Each Thursday night for that last month …

Each Thursday night for that last month I’ve been tuning to the CW for each exciting new chapter of “The Vampire Diaries”. I was somewhat suspicious of the similarity to Twilight but then discovered that this show is based on a 1991 book series by author L.J. Smith.

Elena Gilbert is your average newly orphaned teen heroine to Stefan Salvatore’s immortal boy next door. They meet and are instantly drawn to each other. Then the real problems begin.

Both have brothers that make each of their lives difficult. Elena’s little brother smokes a lot of pot and skips school. Stefan’s brother Damon sucks blood from local townspeople and is constantly beating up on him. We’ve come a long way since Jan’s troubles with Marcia in the Brady Universe that’s for sure!

Adding to this cute couple’s troubles is Elena uncanny resemblance to Stefan’s first love Catherine. Seems both Damon and Stefan had it bad for Catherine, who died tragically. Are the Salvatore brothers going to repeat their previous shenanigans with Catherine look-alike Elena?

Naughty vamp brother Damon is interesting as he bounces between sociopath predator and heartbroken-misunderstood-lonely predator. He’s my favorite so far. He drinks, and sometimes kills, the local folks with real zest. He’s somewhat of a vampire foodie and he’s definitely not happy with brother Stefan’s attempts at an alternative diet.

Several story lines other than the developing love triangle involved Elena’s friends and family. Elena’s brother Jeremy is love with Vicki who wants Tyler. Vicki’s brother Matt is Elena’s ex-boyfriend and he isn’t close to over her. Elena’s BFF Bonnie finds out that she is comes from a long line of Salem witches and soon discovers a few powers of her own. Frenemy Caroline takes up with bad boy Stefan after “losing” Stefan to Elena. Aunt Jenna, Elena and Jeremy’s guardian, is trying to raise two teens, is working toward her PhD and is avoiding her reporter ex-boyfriend.

A recent development has me quite intrigued. I wonder how Caroline’s badge wearing mom, Tyler’s mayor dad and first lady mom as well as Jenna’s reporter ex-boyfriend seem to know that a recently executed mountain lion was falsely accused of the attacks around town. They also mysteriously refer to Elena’s family watch and act as if it’s a very important item. Hmmm, maybe Stefan and Damon should have changed their names before they return to their hometown.