What Other Shows Are Connected To Vampire Diaries

Okay, let's be real. We all got sucked into The Vampire Diaries, right? Pun intended. But after binging every episode (multiple times, no shame!), you might be wondering: what's next?

The Obvious Connections

First, let's tackle the low-hanging fruit. Everyone knows about The Originals. It's basically Vampire Diaries 2.0, New Orleans edition.

Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah are front and center. More family drama, more supernatural shenanigans, and a whole lot of brooding. What's not to love?

Then there's Legacies. This one follows Hope Mikaelson, Klaus's daughter. She's at the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted.

Think Hogwarts, but with vampires, werewolves, and all sorts of creepy crawlies. Honestly, it's a fun continuation, but... here's my unpopular opinion.

My Hot Take on Legacies

Okay, deep breath. Legacies is... fine. It's enjoyable enough, but it lacks the original's bite (okay, I'll stop with the vampire puns... maybe).

The tone feels a bit too teeny-bopper for me. Where's the dark, angsty drama? Give me tortured souls and moral ambiguity!

I miss the days when characters weren't afraid to make truly awful choices. Now, don't get me wrong, I appreciate character development, but I want complexity too.

Beyond Mystic Falls: The Wider Universe?

Here's where things get interesting. Could there be other shows connected to The Vampire Diaries in spirit, if not in name?

Let's consider shows with similar themes: supernatural drama, forbidden romance, and a healthy dose of mystery. Think shows with attractive people suffering beautifully.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is definitely a spiritual ancestor. Strong female lead battling the forces of darkness? Check. Complicated love life? Double check.

Angel, Buffy's spin-off, shares that DNA too. More mature, grittier, and exploring the consequences of immortality. Sound familiar?

What about Teen Wolf? Werewolves, high school drama, and surprisingly compelling storylines. Plus, the special effects were... something.

"But wait!" I hear you cry. "Those aren't officially connected!"

You're right, they're not. But thematically, they resonate. They explore similar territory.

And honestly, sometimes that's enough. It's about finding shows that scratch that same itch. That give you that same feeling of supernatural intrigue.

My Wild Theory: A Shared Trope Universe

Maybe, just maybe, all these shows exist in a shared universe of tropes. The Chosen One, the Brooding Bad Boy, the Wise Mentor.

These are archetypes we see again and again. Maybe The Vampire Diaries, Buffy, and others are simply different versions of the same story.

A story about good versus evil, love versus loss, and the eternal struggle to find your place in a world that's both beautiful and terrifying.

So, while there might not be a direct, official connection to every show on this list, the echoes of Mystic Falls can be found in many corners of the television landscape.

And sometimes, that's the best kind of connection. A subtle nod, a shared theme, a feeling of familiarity. It's enough to keep us watching, always searching for the next supernatural fix.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go re-watch the first season of The Vampire Diaries for the hundredth time. Don't judge me!