It is four months since a tragic car accident killed the parents of 17-year-old Elena and her 15-year-old brother, Jeremy. As the school year begins, Elena and her friends are fascinated by a handsome and mysterious new student, Stefan Salvatore.

As Mystic Falls prepares to celebrate the passing of a comet, Vicki is still in the hospital. Stefan goes to the hospital and tries to use his abilities to make sure Vicki doesn't remember what really happened, but his attempt is cut short when Vicki's brother arrives.

Elena tries to ignore Bonnie's warnings about the disturbing vibes she got from Stefan and invites Stefan and Bonnie to dinner. But the evening is disrupted by the unexpected and unwelcome arrival of Damon and Caroline. Plus, the town is shocked by an act of violence.

Elena asks Stefan to escort her to the town's annual Founder's Party. Zach reveals a useful family secret to Stefan. At the party, Damon tells Elena a story about the Salvatore family's past. Finally, Stefan takes action to get Damon out of his life for good.

Stefan is hopeful that his plan to get rid of Damon is working, and decides to reveal parts of his past to Elena. At a fundraising car wash, Bonnie is surprised by powers she didn't know she possessed. Finally, Elena hears a disturbing story about the Salvatore family.

Elena demands that Stefan explain the frightening events that have been happening in Mystic Falls. In flashbacks, Stefan explains how his rivalry with Damon began. Back in the present, Damon impulsively takes control of Vicki's future, and a terrified Vicki runs away.

As Vicki's behaviour becomes more dangerous, Stefan tries to help her. Elena tries to convince Jeremy to stay away from her. Trying to cheer Vicki up, Matt takes her to the high school's haunted house, but the evening soon takes a terrifying turn.

On his birthday, Stefan is surprised by a visit from Lexi, one of his oldest friends. Still upset by the events at the Halloween haunted house, Elena does her best to stay away from Stefan. Plus, Damon's offer to help Sheriff Forbes has sudden and tragic results.

Jeremy gets a break from the mysterious new history teacher, Alaric Saltzman, and introduces Alaric to Jenna. Bonnie is having terrifying dreams about one of her ancestors. Damon finally reveals to Stefan the stunning reason he has returned to Mystic Falls.

When Sheriff Forbes tells Damon there has been another attack, he offers to track down the killer and learns a startling piece of information. Stefan and Elena come to a new understanding, but everything changes when Elena accidently makes a devastating discovery.

Damon takes a trip to Georgia and enlists the help of an old flame to figure out how to open the tomb. In the process, Damon comes face to face with someone who is determined to make him pay. When Damon returns, Stefan is waiting with news that will change their world.

As Stefan and Damon try to figure out the identity of the new vampire in town, Stefan gives Elena jewellery filled with Vervain to protect her family and friends. Damon and Stefan accompany Elena to a school dance, where Alaric introduces himself to Damon.

In flashbacks, Stefan and Damon recall the long-ago actions taken by townspeople. Back in the present, Bonnie's date with Ben takes a frightening turn. Elena helps Stefan as he and Damon race to find the missing journal that belonged to Elena's ancestor. history.

Stefan helps Elena and Bonnie out of a dangerous situation. Jeremy asks Anna to a party in the woods, unaware that she has her own reasons for wanting to meet him there. Stefan, Damon and Elena work with Bonnie and Grams to open the tomb.

Matt and Caroline are surprised by the sudden reappearance of Matt's mother, Kelly. Alaric discovers shocking secrets from his own past. With help from Jenna and Stefan, Elena is determined to find out everything she can about her birth mother.

Anna brings a surprising guest along when she pays a visit to Damon. Elena and Stefan go on an awkward double date with Caroline and Matt. Jenna reunites with her old friend Kelly, and Jeremy's relationship with Anna takes an unexpected direction.

Stefan and Damon make a dangerous enemy and Stefan suddenly finds himself in a perilous situation. Damon and Elena try to convince Alaric to work with them. And, after Caroline's car breaks down in a storm, she makes a horrific discovery that shocks everyone in town.

While Stefan struggles to control his new situation, Elena and Jeremy are surprised by a visit from their uncle, John Gilbert. At a Founder's Day event, Stefan displays a rare party attitude and Damon's attempt to find out why Uncle John has returned takes an ugly turn.

