Fans know just how memorable The Vampire Diaries has been especially with its spin-off series, Legacies recently getting canceled. It's officially the end of the TVD universe as fans know it. TVD managed to leave a lasting impression on fans even years after its final season. While the original series is no longer on television. Fans constantly find themselves re-watching time and time again.
The legacy of TVD is completely earned with its compelling characters and supernatural themes. And while fans may have their favorite characters, it's the storylines that make viewers love them individually, that matter. But which storylines stick out as some of the best?
Season 1: The History Of Mystic Falls
The town has had a long history with supernatural creatures. The series introduces Stefan as a vampire but there are many conflicts to consider. For one, the town is run by undercover vampire hunters that are also part of the town's overall history. Stefan has a long history with the town and so does Elena. Every character has a role that sets up the conflicts of the series as a whole. Since Elena and her friends are descendants of the founders of the town, so there is a lot to unpack.
There are many hidden details in Mystic Falls. And as the series goes on, there are more layers to the founders and why there is a war between supernatural creatures and the people of Mystic Falls. Some of the characters like Jeremy for example go back and forth when it comes to his destiny to destroy vampires, while also helping them. This conflict is apparent throughout the series.
Season 2: Katherine Returns To Mystic Falls
Fans of The Vampire Diaries remember the build-up of the legendary Katherine Pierce. She was mainly shown in flashbacks. And quickly, her appearance and future appearances always brought the right amount of drama. She used the fact that both Damon and Stefan would do anything for Elena to her advantage.
The appearance of Katherine in the present time made it tricky for the audience to know who was who. She ultimately wreaked havoc on Mystic Falls by destroying the tomb vampires and Damon's plans. It's one of the best storylines in this season because she was a multi-dynamic character and kept the other characters on their toes at all times. The audience was able to understand Katherine and sympathize with her seasons later. They were also able to understand the relationships between Elena, Damon, and Stefan through her.
Season 3: Klaus And The Hybrid Curse
Klaus had many quotes that proved he was one of the most ruthless villains in The Vampire Diaries. His presence was known before viewers got to see his face. Klaus only wanted freedom from the torture of being a hybrid and he didn't stop until he achieved it in all its capacity. Of course, his methods were unconventional and led to some of the most heartbreaking moments for the characters.
This storyline also led to Tyler becoming a hybrid and the love triangle that was Caroline, Tyler, and Klaus. It led to many memorable moments like Stefan returning to his days as the Ripper. Klaus created major chain reactions with his mission which is why this storyline is one of the best. The audience was able to see Klaus as a bad guy with an interesting backstory that led to him being a hero in his own story in The Originals.
Season 4: The Brotherhood Of The Five
This storyline became important for Jeremy when he was revealed to be one of the Five. It meant his life's mission was to go after vampires, including his sister. He became an expert hunter, which was a good thing and a bad thing down the line.
This storyline managed to intertwine the vampires in Mystic Falls with the supernatural hunters that wanted to kill those vampires. Overall, it had a good amount of engaging conflict by putting the vampires lives at risk. However, it brought many heart-wrenching moments as well.
Season 5: The Other Side
One of the first mentions of the other side was when Jeremy started to see ghosts like Anna and Vicky. There were many times in which Bonnie tried and achieved her intentions of bringing people back from the dead with her powers. But when she was on the anchor for the other side, things became more complicated for the characters.
This storyline was able to bring back past villains which were exciting for fans. This tested Bonnie in the worst ways. Fans were in awe when fan-favorite characters like Stefan and his best friend Lexi were torn apart forever. And ultimately, it led to one of the worst things that happened to Bonnie.
Season 6: The Gemini Coven And The Prison Worlds
The other side led to the reveal of the Prison World dedicated to the Gemini witch, Kai. The Gemini Coven was introduced which meant a new villain was among the characters once again. Kai's mission was to destroy his family and Bonnie and Damon couldn't escape his hell. However, they both grow closer to one another.
The Gemini Coven was a turning point in the TVD universe because it had a connection to the spin-off. There was always more to the story when it came to Damon's morals and Bonnie testing her limits with her magic. This led to Bonnie becoming Damon's best friend instead of Elena. This was emotional turmoil for Elena and all of their friends back in Mystic Falls when Elena was eventually linked to Bonnie for life.
Season 7: The Phoenix Stone
There were many changes in season 7 but the Phoenix Stone stood out the most when it came to the lives of Damon and Stefan. It was initially used to trap the souls of vampires. This storyline allowed the audience to understand the individual hells that each vampire faced and what that meant for their existence.
The overall origin of the stone was one of the more interesting plotlines this season because it told the story of the character of Rayna Cruz who was more powerful than anyone would imagine. Stefan and Damon faced many hardships this season and their humanity was tested like never before. Damon did everything he could to bring Elena back as well.
Season 8: The Salvatore Brothers
There was an unspoken hostility between Damon and Stefan in season 1. However, through the remainder of the series, they both proved that they would do anything for one another. But in the final season, they reached new conflicts.
Damon had Stefan's back despite their constant bickering. Overall, this is why fans love the series so much. It tested their dynamic in the best ways. When Elena goes under the sleeping curse, the show makes a successful shift in focusing on just Stefan and Damon's relationship. It pushed Stefan to great heights and focuses on the changes Damon went through throughout the series.