As such, you can understand why Fallen would be a popular concept to bring to life on screen. It has all the ingredients for both a great adventure and a captivating storyline, one that has the power to whisk an audience out of the mundane and into the mystical without – if done right – even breaking a sweat.

Made for television in 2007 by ABC Family, Fallen tells the story of Aaron Corbett (played by Paul Wesley): a well-liked, talented teenage boy, sitting on the cusp of college applications, sporting success and a life beyond the familiar halls and ensuing dramas of high school. At home however, he is the once orphaned, now adopted son to two loving parents and the sole older sibling to their troubled, autistic little boy. But on the day of his eighteenth birthday, both worlds are turned on their heads, when he suddenly finds himself able to – amongst other things – hear and understand the thoughts of animals, heal creatures on the brink of death, as well as finding himself able to both comprehend and fluently speak any and every language. Understandably freaked out, Aaron seeks answers, only to find them in the most unlikely of places: namely, a mad street bum named Zeke (played by Tom Skerritt) who recognises him instantly as one of the Nephilim.

For those of you not versed in biblical history, here’s the basic 411: once upon a time, long before mankind existed, there was a war in heaven, during which an angel called Lucifer (played here by Bryan Cranston) was fought and beaten, along with all the other angels who followed him. The latter were called the Fallen, and subsequently had their wings clipped for their insubordination. As further punishment, they were all expelled from paradise; the Fallen, exiled to earth. However, in another crime against heaven, the Fallen entered into relationships with humans, creating a race known as the Nephilim: humans with the powers of an angel, but the soul of a man.

In heaven, a group of warriors called The Powers are banded together in order to hunt down these so-called abominations. However, over time they have become arrogant and overzealous, enough to warrant even others of their kind to assist in protecting the Nephilim rather than destroy them.

The spanner in the works? A prophecy: that one day a Nephilim will be born with the power to actually redeem the Fallen angels and return them to their place in heaven. And so it is that Aaron discovers from Zeke – himself one of the Fallen requiring redemption – that he is the fulfilment of that prophecy. The rest, as they say, is history.

Initially shot as a 4 part mini-series, Fallen marks somewhat of a milestone for Paul Wesley as an actor, in that it really was the first of his forays into ‘leading man’ territory. Granted, his stint as a slick high school jock (who also happens to be a werewolf) in the short-lived but popular TV series Wolf Lake gave him a chance to stand out as part of an ensemble cast, which he managed to do with aplomb. But it was in his role as Aaron Corbett that would really test his ability to not only headline a major TV production, but also to carry it off successfully in front of a much broader viewing audience.

Not an easy feat when you consider the calibre of the rest of the cast, with heavyweight Hollywood alum like Tom Skerritt (Cheers, The Grid, Brothers & Sisters and Picket Fences, the latter for which he won a Golden Globe) and Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in The Middle, which earned him both Golden Globe and Emmy nominations, and Breaking Bad, for which he has won the Emmy for Best Lead Actor 3 years running) sharing the screen. Such casting lent Fallen a certain acting gravitas, it’s true, but this would have meant nothing had Paul Wesley not been up to scratch. After all, aside from his acting, he did have all the ingredients to be appealing to a viewing audience: he was good looking, affable and genuinely charming. All the things that, arguably, most audiences generally hope a decent hero to be in one way or another. But as both time and Hollywood history would tell you, these qualities will only get you so far. If these charms are all an actor has to rely upon, it won’t take very long for an astute audience to get bored and switch off. Wesley however, proved more than up to the task of being both convincing and likeable in his portrayal of Aaron Corbett, showing himself to be capable of carrying both the core plot of a serious mini series, as well as the viewers interest over a number of episodes.

For those, then, who have followed Paul Wesley’s acting career, it will come as no surprise then that he has proved so successful in his current role as Stefan Salvatore, on the CW’s breakout smash TV series of 2010, The Vampire Diaries. He has shown that he has the acting chops to match it with even the most celebrated and experienced actors; and more than that, to match them well.

Granted, Fallen is no True Blood, or Twilight (groan at the comparison if you will, but it’s there). But for the purpose for which it was created, this series proved then – and continues to prove now – to be a decently made, generally satisfying piece of television: something that, even with the biggest budget possible and all the heavyweight studio backing in the world, sometimes eludes even the most heavy-duty and celebrated series at times, these days. For what it is, Fallen ticks all the boxes for a fun, well shot, decently crafted series, and was an excellent indicator of the promise Paul Wesley has come, now, to fulfil so impressively as the resident brooding hero in the action-packed, fictional little corner of Georgia known as Mystic Falls.

