NGTV Guide: Thursday, September 15

The Vampire Diaries – 8/7c the CW – SEASON PREMIERE
“The Birthday” – On the morning of Elena’s 18th birthday, Caroline is busy planning a party, but Elena is focused on searching for any clues that might help her discover where Stefan is. Damon is also searching for Stefan, while trying to protect Elena and keep her from doing anything that would draw Klaus’ attention. Meanwhile, Klaus and Stefan are busy trailing a werewolf named Ray Sutton (guest star David Gallagher). Now working at the Mystic Grill along with Matt, Jeremy is struggling to understand why he keeps seeing the ghosts of Vicki and Anna since he was brought back to life by Bonnie’s magic. Meanwhile, Alaric does his best to watch over Elena and Jeremy, while dealing with his grief over Jenna’s death. Finally, Caroline and Tyler face a new and unexpected challenge.

Secret Circle – 9/8c the CW – SERIES PREMIERE
“Pilot” – Cassie Blake’s (Britt Robertson) world is turned upside down after her mother dies in a mysterious accident, forcing Cassie to move in with her loving grandmother Jane (Ashley Crow) in the small town of Chance Harbor, Washington. While trying to adjust to her new life, Cassie is quickly befriended by Diana Meade (Shelley Hennig), a sweet-natured classmate who offers to show her around and introduces her to mean-girl Faye (Phoebe Tonkin), her sidekick Melissa (Jessica Parker Kennedy) and Cassie’s next door neighbor Nick (Louis Hunter). Things get complicated when she meets Adam (Thomas Dekker), Diana’s boyfriend, with whom she feels an instant and powerful connection. Upon meeting one of her mother’s childhood friends, Dawn Chamberlain (Natasha Henstridge), the school principal and Faye’s mother, Cassie begins to wonder why her mother never spoke of her hometown. When strange and dangerous things begin to happen, Cassie’s new friends are forced to tell her their secret – they are all witches and her arrival will complete the Circle. However, the Circle has not been drawn together again by chance – Diana’s father, Charles Meade (Gale Harold) has plans of his own for the group.