The right season finale can pack an emotional punch, deliver a massive plot twist, or be the catalyst for a following explosive year. The Vampire Diaries ran for eight seasons, giving it several tries at a solid season finale and one grand conclusion. But, while some delivered beyond fans’ expectations, others could not hold up to what viewers knew the show was capable of. Season one set the bar with Katherine’s arrival. The following seasons needed to create a cliffhanger or moment just as epic, if not more, than that. But did every season succeed? While some season finales delivered final moments that were just as good, if not better, others struggled to keep up.
Some finale moments came from subpar seasons that never quite matched the stakes the series had been known to set up. Others came close, but the fallout had more significant effects for some more than others. Some season finales even meant saying goodbye to series regulars to which the audience had grown attached. The Vampire Diaries knew how to push its season to the limits for a massive season finale. However, while many seasons lived up to expectations, others could not help but fall flat.
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8 Season 7: “Gods And Monsters”
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As the first season without Elena Gilbert or Katherine Pierce, given Nina Dobrev’s exit from the show at the conclusion of season 6, it made sense that it took time for The Vampire Diaries to re-structure its first season without its original lead. However, by the time “Gods and Monsters” arrived, it seemed that the season’s strides had not exactly helped. “Gods And Monsters” is mainly remembered for separating Damon and Enzo from the rest of the group and teasing a far greater threat to come. “Gods And Monsters” was not the massive plot-twisting ending the show needed to prove that it was the same series in the aftermath of Elena’s magical coma.
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7 Season 5: “Home”
“Home” raises a massive question regarding Bonnie and Damon’s whereabouts. However, where the season finale sinks the most is a reasonably subpar villain. Coming off of the Mikaelson family leaving for New Orleans, the Travelers failed to be as exciting as the previous slew of Mystic Falls antagonists. Season five delivers in resurrecting several characters, whether it be the briefly dead Stefan, Elena, and Tyler or reviving Alaric after he had been dead for a while. While “Home” is a catalyst for the exciting events following Bonnie, Damon, and Kai in the Prison World, season five is mainly a devastating conclusion as everyone believes Bonnie and Damon are dead.
6 Season 4: “Graduation”
Finally moving on from high school gave everyone something to celebrate. “Graduation” brought out the horrors Kol had been scared of when he initially feared Silas. Silas rising is a massive moment in the finale, given its connection to Bonnie’s tragic death. While it is a devastating season-ender for Bonnie, her goal is accomplished by once again bringing Jeremy back from the dead. In addition, “Graduation” gives solid answers about the cure for vampirism ending up in Katherine’s system and Elena’s definitive answer to her love triangle with the Salvatore brothers. The season four finale also delivers a memorable moment between Caroline and Klaus.
5 Season 6: “I’m Thinking Of You All The While”
The Vampire Diaries gives Elena Gilbert a well-deserved goodbye in Nina Dobrev’s final episode as a series regular. “I’m Thinking Of You All The While” may be the most emotional season finale. Everyone must say goodbye to Elena indefinitely, believing she will not wake up until Bonnie dies. Elena delivers a moving goodbye to each of her friends, recalling some of their happiest or most memorable moments. Of course, saying goodbye to a series regular is difficult. Still, The Vampire Diaries demotes three in one episode, with Michael Trevino and Steve R. McQueen also stepping back from series regular positions. “I’m Thinking Of You All The While” also shows that there are actual stakes involved in Elena’s coma by going into a time jump that shows the devastation Mystic Falls has become.
4 Season 1: “Founder’s Day”
Compared to the massive season finales that occurred afterward, from resurrections and more, “Founder’s Day” is relatively small. For the most part, “Founder’s Day” relies on the small-town vibe Mystic Falls has created. However, it is also a massive catalyst for the events of season two. The big plot twist at the conclusion of season one finds Katherine Pierce impersonating Elena Gilbert, with the big reveal coming when Katherine cuts off John’s finger. But that is not the only significant event. Tyler’s reaction to the Gilbert device foreshadows his eventual transition into a werewolf. Meanwhile, the car accident that nearly kills Caroline results in Damon giving Caroline his blood at the beginning of season two. Katherine later kills Caroline with Damon’s blood in her system.
3 Season 2: “As I Lay Dying”
For the most part, “As I Lay Dying” proves how far Stefan is willing to go for Damon. Having been bitten by Tyler during Klaus’ ritual, things are not looking good for Damon. While Elena, Caroline, and Bonnie mostly try to deal with the aftermath of the ritual, Stefan and Bonnie’s discovery that Klaus could help Damon brings Stefan to ask Klaus for a way to heal a werewolf bite. Unfortunately, realizing that Klaus’ blood, as the Original Hybrid, can heal Damon means Stefan will not just receive the blood kindly. Instead, Klaus makes Stefan work for it, encouraging Stefan to drink human blood and agree to a decade-long bender beside Klaus in his search to turn werewolves into hybrids.
2 Season 3: “The Departed”
As much as Elena wanted to avoid it, her fate seemed inevitable. The Vampire Diaries concludes its third season by finally transitioning Elena into a vampire, just as Klaus had foreshadowed earlier in the season. “The Departed” has everyone on edge as Esther turning Alaric into an Original Vampire Hunter with a life tied to Elena means Alaric will live as long as Elena does. Still, in that time, the Mikaelsons must avoid him, or the entire vampire race will be eliminated. While everyone worries about protecting Klaus to ensure Caroline, Tyler, Stefan, and Damon do not die due to the sure line, Bonnie pulls off a surprising accomplishment, fearing that Alaric will eventually reach Klaus.
1 Season 8: “I Was Feeling Epic”
“I Was Feeling Epic” ensured to handle most of the loose ends of the series. Bonnie broke Elena’s magical coma, allowing them both to live simultaneously. Katherine returned as the final big bad. Stefan sacrificed himself for Mystic Falls and, in doing so, freed himself of all the guilt he wore on his sleeve. Caroline and Alaric opened the Salvatore School, a location that would go on to be vital in the final season of The Originals and be the central location of Legacies. Bonnie finally fully came into herself as a witch, deciding to travel the world. The series finale, “I Was Feeling Epic,” delivered on crafting an essential ending for many main characters, and their legacies lived on in the spin-offs.
