Again, disclaimer, this has NOTHING to do with the books. I know the basic gist of what happens in the novels for each series, but I have not read either. This assessment is solely based on what Hollywood throws at me. Just FYI.
There is SEX
Okay, I'm not a pervert, and I don't read bodice-ripping novels, but I like my vampires sexy, which means having sex. I understand how different vampire books adhere to different traditions and myths, but I don't understand how the vampires in Diaries can handle themselves better than Edward Cullen in Twilight. I don't find it sexy how restrained he is around Bella. I want passion, which means sex. Also, I don't think it's a very veiled critique of sex and abstinence on Stephanie Meyer's part to equate having sex with basically being uncontrollably mauled to death. Eeek, metaphor overload there! [SPOILER ALERT] I also, don't appreciate the whole "no sex before marriage" trite that the Twilight characters adhere to, which also amounts to getting pregnant on their first outting. Yawn, I got all the abstinence mumbo jumbo needed from my conservative Texas HS. No thanks.
Stronger female characters
Ummm...news flash: Bella sucks. Her only goal in life is to be with Edward. She has no hobbies, no real friends, no ambitions. She's boring, lame, and setting the female movement back about 40 years. When Edward leaves her in New Moon all she does is wallow for six months and then keeps trying to almost kill herself just to see Edward one more time. It's called moving on, lady; everyone does it when their heart gets broken.
Elena in Diaries on the other hand is totally self-sufficient. She doesn't need Stefan to rescue her. She doesn't wait around for him for the plot to kick in. She is a bad ass in her own right. She's not some wallowing, whiney chick. Also, her friend Bonnie is a witch and does things with her mind. How cool.
Things happen, plots progress
I know that Diaries has the luxury of being a series instead of a handful of movies, so it can push the plot easier, but when I've seen the Twilight flicks, I feel like nothing is happening. No one is growing, no plot is really moving forward. It's kind of boring.
The special effects are cooler
I'm pretty sure the CW has the budget of an indie flick--if not less, so the fact that it can do so much with its special effects is impressive. Nothing looks super fake or cheesy. Granted we haven't seen any CGI wolves or anything, but characters get bones broken and snapped back into place, and it looks legit. People get attacked, and the blood looks real. It doesn't have no sparkly skin that looks waaaaaay out of place.
It doesn't take itself seriously
This is where True Blood definitely shines, and Diaries takes its cue from it by realizing it is a campy guilty pleasure, not fine television. Its characters tell jokes and puns--especially Ian Somerhalder, who has some great one-liners! They laugh. They don't just go around brooding and listening to emo-y music all.the.fricking.time like those Twilighters. Its full of spirit and vigor, and I definitely appreciate that each week.
And, finally....
The dudes are WAY hotter
Sure, Taylor Lautner has abs of steel, but he's 17 years old, and I'm too old for that. Plus, I don't find him attractive in the face. It's like the dude version of Fergie, and that's not enough. And Edward is just pale and brooding with weird teeth and huge hair that looks like it could use four washings before I'd let him sleep in my bed. I'm just sayin'...
Case in point:
Versus
No contest!
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