Originals

15 Shows like Vampire Diaries When You Miss Mystic Falls

By Dear Media | February 3, 2025

Supernatural dramas on TV have a special place in our hearts. With all of the jaw-dropping plot twists, super suspenseful cliffhangers, and drama-filled love stories they just have a way of pulling you in and never letting go. Not every supernatural TV series is the same, though some are light-hearted and romantic, and some are downright dark and intense.

And then there are those like “The Vampire Diaries” that combine everything we love and shove it into one binge-worthy series. It has supernatural elements, love, mystery, heartbreak it’s a fan favorite that people tend to revisit years and years later.

If you’re a TVD fan and craving more, we’ve found a ton of shows that capture that same vibe. They don’t star the iconic Damon or Stefan Salvatore (we know, we were heartbroken, too), but they’re 100% worth the watch. To all of “The Vampire Diaries” fans, this one’s for you!

15 Shows like Vampire Diaries When You Miss Mystic Falls

We’re hooked on all the dark romance, supernatural chaos, and small-town drama TVD serves up. Whether you’re a long-time fan or totally new to the supernatural scene, we’ve got you. We’ll take a little trip down memory lane to refresh your TVD knowledge and then drop some unbeatable shows like “The Vampire Diaries” to fill that vampire-shaped void. Dare we say that you may like some of these recommendations even more?!?

What Is Vampire Diaries About?

“The Vampire Diaries,” based on the book by L.J. Smith, is a TV series full of unexpected twists and turns. It follows the life of Elena Gilbert (played by the ICONIC Nina Dobrev), a seemingly normal high school student in the town of Mystic Falls. Wrapped up in grief over the death of her parents, she has no idea that she’s in the center of a world full of vampires, werewolves, and witches (oh my!).

On the flip side, two vampire brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore, return to town for their own agendas. Once they find out that Elena has an eerily similar resemblance to someone they once knew, they can’t help but want to know more. As the series unfolds, Elena’s relationship with both brothers evolves, expands, and becomes something she never expected. She falls in love with Stefan while Damon pushes his developing feelings aside until they’re tangled up in a love triangle that will take you back to the days of choosing which team you’re on (any Team Edward or Team Jacob fans here?).

The show is about much more than romance, though. It dives deep into action, danger, and dark family secrets that keep you on the edge of your seat. No matter what you’re into the series for, TVD has a little something for everyone. We’re sure you have plenty of core sleepover memories from binging this show with your BFFs back in the day, but what shows are going to give off that same energy???

What To Watch If You Like Vampire Diaries

The Originals

If you loved Klaus in “The Vampire Diaries” and can’t get enough of him, then you’ll love this spin-off series. The series follows the Mikaelsons, the first-ever family of vampires from the world of TVD. Set in New Orleans, it explores their lasting influence as they navigate family bonds, dark magic, and political power struggles. While it carries the same depth and intensity as TVD, it introduces a fresh cast of main characters.

Legacies

Another TVD spin-off because we love them all, “Legacies,” is about the new generation of the supernatural. It specifically follows the first-ever “Tribrid” in the TVD world, Hope Mikaelson, as she attends the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted. It’s got the same level of intriguing mystery that we look for in a supernatural series, with more of that emotionality and depth we want.

We get to see a handful of original TVD characters, some surprising cameos, and maybe even the introduction to a few of the OG character’s kids? Tune in to find out!

Teen Wolf

When “Teen Wolf” first came out, it took teenage girls by storm and not just because of the super hunky main characters, “Scott McCall” and “Styles Stilinski.” It has the same vibe as TVD and is full of action and romance. As a high school student, Scott gets bitten by a werewolf and is introduced to supernatural powers of his own. It’s 6 seasons of drama that will effortlessly pull you in.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Bringing you a late 90s throwback “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is the OG of supernatural teen drama. The show follows Buffy as she juggles typical teen struggles while also fighting to save the world from evil supernatural forces. It sprinkles in humor with exciting thrill, and of course, we love a series based on a female lead.

Shadowhunters

Based on the YA fantasy novel “The Mortal Instruments,” “Shadowhunters” introduces us to Clary Fray as she discovers that she’s not who she thought she was. Not just your average 18-year-old girl, she comes from a line of human-angel hybrids whose sole purpose is to hunt demons. Like TVD, Clary has a solid group of friends to help her navigate this new world. It’s full of self-discovery, fantasy, and powerful relationships.

