Netflix

V-Wars trailer: Certainly more than The CW’s The Vampire Diaries

by Alexandria Ingham

It’s hard to see a vampire show with Ian Somerhalder without comparing it to The Vampire Diaries. V-Wars’ trailer is out, but this show is nothing like TVD.

When you see Ian Somerhalder in a vampire series, it’s hard not to think about The Vampire Diaries. After all, that’s where many fantasy genre fans would remember him from (although he was on LOST first!). The man known as Damon Salvatore is taking on a vastly different role in another vampire series, this time for Netflix. The V-Wars trailer is finally here, giving us a snapshot of what to expect. And it’s certainly very different to The Vampire Diaries.

What to expect in V-Wars

Let’s just start with the fact that the vampire virus is different. This is more like The Passage than The Vampire Diaries. In a way, it’s like shows such as iZombie, in the sense that it’s a virus that has spread. The undead has DNA that has been changed due to picking up a virus. And that virus is treated very much like HIV was back in the 80s when it was first released. The difference here is that there’s a war brewing between the changed and the unchanged, the vampires and the humans.

More: The Crown‘s cast change has worked perfectly for a darker period of British history

Somerhalder is Dr. Swann, and he’s called in to help understand the virus situation. Unfortunately, one of his friends is infected and that leads to his friend becoming a killing machine. The difference is that these vampires do have some way of controlling their urges. They’re still people, and they want rights. Unfortunately, that means blood has to be shed.

Swann is going to find himself in the middle of this war. Which side is he going to choose? Will he stick with his friends or is he going to continue working with those who want to eradicate the vampires they’re scared of? It doesn’t sound like the vampires even want a cure, which puts Swann at even more risk should he continue his journey to solve the problem.

Very different to The Vampire Diaries

Where The Vampire Diaries was a story about one girl falling for two vampire brothers, the V-Wars trailer makes it clear that this Netflix series is completely different. It’s darker, more focused on the fear of the unknown. There’s the focus on a growing war between the infected and the “healthy.”

We’ll certainly get more adult storylines throughout this series. With it being on Netflix, there’s the chance to delve deeper into what it really means to be a vampire, to give into those dark urges. Expect something more like Dracula than The Vampire Diaries. You’ll not see a hint of Damon Salvatore in Ian Somerhalder’s new character.

More: Netflix Originals coming in November 2019

What are you excited to see in V-Wars? What does the trailer tell you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

V-Wars debuts on Netflix on Dec. 5, 2019.