Star Rating: 4/5

I want to win Fallen on Blu Ray starring Paul Wesley, see info here and follow @paulwesleyfans http://bit.ly/c4YTXm RT Please!

Hey everyone

Just wanted to give you guys a heads up on an exciting giveaway we’ll be doing here on PaulWesleyFans.com in just a few days!

As you guys might have seen announced on our site earlier this month, Image Entertainment will be releasing the epic fantasy series, “Fallen: The Complete 3-Part Movie Event” on Blu-ray™ on November 2nd, in which The Wes done angelled himself up to play one of the nephilim – a half human, half angel who’s fallen from grace – who, aside from many of the issues we all face/faced as teenagers, also just happens to be caught up in a battle between good and evil upon which the fate of the universe hangs (isn’t it always the way? Seriously. Kids these days.).

In celebration of the release, PaulWesleyFans.com will be GIVING AWAY a copy of Fallen to one lucky P-Dubber, this Monday 1st November.

To enter? Simply follow our fearless leader Sharie on Twitter  – @paulwesleyfans – for your chance to win the man himself.

In High Definition.

HD ABS AND FOREHEAD BROODING, people!! So get cracking (and following) for your chance to take The Wes home. DVD-illy speaking.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This competition is open only to Canada & US residents (sorry international fans!) as the DVD is in Region 1 format. Keep an eye out though – there’s more competitions in the works!

And if we’re honest, there are few people hotter than the Vampire Diaries cast (and by “Vampire Diaries cast” we refer mostly to Paul, who – chances are, if you’re reading this article – you are head over Jimmy Choo’s in adorable with). SO, this is just a lil reminder to the residents of that hot town aka Miami, that Ian and The Dubster will be appearing at Hot Topic on Saturday 23rd October.

Sadly the event is sold out, but for those who HAVE snagged themselves a golden ticket, here’s a refresher of the details for the day.

Date/Time: Saturday, October 23, at 4:00 p.m.
Location: Shops at Sunset, 5701 Sunset Drive, Miami, FL 33143
Cast: Series stars Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder
Music: Live performance by Sounds Under Radio
For access to event: T-shirts can be purchased beginning October 8th (SOLD OUT)

Head over to the Hot Topic – Events page for more information.

Also, the gorgeous and fabulous Ms. Kayla (who you all need to go follow on twitter here -> @itskaylaaa26 like right now cause she’s awesome) will be tweeting live from the event in Miami, AND the lovely girls here from PaulWesleyFans.com will be covering it live via…well, CoverItLive! which you can take part in here – we’d love to hear from you there, too!

Also if you are attending the event (TRYING…NOT…TO…BE…JEALOUS…deep breath…and moving on ), we would LOVE to hear from you! Pics, experiences, encounters – anything!

As usual, best person to send stuff to would be our lovely web hostess with the mostess Sharie, who you can contact at sharie@paulwesleyfans.com.

To all those going, have an amazing time!

It’s not a big article, but Paul has a bit to say when giving his thoughts as to how he thinks vampires have managed to become the reigning supernatural tour de force in everything from books and magazines to film and television.

Both he and Ian speak about the influence that Twilight has had on the vampire phenomenon, while Nina gives her thoughts on what it is that makes such a dangerous creature so appealing.

In any case, it’s a quick but good read, so head on over here to check out the full article.

Also, Aussie fans, dont forget: The Vampire Diaries airs Mondays @ 8.30pm on GO!

Image Source

But after stumbling over this cool little article let us all breathe a collective sigh of relief that our dear Paul isn’t quite in *complete* control of the Stefan look these days.

The quirky, sharp and lovely Lauren Metz over at Just So You Know has provided us with a fun little interview Paul did recently regarding how he thinks the Stefan style might alter this season, considering he’s now apparently not just about being broody, perfect and serious.

And perfect. Did I mention perfect?

Anyhoo, as we’ve already seen, the Stefan of Season 2 appears to have been eating Badass Flakes for breakfast since we last saw him, and is a little more chillaxed than he used to be.

About this, Paul says he “welcomed the darkness last season,” but that he’s “looking forward to Stefan lightening up on occasion.”

