zinema · series · what age

The Vampire Diaries

The Vampire Diaries: what age is it for?

Series · 2009 · reading of seasons 1 to 2, out of 8 · 30 episodes · drama, sci-fi & fantasy

16YRS

In France, zinema would say 16.

Watch the trailerthen where to watch it, in zinema

Alone, or with you

89101112131415161718
not yetwith an adult, or to talk about afteralone

Alone from 16; from 15, with an adult or by talking about it afterwards. Our reading covers seasons 1 to 2; the series has 8. Our reading, episode by episode, refines that single number: season 2 reads at 14, season 1 at the top, 16.

What it's about

The story of two vampire brothers obsessed with the same girl, who bears a striking resemblance to the beautiful but ruthless vampire they knew and loved in 1864.

Why 16

What the series brings

Watching it together

Before

The engine of the series is that a vampire can compel a human to obey or to forget, and it happens mostly to girls. Say that this power is written as a plot convenience, never as a relationship.

After

at 16 and up

After the first episode, ask what your teenager made of the scene by the trees, and of what the boy says afterwards to the girl who refused.

Season by season

the reading per season, episode by episode · expand

Season 1 · 22 episodes, 42 min on average · zinema reading 16, 15 with a parent · France 16 · the hardest

1 episode out of 22 at the top of the series. What's in each episode, without telling the story:

EpisodeWhat's in it
1 · PilotNearly half in the dark; deaths shown; bullying; some swearing; drugs mentioned; alcohol; sexual violence.
2 · The Night of the CometNearly half in the dark; deaths told; scary music and jump scares; a scene of cruelty; a child put in danger; some swearing; drugs mentioned; alcohol.
3 · Friday Night BitesBlood, for a long time on screen; deaths told; bullying; some swearing; drugs mentioned; alcohol.
4 · Family TiesMany dark scenes; deaths told; a scene of cruelty; a child put in danger; some swearing; drugs mentioned; alcohol.
5 · You're Undead to MeMany dark scenes; deaths shown; a scene of cruelty; a child put in danger; drugs mentioned.
6 · Lost GirlsMany dark scenes; deaths shown; a scene of cruelty; a child put in danger; some swearing; drugs mentioned; alcohol.
7 · HauntedMany dark scenes; deaths told; meanness; a child put in danger; some swearing; drugs mentioned; alcohol.
8 · 162 CandlesMore than half the episode in the dark; deaths told; frightening images; meanness; some swearing; drugs mentioned; alcohol; ends on a tense note.
9 · History RepeatingMany dark scenes; deaths shown; frightening images; a scene of cruelty; a child put in danger; some swearing; ends on a tense note.
10 · The Turning PointNearly half in the dark; deaths told; meanness; a child put in danger; some swearing; ends on a tense note.
11 · BloodlinesMany dark scenes; deaths told; meanness; alcohol.
12 · UnpleasantvilleMany dark scenes; deaths told; a scene of cruelty; a child put in danger; alcohol.
13 · Children of the DamnedMany dark scenes; deaths told; meanness; a child put in danger; some swearing.
14 · Fool Me OnceMore than half the episode in the dark; deaths told; bullying; a child put in danger; drugs mentioned; alcohol; ends on a tense note.
15 · A Few Good MenMany dark scenes; deaths told; a scene of cruelty; alcohol; ends on a tense note.
16 · There Goes the NeighborhoodNearly half in the dark; deaths told; meanness; a child put in danger; some swearing; drugs mentioned; alcohol.
17 · Let the Right One InNearly half in the dark; deaths told; frightening images; lots of weapons; a scene of cruelty; a child put in danger; alcohol; ends on a tense note.
18 · Under ControlMore than half the episode in the dark; deaths told; meanness; some swearing; drugs mentioned; alcohol; ends on a tense note.
19 · Miss Mystic FallsDeaths told; frightening images; a scene of cruelty; a child put in danger; drugs mentioned; alcohol.
20 · Blood BrothersMore than half the episode in the dark; blood, for a long time on screen; deaths shown; a scene of cruelty; alcohol; ends on a tense note.
21 · IsobelMany dark scenes; blood, for a long time on screen; deaths shown; a scene of cruelty; a child put in danger; some swearing.
22 · Founder's DayMany dark scenes; deaths told; fights; a scene of cruelty; some swearing.

Season 2 · 8 episodes, 42 min on average · zinema reading 14, 13 with a parent · France 15 · the gentlest

no episode at the top of the series. What's in each episode, without telling the story:

EpisodeWhat's in it
2 · Brave New WorldBlood, for a long time on screen; deaths shown; meanness; a child put in danger; some swearing; alcohol; ends on a tense note.
3 · Bad Moon RisingMore than half the episode in the dark; deaths told; the monster in plain sight; meanness; some swearing; alcohol; ends on a tense note.
4 · Memory LaneNearly half in the dark; deaths told; meanness; alcohol.
8 · RoseDeaths told; scary music; lots of weapons; meanness; some swearing; alcohol; ends on a tense note.
11 · By the Light of the MoonMore than half the episode in the dark; deaths told; frightening images; bullying; a child put in danger; alcohol.
16 · The House GuestMore than half the episode in the dark; deaths told; frightening images; meanness; a child put in danger; some swearing; drugs mentioned; alcohol.
19 · KlausDeaths told; meanness.
22 · As I Lay DyingMore than half the episode in the dark; blood, for a long time on screen; deaths shown; frightening images; a scene of cruelty; a child put in danger; alcohol; ends on a tense note.
See the facts

A zinema reading from September 9, 2026 · the 30 episodes of 2 seasons, watched one by one · the age by zinema's rules for the US and France, and a human reading · report an error · how this guide is made