The WORST episodes of The Vampire Diaries

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

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
Pilot
star
7.32
5072 votes

#1 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/10/2009

Reeling from the death of her parents, 17-year-old Elena becomes interested in a handsome new student named Stefan, who's hiding a dark secret.

Directors: Marcos Siega
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Night of the Comet
star
7.41
3854 votes

#2 - The Night of the Comet

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/17/2009

Elena goes to the Salvatore house to talk to Stefan, but finds Damon there instead, who reveals surprising information about Stefan's past. Vicki begins to remember the attack.

Directors: Marcos Siega
Watch Now:Apple TV
Into the Wild
star
7.50
2523 votes

#3 - Into the Wild

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/7/2013

Shane leads an expedition to a desolate island, where he believes the secret of the cure lies hidden. Rebekah and Elena continue their bitter rivalry.

Watch Now:Apple TV
1912
star
7.51
3151 votes

#4 - 1912

Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/15/2012

The present-day murders in Mystic Falls remind Damon of a similar crime spree a century earlier. Flashing back to 1912, Damon recalls a beautiful vampire.

Directors: John Behring
Watch Now:Apple TV
Things We Lost in the Fire
star
7.52
1447 votes

#5 - Things We Lost in the Fire

Season 7 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/5/2016

Caroline throws a baby shower for Alaric's twins, and the Salvatore brothers face the hallucinations caused by the Phoenix Stone.

Directors: Paul Wesley
Watch Now:Apple TV
Friday Night Bites
star
7.53
3478 votes

#6 - Friday Night Bites

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/24/2009

Elena invites Stefan and Bonnie to dinner, hoping that the two will bond, but the evening is disrupted by the unexpected and unwelcome arrival of Damon and Caroline.

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

#7 - 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
Age of Innocence
star
7.54
1461 votes

#8 - Age of Innocence

Season 7 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/22/2015

In the aftermath of a clever plan orchestrated by Lily, Damon sets off on a road trip with Bonnie and Alaric in search of leverage they can use against his mother. Meanwhile, Caroline, who is being held hostage by the Heretics, learns some shocking information about Valerie’s past, while Stefan learns a few unexpected details about his own past from Lily. Finally, Alaric turns to Bonnie for her help after coming clean about a secret he’s been keeping.

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

#9 - 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
Somebody That I Used to Know
star
7.57
1596 votes

#10 - Somebody That I Used to Know

Season 7 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/22/2016

When Enzo’s efforts to protect Bonnie end up putting her life in jeopardy, they learn that Rayna may hold the key to her survival. With time running out and Rayna at the reins, Enzo and Bonnie reluctantly team up with Damon, who is desperate to save Bonnie’s life and to repair their broken friendship. Elsewhere, when Stefan travels to Dallas and comes face to face with Alaric, tensions escalate and they are forced to confront the fallout from Stefan’s absence in Caroline’s life. Finally, Enzo learns The Armory’s true motives behind their search for Bonnie.

Directors: Chris Grismer
Watch Now:Apple TV
Postcards from the Edge
star
7.59
1394 votes

#11 - Postcards from the Edge

Season 7 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/12/2016

Stefan uncovers the reason behind Damon's dark descent following his experience in the Phoenix stone.

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

#12 - 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
We Have History Together
star
7.59
1907 votes

#13 - We Have History Together

Season 8 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/13/2017

Stefan and Damon attend an anger management support group looking for their next victim. Sybil is still alive and teaching a group of high school students who she’ll later use as leverage to get Caroline to locate a historical artifact that can be used against her. Meanwhile, Stefan and Damon continue their commitment to Cade as they test the morals of a young doctor, Tara.