Elena and Caroline compete for the title of "Miss Mystic Falls" against other girls from town. Elena is happy to have Bonnie back in town, but Bonnie still has issues to work through. John Gilbert tries to intimidate Damon, but his plan doesn't have the desired effect.

Both Stefan and Damon reveal parts of their history to Elena, until she finally learns the truth about how they became vampires. Pearl has an ugly confrontation with John Gilbert. Damon and Alaric try to find a mysterious invention before John does.

Isobel returns to town and stuns Alaric with her attitude. When Isobel and Elena finally meet, Isobel refuses to answer most of Elena's questions, but reveals that she will stop at nothing to find the mysterious invention John Gilbert has been searching for.

Founder's Day has finally arrived, and everyone is busy with last-minute preparations for floats and fireworks. Although Damon and Alaric do their best to stop him, John Gilbert sets a plan in motion that brings Founder's Day to an end amid chaos, destruction and death.

Elena arrives home to a nightmare as she discovers the fate of Uncle John and Jeremy. Sheriff Forbes waits to hear if Caroline will survive. Still reeling from his father's death, Tyler is surprised when his uncle, Mason Lockwood, arrives to console the family.

When a confused and desperate Caroline leaves the hospital and joins her friends at the Mystic Falls Carnival, Damon wants to take immediate action. Damon also has suspicions about Tyler's Uncle Mason and attempts to get Mason to reveal his secret.

Elena, Damon and Alaric take a road trip to Duke University and search through Isobel's research on folklore and paranormal phenomena to see if they can uncover any clues to the mystery surrounding the Lockwood family.

Stefan takes drastic measures to find out the real reason Katherine has returned to Mystic Falls, and is shocked when she reveals new secrets about what really happened in 1864. Damon tries a new tactic to resolve his issues with Mason, but it proves costly.

Tyler learns more about the Lockwood family curse from Mason. Elena tries to keep Jeremy from becoming more involved with the Lockwood mystery. Mason gives Sheriff Lockwood some startling information, leading to a night of violence, confession and heartbreak.

Despite Elena's efforts to keep Jeremy safe, he offers to help Damon and Alaric deal with Katherine. Bonnie accidentally discovers new information about Mason and shares it with Stefan, which leads to Damon taking matters into his own hands.

Stefan and Damon decide on a new plan to deal with Katherine at the Lockwood's masquerade ball. Bonnie, Jeremy and Alaric all do what they can to help Stefan and Damon, but Katherine has a surprise planned that none of them could foresee.

Stefan and Damon come to Elena's assistance and, in the process, learn surprising new information about people, vampires and events in the distant past. Jeremy helps Bonnie after she casts a difficult and exhausting spell.

Elena puts herself in a dangerous position as she searches for the truth about Katherine's past and what her own future may hold. Damon uses a newfound confidant to help him try to discover the real purpose and power of the moonstone.

Elena decides to take matters into her own hands and offers a tempting incentive to Rose for her help. When things take an unexpected turn, Rose calls on Damon to deal with the plan Elena has set in motion.

Caroline helps Tyler prepare for the transformation he is powerless to stop. While Stefan and Katherine play mind games on one another, Damon and Alaric are suspicious when a stranger named Jules shows up in Mystic Falls, searching for her missing friend, Mason.

Stefan has his own ideas about Elena's new plan for the future. While Damon tries to get the truth out of Jules, he asks Elena to keep an eye on Rose, a situation that turns unexpectedly dangerous. Meanwhile, Damon struggles when a life-and-death crisis hits him hard.

Johnathan Gilbert's return to Mystic Falls comes as an unhappy surprise to Elena, Jenna and Damon. Caroline lets Stefan know about her conversation with Tyler, and Stefan does his best to reach out. Plus, a hostage situation soon escalates into a violent confrontation.

Stefan and Elena get away for what they hope will be a romantic weekend at the Gilbert family lake house, not realising that they've been followed. Jules explains the importance of the sun and moon curse to Tyler, but leaves out an important detail.

Stefan tells Elena about a dark time in his past and the surprising person whose influence changed everything. Trying to catch Elijah off-guard, Damon plans a dinner party for him with Jenna, Alaric and Andie, but last-minute information throws Damon's plan into chaos.

Katherine's mind games are getting on everyone's nerves, but Damon, Stefan and Elena realise that her knowledge of Mystic Falls' history will help them stay alive. Alaric makes a surprising confession to Jenna; Katherine makes a different kind of confession to Damon.

