One Tree Hill – “4:30 AM (Apparently They Were Traveling Abroad)” September 21, 2009

Season 7 Episode 1
Original US Air Date: 14th September, 2009
Directed By: Clark Mathis
Written By: Mark Schwahn
Starring: James Lafferty, Sophia Bush, Bethany Joy Galeotti, Austin Nichols, Robert Buckley, Shantel VanSanten, Jackson Brundage, Lee Norris, Antwon Tanner, Lisa Goldstein & Paul Johansson

After devouring the first 6 seasons of this amazing TV series, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the 7th!  That was until I learnt that Chad Michael Murray (Lucas) and Hilarie Burton (Peyton) would not be renewing their contracts.  How can you  have One Tree Hill without the Lucas/Peyton relationship saga we’ve come to know and love?  Is there even a Tree Hill without them?  The season 6 finale was the best series ending i’ve ever seen and to be honest, it would have been a great one to finish the series on (although I still would have been devastated!!) 

It was with great skepticism that I sat down to watch the first episode, but alas, it was everything the first 6 seasons were and more!  Set a year later than where it left off in season 6, the characters posses a level of maturity that totally extinguishes the whiney/pouty/my life sux feel sorry for me-ness that was exaserbated my Lucas and Peyton, bringing a refreshing sense of reality back into the show.  I can’t wait to see more! The two new main characters, Quinn (Haley’s sister) and Clayton (Nathan’s manager) seem promising and I wouldn’t be surprised if a romance ensues between the pair.  Here’s hoping our favourite Tree Hillians can make it through a whole season without being killed, maimed, or kidnapped by psycho nannies!

Favourite moment in the episode:
Mouth and Skills in the nude professing their love for each other…

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The Vampire Diaries – “Pilot” September 21, 2009

Season 1 Episode 1
Original US Air Date: 10th September, 2009
Directed By: Marcos Siega
Written By: Kevin Williamson & Julie Plec
Starring: Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder, Steven R. McQueen, Sara Canning & Katerina Graham

Based on the L. J. Smith novels of the same name, the TV adaptation of The Vampire Diaries has been on the top of my “to watch” list since I saw the add on Go! last month.  This is due mostly to the fact that for the past 6 years, I have been completely obsessed and in awe of the entire Vampire culture and am taking advantage of the recent surge in Vampire media availability due to a little thing called Twilight.  Unfortunately I haven’t read any of the Vampire Diary books as they aren’t available for sale in Australia and I haven’t gotten around to ordering a copy online, so this review is solely based on the first episode and nothing else.

 Let’s see, where can I begin?  The pilot episode did little to entice me into coming back for more.  The story line was a bit too familiar and the actors a bit too fake in their portrayal of the all American teen.  I found it extremely hard to believe that these “kids” were actually kids of school age, when the majority of them were sporting wrinkles and receeding hairlines.  A clear plot seems distant but hopefully it will become apparent over the next couple of episodes.  Although I wasn’t overly impressed I will of course keep watching as i’m sure all the other “twi-hards” out there will, and just pray that it gets even remotely better and fast!

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