Directors: Ian Somerhalder
Watch Now:Apple TV
One Way or Another
star
7.60
1629 votes

#14 - One Way or Another

Season 7 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/15/2016

Determined to capture an escaped vampire named Ambrose, who may be the key to getting Stefan back safely, Damon heads to Memphis with Alaric in tow. However, reluctant to step back into his former vampire hunting ways, Alaric makes his unwillingness to participate clear, while revealing the truth about the past three Damon-less years of his life. Meanwhile, in the psych ward, Bonnie meets a young woman named Virginia, who provides her with some valuable information about why The Armory may be after her. Finally, Enzo takes matters into his own hands when he learns some devastating news from Rayna.

Watch Now:Apple TV
You're Undead to Me
star
7.60
3297 votes

#15 - You're Undead to Me

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/8/2009

Stefan is hopeful of his plan to get rid of Damon, and decides to reveal parts of his past to Elena. Bonnie seeks advice from her grandmother.

Directors: Kevin Bray
Watch Now:Apple TV
I Went to the Woods
star
7.60
1623 votes

#16 - I Went to the Woods

Season 7 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/8/2016

In the aftermath of his brother’s fateful decision, Stefan awakens to find himself thrown into a life or death situation with only his basic instincts to rely on. With time working against him, he sets off on a journey of survival. Meanwhile, desperate to save his brother, Damon follows an unusual lead he has come across, while Matt sends Valerie to Dallas to enlist Alaric’s help in the search for Stefan. Finally, when Rayna discovers the emergence of a new threat, she sets off on her own mission to find Stefan before the others do.

Directors: Julie Plec
Watch Now:Apple TV
Never Let Me Go
star
7.60
1452 votes

#17 - Never Let Me Go

Season 7 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/15/2015

Damon makes a decision that could ruin Lily and Stefan's deal; Alaric needs Bonnie's help with an artifact; Caroline discovers a shocking secret.

Directors: Chris Grismer
Writer: Brian Young
Watch Now:Apple TV
Bring It On
star
7.61
2410 votes

#18 - Bring It On

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/14/2013

Elena's new outlook has everyone concerned. Damon and Rebekah work together, but his unwanted advice catches her off-guard. Klaus tries to use Hayley.

Directors: Jesse Warn
Watch Now:Apple TV
Live Through This
star
7.61
1422 votes

#19 - Live Through This

Season 7 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/5/2015

Bonnie, Damon, and Alaric go through a tough shock with the Phoenix stone, while Caroline sent Stefan to spend the day with his ex, Valerie.

Directors: Kellie Cyrus
Watch Now:Apple TV
Growing Pains
star
7.61
3306 votes

#20 - Growing Pains

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/11/2012

In the fourth season premiere, Elena awakens after the accident to find the thing she dreaded most has come true. Damon is furious with Stefan, and takes out his rage on Matt.

Directors: Chris Grismer
Watch Now:Apple TV
Resident Evil
star
7.61
1806 votes

#21 - 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
Cold as Ice
star
7.62
1411 votes

#22 - Cold as Ice

Season 7 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/10/2015

In the events following their mother's passing, Stefan and Damon try to engage in the holiday spirit.

Writer: Brian Young
Watch Now:Apple TV
Haunted
star
7.62
3397 votes

#23 - Haunted

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/29/2009

Bonnie's abilities surprise Damon. Elena asks Jeremy not to see Vicki. Matt takes Vicki to the high school Halloween dance, but the night takes a terrifying turn.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Unpleasantville
star
7.63
3312 votes

#24 - Unpleasantville

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/28/2010

The Mystic Grill's Ben comes to Bonnie's aid. Damon and Stefan accompany Elena to a school dance with a 1950s theme. Alaric introduces himself to Damon.

Directors: Liz Friedlander
Watch Now:Apple TV
Because the Night
star
7.63
2377 votes

#25 - Because the Night

Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/21/2013

Realizing that Elena needs some time away from Mystic Falls, Damon takes her to New York City. Flashbacks reveal Damon's hedonistic life there in the 1970s.

Directors: Garreth Stover
Watch Now:Apple TV