The Vampire Diaries has captivated viewers because its inception in 2009, with new fans nonetheless discovering the show. Based on the book series of the exact same name by L. J. Smith, the supernatural show ran from 2009 to 2017 on The CW. It kept viewers hooked for eight seasons with enjoy triangles, epic fights, and unmatched plot twists. Nina Dobrev stars as Elena Gilbert, who falls in enjoy with vampire Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) but quickly finds herself in a planet of the supernatural, and her pals and household quickly adhere to.

There are a lot of highs and lows all through its eight season run, but even the wildest of episodes reels you in with loveable characters and duos you cannot get sufficient of. While the show did not adhere to the book series completely (as shows and films generally do not), it nonetheless accomplished iconic status. Fans took to IMDb to price the episodes and spoilers, there are a lot of season finales – it really is time to break down the episodes that The Vampire Diaries fans adored the most.

The Vampire Diaries

Release Date

September 10, 2009

Creator

Julie Plec, Kevin Williamson

Seasons

8

15 “I’m Thinking of You All the While” (Season 6, Episode 22)

IMDb Rating: 8.8/10

It was a season finale that left audiences asking yourself, exactly where do we go from right here? When Kai (Chris Wood) shows up to Jo (Jodi Lyn O’Keefe) and Alaric’s (Matthew Davis) wedding, wreaking havoc and destruction, Elena’s life is place in danger. Kai cast a sleeping spell on her, tying her life to Bonnie’s (Kat Graham) so that as lengthy as she is alive, Elena remains in a coma-like slumber. This episode set up Dobrev’s departure from the series.

Throughout the series, Bonnie is generally the one particular sacrificing her happiness and peace for the other supernatural beings of Mystic Falls. This time, Elena agrees to sacrifice becoming by their sides for various decades till Bonnie’s inevitable human death. Like any superior TVD episode, “I’m Thinking of You All the While” is filled with a quantity of tear-jerking goodbyes as the loyal fanbase says its farewell to Dobrev and Elena alongside her costars and character counterparts. – Ali Teske

14 “Rose” (Season 2, Episode 8)

IMDb Rating: 8.8/10

Episode seven of Season 2 was such a critical set-up for the trajectory of the remaining season. It was a complete-on ensemble episode that left audiences on a cliffhanger when Elena was kidnapped and Katherine (Nina Dobrev) taken down and left in the tomb. In one particular of the finest TVD episodes, Elena’s status as a human doppelgänger proves to be very useful to a pair of vampires, Rose (Lauren Cohan) and Trevor (Trent Ford), as they use her to settle a debt with an original vampire named Elijah (Daniel Gillies). Damon and Stefan track down Elena’s whereabouts and hatch a program to rescue her. The episode is jam-packed with action, enjoy, and loss, maintaining pace in a series that plays to the feelings of its viewers.

“Rose” is a pivotal episode to introduce audiences to the vampires of Katherine’s beginnings, a set of TVD villains that would modify the course of the series and eventual franchise. It’s an expository episode, but much more importantly, the episode exactly where Damon (Ian Somerhalder) reveals his correct feelings for Elena ahead of compelling her to overlook, a moment that would come complete circle in later seasons. – Ali Teske

13 “Klaus” (Season 2, Episode 19)

IMDb Rating: 8.8/10

It was ultimately time to place a face to the name of the most feared vampire of all time, Klaus (Joseph Morgan). So far, audiences had only observed Klaus’s consciousness in Alaric’s physique, but in this flashback retelling of exactly where Katherine’s history with Klaus started, the original vampire was correctly introduced. After resurrecting Elijah, Elena negotiates her personal deal with him to safe the security of her loved ones. Meanwhile, Damon and Stefan are performing all they can to hold Klaus parading about as Alaric away from Jenna (Sara Canning).

Up till the second season, Katherine was the reigning queen of fearsome vampires, but audiences quickly discovered there was a household of vampires that had her operating scared. Klaus is wickedly portrayed by Morgan and would go on to be a series favored in spite of generally becoming linked with the phrase “[he’ll] kill you and everyone you’ve ever met.” His origin story would be expanded upon in later episodes and seasons, but his physical introduction is incorporated in The Vampire Diaries‘ highest-rated episodes. – Ali Teske

12 “You Made a Choice to Be Good” (Season 8, Episode 11)

IMDb Rating: 8.9/10

With the episode title a callback to Season 1, Stefan’s humanity is far from present in this episode. When Cade (Wolé Parks) returns to Mystic Falls, he comes calling for Damon and Stefan to fulfill their finish of the bargain. He demands 100 evil strangers’ deaths from Damon or just one particular good quality death: Caroline. However, Stefan is on his personal errand obtaining been released by Cade. Meanwhile, Bonnie and Enzo (Michael Malarkey) travel to acquire a dose of the remedy, Elena’s blood, and invest one particular final adventure day as a vampire ahead of Enzo turns human.