Can we just say, you ain’t the only one. We have been *loving* our new, comic, sharp, Ninja-Turtle-name-dropping Stefan, but how exactly does Paul think that could affect his character’s look?

“He hasn’t always dressed like this or worn his hair like this, and he won’t necessarily continue to…But who knows, maybe he’ll get a buzz cut or a Mohawk. A Mohawk would be cool… I’m not sure it’d be Stefan, but it’d be cool.”

Well, not sure about you, but I for one am hoping my favourite Salvatore maintains his current look a liiiiittle while longer (sure though I am that he would pull it off with aplomb as he does just about every look he takes on ) Although that said, he *could* use a few more wife beaters in his current wardrobe…

For the rest of the article, head over here.

Til next time, P-Dubbers

So, in order that nobody misses out on seeing our favourite Salvatore back in action, here’s a reminder of the premiere dates for the US, Canada and Australia, and the websites you can go to, to find out more info on The Vampire Diaries as shown there. As we get more info about other countries we’ll be sure and let you know!

• USA
Premiere Date: 9 September, 2010
Network: THE CW
Time: 9/8c

• CANADA**Updated**
Premiere Date: 9 September, 2010
Network: /A\
Time: 8pm

**UPDATE**
Those cheeky Canucks, eh? Fear not. The Vampire Diaries will be REPEATED on MuchMusic @ 9pm Friday, Sept 10. The day AFTER it’s actual Canadian premiere on /A\ (click here for /A\‘s  full Fall 2010 Primetime Schedule). See above for updated details.

• AUSTRALIA
Premiere Date: 13 September, 2010
Network: GO!
Time: 8.30pm

So strap in boys and girls. Season Two is coming, and we’re in for One. Wild. Ride.

Are you suffering from a severe case of Stefan Starvation? Has this TVD hiatus practically given you a hernia? Are you flailing AND bereft without your favourite fang-packin’ brooding brother?

You ARE??

Well…that’s terrible. You should probably see someone about that.

OR

You could sit back, TRY to relax, and enjoy him in the brand-spankin’ new promo for Season 2 of The Vampire Diaries!!

All your favourite dysfunctional families are back:

• The Salvatores: Stefan ate Giuseppe who shot Damon AND Stefan who’s in love with a girl who Damon is also in love with but who is ACTUALLY their vampire mommy. EAT THAT, BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL.
• The Gilberts: Jenna the honey plays mommy to Jeremy the emo who’s issues have lots of  little baby issues because Elena who actually does have an evil twin she can blame stuff on didn’t tell him that ooh she dates vampires who just happened to have hornswaggled away his Vicki the trampy vampy memories.
• The Lockwoods: If you can call your kid with a dog whistle, I’d say this has progressed further than any help even Dr Phil can offer, don’t you?

There’s Matt (love him), Caroline (hope she wakes up), Alaric (insert a COHERRANT SENTENCE <here>), Bonnie (don’ make her go all Avada Kedavra on yo’ Vampire ass).

And, of course, She Who Will Not Be Named.

Granted, glimpes of The Wes are brief, but (as always ) totally worth the watch.

Credit for the vid goes to It’sBadassStew and for the heads up to the lovely peeps at Vampire-Diaries.net

Enjoy boys and girls – only a couple more weeks til Our Boy is Back

Beth interviews Kevin, Matt Davis, Ian & Michael Trevino. Total abs contained in this video: 102, 345.

Beth interviews Steven McQueen, Nina, Paul & Julie. Total abs contained in this video: 12, 456, 724…and  a half. At the time of filming. Chances are this number has now more than doubled.

IMAGE CREDIT: aceshowbiz.com

Paul. I imagine because he has a MILLION OF THEM, but I’m just guessing here

Thanks to the awesome folks over at Buzz Sugar we have a short but excellent run down of some of the main issues addressed by the panel, which included the majority of the cast, bar a conspicuously absent Candice Accola (pleeeese let them bring her back – killing her off is on par with killing off Bambi’s mum, and we all know how much THAT traumatised a generation of Disney fans). Paul made it very clear whose team Stefan is barracking for,  sporting a handwritten Team Elena on his own hand, which complimented Ian’s Team Katherine one very nicely.