Charmed

“Charmed” is about three sisters Prue, Piper, and Phoebe who try to protect the innocents of the world from supernatural enemies. Formally known as the “Charmed Ones,” we get to watch each sister discover their unique magical power and how they can save the world when they put their powers together.

One catch, though: nobody can know that they’re supernatural. It’s got all that tight-knit love and drama we need after a TVD binge-watch. And if that’s not enough, they even made a Charmed reboot in 2018 featuring a new cast with that same dynamic!

Supernatural

If you’re looking for a super long-running show, this iconic 2005 throwback has 15 seasons for you to take your time with. “Supernatural” gives us that same brotherly love vibe from TVD as we watch Sam and Dean travel the country to hunt for all things supernatural and paranormal. While it does have a lot of humor and light-hearted moments, this series also features apocalyptic battles and tug-on-your-heart-strings storylines.

The Witcher

Let’s be honest. We’ve all grown up a bit since TVD hit our screens. If you’re looking for something targeted for a more mature audience, “The Witcher” may be the perfect choice! It features a lot of violence, sexual scenes, and complex conversations but that’s what we’re here for, right? For older fans of The Vampire Diaries, you can still find that monster-hunting, mysterious, broody vibe in this series.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

“Sabrina the Teenage Witch” was a late 90s/early 00s TV icon. Now, we have another iconic series “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”. This show takes a darker spin on half-mortal half-witch Sabrina Spellman as she navigates both the “normal” and supernatural world. Like TVD, it’s full of tension, complex relationships, and intriguing storylines. If you liked Bonnie’s darker, witchier storyline in “The Vampire Diaries,” you’ll love this series.

True Blood

The award-winning show “True Blood” follows Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic waitress from a small town in Louisiana. This isn’t the only intriguing detail, though vampires in this town have recently just “come back out of the coffin” to live among humans. After Sookie falls in love with vampire Bill Compton, she has to figure out how to navigate a human-vampire relationship. Hmm… sound familiar?

Being Human

This series follows three twenty-something-year-old roommates who share one common issue: they’re supernatural. One ghost, one vampire, and one werewolf have to figure out how to live their supernatural lives while also dealing with average human struggles. Like TVD, “Being Human” dives into the drama of these friends trying to survive the chaos of living double lives.

The Magicians

If someone combined “The Vampire Diaries” with “Harry Potter,” it would be this series, “The Magicians.” This edgy show follows Quentin Coldwater and his crew as they find out that not only is magic real, but it’s way darker than they imagined. Similarly to TVD, it shows us an intimate look into relationships, betrayal, and supernatural drama.

Salem

We’re throwing it all the way back to 1692 Salem, Massachusetts. The main character, Mary Sibley, is the most powerful sorceress in all of Salem and secretly controls the witch trials to her advantage. That is, until her old flame comes back into the picture, threatening to destroy her empire and spill all of her deepest, darkest secrets.

“Salem” is gothic, features dark romance, and contains unexpected plot twists it’s everything we love about TVD with the main focus on witches, instead.

Haven

If you’re a crime junkie who loves a good supernatural series, “Haven” is the show for you. FBI agent Audrey Parker is sent to a small coastal town on assignment. What is that assignment, you may ask? A series of supernatural “troubles” causing mayhem in the community. What she didn’t expect to find was her deeper connection to the town and its mysterious, supernatural roots.

Through a whirlwind of mystery, romance, and supernatural vibes, “Haven” is a must-watch for TVD fans.

A Discovery of Witches

When Diana Bishop finds a hidden magical manuscript in an Oxford library, she’s pulled into a world full of magic, secrets, and a key to understanding the supernatural world. But what will she do with her magic when witches, vampires, and daemons are headed to war? “A Discovery of Witches” holds onto similar themes, storylines, and romantic drama tropes that viewers of TVD know and love.

With so many shows like Vampire Diaries to choose from, which one will you watch first?

With all of the drama, romance, and insane plot twists, we can’t get enough of a good supernatural series. We love rewatching “The Vampire Diaries”, but we also love finding some new shows to throw into the mix when we want to switch things up. Each of these shows takes the same vibe of TVD, and puts their own unique spin on it to keep you wanting more.

Check out the Dear Media blog for more series recs, as well as advice on anything from health and wellness to relationship advice. And, don’t forget to check out the DM shop for tons of must-haves! For instance, you need this cozy “Balanced” crew neck as you binge-watch all these iconic TV shows!

You didn’t think we were done with show recs, did you? For more shows similar to some of your other favorites, check out these posts: