The Vampire Diaries: 5 Best Episodes Ranked

A cult classic TV show, a show that ignited the love for vampires, a show that is still talked about to this day – The Vampire Diaries. The CW drama provided eight seasons of incredible episodes that viewers wish to watch and revisit over and over again. The Vampire Diaries had an incredible run of 171 episodes before wrapping up in 2017. There were a number of those episodes that made the show the adolescent drama to beat. The Vampire Diaries constantly provided must-watch nightly entertainment.

The show says Damon (Ian Somerhalder), Stefan (Paul Wesley), Elena (Nina Dobrev), and Caroline (Candice King) dancing the night away at a Decade Dance. It also saw them avoiding impending death, or both at the same time. If you are looking to watch (or re-watch) the Vampire Diaries’ best episodes or the top episodes of the show, this is the list for you.

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1. “Masquerade” – Season 2, Episode 7

Any episode that features Katherine is worth watching in my opinion. While Nina Dobrev as Elena is great, her portrayal of Katherine just elevates the game. Kick-starting the Vampire Diaries’ best episodes list with this episode. It witnesses the protagonists of the show attending a masquerade ball. This served as the climax of the Katherine plot arc. An apparently ideal strategy to stop Katherine was devised by Stefan (Paul Wesley), Damon (Ian Somerhalder), Caroline (Candice King), and the other good guys. However, it turned out that Katherine already had backup plans for her backup plans. That meant she was prepared for almost every circumstance, which made for an exciting episode.

However, later on, it is shown that the witch that was helping Katherine turned on her and assisted in trapping Katherine in the tomb. While all this was going on, Tyler’s werewolf curse also got triggered all thanks to Katherine compelling Matt. This episode is packed with exciting surprises as well as provided a gratifying conclusion that Katherine is defeated. However, much to their relief, the episode ends with a preview of what may be coming next for the protagonists.

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2. “The Sun Also Rises” – Season 2, Episode 21

Season 2 was hands down the best season of The Vampire Diaries which is why it has two entries in this The Vampire Diaries best episodes list. We not only saw Nina Dobrev as Katherine at her finest in the season. The season also introduced Klaus (Joseph Morgan). Two of the best villains of the show all in one season. The second last episode of the season was nothing short of a rollercoaster, with Klaus performing the ritual to become a hybrid.

The sacrificial ceremony, which had been the focus of the entire season, lived up to the expectations. The erratic original hybrid, Klaus, killed out his three “goddesses,” Elena, Jenna, and Jules, one at a time. Once Klaus becomes the Hybrid and is at his weakest, Bonnie attempts to kill him with Elijah’s assistance. However, things take an unexpected turn.

The episode was a rare instance of the bad guy triumphing. It ended with the heartbreaking revelation that Tyler had bitten Damon (Ian Somerhalder). This meant that he has a werewolf bite on him. Additionally, Jenna’s devastating demise in the episode, which shattered our hearts, demonstrated that the show was not hesitant to take risks and go into unexpected, adventurous paths.

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3. “The Departed” – Season 3, Episode 22

If you are wondering what a jaw-dropping season finale looks like then this is the episode for you. This Vampire Diaries Best Episodes entry has exactly the ending that would make you jump out of your seat in shock. It could easily serve as the series finale too, that is how good it was. This was the episode that changed the entire path of the series. For a while, it seemed like the series was leading up to Elena becoming a vampire. The season 3 finale eventually saw it transpire.

Though the viewers had no idea that her dramatic demise occurred while she had vampire blood in her body. One of the most recognizable scenes from the show is the last shot of her emerging from death. Here, the season’s many plotlines came to a conclusion, including Klaus’ alleged demise, only for Bonnie to figure out how to save him. Everything was neatly wrapped up in “The Departed,” which also laid the ground for some fantastic new stories.

4. “Graduation” – Season 4, Episode 23

Another “epic” season finale entry in this list would be of the fourth season. Not only is it a great end to the season, but it is also a treat to watch for the fans of “Delena” (Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev as Damon and Elena). As well as the fans of “Klaroline” (Candice King and Joseph Morgan as Klaus and Caroline). The episode shows the primary cast ultimately receiving their high school diplomas and graduating in a heartwarming ceremony. However, there was much more at stake as the barrier between both the living and the Other Side, “the Veil”, had been weakened. This allowed the deceased to reemerge and return to Mystic Falls to settle past grudges.

In order to rescue Caroline and her companions, Klaus comes back. This leads to one of the greatest moments for fans of Klaroline where the famous Klaus dialogue “he’s your first love, I intend to be your last” emerged. In addition to this, since the sire tie had been severed, Elena confesses her feelings for Damon. This officially kicks off their relationship and puts an end to the love triangle plotline between Damon, Stefan, and Elena. However, One of the best twists in the entire series was at the very end of the episode where it is revealed that Stefan (Paul Wesley) is Silas’ doppelganger. Just with how everything unfolds in this season finale, it deserves to be on the Vampire Diaries best episodes list.

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5. “I Was Feeling Epic” – Season 8, Episode 16

The Vampire Diaries did start feeling a bit dragged out by the eighth season. However, the finale was the satisfying conclusion that the series needed. Even though we were sorry to watch The Vampire Diaries end, the finale episode was among the best episodes the series had ever produced. Exactly the reason why it is in this list of The Vampire Diaries best episodes. It featured tragic scenes like Stefan’s (Paul Wesley) passing soon after marrying Caroline (Candice King). As well as Katherine returning as the major antagonist. It also accomplished the delicate balancing act of wrapping up the primary plotlines for each character while also saying farewell in a number of heartbreaking ways.

Regardless of who survived or died in the end, “I Was Feeling Epic” praised where all these characters had come from and, more importantly, where they were all headed. The final scene, when everyone was joyously reunited in the afterlife, was the most moving. It is unusual for a long-running show to have a perfect last episode but The Vampire Diaries did it. They made what we can call an “epic” end to the show and saying goodbye to the cast consisting of Ian Somerhalder, Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, and Candice King.

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