In Memoriam: Character Death’s I’m Still Not Over

(A pretty big and obvious SPOILER WARNING applies)

Over the years television has become bolder, brasher.  Bold moves such as huge plot changing twists often include deaths of beloved characters. Some character deaths are minor, only contributing a bit of heartache moving forward on a show. Some character deaths are so big that their repercussions can be felt throughout the remainder of a series.

Death’s can also be silly and contrived, only serving as a plot device to move other characters or story in a certain direction.  A death of a beloved character can spark heated debate and opinions.  Though most shows on television today utilize death as a plot point, some just leave us wondering.

Kol Mikaelson (The Vampire Diaries – Season 4) – Season three of The Vampire Diaries introduced us to the entirety of the Mikaelson clan, including brothers Finn and Kol. Eldest brother Finn, devoted to ending his and his siblings “miserable” lives as vampires, posed a threat not only to the protagonists of the show, but the rest of the Mikaelson family as well. His death was swift but necessary. Youngest brother Kol, though, showed vital signs of excitement and a touch of trouble when undaggered and reunited with his family. He quickly became a fan favorite; his cute and mischievous ways were a welcome addition to the sometimes bland main characters. His all too controversial death in season four came after Elena and Jeremy White Oak-staked him, producing an outcry on social media. Not only was his death sloppy and heartbreaking, it also produced a vampire genocide that really didn’t seem to have much effect on the characters consciences or the vampire world moving into future seasons.

Death seems to be taken with a grain of salt when it comes to The Vampire Diaries. Characters constantly perish and are reborn again, one way or another. No season truly displayed this act more than season five, where some of our favorites characters, including Elena, Stefan, Alaric, and newcomer Enzo were resurrected from “The Other Side.” Accordingly, TVD introduced its popular new spin-off, The Originals, which centers on the Mikaelsons and their troubles in New Orleans.   Every opportunity to resurrect Kol was given, especially after the season one finale of TO, where patriarch Mikael, matriarch and witch Esther, and brother Finn were all brought back into the land of the living one way or another. Kol still remains the one permanently dead Original. His loss is still felt and debated.

Peter Russo (House of Cards – Season 1) – The inaugural season of House of Cards not only brought some of the best small screen produced drama, but it introduced viewers to a bevy of new and exciting characters. Fans of the show rooted for Pennsylvania Congressman Peter Russo and his struggle with drug and alcohol addiction. He was a good guy who couldn’t settle or overcome his upbringing, an underdog from a rough home and it showed. That didn’t stop him from being one of season one’s best characters. Frank Underwood’s mission to turn Peter’s life around for his own gain was manipulative, though necessary for Russo. A good kick in the proverbial ass would straighten him out and put him on the straight and narrow. Unfortunately, Underwood’s determinations wavered and Russo became more of a hindrance to our main character. Frank and his team manipulated Russo into a relapse, ruining his chances in office. The final act came when Russo, high, drunk, and down on his luck, confided in Frank. Frank sat back and watched his mentee slip, delivering his final act as he let Russo die of asphyxiation in a locked, garaged car. Russo’s death signified the gritty tone of House of Cards, introducing audiences to the real Frank Underwood. But Peter’s loss was felt through season two, leaving fans of his to struggle with whom to root for.

Tom Shayes (Damages – Season 3) – Similar to Frank Underwood was Patty Hewes. A powerful, successful New York City lawyer who didn’t let anything or anyone stand in her way. Patty wasn’t afraid to take the more immoral path when it came to fighting for a win. The high-powered woman had many enemies and many people who were ready to destroy her and her associates. Patty’s right-hand man and partner, Tom Shayes, suffered the brunt of her misdeeds. Tom fought for his place by Patty’s side, turning down amazing offers and opportunities for an easier life with his family. Tom’s loyalties to Patty delivered him the ultimate sacrifice – his life. Entangled in a high-profiled case with proven dangerous people, Tom was murdered trying to do the right thing, fighting to save Patty and the firm. Although his death was presented as the main mystery of season three, his final minutes on screen didn’t make his death any easier. His loss was evident through out the rest of the series, as it never really did recoup after such a huge character loss.

