The Vampire Diaries Pilot Revisited

THE LONG ROAD TO 'STEROLINE'

Some connections, however, made perfect sense — like how Caroline has been quietly planning her wedding to Stefan since Day 1.

Granted, she probably didn't expect her flower girls to be the twin daughters of her history teacher/ex-boyfriend and his dead witch fiancée, nor that she'd carry them to term in her own damn uterus. (But hey, every bride-to-be needs her "something borrowed.")

WHOSE STORY IS IT, ANYWAY?, Cont'd.

And let's not forget who else has been here since Day 1!

(Suddenly, the Katherine/Stefan-centric series finale feels even more appropriate.)

DAMON'S POWERS, Cont'd.

And let's #neverforget when these vamps could fly. Though Stefan is the one seen flying here — sweet action shot, bro! — Damon used his flight powers to literally pick up dinner in the pilot's cold open.

WHOSE STORY IS IT, ANYWAY? 

I feel like many of us have forgotten that the pilot begins with Stefan saying, "This is my story."

(This has always been Stefan's story. Kind of puts things into perspective, no?)

DAMON'S POWERS 

Guys, Damon Salvatore was a straight-up wizard in this pilot. Of all the powers he used to have, I think I miss his ability to control fog most of all.

DAMON'S POWERS, Cont'd.

His ability to control this crow was also super ridiculous — as was the moment in Episode 5 when he decided to eat it. (R.I.P., friend!)

STRAY OBSERVATIONS

I've always enjoyed Elena and Jeremy's brother-sister relationship, but I definitely prefer their Season 6 dynamic (getting high together) vs. the pilot, in which Elena redefined what it means to be a total buzzkill.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Let's start by getting one thing out of the way: EVERYONE. LOOKED. LIKE. BABIES.

(Like, can I get six chocolate milks over here? These little guys look thirsty.)

THEY DATED?!, Cont'd.

It's also crazy to think that Matt and Elena were fresh off a breakup when the show started.

"I still believe in us," he told her at the bonfire. "And I'm not giving up on that."

(Spoiler alert: He gives up.)

STRAY OBSERVATIONS, Cont'd.

And in case you ever forget what year this pilot was filmed, Elena's Blackberry (!!!) is happy to remind you.

ICONIC MOMENTS, Cont'd.

2. This whole outfit, honestly. In fact, if Funko ever decides to make a line of Vampire Diaries figures — and, really, why haven't they?! — this is how I'd expect the Elena doll to dress.

ICONIC MOMENTS

1. Stefan's glorious CGI-leap from the roof of the Salvatore mansion.

STRAY OBSERVATIONS, Cont'd.

I can't remember if I snickered at Elena's "...I'll make it through" line when I first saw the pilot, but I definitely did this time. #DegrassiForever

FIRST THINGS FIRST, Cont'd.

Another thing I need to get out of the way: I was not prepared to see Aunt Jenna again. Of all the deaths on this show, hers ranks atop my list of the most devastating, and I'm still not over it.

ICONIC MOMENTS, Cont'd.

3. This smirk, presented without additional comment (mostly because I'm too damn entranced to form a coherent thought).

DRAMATIC FORESHADOWING

Intentional or not, there's a ton of dramatic foreshadowing in this pilot. For example:

"I can't be freaked out by cars for the rest of my life," said the girl who would eventually die twice in two separate car crashes.

DRAMATIC FORESHADOWING, Cont'd.

Or when Damon told Stefan, "I couldn't take another day of the '90s — that horrible grunge look did not suit you."

Cut to five seasons later: Damon and Bonnie are trapped in a prison world where every day is 1993. (Also, the grunge look definitely suitted Damon.)

THE LONG ROAD TO 'STEROLINE,' Cont'd.

Stefan's initial rejection led Caroline to ponder, "How come the guys that I want never want me?"

(Don't worry, girl, that's all about to change.)

THE LONG ROAD TO 'STEROLINE,' Cont'd.

Unfortunately, Caroline and Stefan weren't always on the same page.

"You and me, it's not going to happen," he told her.

(Uh, Stefan? The Hindsight Police are here, and they've got some news for you: It happened.)

THEY DATED?!

Before there was "Stelena" vs. "Delena," there was... this weird little stoner love triangle. (We can all admit that none of these people were actually right for each other, yes?)

THEY DATED?!, Cont'd.

And don't even get me started on Caroline and Damon at the end of the pilot. After everything we've been through over the past eight years, this feels like fan fiction gone wrong.