While Season 8 wasn’t the finest season of The Vampire Diaries, the final collection of episodes nonetheless honored the series tradition of deaths you did not see coming, which includes Enzo’s. The writer’s space never ever let Bonnie stay in enjoy for incredibly lengthy ahead of killing off the romance. This episode pitted fans against the series hero who commonly got pass immediately after pass for his ripper behavior, but this time it was also difficult to forgive Stefan for killing Enzo. – Ali Teske

11 “Home” (Season 5, Episode 22)

IMDb Rating: 8.9/10

Series fans had been no strangers to shocking finale deaths, but this one particular undoubtedly sent them spiraling. In the season 5 finale, “Home,” the supernatural creatures of Mystic Falls take a stand against the Travelers who seek to exterminate them by extending the boundary spell to the edge of the town line. All the although the instability of The Other Side comes to a climax as a quantity of deaths are undone by the resurrection spell performed by Liv (Penelope Mitchell) and Luke (Chris Brochu).

The finest episodes of The Vampire Diaries generally contain heartbreaking moments elevated by masterful performances. This time it really is Damon who does not return immediately after missing the window of chance to pass by means of from The Other Side. His goodbye to Elena is devastating, the romance the series spent seasons developing hitting however an additional detrimental hurdle. She cannot see or hear him as he tells her she’s the greatest factor to come about to him in his time on Earth. There wasn’t a dry eye in the viewing audience for the duration of this finale. – Ali Teske

10 “Homecoming” (Season 3, Episode 9)

IMDb Rating: 8.9/10

This jam-packed episode does not give the viewers a second to breathe. With the backdrop of a homecoming dance, Elena, Damon, and the group set up a program to kill Klaus (Joseph Morgan) as soon as and for all. Klaus suggests to celebrate the death of his father, Mikael, but it is revealed that he is alive and operating with the other folks. Mikael stabs Elena, who is in fact Katherine, her vampire doppelgänger. Damon lunges for Klaus and is stopped by Stefan. Damon is furious but finds out it was to save his life. Stefan is released from his compulsion and threatens Klaus that if something else takes place he will never ever see his household once again.

“Homecoming” is a classic episode with secret alliances and plot twists. It thrives with the loyal connections in between the characters. However, it may well not discover itself any greater due to its similarities with “Masquerade,” an additional episode framed about a Lockwood mansion celebration with backstabbing and secret plans. One cannot assist but enjoy it, although Klaus Mikaelson generally brings the drama.

9 “As I Lay Dying” (Season 2, Episode 22)

IMDb Rating: 8.9/10

This season finale wraps up one particular of the finest seasons of TVD, with the slow construct of Klaus and the ritual. Elena tries to get by means of the events of the ritual, which includes her aunt’s death. Damon suffers from a werewolf bite and starts to drop his thoughts, hallucinating and suffering. Stefan and Alaric (Matt Davis) appear for a remedy, and Bonnie (Kat Graham) asks her witch ancestors for assist, attempting to save the day as soon as once again. They need to have Klaus’ blood, and Stefan tends to make a deal with Klaus that he will do something he desires for 10 years. Damon is cured and shares a kiss with Elena.

Bonnie also brings Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) back to life, and it ends with teasing repercussions as Jeremy sees the ghosts of his ex-girlfriends. A finale like this tends to make one particular wonder how viewers survived when they had to wait ages in between episodes and seasons, rather of the ‘continue watching’ button on streaming solutions. “As I Lay Dying” is an additional episode of fantastic character-driven plots, and promises an thrilling Season 3 with Stefan becoming forced back into his old methods.

8 “The Return” (Season 2, Episode 1)

IMDb Rating: 8.9/10

The Vampire Diaries does not save its drama and tension for mid-season and season finales. “The Return” sees Katherine Pierce back in town beneath mysterious situations that she refuses to reveal. It starts precisely as the Season 1 finale ended, with Katherine attacking John Gilbert. Stefan tends to make positive Jeremy hasn’t been turned into a vampire immediately after attempting to take his personal life. Caroline (Candice King) is in the hospital and is healed by Damon’s blood, with Damon on a road to redemption. Katherine proceeds to impersonate Elena and lead to some chaos. It ends with her killing Caroline, turning her into a vampire and declaring war on the Salvatore brothers.

This episode begins Season 2 off with a bang and if one particular appears away for a second, it will be quick to miss some thing. This adrenaline rush of a premiere raises the stakes and, by means of unexpected twists, shows that no one is protected. It also teases the starting of Tyler’s (Michael Trevino) storyline immediately after he is impacted by the Gilbert device, which only harms supernatural creatures. Furthermore, Dobrev playing Katherine Pierce is unbelievable from commence to finish. It is the starting of an iconic season, and surely one particular of the finest Season 2 has to give.

7 “The Reckoning” (Season 3, Episode 5)

IMDb Rating: 9./10

Klaus is back for revenge in “The Reckoning,” confronting Elena due to the fact she did not die in the ritual at the finish of Season 2. When Bonnie refuses to undo what she did to save Elena, Klaus attempts to turn Tyler into a hybrid, stating that he will die due to the fact Elena is nonetheless alive. Klaus offers Bonnie a 20-minute timer to repair it, otherwise, Stefan will harm Elena. Katherine and Damon use Jeremy to get in touch with his ghost ex, Anna and she reveals facts of a vampire that can kill Klaus. After all, it turns out that Elena’s blood is required, not her death. Tyler becomes a hybrid and Klaus steals much more of Elena’s blood to make much more hybrids.

This rapidly-paced episode adjustments the game for superior, with Stefan beneath Klaus’ influence and killing anybody that he is told to. The Vampire Diaries is never ever scared to do a 180 on a character, and it finds strength in that, adding a layer of unpredictability at every single turn. And with Klaus now becoming in a position to build vampire-werewolf hybrids, the scope of our supernatural understanding is altered and promises an thrilling season. Bonus points for Rebekah Mikaleson (Claire Holt), who does an wonderful job to her evil but complicated character.

6 “Masquerade” (Season 2, Episode 7)

IMDb Rating: 9./10

Katherine Pierce is immediately after the moonstone and will quit at absolutely nothing to get it. The group plots to kill her at a Lockwood mansion masquerade ball. Bonnie agrees to assist and puts a spell on a space in the mansion to trap her in. Alaric tries to hold Elena at house, but she sneaks out of the ball. The plot unfolds and Katherine is trapped, but when Damon and Stefan hurt Katherine, it hurts Elena also due to the fact of a spell. Bonnie finds the other witch, and they ally the spell is broken. Tyler accidentally kills somebody beneath Katherine’s compulsion and triggers his werewolf curse. Damon throws Katherine in the tomb for superior.

This iconic episode has also significantly going on to match into one particular entry it earns its 9. rating with twists, turns, and no breaks to exhale. Fans also enjoy it for the developments, which includes the commence of Tyler’s werewolf arc and much more doppelgänger lore. In typical style for the series, the rapidly-paced episode ends on a cliffhanger with Elena becoming kidnapped and Katherine teasing facts about Elena’s destiny.

5 “Graduation” (Season 4, Episode 23)

IMDb Rating: 9.1/10

This emotional episode is a challenging watch for these who miss deceased characters. Against the backdrop of the group’s graduation day, the veil in between the living and the dead has been dropped and ghosts roam Mystic Falls seeking for revenge or loved ones. Elena spends time with Jeremy, Alaric with Damon, and Lexi (Arielle Kebbel) with Stefan. The remedy for vampirism is thrown about, and it gets made use of for the duration of a face-off in between Katherine and Elena. When the veil is brought back up, Jeremy stays with the living, revealing that Bonnie’s spell to save him worked. Silas is revealed, and he appears a lot like Stefan.

There is undoubtedly also significantly going on in “Graduation Day,” but this series had a lot to reside up to in its season finales. It is a tangle of revenge plots, deaths and nearly-deaths, and enjoy confessions. Plus, there is much more doppelgänger lore and hints of items receiving even wilder in Season 5. The Vampire Diaries thrives with its effectively-believed-out historical lore, so it seldom disappoints. Fans did weep for Bonnie’s definitive crossover to the other side, but it may well not be the finish for her.