Neal Cassidy/Baelfire (Once Upon a Time – Season 3) – One would think that the son of the all-powerful Rumpelstiltskin would be the last on the list of characters that would meet a deadly fate. Another show that plays with death like a toy, many other Once characters had experienced temporary death — the loss of their heart, being cursed, and being brought back to life with true loves kiss. Season three’s Zelena (The Wicked Witch) would prove to be the gang’s biggest foe, causing heartbreak and bloodshed in her wake. This terrorizing beauty made sure no one stood in her way, including Rumpel. The expanded family paid the ultimate price when Belle helped a grief-stricken Neal try to find a way to bring back his father from his own sacrifice. Regrettably, this meant sacrificing a life for a life as the two were tricked into resurrecting Rumpel only for Neal’s life to be taken in the process. The Dark One tried everything in his power to bring back his son, but Zelena’s magic and havoc was too strong. Neal begged to be let go of, to die a hero – and that’s what he did. Not only was Neal one of the best additions to the show, but he also showed a true chemistry with Emma, son Henry, and the rest of Storybrooke. His death came too soon as Michael Raymond-James’s series regular status on the show only lasted one season. The potential was wasted for his character and growth as his death only served as an easy plot device to later move Emma and Captain Hook closer to each other.

Mitchell (Being Human UK – Series 3) – Supernatural shows are no strangers to death, but when that death is of a main character it’s jarring, nonetheless. The UK version of Being Human saw a huge shift in character and story after its third season. One of the only shows to successfully transition into an entirely new cast, the loss of the first group of supernatural entities living in a house together was still traumatic. Vampire [John] Mitchell had been on a long and hard road to overcome his blood addiction. Constantly struggling to be as human as possible and do the right thing, the charming vamp relapsed and fought his way through his urges with the help of werewolf best friend George and ghost girlfriend Annie. Mitchell’s ultimate sacrifice came when a faction of vampires were gearing up to take control. It was either Mitchell join them or subject himself to a fate worse than death.   In the Being Human world there was no afterlife for the soulless vampires and Mitchell knew that to save his roommates and loved ones he would have to help stop the war before it began. He had taken part in the murder of an entire train of innocent humans and had given into his most basic vampiric urges. But he had fallen in love, making every effort to pick himself up again, and giving his life for the ones he cared for most would be his final act. Faced with the choice of killing his best friend or die himself, George made his most gut wrenching decision as he delivered a stake into Mitchell’s chest. The loss of Mitchell was so big and painful that the rest of the original cast exited soon after, making way for a new group of supernatural roomies. Mitchell’s was the first of a handful of big moves for the UK edition that still makes one tear up to this day.

Henry Durham (Being Human US – Season 3) – It’s hard to mourn and move on from a character’s death, especially when said character didn’t even perish on screen. Aidan’s progeny, Henry, was a great addition to the US version of Being Human in its second season. He was compelling and easy on the eyes. We watched as Aidan struggled to rebuild a relationship with the “son” he had banished almost a hundred years earlier. Aidan struggled to keep himself cemented in the human and vampire worlds and Henry struggled for acceptance from his maker and the vampire community that had exiled him. Season three found most of the Boston vampires dead, wiped out by a horrible virus that only knocked humans into bed for a few days. The vampire flu was unavoidable, but Aidan helped himself and Henry from feeding off of tainted blood. Henry, though, would prove he wasn’t as strong as his maker. The vampire couldn’t control his hunger, feeding on diseased blood and contracting the fatal illness. Henry’s final speech to Aidan was his goodbye as he reminded his “father” that they were vampires, not humans. Henry walked off, letting the virus take him. Except, viewers never watched Henry die; Henry walked off, presumably turning into a pile of dust. But this was a character who had proved his survival skills, a trait Aidan made sure to remind his vampire son of over and over again. It’s hard to accept a characters death when their final moments aren’t even seen on screen and they have a history of making surprise entrances. Unfortunately, Being Human ended after its fourth season and it’s still unknown if Henry ever did miraculously survive the vampire flu.