According to Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson, Stefan will have a good ol’ showdown with Princess Fangface (aka Katherine) in the very first ep, something this is sure to tease viewers on the back of their additional teasers that

1. the Damon-Elena-Stefan love triangle is about to reach a WHOLE new layer of twisted geometry and become a love square.
2. Katherine came back to Mystic Falls not for the devilishly twisted and charming but lovesick Damon, but for Stefan < insert major excitement HERE >

Kevin also joked that they do also spend a considerable amount of time trying to decide who’ll be the next Mr Mystic Falls to get his gear off (cause lets face it, there’s like, a banquet of them). Will it be Damon? Will it be Stefan? All I’m saying it it better be an AND in that sentence rather than an OR.

So hang on to your hats, boys and girls. It appears we’re in for one freaky trip come September when the awesomeness that is The Vampire Diaries appears once again to wreak havoc on our TV screens.

• Bruce Springsteen – because he’s BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN. Obviously.
• The Apocalypse
• A Hub Convention
• A fireman, ESPECIALLY if my house is on fire. Or if it’s not – don’t mind.
• Jake Pavelka, purely for the sheer unadulterated pleasure of doing to him what I do to my alarm every Saturday morning and punching him, preferably right in the snooze button, til he shuts up.

Included is this list, of course, right at the top, is if one Mr Paul Wesley – The Wes, The Dub, and the man to whom we will be singing “Happy Birthday, Mr PWesident” a little later this month – and a posse of Vampire Diaries stars should ever happen to be in my home town.

It was with great joy (and a pair of very bleary eyes, lol) then, that I found myself sitting on an early train into the city for the 2010 Sydney Vampire Diaries Oz Con this last Saturday, run by the fantastic people at Hub Productions, about to enjoy just such an occasion.

Once I got there, despite being extremely early (and absolutely bloody cold – may not have been snowing but it felt like it should have been) the excited mob was already waiting for his arrival (not to mention that of The Brev, The Trev and Captain Smoulder but this is after all, a PDub blog . We all got ushered in around nine and took our seats in the Auditorium.

Firstly we viewed the first of a stack of the best video entries – which were absolutely brilliant, btw – for the Hub Productions competition. The competition, as I’m sure a lot of you know cause so many of you entered, was to create an ‘entry’ video for your choice of the guests, that would be played as they entered the auditorium, and then later given to them as a gift.

For some reason, an awful lot of Paul’s entries focussed on that one…oh, what was it…oh that’s right, that super hot wife-beater-and-chin-ups scene of his (you know, that clip you’ve been YOU-TUBING to death since the season ended ).

Can’t for the life of me imagine why.

In any case, so, so clever. I had newfound respect for the creativity of TVD fans after viewing all of them by the end of the day, as did Ian, Nina, Michael and Paul, who were absolutely stoked to see what people had created.

For the record, the winner of Paul’s in Sydney absolutely brought the house down – by far the funniest of the day, and brilliantly put together.

First big thing of the day, though, was the photo ops.

<insert butterflies the size of Lear jets HERE>

It was a madhouse. I’ve had my fair share of experience with screaming fans at conventions, so you would have thought I’d have some idea of the effect two vampires, a werewolf and a little lady would have on thirteen year old fan girls.

As it turns out, not so much.

Seriously. I heard less screaming in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

I met Ian first (and didn’t pass out from sheer joy because he was a complete and utter sweetheart) then Nina (tiny, cheeky and plum beautiful in every way).

And then there he was.

All six foot wicked huggable something of PDubness with a smile that lit up the room. There are things you tell yourself and your inner fan-girl (face it, we all have one) to prepare for meeting the object of you affection – or in my case, also the object of the fan-site that I work on – in the hope that you don’t drop in a dead faint at their feet (they only take one photo, so you can’t waste it, you know).

My inner monologue went a little something like this.

Ok.

Stop worrying.

He’s just a person.

*looks over – Paul surrounded by rampant hugaholic fan girls. Feeling twinge of smugness that I’m 28 and they’re 15. Still, nervous.*

Yep. Just a really, really, really, super hot person.

Oh crap.

Okay. Just don’t stand on his toes.

And don’t babble. You babble when you’re nervous.

Short words, Erin. Short words.

Okay.

Here we go.

Hi. We say hi. Normal people say things like ‘hi’. Good start.

Far OUT, he smells good.

Okay…arm…shoulder…around mine….me…hug-

I just discovered I hugged him, as in actual arm around the waist – don’t even remember doing it! I’m hugging the…abs.

Good lord, there’s a million of them.

Flash.

Frak it, I think he just squeezed my shoulder again for good measure.

Okay.

Yep.

Let go.

