Elena Gilbert has a significant supernatural evolution in The Vampire Diaries, going from human to vampire to human once again. The doppelgänger is drawn into the dangerous world of the undead when vampire brothers Stefan and Damon return to Mystic Falls. Conflicted by her feelings for the Salvatores, Elena embarks on passionate affairs with both brothers that result in several life-altering moments.
Elena's relationships with the Salvatores, as well as her mysterious lineage as a Petrova doppelgänger, led to many changes in her life (which fans had witnessed over the 8 seasons). While the 134 episodes that Elena featured in were iconic and unique in their own way, there were only a few that prove to be important to her character and story overall.
Updated on December 27th, 2021 by Kayleigh Banks: Although Nina Dobrev may have left the series at the end of season 6, she still played a pivotal part in the story long after as her character's presence was largely felt.
Despite the show trying its hardest to move the plot forward by focusing on several powerful entities trying to recruit the Salvatore brothers, the plots always came back to either protecting Elena or trying to kill her. So while Stefan and Damon were essentially the faces of the show, Elena was the heart since everything always came back to her.
Becoming A Vampire - "Growing Pains" (S4 Ep1)
It seemed inevitable from the beginning of The Vampire Diaries that Elena would eventually become a vampire and it finally came to fruition in the season 4 episode "Growing Pains." This episode mainly features Elena coming to terms with her transformation and debating whether she wanted to become one of the undead.
Although Elena never wanted to be a vampire, her eventual transformation did intrigue fans as they were curious as to what kind of storylines the writers would produce. They were also curious as to how Elena would adapt to her newfound powers and if it would change her personality drastically.
Elena's Death - "The Departed" (S3 Ep22)
With Elena constantly putting her life on the line for her family and friends, fans knew that she would eventually meet her demise one day. While she had died a few times over the years, her most heartbreaking death had to be in "The Departed" when she selflessly sacrificed herself to save Matt.
Although fans were soon thrown when they discovered that Elena had died with Damon's blood in her system, for the briefest of moments, they were devastated. Elena had been close to all the main characters on the show, particularly Jeremy, so fans were worried about how he would react to the news that he lost another member of his family. It also left people wondering where the show would go now that the instrumental main character had been killed off - but they quickly resolved with their twist ending.
Elena's First Kill - "The Killer" (S4 Ep5)
After transforming into a vampire, many fans saw Elena struggle as she couldn't seem to control her bloodlust. She was seen to struggle even further when the vampire hunter, Connor, turned up and tormented her about Jeremy (which caused her to lash out and break his neck).
Immediately, this shocked fans as Elena wasn't usually the type of person to act out on impulse. She often advocated for a more peaceful approach. So the fact that she had now killed someone certainly attracted the audience's attention and implied that Elena's morals were about to be compromised and she would change drastically.
Meeting Katherine - "Memory Lane" (S2 Ep4)
As soon as Elena learned the story about Stefan, Damon, and Katherine, fans knew that the two Petrova doppelgängers would eventually meet. However, no one expected it to arrive as early as season 2 when Katherine made her return to Mystic Falls. While the Salvatore brothers had plenty of run-ins with her, Elena didn't meet her until "Memory Lane."
This was something that made fans particularly nervous as they had already heard Katherine threaten to kill her if Stefan and Elena continued to date. Yet, as the elder vampire soon learned, she should never underestimate Elena as she was far more intelligent than she was perceived to be. With so many allies in Elena's corner, Katherine would have a hard time achieving her mission.
Elena And Stefan End Their Relationship For Good - "Resident Evil" - (S5 Ep18)
Although Elena had been in love with Damon at this point, some fans felt like the writers had yet closed the chapter on Stefan and Elena's story. After all, the viewers had believed that Stefan and Elena were destined to be together since their dopplegängers were constantly drawn together.
However, the writers soon closed the book on their relationship for good in "Resident Evil" as the fans learned that it was because the leader of the Travelers had cast a spell for his own benefit. While it did resolve some questions the viewers had and satisfied 'Delena' fans, not many people were happy with the implications it left as it implied that Stefan and Elena's romance was "fake." By ending the spell, the writers' effectively ended Stefan and Elena's love story.
Elena Chooses Damon - "Graduation" - (S4 Ep23)
For four years, fans had watched as Elena struggled with her feelings for both Salvatore brothers. This dilemma only increased tenfold when she became a vampire in season 4. However, everyone soon got the answer by the time "Graduation" aired.
Here, the viewers saw Elena confess to Damon that she was in love with him and wanted them to be together. Although many fans were a little heartbroken for Stefan since he had heard it from the next room, they were excited to see where this new development would go. Fans had yet to see how Elena would handle being in a committed relationship with someone as closed-off and unpredictable as Damon so it was going to be interesting to see if they could make it work.
Meeting Stefan - "Pilot" (S1 Ep1)
Elena's life changes forever when she meets Stefan Salvatore in the pilot episode. Still reeling from the death of her parents, the doppelgänger is drawn to the mysterious new student at Mystic Falls High and immediately becomes enamored with him.