Cyril O’Reily (Oz – Season 6) – On a show that centers around America’s toughest criminals, it wouldn’t shock anyone when shady goings on in a prison takes out one of its own. Fortunately for Oz, they built a series with a plethora of different and intriguing characters that one couldn’t help but root for. No character showed more compassion than Cyril O’Reily, Ryan O’Reily’s mentally handicapped brother. Cyril had been commissioned by Ryan to murder Gloria Nathan’s husband and Cyril, who could only comprehend at the mental capacity of a five year old, easily complied. The otherwise sympathetic Cyril was willing to do anything his brother asked of him. Cyril’s actions landed him straight in Oz and he became one of the most likable characters within a cast of degenerates. Cyril’s accidental but deadly actions in prison landed him on death row; the poor man couldn’t comprehend that he had made fatal mistakes. No appeals or a mental institution could help Cyril and in the show’s final episode and one of the shows more disturbing acts, Cyril was given the death penalty. This devastating final act was also one of the shows strongest moments. It showed how corrupt the prison system is and how even the most soulless of characters could have heart.

Tommy Merlyn (Arrow – Season 1) – Oliver Queen’s playboy best friend, Tommy, not only rose above his childish, egotistical ways, but also showed viewers that, indeed, a person can change. Although his relationship with his best friends ex came off as less than honorable at first, Tommy and Laurel Lance worked. Her stern demeanor and his care free views on life fit together, evening each other out in a way that made more sense than former beau Oliver and Laurel. Tommy overcame his spoiled upbringing and although it took a little push by his father, Tommy learned that hard work really does pay off. Tommy proved himself as a formidable character and presented himself as a sweet and charming brother type, not only protecting Thea, but holding onto Oliver’s double life as The Arrow a secret all the way to his grave. Tommy’s untimely death at the end of season one was a shocker that changed the course of many characters lives moving forward on the show. His absence was felt as Thea learned that Malcolm was, in fact, her biological father and as Oliver continued to take on the evil in Starling City.

Mike Ehrmantraut (Breaking Bad – Season 5A) – Perhaps a turning point for Walter White and the series as a whole was the accidental death of Mike.  In a desperate attempt to procure the names of the men who worked for Gus and his operation, Walt fatally shot Mike in the former hitmans attempt to flee town.  Walt’s shot was purely accidental as he only meant to scare the elder partner.  Though Mike was by no means a “good” guy, he showed a ton of heart, especially in scenes depicting him and his young granddaughter.  All the money Mike had been earning through Gus and Walt had been put away into savings for young Kaylee.  Unfortunately, with the arrest of one of his men and the discovery of Walt’s true character, the money was seized into evidence.  To this day, Mike remains one of the best characters Breaking Bad has ever created.  With the announcement that his portrayer, Jonathan Banks, would be joining the prequel spin-off, Better Call Saul, fans don’t have to mourn his death too much longer.

Tracy McConnell (How I Met Your Mother – Season 9) – As depicted many times, a character death as a use of a plot device can prove infuriating and sloppy. No plot device was as obvious as the death of the titular character of How I Met Your Mother. Fan’s tuned in for nine years to finally meet the mother of Ted Mosby’s children, the love of his life. Tracy, who had been introduced in the finale of the eighth season, came to be adored and loved by viewers. She was smart, funny, and was the perfect match for the love inept Ted. Tracy and Ted were perfect for each other – soul mates. But that hadn’t been HIMYM’s long-standing plan. The plan from the beginning was for Ted and Robin to constantly play the “are they, aren’t they game,” going back and forth on whether they were meant to be together or not. Robin seemed happy with playboy Barney and Ted was growing and moving on in his life. But Tracy’s death served as the final blow to the series. Ted had spent nine years telling his children the story of how he met their mother, but it was really just a journey as to how he was rediscovering his love for their Aunt Robin. The series took nine years of great character growth, story, and suspense and flushed it down the toilet. By turning the mother into a device and having Tracy fall ill and die, the series ruined what it had stood for since the beginning.

Honorable Mentions: Bobby Singer and Kevin Tran (Supernatural), Zoe Barnes (House of Cards), Allison Argent (Teen Wolf), Robb, Catelynn, and Ned Stark (Game of Thrones), Debra Morgan (Dexter), Mike Delfino (Desperate Housewives), Everyone (Six Feet Under).

