Vampire Diaries Season 2 premieres September 9 on CW

Vampire Diaries is an entertaining little vampire show from CW that I saved up to watch after the finale last season, but it was so good that I decide to follow it from the beginning this season.

Last season ended in quite a cliffhanger. Elena’s vampire double-ganger Katherine arrived in town with deadly and emotional consequences. It is now time for the others to find out. Damon kissed Katherine believing it was Elena, his moment of realization is sure to be a high point in the season premiere.

There will be werewolves this season according to early spoilers.

The Vampire Diaries is based on a novel series by L.J. Smith where you are given the insight into the diary of 17-year old Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev). Elena and her 15-year-old brother, Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen), live with their Aunt Jenna (Sara Canning). Elena seeks comfort from her familiar social circle – best friend Bonnie (Katerina Graham), frenemy Caroline Forbes (Candice Accola), and former boyfriend Matt Donovan(Zach Roerig).

At Mystic Falls High, Elena and her friends become fixated by a mysterious new student, Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley). Stefan and Damon(Ian Somerhalder) are vampire brothers – one good, one evil – at war for Elena’s soul.

Episodes

2.01 – The Return (CW)

Picking up on the same night as last season’s finale, Elena arrives home to a nightmare as she discovers Uncle John’s and Jeremy’s fate. At the hospital, Sheriff Forbes is comforted by Matt , Bonnie and Damon while she waits to hear if Caroline will survive the car accident. After a confusing conversation with Elena about the night’s events, Damon is the first to realize that Katherine has returned. Katherine’s arrival sends Stefan and Damon on a path to find out what she wants, why she’s back, and how much of a threat she is to the people they love. Meanwhile, still reeling from his father’s death, Tyler is surprised when his charming and mysterious uncle, Mason Lockwood, arrives to console the family.

2.02 - Brave New World (CW)

THE CARNIVAL FROM HELL — When a confused and desperate Caroline leaves the hospital and joins her friends at the Mystic Falls Carnival, Damon wants to take immediate action, but Stefan and Elena come to Caroline’s defense. Matt is completely mystified by Caroline’s behavior, but still tries to tell her about his feelings for her.. Damon has suspicions about Tyler’s Uncle Mason (guest star Taylor Kinney..) and uses Tyler’s volatile personality in an attempt to get Mason to reveal his secret. Upset with everything going on around her, Bonnie (Katerina Graham) takes her anger out on Damon.

2.03 - Bad Moon Rising (CW)

STEFAN FACES A NEW DANGER — Elena, Damon and Alaric take a road trip to Duke University and search through Isobel’s research on folklore and paranormal phenomena to see if they can uncover any clues to the mystery surrounding the Lockwood family. Isobel’s former student, Vanessa (guest star Courtney Ford, Dexter) offers to guide them through the research and ends up getting quite an education herself. Stefan comes face to face with a terrifying new danger in the woods, and Tyler makes a shocking discovery about Mason (guest star Taylor Kinney)

Extended Vampire Diaries promo with a shorter Nikita promo at the end

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Nick (Frank Grillo), his son Charlie (Travis Caldwell), daughter Dana (McKaley Miller) and Sarah (Marisol Nichols) open The Gates to their new home.

THE GATES – PREMIERES SUNDAY, JUNE 20 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) – Nestled inside a private mountain community are The Gates. The image of perpetual suburban bliss, each street is lined with perfectly manicured homes protected by the massive iron gates, but a dark and delicious secret is buried just beneath the surface of this picturesque neighborhood. (ABC/STEVE DIETL)

This post contains Spoilers! You have been warned.

New ABC drama The Gates fleshes out to what might appear as an Eureka for supernatural beings or Desperate House Witches. It’s about Nick Mohohan, a cop who gives up his job in a major city to be the chief of police in a planned gated community. But there is more to the residents than meets the eye. There is a werewolf football linebacker (hello Teen Wolf), a vampire housewife desperate not to fit in and even two magical tea shops at war with each other. I foresee a busy 13 episodes for our dear chief of police as he tries to keep order in this supernatural mess.

Marisol Nichols (24, In Justice, Blind Justice) plays Nick’s wife, Sarah who relocates to the community looking for a fresh start not expecting anything out of the ordinary. She is the ‘girl next door’ type, who grew up into a real beauty. Born and raised on the south side of Chicago. She is a survivor who’s been through a lot. Chief of Police Nick Monohan is played by Frank Grillo (Blind Justice, Prison Break). He grew up in the same area as his wife and is driven by a fierce commitment to justice. Is it only I that see the resemblance to sheriff Carter in Eureka? I love that show and it might be wishful thinking seeing this as some kind of supernatural Eureka?