Walk away. Yuh huh. Still with the normal personness, he can still see you.

Walk to the door.

Aaaaaaandwe’redone.

Granted I only got a few seconds with him and to say hi, but I can confirm all reports: he has more abs than Taylor Lautner by half and is a genuinely, sweet lovely guy.

And oh. THAT VOICE. It’s like butter melting on toast. OY.

The rest of the morning was fantastic too, of course.

Mike Trevino was the first guest up and he was wonderful. Like many others Aussie fans who attended either Sydney or Melbourne will agree I think, he was a fantastic addition to the line-up. He also told THE best on-set story of anybody, and according to all reports he smells better than hot chocolate, baking bread and roasted coffee put together.

In short, it was hard – whether you were a staunch Team Stefan of Team Damon-ite – to walk away without even just a *little* crush in the Team Tyler direction.

As I…maybe…sort of…did.

Nina was next up, and likewise she is just a gem.

A gem with AWESOME taste in shoes.

She spoke a lot about what her favourite things were about working on the show, how she got into acting and her new foray into fashion with Aussie company KRMA. If you ever get the chance to meet her, do it – she is a really stunning woman with a lot of class and charm.

She’s also the tiniest person I’ve ever met – it was that moment I realised how much watching TVD in plasma, HD and on a giant TV had warped my perception of what normal people really look like.

I mean, for all my love of Alexander Skarsgard’s height as the luscious Eric Northman in True Blood…well, he’s probably really a midget, isn’t he.

Sorry. Babbling again.

Next was the man himself.

I’m not kidding when I say that the world is in serious danger if Paul Wesley ever discovers just how charming he really is. Cause for my part, within about 10 seconds of him opening his mouth to speak, I swear he could have asked me to go out and carjack a police wagon and I’d’ve done it.

When he walked inside, the place went berserk and rightly freakin’ so. As he leaped up on (actually perhaps ‘launched himself at’ is a better description) the stage in his grey hoodie, dark jacket and dark slacks, I think I literally mouthed the words ‘I can die now’.

I don’t usually gush, but girls? He is every bit as lovely as you think he is to the power of TEN.

The fans asked some great questions (a couple slightly stalkerish but they JUST stayed within the etiquette boundary, lol), and Paul was very open and funny about life on the set and what he loved about working on the show. He spoke briefly about the Edward Cullen comparisons (please don’t bag EC out either here, for the record – I’m a big fan of him too, ) and at length about his audition process in getting the part of Stefan. I’m still trying to see him as Damon – who he originally read for – but somehow I think he was born to play Stefan, don’t you? He looks like a Stefan. But, best part was the shirt he created for charity which they auctioned off at the end of his talk. Considering it had been ON him, had I LOVE MY ABS written across the front and the dorkiest drawings ever done by a celebrity hand (he’d be a disastrous Pictionary player, I think), I’m thinking it was WELL worth the 1000 bucks donated to charity for it.

He was amazing, and I was SO glad I got to hear him speak.

As I was to hear Ian, who rounded out the day with a Q & A session that will take a lot to be topped for me by any future visiting TV stars. He was an utter and complete darling in the truest sense of the world and if they were anything like me, I’m thinking there were more than a few Team Stefan girls wondering if there really was anything wrong about adoring both of the Salvatore brothers. At once.

OY. The UNIVERSE would implode if we all did that, I think.

He talked a lot about what he loved most about playing Damon, and where he’d like to see him go as a character over the next season, as well as stated in no uncertain terms that he thinks when Damon discovers the girl he kissed was really Katherine and not Elena, He. Will. Be. Pissed. Stay tuned boys and girls, cause I think it is going to be one riotous ride with our beloved Salvatore brothers in Season 2 with the reappearance of evil little Princess Fangface.

Ian truly was a joy to listen too, and his talk was a great way to end the day.

By the time it was all over, I think we all of us left a great convention knowing every cent spent to get there was worth it.

If you’re back in the US and considering going to Comic Con to see them, seriously: do it. They are really lovely people and hearing them talk will give you a new appreciation of everything that goes into making The Vampire Diaries one of the best and brightest offerings on TV. They work so hard but I know you’ll agree with me when I say the results speak for themselves.

I had the best time, and know the SECOND Hub Productions announce they’re having another TVD con, I’m there with bells on.

Here’s cheers, lovelies – until Erin’s next convention adventure xo

ps. Photos to come. Here’s hoping I take them better than Paul draws.