The CW announced today that it will air the first ten episodes from the second season of 'The Vampire Diaries' during a weeklong marathon beginning Dec. 13. Two episodes will air each night from 8PM to 10PM, so if you were hoping to peep some back episodes of 'One Tree Hill,' you're outta luck. But now you have the perfect opportunity to catch up on The CW's highest-rated series.

This move shows what an immense amount of faith the network has in 'The Vampire Diaries' -- and it's not unwarranted. No other show on television delivers so consistently every week. Never seen it before? Now's your chance to catch up on the second season. Read on for five reasons why you should tune in.

1. The pacing is impeccable. Writers Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec know exactly how much to share each week and how much to hold back, keeping us interested without being kept in the dark for too long. (Perhaps 'The Event' should take note?)

2. Everything else on TV will be repeats. Why not give this universally well-reviewed show a chance? There's a reason it's been praised in publications like Entertainment Weekly and the TV Guide.

3. Two episodes a night means cliffhangers are much less stressful. You might not appreciate this now, but your blood pressure will thank you once you get hooked (and you will).

4. Ian Somerhalder. One gaze into those evil baby blues and you're powerless to resist his devilish charm, even if his character, Damon, is a world-class d-bag.

5. Nina Dobrev times two. When casting the show, even Williamson and Plec didn't know what a revelation Dobrev would be as teenage human Elena and her evil vampire doppelganger, Katherine. She's created two distinct, nuanced characters -- all this from a veteran of Canadian teen soap 'Degrassi: The Next Generation.'

Will you take this opportunity to catch up on 'The Vampire Diaries'?

[Follow Jean on Twitter @hijean]