Elena and Alaric both lash out at John when Isobel's unexpected arrival leaves Jenna devastated. Bonnie works with Damon and Jeremy to find the spell they'll need to harness her ancestors' power. Plus, Stefan and Damon realise they have a new secret weapon.

As the high school prepares to throw a "1960s Decade Dance", Elena starts receiving disturbing messages from Klaus via an unusual source. Expecting Klaus to show up at the dance, Damon and Alaric attend, but Klaus is playing a complicated game that keeps them on edge.

Stefan and Damon are furious when they discover that Elena has defied them both to make a new ally and take control of the plan to outmanoeuvre Klaus. Flashbacks to 1491 reveal Katherine's introduction to Elijah and Klaus, along with the origin of the moonstone curse.

Damon is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to prevent Elena from being a victim of Klaus's plan to break the curse. Tyler returns to Mystic Falls after receiving a disturbing phone call. The full moon marks the arrival of the sacrifice ritual.

With the arrival of the full moon, Elena tries to prepare for whatever Klaus has planned and Tyler faces his second transformation. Finally, Damon admits the truth to Stefan about a terrible new development they must face.

While Mystic Falls presents a screening of "Gone with The Wind", Damon's memories of Katherine in 1864 mix with the reality of Elena in the present. More than one life hangs in the balance as the consequences of the sacrifice ritual play out to a horrifying conclusion.

On the morning of Elena's 18th birthday, Caroline is busy planning a party, but Elena is focused on searching for any clues that might help her discover where Stefan is. Meanwhile, Klaus and Stefan are busy trailing a werewolf named Ray Sutton.

Klaus puts a plan in motion that will give him even more power, but even with the unwilling participation of werewolf Ray Sutton, things don't go exactly as Klaus had planned. Damon and Alaric reluctantly go along with Elena's new strategy to find Stefan.

Klaus and Stefan arrive in Chicago, where Stefan is reunited with a vampire who hasn't really moved on from her interest in him decades earlier. In a flashback to Chicago in the 1920s, Stefan comes face to face with a shocking chapter from his wild past.

Klaus uses Gloria, a witch he knew long ago, to help him track down missing information that will explain why his plan isn't working. Back in Mystic Falls, a new enemy pushes Damon over the brink and he lashes out in a way that will have lasting consequences.

Senior Prank Night at Mystic Falls High School takes a deadly turn when uninvited guests show up. Damon convinces Jeremy that he can use his new connection to defeat Klaus. Klaus deepens his hold on Stefan and uses him for increasingly violent and dangerous purposes.

On the first day of their senior year, Elena, Caroline, Bonnie and Matt are still reeling from recent events, while Tyler seems to be enjoying everything a little too much. Damon is annoyed by a new houseguest, and everyone is surprised by the arrival of a new student.

As Mystic Falls prepares to celebrate the traditional Illumination Night, the town is invaded by spirits of the dead. After a particularly violent encounter with an angry spirit, Damon asks Bonnie to find the reason behind the ghosts' surprising power.

With help from Elena and Bonnie, Alaric tries to decipher the meaning behind his recent discovery. Elena and Rebekah engage in a mean-girl power struggle, until Rebekah finally reveals some of her family's secrets and the violent past she shares with Klaus and Elijah.

On the night of the Homecoming dance, Rebekah opens up to Elena about why the evening is so important to her. The night takes a surreal turn when Klaus puts his latest plan into action. Determined to outsmart Klaus, Damon enters into a dangerous partnership.

Stefan has hidden the coffins containing the bodies of Klaus' family, and Klaus turns to violence to show no one will be safe until he finds Stefan and gets his family back. After a terrifying incident, Elena and Alaric grow increasingly concerned about Jeremy's safety.

Although Caroline is in no mood to celebrate her birthday, Elena, Bonnie and Matt surprise her with a party in an unusual location. Damon and Stefan disagree on how to handle Klaus, and a reckless Stefan decides to test his theory by taking things to dangerous extremes.

Bonnie believes her recurring dreams about Klaus' coffins will tell her how he can be killed. The dreams also lead Bonnie to a reunion with her mother, Abby, after 15 years. Bonnie's sudden appearance catches Abby off guard, but she does her best to explain the past.

Sheriff Forbes delivers some disturbing news to Alaric and Elena about the weapon used in a recent murder. Klaus hosts a dinner party, where he reveals another story from his family's past. Caroline is heartbroken when she is unable to stop a tragedy from unfolding.

Elena is surprised to receive an invitation to a formal ball being hosted at Klaus' newly renovated mansion. At the elegant party, Elena learns of a horrifying plan that could lead to numerous deaths and she must decide who she can trust with her new information.

Elena is frustrated to find that none of her friends agree with her on how they should react to the Original family's internal power struggle. When Elijah gives Damon and Stefan a dangerous ultimatum that puts Elena in danger, they turn to Alaric and Meredith for help.

The present-day murders in Mystic Falls remind Damon of a similar crime spree a century earlier. In flashbacks to 1912, Damon recalls a beautiful vampire, Sage, who showed him a whole new way to exist. Sheriff Forbes warns Damon not to get involved in her investigation.

A century after their first encounter, Damon and Sage meet again at the ceremony to kick off the restoration of Wickery Bridge. Damon is surprised to learn why Sage has returned, and pleased when she devises an unusual way to help him figure out what Rebekah is up to.

Damon and Stefan focus a new project that will bring them closer to destroying Klaus, and they quickly bring Elena, Caroline and Matt in on the plan. After Klaus threatens someone close to Bonnie, she has no choice but to work on the spell he needs.

Elena and Damon set off together to make sure Jeremy is safe in Denver, and to see if his special abilities can help reveal the information they need about ancient vampire bloodlines. Stefan and Klaus both go to brutal extremes in their search for the missing weapon.

At the school's 1920s Decade Dance, Bonnie asks Jamie to go with her, and Elena asks Stefan. The dance takes a deadly turn when Damon and Stefan realise they need the help of Matt, Jeremy and especially Bonnie to undo a spell that could prove devastating for everyone.

Klaus acts on his intentions to leave town with Elena, but finds resistance from a surprising new enemy. Bonnie calls on Abby to help her with a difficult spell. As events spiral out of control, Elena is determined to protect Caroline.

Determined to protect his sister, Jeremy makes a decision that will change everything. Stefan and Damon leave Mystic Falls together on a mission, but soon split up when Elena needs one of them. Finally, Bonnie makes a secret deal that has heartbreaking consequences.

Elena awakens on the morning after the accident to find the thing she dreaded most has come true - she died with vampire blood in her system. Finally, Pastor Young and the Town Council begin rounding up the vampires and their followers, leading to an unexpected tragedy.

Elena tries to cope with the extreme highs and lows that are part of becoming a vampire. A stranger arrives in town and begins questioning Sheriff Forbes and Mayor Lockwood. Connor's actions quickly convince Stefan that they are dealing with a dangerous vampire hunter.

Connor continues his search to uncover the secrets of Mystic Falls and tries to convince Jeremy to work with him. With Dr. Fell's help, Damon and Klaus question Connor, but the confrontation takes a lethal turn.

Damon goes with Elena and Bonnie to visit Whitmore College, where Professor Shane is taking over the Occult Studies classes. When Stefan questions Klaus about Connor's motives, Klaus reveals a 12th century encounter in Italy with a powerful group of vampire hunters.

Stefan and Klaus form an uneasy alliance to try and contain the danger that Connor has unleashed on the town. When Connor takes Jeremy, Matt and April hostage, the situation quickly turns violent when Klaus sends one of his hybrids, Dean, to stand up to Connor.

Terrifying hallucinations leave Elena shaken and confused, causing her to make a dangerous mistake. After giving Stefan some very disturbing news about Elena, Klaus takes matters into his own hands.

Damon tries to convince Stefan to help him uncover Professor Shane's motives, but Stefan is intent on carrying out a different plan with Klaus. Alarmed by the nightmares he's having, Jeremy turns to Matt for help, but the situation escalates sooner than anyone expected.

Stefan confronts Damon with a suspicion about Elena. Searching for answers, Damon and Stefan visit modern-day New Orleans to see if they can find anyone who remembers the events of their last visit in 1942. Finally, Damon is faced with a heartbreaking decision.

As a Winter Wonderland-themed party fills the streets of Mystic Falls, Stefan and Caroline find themselves at odds with Tyler over his plans for Klaus and his hybrids. Later, Klaus makes a discovery that leads to chaos and violence.

Appearing at Mystic Falls High, Rebekah wastes no time trying to force Stefan, Elena and Caroline to answer her questions about the search for a cure. When Bonnie's father, Rudy Hopkins, accepts the role of Interim Mayor, he makes it a priority to protect his daughter.

Jeremy is mad when Klaus tries to control him by endangering Matt's life. Damon coaches Jeremy as he prepares to take on Klaus' new vampires, but they find that Kol has beaten them to it; Kol will stop at nothing to convince everyone to give up the search for the cure.

When Rebekah turns down Klaus' plea to stop Kol and protect Jeremy, Klaus turns to Stefan for help. After an angry confrontation with her father, Mayor Hopkins, over his approach to ending the violence, Bonnie has a run-in with Kol, followed by an unexpected visitor.

Shane leads an expedition to a desolate island off the coast of Nova Scotia, where he believes the secret of the cure lies hidden. Back in Mystic Falls, Tyler confronts Klaus, and Caroline is caught up in the violence that follows.

On the island, Damon has an ugly run-in with a Hunter named Vaughn, and realises he is one of the Five. When a stunning new piece of information about the cure is suddenly revealed, it changes the stakes for everyone.

When Stefan arrives back in Mystic Falls with Elena and Jeremy, Caroline is immediately worried about Elena's state of mind. Still on the island, Damon relays sombre news to Rebekah. Everyone is horrified when Bonnie reveals the rest of Shane's plan.

Caroline is pleasantly surprised when Elena decides to rejoin the cheerleading squad, but her pleasure turns to shock when Elena's behaviour proves dangerous. Klaus tries to use Hayley to get the information he's after and makes an intriguing discovery in the process.

Realising that Elena needs some time away, Damon takes her to New York City, where he lived and partied in the 1970s. When Rebekah also shows up, she's impressed with Elena's secret agenda. Flashbacks reveal Damon's hedonistic life and a complicated encounter with Lexi.

Elena and Rebekah take off in search of Katherine and find themselves in a small town in Pennsylvania, where Elena has a surprising encounter with Elijah. In Mystic Falls, Klaus receives Caroline's reluctant help and comes to a new understanding of Silas' powers.

On making a decision that enrages Klaus, Elijah proposes a life-changing challenge for Rebekah. Caroline's carefully laid plans for Senior Prom night are disrupted by Elena. Bonnie makes a terrifying discovery, and Klaus receives a message that could change everything.

Acting on a tip that a plot is brewing against him in New Orleans, Klaus makes a trip to the town he and his family helped build. Determined to help his brother find redemption, Elijah follows Klaus. When Hayley follows too, she falls into the hands of a powerful witch.

Damon and Stefan try a brutal new approach to provoke Elena into turning her humanity back on, and call for backup from a surprising source. Katherine is suspicious when Bonnie makes her an offer that she promises will benefit them both.

Sheriff Forbes calls Damon and Stefan to the hospital, where someone has been attacking patients. As a violent wind storm causes a power outage in Mystic Falls, ghosts suddenly appear - some with good intentions and some bent on revenge.

It's Graduation Day and Mystic Falls is overrun with ghosts intent on settling old scores and fulfilling their supernatural destinies. As everyone gathers for the graduation ceremony and the ghosts converge, help comes from an unlikely hero.

After a passionate summer with Damon, Elena heads to college nearby with Caroline as her roommate. Meanwhile, Elena can't shake the feeling that something is wrong with Stefan, and Silas makes a terrifying appearance at the "End of Summer" party in the town square.

Without telling Elena that Stefan is missing, Damon turns to Sheriff Forbes for help finding his brother. Elena and Caroline try to find out who is covering up a campus murder, and a fellow student gives Elena some intriguing information about Professor Wes Maxfield.

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.

While Mystic Falls observes its traditional Remembrance Day to honour the dead, Damon and Elena try to help Stefan through a confusing time. A worried Matt tries to figure out the reason behind his blackouts, and Caroline makes an effort to get to know Jesse better.

Elena meets a sad and secretive student on campus. At the Whitmore Historical Ball, Elena shares a dance with Dr. Maxfield, who has a disturbing message for her. Nadia reveals her surprising history to Katherine; Silas demands that Damon commit an unthinkable act.

Silas happily announces his new goal to Damon and Elena. Tessa confidently tells Stefan about her next move, then realises that Silas has managed to outsmart her. A desperate Katherine discovers a new and unexpected consequence of becoming human again.

Elena and Damon try to explain Amara's situation to Stefan. Dr. Wes Maxfield gives Katherine some disturbing news. Silas fails to keep a promise, causing Damon to turn to Tessa for help with his new plan, and Stefan makes a heartbreaking confession to Damon and Elena.

At Whitmore College, Elena and Caroline decide it's time to throw a big party, but their plans are interrupted when Jesse suddenly needs Caroline's help. Meanwhile, Damon makes a terrifying discovery about a secret society.

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.

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 saving Elena. Meanwhile, Elena is horrified by Dr. Wes' confessions about the dark history of Whitmore College and his own ultimate goal.

Katherine recalls the traumatic night in 1490 when she gave birth to a daughter who was taken from her. Nadia creates a frightening plan to protect her mother. Caroline forgets to fill Elena in on the latest gossip, then indulges in some scandalous behaviour of her own.

Enzo brings Damon a gruesome gift and insists that they bond by committing an act of revenge. Caroline makes a stunning confession to Elena, then has to face the consequence of her actions. Elena finds herself in a life-threatening situation with only minutes to spare.

Caroline convinces Elena and Bonnie to attend Whitmore College's "Bitter Ball" for broken-hearted students. Bonnie is intrigued with a fellow student dabbling in witchcraft. Damon and Enzo resort to violence to convince Bonnie and Jeremy to help them get revenge.

As Damon's behaviour escalates from destructive to deadly, Stefan decides to track Damon down and intervene. Dr. Wes enlists the Travelers to set a trap that will test Damon's friendship with Enzo. A talk between Caroline and Stefan leads to a horrifying realisation.

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 secret that threatens all her friends.

Damon tries to figure out how to make a disturbing confession to Elena. Caroline discovers a frightening secret in Dr. Wes' files. Enzo appears, claiming to have the solution everyone is searching for. Sloan reveals new information on the importance of doppelgangers.

To keep Stefan from being harmed by Sloan and the Travelers, Caroline and Enzo agree to make a trip to Atlanta to find a newly discovered doppelganger. A terrifying turn of events at the Travelers' camp leads to the appearance of their mysterious leader, Markos.

Stefan and Elena have unsettling dreams of an alternate life they might have shared. Bonnie has a disturbing encounter with Grams. Luke shows up and explains what he knows about Markos and the Travelers. Matt has a terrifying encounter with those of the Other Side.

Enzo reveals to Elena, Stefan and Bonnie that he has learned what happened to the love of his life, and then, with the unwilling help of Liv and Luke, things take an ugly turn. Markos enlists Sloan's help in a ritual designed to break a curse against the Travelers.

When Tyler turns up at the Salvatore house with the news that Markos' plan to break the witches' curse puts Stefan and Elena in imminent danger, Damon suggests they hide out in a remote cabin. A ghostly presence at the cabin uses violence and fire to make itself known.

Stefan and Elena become stranded in a remote location after escaping from Markos' control. Bonnie admits that she's been keeping the truth about the Other Side from everyone. Caroline is witness to an unthinkable act of violence by one of the Travelers.

Sheriff Forbes is horrified when Markos uses violence to prove that Mystic Falls is now under the control of the Travelers. Finally, Damon's plan causes a huge explosion, and everyone is caught up in the mayhem, leaving a trail of heroism, sacrifice, relief and despair.

Elena returns to college for the start of her sophomore year. Caroline is desperate to undo the spell the Travelers have put over Mystic Falls. While everyone thinks Stefan is off tracking a lead to get Damon and Bonnie back, Elena is shocked when she learns the truth.

Knowing she needs to come to terms with the loss of Damon, Elena turns to Alaric. Enzo convinces Caroline to join him as he tracks down a lead to get Damon and Bonnie back... but Caroline is shocked when they make a detour and uncover what Stefan has been up to.

Stefan arrives back in Mystic Falls looking for Enzo. At the lake, Enzo's actions cause Matt to make a startling revelation, and Jeremy makes a discovery about the anti-magic spell. Elsewhere, Damon and Bonnie stumble upon clues that make them believe they're not alone.

When Damon and Bonnie realise that uncovering a time in Damon's past may provide clues to finding their way home, Damon is forced to relive one of the worst days of his life. Elsewhere, Stefan tries to show Elena what it's like to start over and create a new identity.

With Homecoming around the corner, Elena invites Liam to attend a party at the corn maze. Stefan shows up unexpectedly and needs Caroline's help cleaning up a mess created by Enzo. Tyler finds himself in a dangerous position when his werewolf curse is put to the test.

When Alaric realises that Jo can't be compelled, he asks Elena to do some digging into her background. After learning that Enzo has been captured by Tripp, Caroline teams up with Matt and Stefan to rescue him before Tripp learns their true identities.

When the past comes back to haunt her, Elena is forced to face her problems head on. When Sheriff Forbes gets caught in the middle of a dangerous plan, Caroline is in a race against the clock. Elsewhere, Damon stumbles upon a startling clue that renews his hope.

Caroline and Elena receive some hopeful news from Alaric and Stefan, in Portland, regarding the Gemini Coven. Tyler is determined to help Liv and Luke after learning some disturbing information about their witch lineage and the impending plans their coven has for them.

Damon finds himself in hot water after he carries out a plan that requires Alaric's unwilling participation. Liv helps Damon and Elena with their plan to get Bonnie back. Elsewhere, Matt takes matters into his own hands when Enzo's actions cross the line.

Bonnie tries to replicate her favourite traditions; Sheriff Forbes brings holiday cheer to Caroline; Alaric turns to Damon and Elena when Jo goes missing; Jeremy helps Matt carry out a plan to take down Enzo; Stefan is forced to break some devastating news to Caroline.

More powerful than ever, Kai holds Elena captive while he learns to control his newly acquired magic. Liv and Alaric try to prepare Jo for the impending merge ceremony with Kai. Caroline travels with Stefan to North Carolina in search of a cure for Sheriff Forbes.

After Caroline's plan to cure her mother takes an unexpected turn, Elena, Stefan and Damon gather at the hospital, while Jo attempts to save Sheriff Forbes' life. With the merge set to take place, Damon's risky plan quickly sends things spiralling out of control.

Determined to celebrate Bonnie's birthday, Elena, Jeremy and Damon attempt to send her a message. After learning Stefan's secret, Enzo wants to interfere in Sarah Salvatore's life. Stefan keeps an eye on Caroline as she tries to cope with everything going on around her.

Elena and Jeremy reminisce about their past. Sheriff Forbes turns to Damon for help solving one of her remaining open cases involving Elena's parents. Elsewhere, Matt finds his own life on the line after Enzo lures him and Sarah Salvatore into his dangerous plan.

After assigning tasks to each of her friends, Caroline attempts to deal with her current situation as reality begins to set in around her. Elena spends a day with Caroline and grows concerned when she starts noticing a strange change in Caroline's behaviour.

After shutting off her humanity following the death of her mother, Caroline gives her friends an ultimatum. Not knowing how to handle the new Caroline, Stefan's attempt to intervene sets off a dangerous chain of events, leaving him and Elena in a race against the clock.

Damon and Elena set forth a plan to rescue his mother from the 1903 prison world. When Caroline's plan for Stefan backfires, she is left to pick up the pieces. Back at Whitmore College, Enzo and Alaric's attempt to reel Caroline back in doesn't quite go as planned.

Damon concocts a risky plan to stop Caroline and Stefan from wreaking havoc; Elena re-evaluates her life after learning that Jo is pregnant; Sarah boldly turns the tables on an unsuspecting Enzo. A twisted round of karaoke leaves Tyler and Matt in a dangerous situation.

Wrestling with whether or not to tell Elena about the cure, Damon brings up their future together. When attempts to stop a humanity-free Caroline don't go as planned, it's all hands on deck. Enzo sets out for answers after being forced to face his traumatic past.

As Alaric and Jo reluctantly participate in their bachelor and bachelorette parties, Damon and Elena discuss the ramifications of Damon's impulsive offer. When Enzo realises Lily is on a dangerous downward spiral, he asks Stefan to help intervene before it's too late.

It's Alaric and Jo's wedding day and Elena and Bonnie help with last-minute preparations. Caroline returns to Mystic Falls after dealing with the fallout of her humanity-free rampage and begins making amends with friends. Bonnie enlists Matt's help in taking Lily down.

In the aftermath of Jo and Alaric's powerful nuptials, an uninvited guest shows up, putting Elena's life in jeopardy. Despite Matt's advice to leave town, a defiant Bonnie takes matters into her own hands after finding herself on the receiving end of a twisted plan.