I also imagine his family and kids having trouble fitting in at first. Travis Caldwell (Lately from Parenthood) play their 15 year old son Charlie, who is very cute in an offbeat way. Usually the smartest kid in the room, but not from a neighborhood where that’s a good thing. He has yet to find his place in the world which is true for most teenagers.

He quickly falls for a local girl Andie Bates played by Skyler Samuels (most famous for playing the snob on shows such as That So Raven, Wizards of Waverly Place and Drake and Josh). I wonder what kind of supernatural she is? The casting says she Mixed race, exotic, 15. Seems human…at first. Even more intelligent than she is beautiful. Quick witted and unafraid of confrontation. Guys want her, girls want to be her. Has a dark secret… A normal American teenager landing in a supernatural community can have all kinds of wonderful and entertaining plot possibilities.

Andie’s boyfriend Brett Crezski is a star linebacker for the football team who also happens to be a werewolf played by Colton Haynes. He is not a dumb jock, though. He is genuinely smart. Usually highly successful in his love life too. Struggles with his anger occasionally, which has serious implications since he’s a werewolf. I am pretty sure there is a jocks versus Charlie senario coming up (see picture). James Preston is on board as Brett’s best-friend Lukas Ford, a surfer dude who likewise is a werewolf.

We also have some interesting drama with the sexy beautiful proprietors of the towns two competing exotic-slash-magical tea shops. Peg Mueller is played by Victoria Platt (she is known for Guiding Light, but she also played a uncredited brothel madam in the soon to be premiered supernatural western Jonah Hex) is the owner of the original shop but now her less-than-scrupulous pupil Devon played by Chandra West (She recently played Maggie Vega on my favorite non SciFi show Castle) sets up her own shop across the street. Devon is a witch and much more dangerous than she looks. A “Queen Bee” type. She will do anything and everything to gain power over those around her. She knows everyone in The Gates and as many of their secrets as she can acquire. She lures you in with her charm and empathetic ear. I think we have a villain here!

Other members of the cast include:

Luke Mably (The Prince and Me) as Dylan Radcliff the mysterious owner of a bio-tech company. Am I wrong if I sense a villain here? Did I mention he’s a vampire? He is extremely handsome and put together, late 30s. Even keeled with an exterior that’s hard to read even if you know him well. A brilliant and strategic mind. Beneath his cool front is a passionate and deeply emotional man. Would do anything to protect the life he’s built for his family at The Gates. Has a real soft spot for Claire even though her addictive personality continues to put their family at risk. Maybe not a villain then but a keeper of secrets. My photo of Luke is a bit old but I haven’t found any better new ones, only ones where he has beautiful girls draped on him.

His wife Claire is played by Rhona Mitra (SGU, Nip/Tuck, Boston Legal, The Practice) a vampire housewife not as keen on assimilating as her husband. I love her acting since The Practice. She is so hot. Here she will play stunning in a tasteful, suburban way which should be easy for her. She is deeply devoted to her husband and adopted daughter. The kind of woman who cleans the house, drives her daughter to school and makes cookies for the bake sale…all before Noon. Behind the perfect exterior though, she’s falling apart inside. Unhappy constantly subverting her Vampiric impulses, Claire struggles to stay “on the wagon”. Her addiction to hunting humans is a perpetual source of tension between her and her husband, Dylan.

Janina Gavankar (The L Word) plays Leigh Turner, a “sexy and cool” cop that works for Nick. According to a recent interview on desihits.com her character also have a dark secret, a good one. Maybe it has something to do with the immigrant feeling she channels in her role?

Justin Miles is on board as the other police assistant Marcus Jordan. Meet eager and energetic Deputy Marcus Jordan. His go-get-’em attitude and cheery disposition help Marcus to get along with nearly everyone he encounters in The Gates. Though he’s not necessarily the sharpest tool in the shed, Marcus makes up for it with his great work ethic. He’s especially excited to learn from big city cop Nick Monohan, who is the new Chief of Police at The Gates.

The pilot will air June 20 this summer will be directed by Terry McDonough (“Breaking Bad”). Grant Scharbo and Richard Hatem (@RichardHatem) co-wrote the pilot and are executive producing alongside Gina Matthews. Filming has begun in Louisiana. Robert Hewitt Wolfe (Andomeda, The 4400, The Dresden) is also on twitter @writergeekrhw.

Latest news I heard was that the actors had strict safety procedures to follow since they where using real wolves at the shoot and Colton Haynes had an outdoor nude scene they shoot in an ordinary neighborhood with a girl hanging out of a window to watch.

You can follow the cast on twitter #thegates or the cast members that tweet @janinaz, @ColtonLHaynes, @Travis_Caldwell and @OfficialSkyler (page not there any more). Now Marisol Nichols have also joined twitter @marisolnichols. Justin Miles joins the tweetverse with @justinbmiles. @andipowell joined May 3.

Time to move inside the Gates …