The BEST episodes of The Vampire Diaries season 5

Every episode of The Vampire Diaries season 5, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Vampire Diaries season 5!

The story of two vampire brothers obsessed with the same girl, who bears a striking resemblance to the beautiful but ruthless vampire they knew and loved in 1864.

Last Updated: 11/10/2024Network: The CWStatus: Ended
Home
star
8.05
1832 votes

#1 - Home

Season 5 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/15/2014

Damon's plan causes a huge explosion in Mystic Falls, and everyone is caught up in the confusion, leaving a trail of heroism, sacrifice, relief and despair.

Directors: Chris Grismer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Handle with Care
star
7.92
2138 votes

#2 - Handle with Care

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/7/2013

Damon and Elena are skeptical of Silas's new goal; Tessa realizes she was outsmarted by Silas; after discovering a new consequence of becoming human, Katherine decides she needs a new place to stay; Bonnie is impressed with Jeremy.

Directors: Jeffrey G. Hunt
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
I Know What You Did Last Summer
star
7.87
2433 votes

#3 - I Know What You Did Last Summer

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/3/2013

As the fifth season opens, Elena, after a passionate summer with Damon, heads to college nearby with Caroline as her roommate. Plus, a terrifying appearance by Silas.

Directors: Lance Anderson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Gone Girl
star
7.86
1875 votes

#4 - Gone Girl

Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/6/2014

Nadia recalls her centuries-long search for her mother. Stefan, Caroline and Matt come up with a desperate plan to save Elena's life. Damon baits Tyler into an ugly confrontation and seeks revenge against Dr. Wes. Bonnie learns a terrifying secret that threatens the lives of all her friends.

Directors: Lance Anderson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Monster's Ball
star
7.86
2281 votes

#5 - Monster's Ball

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/31/2013

Elena meets a sad and secretive student on campus. Elena and Damon attend the Whitmore Historical Ball dressed as Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. While there, Elena receives a disturbing message from Dr. Maxfield. Nadia reveals her surprising history to Katherine;. Silas demands that Damon commit an unthinkable act.

Directors: Kellie Cyrus
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Promised Land
star
7.84
1768 votes

#6 - Promised Land

Season 5 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/8/2014

Stefan and Elena become stranded in a remote location, after escaping from Markos, and he gets philosophical about her relationship with Damon. Damon sets a trap for Markos. Bonnie admits that she's been keeping the truth about the Other Side from everyone. Caroline witnesses an unthinkable act of violence by one of the Travelers.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
For Whom the Bell Tolls
star
7.84
2133 votes

#7 - For Whom the Bell Tolls

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/24/2013

Damon and Elena try to help Stefan through a confusing time, which ends up taking Elena on an emotional journey. Caroline makes an effort to know Jesse better.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
500 Years of Solitude
star
7.83
1960 votes

#8 - 500 Years of Solitude

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/23/2014

Katherine recalls the traumatic night in 1490 when she gave birth to a daughter who was immediately taken from her. Meanwhile, Nadia creates a frightening plan to protect her mother; and Caroline indulges in some scandalous behavior.

Directors: Chris Grismer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
No Exit
star
7.77
1795 votes

#9 - No Exit

Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/27/2014

Damon's behavior escalates from destructive to deadly. Stefan begins to regret their last conversation and tries to track Damon down and intervene. Dr. Wes enlists the Travelers to set a trap that will test Damon's friendship with Enzo; and a talk between Caroline and Stefan leads to a horrifying realization.

Writer: Brian Young
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Dead Man on Campus
star
7.76
1993 votes

#10 - Dead Man on Campus

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/21/2013

Elena and Caroline plan a big party at school, but their plans are interrupted when Jesse suddenly needs Caroline's help. Meanwhile, Damon makes a terrifying discovery about a secret society.

Directors: Rob Hardy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Rescue Me
star
7.76
1695 votes

#11 - Rescue Me

Season 5 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/27/2014

Bonnie has an unsettling encounter with Luke, and learns more about his family history. The Travelers' leader, Markos, arrives in Mystic Falls.

