Sins of the past! Fadzai and Sandile reckon with the life, death, and return of Alaric Saltzman.

Joining The Vampire Diaries halfway through its first season, Alaric comes to Mystic Falls in search of a vampire that killed his wife, but finds more than he bargained for in the supernatural goings-on of the town. He very quickly becomes a mainstay amongst the protagonists and, through his relationship with Jenna Sommers, eventually becomes a paternal presence for Elena and Jeremy Gilbert.

Ric leaves the show after three seasons - and a harrowing period consumed by a psychic manifestation of his darkest self, who then became enhanced Original vampire. He is brought back for the last three seasons, though, where he reclaims his life in starts and stops, but continues to be an integral part of the Mystic Falls crew.

(This episode focuses on Alaric in seasons 3B and 6, including his guest appearances in-between.)

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of alcoholism, assault and battery, child endangerment, depression, domestic abuse, familial abandonment, feticide (intent to cause death or great bodily harm to a pregnant woman or her unborn child), grief and loss, mass murder, mental coercion and manipulation, mental illness (and related stigma), serial killing, sexism and misogyny, sexual assault, sexual harrassment, sororicide, and suicide.

Questions, queries, or just to say hi!

E-mail: animalattackpod@gmail.com

Refs and Links: IWAA S1

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Podcast: It Was an Animal Attack

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In the fourteenth episode of the podcast, Fadzai and Sandile explore history and hunt down vampires with Alaric Saltzman.

Joining The Vampire Diaries halfway through its first season, Alaric comes to Mystic Falls in search of a vampire that killed his wife, but finds more than he bargained for in the supernatural goings-on of the town. He very quickly becomes a mainstay amongst the protagonists and, through his relationship with Jenna Sommers, eventually becomes a paternal presence for Elena and Jeremy Gilbert.

Ric leaves the show after three seasons - and a harrowing period consumed by a psychic manifestation of his darkest self, who then became enhanced Original vampire. He is brought back for the last three seasons, though, where he reclaims his life in starts and stops, but continues to be an integral part of the Mystic Falls crew.

(This episode focuses on Alaric in seasons 1, 2 and 3A.)

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of alcoholism, child endangerment, depression, familial abandonment, grief and loss, mental coercion and manipulation, sexual assault, and sexual harrassment.

Questions, queries, or just to say hi!

E-mail: animalattackpod@gmail.com

Refs and Links: IWAA S1

All our online stuff!

Podcast: It Was an Animal Attack

Twitter: @animattackpod

Tiktok: @animalattackpod

YouTube: @animalattackpod

The old college try! Sandile and Fadzai close out with Elena Gilbert's last two years onscreen.

The main character of The Vampire Diaries, Elena enters her junior year a few months after losing her parents, trying to reclaim her life. She meets and falls in love with Stefan Salvatore, the charming and mysterious new student, who turns out to be a vampire returned to Mystic Falls. When Stefan's brother, Damon, appears, and people start dying in strange ways in her town, Elena finds herself falling into a dangerous web of the supernatural.

Over the course of the series, she grapples with each new discovery - vampires, witches, werewolves - and how constant threat from ancient creatures changes her as she tries to keep herself and her loved ones safe. She also finds herself torn between her undying love for Stefan, and her undeniable attraction to Damon, all turned on its head when she unexpectedly dies and becomes a vampire herself. But she gets by with her friends, her wits, and her capacity for empathy and cunning in equal measure.

(This episode focuses on Elena in seasons 5 and 6.)

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of depression, infertility, medicalised torture, mental coercion and manipulation, racism, sexual assault, sexual harrassment, suicidal ideation, suicide, and vivisection.

Questions, queries, or just to say hi!

E-mail: animalattackpod@gmail.com

Refs and Links: IWAA S1

All our online stuff!

Podcast: It Was an Animal Attack

Twitter: @animattackpod

Tiktok: @animalattackpod

YouTube: @animalattackpod