The Originals: I Just Can’t Wait to be King

(note: this post heavily spoils last weeks episode of The Vampire Diaries)

This past Thursday, The CW unveiled a very special episode of their hit show The Vampire Diaries.  This episode, entitled “The Originals,” was meant to serve as a backdoor pilot for a new spinoff series.  The episode focused on the remaining siblings of the original family of vampires, the Mikaelson family: Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah (even though Rebekah was conveniently absent for most of the episode, still perturbed at Klaus).

Since news broke that the creators and writers of TVD were going to take a stab at a more adult, darker spinoff, I sat idly by, excited over all the possibilities a potential new show could offer.  I was even more excited when they announced this possible show would take place in New Orleans, Louisiana (a city that I’ve been desperate to visit for a long time now).  Not only could the creators explore a new world for these characters, they could incorporate the rich history and culture of New Orleans.

After receiving a tip from fan favorite character, Katherine, that stated witches were conspiring against him, Klaus headed down to New Orleans.  This was the city him and his family members had helped build; they considered New Orleans their kingdom, their home.  Worried that his brother’s confrontation would lead to a witch massacre, Elijah hesitantly followed his brother to New Orleans (Rebekah refusing to even acknowledge Klaus was her brother, hoping the witches had found a way to finally kill him).  It turned out Klaus and Elijah weren’t the only visitors from Mystic Falls though, werewolf Hayley had also been exploring the city, hoping to find information on her family and where she came from.

Unable to find the witch he was looking for, Klaus reunited with his former protege, Marcel, in hopes he could get some friendly assistance.  It didn’t take long for Klaus to realize the hold Marcel had on New Orleans.  He was the one in charge, he was the King.  He controlled all the supernaturals in the city, including the witches, and had convinced the humans of the city to casually look the other way to their shenanigans.  Marcel had banned any and all witches from practicing magic and as soon as he found one who did, he executed her in a vampire filled New Orleans street.  Unfortunately, this witch had also been the one Klaus had been searching for.  He soon conveniently tracked down her sister, but had been followed by Marcel’s men, who were intent on finding out exactly what Klaus was doing in New Orleans.

With Marcel’s men on his tail, Klaus was failing to obtain the information he needed.  But, one person did.  Elijah made his grand entrance (by killing Marcel’s men in a classic, heart snatching, Elijah way) and informed his brother he had found the witches AND the answers Klaus was seeking.  Klaus reluctantly followed his brother to a cemetery.  The witches (led by a young girl named Sophie) presented Hayley, hoping she would help make him cooperate.  Klaus, about to lose it, laughed at the thought of them thinking he cared about Hayley (she was only a drunken, one night stand after all).  That’s when the witches revealed their hold on Klaus and why Hayley was the key: their one night stand had led to a little puppy growing inside Hayley.  That’s right, Hayley was pregnant.  The witches explained that vampires could not breed, but wolves could, and Klaus having been made a vampire by magic and originally born a wolf, could in fact procreate.  Sophie hoped this news would make Klaus want to help them take down Marcel, they would protect Hayley and her child if he did.

Elijah was delighted.  Klaus appalled.  Elijah tried convincing Klaus to stay in New Orleans, help Hayley, and start and rebuild their family.  Klaus was seeking one thing and one thing only: power.  “Family is power,” Elijah relented, but to no avail.

Klaus was upset, angry, and was only interested in taking New Orleans back from Marcel.  In a heated, party filled confrontation  (“What’s mine is yours, but IT IS MINE,” Marcel reminded Klaus), Klaus angrily bit one of Marcel’s men, asserting his power.  In one more, emotional filled conversation with his brother, Klaus lamented that maybe staying in New Orleans wasn’t such a bad idea, especially if he could have the power he always wanted and have an heir to teach.  They decided they would indeed help Sophie and the other witches.  Klaus was to apologize and work his way into Marcel’s world and Elijah would stand by his brother’s side, hoping to find the redemption he knew was somewhere deep within Klaus.  This was their new beginning.