Her relationship with Stefan alters the course of the show. While not an endgame pairing, Elena's romance with Stefan helps her to mourn the past and embrace the future.
Discovering The Truth About Vampires - "Lost Girls" (S1 Ep6)
Elena learns the truth about her new boyfriend during season 1's "Lost Girls." After confronting Stefan, the vampire relents and tells her about his history as a vampire (as well as revealing Damon's culpability in the town's recent murders).
Initially, Elena struggles to see past Stefan's true nature but it does prove to be a pivotal point in her arc as it introduces her to the world of the supernatural. She may have been uncomfortable with Stefan's revelation at this point, but she did quickly adapt and become well adverse in all things mythological and mysterious.
Jenna's Death - "The Sun Also Rises" (S2 Ep21)
Elena tragically loses an integral person in her life during the moonstone ritual in season 2 ("The Sun Also Rises"). After living in fear of Klaus for most of the season, she is sacrificed by the Original hybrid to break the curse that restricts his werewolf heritage.
During the ritual, Klaus turns Elena's aunt Jenna into a vampire before staking her to death in sacrifice. It was certainly one of the most heartbreaking deaths in The Vampire Diaries, especially since she had been a pillar of support for Elena and had tried her best to support them.
Gives Into Her Feelings For Damon - "Heart Of Darkness" (S3 Ep19)
Despite initially falling in love with Stefan, Elena struggles with her feelings for both Salvatore brothers throughout the first half of the series. During a road trip to Denver to see Jeremy, Elena gives in to her feelings for Damon and engages the vampire in a steamy motel make-out session.
Although this isn't their first kiss, it is certainly one of the best moments in Elena's relationship with Damon as it represents her acting on her feelings and taking matters into her own hands. She initiates her encounter with Damon and allows herself to give in to emotions for the elder Salvatore.
Elena Erases All Memories Of Damon - "Yellow Ledbetter" (S6 Ep2)
After Damon sadly got trapped on The Other Side and was believed to be dead, Elena struggled in the aftermath. In fact, her heartbreak was so severe that she had asked Alaric to help her move on by erasing all the good memories she had of the elder Salvatore brother ("Yellow Ledbetter").
While Delena fans were upset with the latest development, especially since they knew that Damon and Bonnie were both alive and would likely return soon, a few people found the storyline quite fascinating. Not only were they anticipating how the other characters would react but it made fans wonder if she would ever be able to retrieve these memories again.
Turning Off Her Humanity - "Stand By Me" (S4 Ep15)
Elena's world is rocked by grief once again during the fourth season of The Vampire Diaries. Katherine ambushes the group and kills Jeremy by feeding him to Silas before fleeing with the cure. Broken by the death of her brother, Elena turns her humanity off at Damon's behest.
Although "Stand By Me" explores the relationship between the Gilbert siblings, it was the ending that had fans gripped. With Elena now having her humanity off, the viewers knew they were about to see another side of the newborn vampire that the show had yet to explore. Elena could have become even worse than Katherine if The Vampire Diaries writers had it their way.
Taking The Cure - "I'd Leave My Happy Home For You" (S6 Ep20)
Elena accepts life as a vampire but never stops longing for her humanity. In season 6's "I'd Leave My Happy Home For You," she finally gets what she wants when Damon agrees to take the cure with her, giving up his vampirism to pursue a human life.
The couple takes time to enjoy the benefits of being a vampire one last time before embarking on the next stage of their life together. Elena takes the cure and becomes human again — but their happy ending is soon postponed. While fans were upset by Kai's interruption, they knew that Elena and her friends would come out on top since they had defeated some pure evil villains in some of The Vampire Diaries past seasons. It wouldn't be long before they managed to outsmart him too.
Elena's Enchanted Sleep Begins - "I'm Thinking Of You All The While" (S6 Ep22)
The real-life departure of actress Nina Dobrev led to Elena's character being written into a cursed coma in the season 6 finale. Kai's spell tethers Elena's life to her best friend Bonnie, preventing the doppelgänger from waking up while the Bennett witch lives.
Elena shares emotional goodbyes with her loved ones before being left to sleep in a coffin, including a final dance with Damon on the road where they met. It was certainly an heartfelt goodbye that had many fans reduced to tears as people began to wonder how the plot would unfold without the heart of the show/story.
Reuniting With Her Loved Ones - "I Was Feeling Epic" (S8 Ep16)
Elena awakens from her enchanted sleep during the series finale "I Was Feeling Epic." Mystic Falls is saved from hellfire when Bonnie and the spirits of the Bennett witches assemble to protect the town. Empowered by the impressive feat, Bonnie finally breaks Kai's curse, causing Elena to wake up at last.
She reunites with Damon and lives to lead a normal life with her human lover. "I Was Feeling Epic" gives a suitable conclusion to Elena's journey, including a reunion with her parents in the afterlife. Along with her transition into a vampire in "Growing Pains," the finale remains one of Elena's strongest episodes from the series.