Directors: Leslie Libman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Cell
star
7.72
1961 votes

#12 - The Cell

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/5/2013

Caroline offers Stefan an unusual form of therapy. Meanwhile, Damon tells Elena about a terrible ordeal in his past that he has kept secret for decades, and she shares with him some disturbing information she recently learned about her family.

Directors: Chris Grismer
Watch Now:Apple TV
True Lies
star
7.71
2216 votes

#13 - True Lies

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/10/2013

A fellow Whitmore student named Jesse gives Elena some intriguing information about Professor Wes Maxfield. Damon asks for help finding Stefan.

Directors: Joshua Butler
Writer: Brian Young
Watch Now:Apple TV
Original Sin
star
7.71
2256 votes

#14 - Original Sin

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/17/2013

Elena and Katherine both dream that Stefan is in danger and convince Damon to help them find him. But their plans are thwarted by a mysterious woman who seems to know everything about Stefan's past and Damon's disturbing future.

Directors: Jesse Warn
Watch Now:Apple TV
Fifty Shades of Grayson
star
7.68
1871 votes

#15 - Fifty Shades of Grayson

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/12/2013

Damon is forced to deal with a part of his past he thought was gone forever when Dr. Wes unleashes a secret weapon to stop him from rescuing Elena. Elena learns about the dark history of Whitmore College. Katherine turns to Matt for help.

Directors: Kellie Cyrus
Watch Now:Apple TV
While You Were Sleeping
star
7.65
1759 votes

#16 - While You Were Sleeping

Season 5 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/20/2014

Damon tries to find the right way to make a disturbing confession to Elena. Caroline discovers a scary secret in Dr. Wes' files. Enzo claims to have a solution everyone is searching for. Sloan reveals new information on the importance of doppelgangers.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Total Eclipse of the Heart
star
7.65
1751 votes

#17 - Total Eclipse of the Heart

Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/6/2014

Caroline convinces Elena and Bonnie to attend Whitmore College's Bitter Ball for broken-hearted students. Bonnie meets a fellow student who appears to be dabbling in witchcraft. Tyler worries about Matt's relationship with Nadia. Damon and Enzo resort to violence to convince Bonnie and Jeremy to help them get revenge, but their plan takes a horrifying turn.

Directors: Darren Genet
Watch Now:Apple TV
Death and the Maiden
star
7.65
2041 votes

#18 - Death and the Maiden

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/14/2013

Dr. Wes gives Katherine some disturbing news. Jeremy and Bonnie share a glimmer of hope after talking with Amara. Silas fails to keep a promise which causes Damon to turn to Tessa for help with his new plan. Stefan makes a heartbreaking confession to Damon and Elena.

Directors: Leslie Libman
Watch Now:Apple TV
Resident Evil
star
7.61
1806 votes

#19 - Resident Evil

Season 5 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/17/2014

Stefan and Elena experience unsettling dreams of the life they might have had together. Bonnie has a disturbing encounter with Grams. Enzo searches for a woman he loved decades ago. Bonnie learns that Jeremy is working with Liv. Matt has a terrifying encounter with inhabitants of the Other Side.

Directors: Paul Wesley
Watch Now:Apple TV
What Lies Beneath
star
7.59
1681 votes

#20 - What Lies Beneath

Season 5 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/1/2014

Damon and Caroline suspect Stefan and Elena of keeping a secret while they hide from the travelers, unaware of the dead man out for revenge. Meanwhile Matt, Jeremy and Bonnie help Tyler get rid of Julian.

Directors: Joshua Butler
Watch Now:Apple TV
Man on Fire
star
7.56
1750 votes

#21 - Man on Fire

Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/24/2014

Enzo holds Elena, Stefan and Bonnie hostage to uncover the truth about the love of his life. Markos performs a ritual to undo witch's magic.

Watch Now:Apple TV
The Devil Inside
star
7.54
1739 votes

#22 - The Devil Inside

Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/30/2014

Damon tries to get back together with Elena, however, Katherine has a plan and attempts to take Elena's body permanently. Tyler is upset with Caroline and Matt is used by Katherine. Enzo finds Damon and they decide to become a team again.

Directors: Kellie Cyrus
Watch Now:Apple TV