Thursday’s episode was enough for The CW and the very next day “The Originals” was picked up to series.  I may be in the minority of people who enjoyed this episode.  Let me rephrase, I enjoyed this episode EXCEPT for the baby macguffin.  At first I thought the witches were tricking Klaus with magic to force him to take down Marcel, to have something to use against him and that Elijah was really working with the witches and not his brother.  This was not the case and as far as it stands, the little wolf inside Hayley is real. This was a cheap roadblock that I feel could really hinder the series from greatness. I thought the exterior scenes (especially in the historic Lafayette Cemetery) were beautiful and I saw a lot of potential to incorporate different New Orleans landmarks into the show.  The tone of the episode was darker and more mature than most episodes of The Vampire Diaries and as a  23 year old viewer, I appreciated the new direction.

I also fell in love with new vampire Marcel.  He was mysterious, charismatic, and very nice to look at.  Sophie and the witches were also intriguing.  Why couldn’t they practice magic? What did Marcel have to hold over them?  Their potential of an uprising and as characters who could assert themselves could add a new, unseen twist to the show.  One more character, Cami, a human bartender was introduced.  Not much is known about Cami, but she seemed like a strong and independent female character that a show filled with men in power could use.

With only three members of the Mikaelson family remaining, one can only hope that flashbacks would be implemented to show how they built the city and how Klaus and Marcel formally met (they made a reference that Klaus may have saved Marcel from slavery).  Unfortunately, The Vampire Diaries hasn’t been on the forefront of diverse casting and handling people of color and other minority characters.  In the city of New Orleans, with a large African American population, there is a potential to do these previously failed efforts right and with dignity.  The originals continue to be my favorite characters on the show and only time will tell what this new series will bring us.  One thing is for sure, the backdoor pilot sparked my curiosity and I will be tuning in come fall.

The Vampire Diaries: A Vampire Genocide

It’s been no secret that over the past three and a half seasons of The Vampire Diaries the line between good and evil has blurred to the point of no return.  No one character resides on either side of the line, often running back and forth in an exhausting race of morality and immorality.  Perhaps that’s why the show is so addicting, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats most episodes.  Perhaps it’s why the fandom is so passionate, constantly debating every decision made on the show.  What is the definition of right or wrong on The Vampire Diaries anymore?

In season 2 and into season 3, we were slowly introduced to the ‘Original’ family, the Mikaelsons.  Made up of matriarch and witch, Esther, patriarch Mikael and their children: Elijah, Finn, Klaus, Kol, and Rebekah (as well as two other children who died as humans).  To save her family from a werewolf lead feud 1,000 years ago, Esther used witch craft to turn her husband and children into vampires, making them the original family of vampires.  They are (debatably) stronger, faster, and are the only ones who can compel other vampires.  All vampires on The Vampire Diaries are part of a bloodline, with one member of the Mikaelson clan as the very beginning of the line.

In season 3 it was revealed that the one and only way to permanently kill an Original was to use a stake fashioned from an old White Oak tree.  Thinking that all remnants except for a bottle of ashes (and one last stake that was used on father Mikael by Klaus) of the White Oak were gone, the Originals were thought to be indestructible.  The only way to “kill” them was to temporarily put them down with a special dagger, using the ash from the tree.  History revealed that another tree did exist, its wood used to make the old Wickery Bridge located centrally in Mystic Falls.  Elena, Stefan, Damon, and the rest of the gang became hell bent on destroying “villain” Klaus and the rest of his family.

The gang succeeded in taking down Finn, the most detached of the Mikaelson family.  It was one down and four more to go.  But, it wasn’t so simple.  Killing Finn meant that his entire bloodline of vampires also died.  Who knows how many people were turned on behalf of Finn’s bloodline.  1,000 years of turning could have rendered tens of thousands of vampires.  All dead because of Finn’s death.  A vampire genocide.

Everyone seemed almost horrified by this information, given that it was hard to pin point which Original had spawned the vampire line of Stefan, Damon, Caroline, etc.  The gang made it their mission at the end of season 3 to find out who was at the head of their line.  They wanted to be able to safely eliminate any other Mikaelson family member without also killing themselves in the process.