4 “The Sun Also Rises” (Season 2, Episode 21)

IMDb Rating: 9.1/10

The important Season 2 conflict rears its head in “The Sun Also Rises,” as Klaus completes his ritual, applying newly-turned Jenna (Sara Canning) as the vampire in spite of Stefan attempting to switch areas with her. Bonnie attacks Klaus, and they take an unconscious Elena away. Elijah (Daniel Gillies) tries to kill his brother, but Klaus tells him that he will not discover the rest of their household if he does, and he adjustments his thoughts. Elena wakes up human, thanks to Bonnie’s spell, but her father dies in her location. Damon reveals that he was bitten by Tyler when he was in werewolf type.

This is the episode that fans had been waiting for. All season lengthy, the curse of the sun and the moon followed the major characters by means of every single selection they produced. After an professional construct-up of Klaus as the villain, the ritual unfolded as chaotically as we all predicted. This epic but sad Vampire Diaries episode sees a couple of deaths, but the unlikely survival of Elena. This one particular gets your blood pumping like no other and it really is not even a finale, in spite of seeming like one particular.

3 “Founder’s Day” (Season 1, Episode 22)

IMDb Rating: 9.2/10

This one particular set the precedent for the series’ season finales, setting the bar higher. As the town gears up for Founders Day, members of the council plot to expose the vampires applying a device that offers out a higher-pitched noise, only heard by the supernatural. This takes place just in time ahead of the tomb vampires attack, and they are thrown into a burning basement. Stefan and Damon have to escape, with the assist of Bonnie. Newly revealed as Elena’s father, John talks to who he believes is Elena at house. She attacks him, and he figures out that it is Katherine Pierce. Jeremy attempts to take his personal life with vampire blood in his program.

This is one particular of the most memorable episodes for fans, as Katherine ultimately returns in an explosive TVD plot twist and cliffhanger. There are lots of twists in this series, but none hit rather like this one particular. “Hello John, goodbye John” will be ingrained into our brains for years to come. Leaving fans with that reveal and the possibility of Jeremy waking up as a vampire was cruel, but we hold coming back for much more. “Founders Day” deserves this spot.

2 “I Was Feeling Epic” (Season 8, Episode 16)

IMDb Rating: 9.3/10

In the series finale, all loose ends are tied and characters say their final goodbyes. Bonnie is dying and absolutely nothing will save her, but she believes she is prepared to go immediately after one particular final mission. Stefan and Damon face off with Katherine Pierce one particular final time, resulting in much more than one particular death. Stefan had one particular final moment with Elena. Caroline says goodbye to Stefan and focuses on her two young children. And immediately after seasons worth of a complicated enjoy triangle, Damon and Elena reside peacefully collectively on the other side.

This episode thrives on nostalgia and effectively wraps up a lengthy and bewildering show with complicated storylines. The Vampire Diaries is generally unpredictable, but this finale lets fans breathe, draws a line beneath favored characters, and lets them rest. Fans had been mainly content with how the show drew to its conclusion, although some wished for it to be a longer episode. For one particular final time, it squeezes so significantly into the episode’s length. That becoming mentioned, it was a best finish to a superb story and an fantastic Vampire Diaries finale.

1 “The Departed” (Season 3, Episode 22)

IMDb Rating: 9.4/10

After a stint in the hospital, Elena returns house and is looked immediately after by her pals. Damon and Stefan have Klaus someplace protected, and Elijah returns to bargain for his brother. When they get him back, Alaric stakes Klaus, which wipes out his bloodline. Stefan, Damon, Caroline, and Tyler wait to die. But it is revealed that Bonnie transferred Klaus into Tyler’s physique, saving them. Rebekah causes a car or truck accident, killing Alaric and harming Elena. She dies in the hospital with vampire blood in her program and starts her transition.

The series’ highest-rated episode, “The Departed,” does what fans have been expecting all along: Elena Gilbert is becoming a vampire. In however an additional jam-packed finale, this series leaves fans reeling about what comes subsequent. Another highlight that earns the best spot is the reveal that Damon met Elena 1st, as shown in a flashback, but he produced her overlook. Tissues are required for this one particular. The Vampire Diaries remains one particular of the most compelling shows of the 2010s.

Subsequent: The Best ‘Vampire Diaries’ Couples, Ranked