves are not the only supernatural creatures roaming around the city. The plot only gets more complex and intriguing from there. If you love this show, check out more series like Teen Wolf.
Teen Wolf vs The Vampire Diaries
Teen Wolf has been a massive success for MTV and is right up there with The Vampire Diaries in terms of having a rabid fanbase. Both series have been accused of riding the wave that was created by Twilight. It should be noted that both series come from previous material that predates Twilight. Teen Wolf is a reimagining of the 1985 comedy film of the same name while TVD is actually adapted from a series of books that were originally published in 1991.
There was actually a bit of a crossover with the shows, though it was more like a visual gag. An episode of Teen Wolf had a lacrosse game where the opposing team had the initials of MFH on their uniforms. This stands for Mystic Falls High, the high school in The Vampire Diaries. This was a nice Easter egg from the show creators.
While both shows feature supernatural beings, they are quite different in tone. As good as it is, TVD is essentially a teen drama show in a genre setting. Teen Wolf has its teen drama but it features more comedy and action as well. It actually has more similarities to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Both show have teens living in town plagued by weird happenings that they must solve themselves. Even the character dynamics featured here seemed to be inspired by Buffy.
"The Originals" (2013–18)
2. The Originals (2013–18)
What better show is there to recommend than the official spin-off series? The Originals tells the story of the original vampire siblings—the first of their kind. It answers a lot of questions too. How did the vampires come to be? How come they can’t go out in the sun like normal human beings?
This show answers it all as it narrates the origins of the very first vampires. Though it started as a spin-off of The Vampire Diaries, this show has evolved into a must-watch drama. It takes a little time to pick up, but once it does, it’s a roller-coaster ride.
If vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural beings don't intrigue you much, the high-quality drama should be able to draw you in. There is no reason for you to not put this on your watch list. And if you like this series, be sure to check out this list of similar shows to The Originals for further recommendations.
"True Blood" (2008–14)
3. True Blood (2008–14)
People said that this show wasn't worth watching. And you probably believed them. Granted, the plot is a bit of a mess initially, but it gets better pretty soon.
There is a reason this series lasted for seven seasons. If you love vampire shows, you definitely need to give True Blood a shot. The gore, betrayal, romance, wolves, mythical creatures, vampires, and intriguing drama cements this show as one of the best supernatural dramas to ever air on HBO.
However, some fans debate about the ending. If you're one of the critics, you can check out this article on ideas to improve the series finale.
What Is Supernatural Drama?
All of the shows on this list fit into the category of supernatural drama. These shows are typically character-driven and focus on the relationships the characters have with each other. This is done in an environment where being like vampires, ghosts, and other supernatural beings are present. It is not uncommon for the protagonists to be one of these beings themselves.
The genre arguably got its start with the soap opera Dark Shadows, which aired from 1966 to 1971. It featured many elements from horror films as well as some sci-fi elements.
The most iconic example of the genre is Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which still inspires many new series today. The past decade has seen the genre rise in popularity as it has merged with the teen drama and has gained an audience of young adults.
6 Iconic Supernatural Dramas
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- American Horror Story
- Once Upon a Time
- Charmed
- Haven
- Hemlock Grove
"Supernatural" (2005–20)
4. Supernatural (2005–20)
It has been running for over 10 seasons and Supernatural is still going strong! That says a lot about it. Simply put, this show so damn good and addicting. Once you watch the first couple of episodes, you’ll want to burn through the rest.
You can skip some seasons if you want to, but then you won’t get to experience the full scope of the two brothers who fight all kinds of evil. It only gets weirder as the show progresses. From demons, ghosts, and vampires to gods that roam around—they have fought them all, and there are more lurking around. You don’t want to miss out on their awesome journey!
If you're looking to get a taste of this series, I recommend checking out this list of the 20 best Supernatural episodes to get an idea of what the show is about.
"The Secret Circle" (2011–12)
5. The Secret Circle (2011–12)
It’s a shame that this show only lasted for two seasons because it was great. Nevertheless, there are two whole seasons for you to burn through if you love vamp TV.
I'd urge you to not judge it before you give it a shot. Just because there are a lot of teens doesn’t mean it has to be mediocre. In fact, any adult who is into the supernatural genre will love it.
It’s dark, compelling, and filled with totally unexpected plot twists. This is a masterpiece that must be brought back from the dead!
"Being Human" (U.S. version, 2011–14)
6. Being Human (U.S. version, 2011–14)
A vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost living in the same house? It just can’t get boring! They try to live a normal life despite being non-humans, but things always go haywire.
Every day in their lives is a new adventure as they learn that living together probably wasn't a good idea. With only five seasons, it shouldn’t take a lot of your time to churn through it.