Which is where season 4 has lead us to.  One stake still remains, an indestructible White Oak stake created by Esther with Alaric’s ring (the one that kept him alive even when killed at the hands of a supernatural creature), a stake that will permanently kill any Original and their entire bloodline.  In the end of last weeks episode, Elena came up with a master plan of her own.  To kill Kol Mikaelson, the youngest brother of the clan.  This would ensure that Kol, who had been wreaking havoc on Mystic Falls, would be put down for good.  Kol had compelled Damon to kill Jeremy and his death would mean the end to Damon’s compulsion.  But, instead of simply daggering Kol for a short period of time, Elena wanted Jeremy to kill Kol to grow Jeremy’s vampire hunters mark.  A mark only capable of growing when a vampire is killed at Jeremy’s hands, a mark that would lead the gang to finding a “cure” for vampirism.  A cure Elena and everyone else is so desperate to find.  Killing Kol would mean ending his bloodline of what was sure to be thousands and thousands of vampires deep.

To mine (and most of the fandom’s) dismay Elena and Jeremy succeeded.  Kol was killed.  Jeremy’s mark was completed.  What did Kol’s death spawn? Another vampire genocide.  One that Elena seemed not to think twice about.  Elena was looking out for herself and her brother.  Except there were other options.  Ones that wouldn’t have lead to the murdering of a countless number of vampires.  Who knows what kind of vampires were created at the hands of Kol and his progeny?  They could have been just as evil, killing without remorse.  Or, they could have been vampires just trying to blend in, do good, and lead a normal-ish life, just like the folks of Mystic Falls are trying to do.

The Vampire Diaries: So Much More Than A “Ship”

Stelena. Delena. Melena. Elejah. Forwood. Klaroline. Klefan. Steroline. Bamon. Beremy. Kennett. Dabekah. Mabekah. Dalaric. Jalaric. Jeranna. Maroline. Mapril. Japril. Jicki.

Wait..let me stop myself.  I could go on but unfortunately I want to write something worthwhile.  The Vampire Diaries is no stranger to love triangles, squares, octagons, and spider webs.  A new ‘ship’ (for those new to the TV lingo world: a ‘ship’ is short for relationship.  Two characters combined in an intense love/friendly interaction is often referred to as a ‘ship.’  For example: The TVD fandom loves to ship Elena/Damon or Elena/Stefan) can be created with just one simple interaction or even NON interaction between characters.

Unfortunately, The Vampire Diaries fandom has become entangled in an all out social media brawl when it comes to ‘shipping.’  Fans of the Elena/Damon (Delena) relationship will often get into heated and sometimes nasty arguments with the Elena/Stefan (Stelena) fandom and so on with all other character pairings.  What fans sometimes forget is that within the confines of these relationships lies an actual show.  A show full of character dynamics, history, mythology, and even humor.  Sometimes fans forget that The Vampire Diaries is not solely about Elena and her love between two brothers.  Sometimes fans need to step back and look at the bigger picture of the show.

Underneath all the pairings is a show that has taken us from a world full of only humans to a world full of vampires, werewolves, witches, hybrids, and other mystical creatures  that are bound to be running around in the TVD universe.  That’s the part of the show I love.  When the ‘Originals’ were introduced I relished in every storyline they were involved in because they weren’t part of the central love triangle and the other teenage love angst.  I love flashback episodes because it gives us a new piece of mythology and often furthers the supernatural storyline forward (and who doesn’t love some gorgeous men and women in period costume?).  If we take a step back and stop worrying about who Elena is going to kiss every episode or if Caroline really does like Klaus we will find a fast-paced and invigorating show.  One that pushes new boundaries and one not only for the teenage population of the world.

If you’re so inclined to hardcore ‘ship’ a couple don’t get mad when you don’t get your way.  Don’t threaten the actors, writers, creators, and fans of the show.  Engage in conversation.  Nothing lasts forever in the TV world and just because your ‘ship’ didn’t have screen time this week doesn’t mean something won’t happen next week.  Take time to watch the show for what it is and ENJOY it.  Who wants to spend time being angry at a television?

And if you have to ask the question of who do I ‘ship’?  Well, that’s easy.  I ‘ship’ The Vampire Diaries/My TV.

The Vampire Diaries Tackle The “Cure”

Since I was young I’ve been fascinated with the world of vampires (I guess you could have called me a morbid child).  I made it my life mission as a child to watch, read, and invest in anything vampires.  My interest was mainly focused on television shows and movies and each new media I watched tackled vampires in a different, unique way.

The Vampire Diaries doesn’t stop short in pulling out all the stops.  The mythology, the powers, the story lines, are unique to the show.  A newly introduced sub-plot is tackling the topic of the “cure.”  This however is not the first show to explore this idea.  Now, the idea of this so called “cure” was only loosely introduced in last Thursday’s episode, The Five.  We can’t say for sure what this “cure” will entail and if it’s even still in existence within their world, but characters Stefan and Klaus (or as shippers refer to them as, Klefan) have now made it their mission to track down and discover what exactly this “cure” is.

As I mentioned before, The Vampire Diaries is not the first vampire themed show to tackle this topic.  I’ve chosen to look at two past television shows that also delved into this moral story line.

Show #1: Forever Knight (1992-1996)

A Canadian television show that ran in the ’90s about a vampire detective and how he himself dealt with vampirism in an ever changing world.  Main character, Nick Knight, was an 800 year old vampire who was desperate to find a cure to make him human again.  Nick, similar to Stefan on TVD, had relegated himself to drinking animal blood in order to curb his thirst for human blood.  He found himself constantly battling his inability to have actual relationships with humans, especially for fellow colleague and medical examiner, Natalie.

In the 3rd and final season, Nick is reunited with his vampire sister, Janette.  Janette it seems has mysteriously turned from vampire to human.  The exact events are never made clear as to how Janette became human.  The process is only described as Janette feeding on her human lover and through the ultimate act of making love, she was transformed from vampire to human.

Through a series of events, Janette is killed but it does not stop Nick’s quest from finding out what exactly this cure is.  In the series finale, Nick makes a decision to try to cure himself by using Natalie as his lover.  Given Nick’s inability to control himself while drinking human blood, the process is deemed extremely dangerous.  Natalie agrees though if it means that she and Nick can be together as humans.  Spoiler alert: The process fails and Nick ends up killing Natalie by accident, unable to control his thirst.  In a grief stricken state, Nick has his maker, LaCroix, kill him so that he can be with Natalie in the after life.

This is a show where the cure ultimately failed for our main protagonist, but gave us the illusion that vampirism isn’t a permanent curse.

Show #2: Moonlight (2007-2008)

Moonlight, similar to Forever Knight, was also a show about a vampire detective (and a show I will never forgive CBS for canceling).  Protagonist, Mick St. John, was an 85 year old vampire who worked as a private investigator.  Mick was forcefully turned by his wife, Coraline, and after murdering her (or so he thought) in the 1980s, lived in a wallowing existence.  He constantly was fighting to be as human as he could (thankfully these versions of vampires could walk in the sun, in fact these vampires were straight up awesome: screw a cure).

In an episode entitled, The Ringer, Mick is asked by his friend (and wannabe lover, Beth) to help find the missing cameras of Beth’s friend, Morgan.  All seems normal until Mick meets Morgan, who bares an uncanny resemblance to Mick’s ex-wife, Coraline.  No, this show did not implore the use of doppelgängers, Morgan was in fact Coraline, masking herself as human using a special “compound.”

In an effort to make up for the horrible things Coraline put Mick through (I won’t go into it, watch the show! It’s only 1 season..unfortunately), Coraline allows Mick to use some of the compound on himself.  This compound isn’t exactly a cure and the ingredients of it aren’t exactly known either.  All that is known is that the compound was created hundreds of years ago for a royal family of vampires to use to mask their vampirism during a purging of the creatures.  Mick is unsure as to how long the compound will last but has Coraline give it to him without hesitation.  What looks like a thick blood-like concoction is placed on an open wound of a vampire and sinks into the blood stream.

Mick becomes human but in the end has his vampire friend, Josef, turn him back into a vampire in order to save Beth from a pack of evil vampires.

It is unclear as to how The Vampire Diaries will tackle this topic.  Will the cure be an elixir, a  spell, a donut sprinkled in unicorn blood?  The show has already tackled witch craft being able to turn vampires human again so I venture to guess this cure will be a little different.  All I know is that The Vampire Diaries vampires are also pretty awesome (eternal hotness, ability to blurry run, and the ability to eat whatever the hell you want without counting calories) and I would probably say “nah, I’m good.” if I was a vampire offered their cure.