After a twisted plan left Elena in a supernatural coma, her life linked to that of Bonnie, Damon is forced to navigate his new reality without the love of his life. Meanwhile, Stefan takes an active role in protecting the town from Lily and her family of Heretics.

An impulsive decision by Damon threatens to unravel a carefully negotiated deal between Stefan and Lily. Elsewhere, after returning to Whitmore College, Alaric turns to Bonnie for help with a mysterious and potentially dangerous artefact he has obtained.

In the aftermath of a clever plan orchestrated by Lily, Damon sets off 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.

Just as Damon thinks he's gained the upper hand in his fight against Lily, a turn of events leaves him scrambling for a plan B. Enzo sets off on a mission to find out what Valerie is hiding, while a plan set by Alaric and Bonnie leaves their worlds turned upside down.

Stefan comes face-to-face with Valerie and learns some upsetting details about her past. Enzo and Bonnie find themselves at odds when they're forced to fend off a violent threat. Bonnie confronts Alaric when she learns some disturbing news involving the Phoenix stone.

After being reunited with Julian, Lily hosts a dinner party to introduce him to Damon and Stefan and to declare peace between her family of Heretics and the residents of Mystic Falls. At the party, Bonnie and Matt uncover a mystery involving some unsuspecting residents.

In order to get through to Lily about Julian's manipulating ways, Stefan and Damon confront their mother with painful memories from their childhood. Elsewhere, Caroline's world is turned upside down when Valerie reveals some life-changing news to her.

As Julian and Lily throw a party to celebrate Mary Louise and Nora's anniversary, Stefan and Damon set in motion a risky plan to eliminate a new threat posed by Julian. Determined to do what's best for her family, Lily makes the most difficult decision of her life.

With the holidays in full swing, Caroline does her best to navigate her new life as a pregnant vampire. After finding himself at odds with Damon, Stefan is forced to take matters into his own hands, setting off a tragic chain of events that change their lives forever.

After finding himself on the wrong end of Julian' plan to avenge Lily's death, Damon awakens to find himself trapped inside the Phoenix stone. On the outside, Bonnie is in a race against the clock to get Damon out before the effects of the Phoenix stone take over.

Stefan attempts to help Damon regain his grip on reality while secretly struggling with his own experience in the Phoenix stone. Matt and Bonnie deal with the fallout after Julian and his men take over Mystic Falls. Tyler returns to town for Alaric's baby shower.

Stefan uncovers the reason behind Damon's dark descent following his experience in the Phoenix stone. Caroline experiences some dangerous side effects as a result of her supernatural pregnancy. Bonnie, Nora and Mary Louise attempt to locate a ruthless vampire hunter.

Complications from her supernatural pregnancy leave Caroline's life hanging in the balance. Vampire hunter Rayna Cruz is on the loose and Damon has to make things right when his actions inadvertently put his loved ones in her path.

Stefan heads to New Orleans to lure Rayna away from his friends and comes face to face with Klaus Mikaelson, who's suspicious of his old friend's arrival. Enzo, now working on behalf of a mysterious organisation called The Armory, has a plan that could protect Stefan.

As Damon's desire to take himself out of the game ramps up, Bonnie makes a discovery at The Armory that threatens Damon's plan to take Rayna down for good. Elsewhere, Matt decides it may be time to truly take a stand against the vampires of Mystic Falls.

Damon's attempt to make things right with his brother may come with some unexpected consequences. With time running out and Rayna closing in on Stefan, Valerie attempts to reason with Damon. Framed for breaking Rayna out of the Armory, Enzo attempts to clear his name.

In the aftermath of his brother's fateful decision, Stefan awakens to find himself thrown into a life or death situation. Desperate to save his brother, Damon follows an unusual lead, while Matt sends Valerie to Dallas to enlist Alaric's help in the search for Stefan.

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. Bonnie meets a young woman who provides her with some valuable information about why The Armory may be after her.

When Enzo's efforts to protect Bonnie end up putting her life in jeopardy, it is learned 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.

With Bonnie's life at stake and an uphill battle ahead of them, Damon and Enzo lead the charge to save Bonnie before her condition worsens. Stefan reluctantly teams up with Matt for the sake of Bonnie and uncovers the truth behind Matt's anger towards him.

When Damon's risky attempt to save Bonnie takes an unexpected turn, the consequences of his actions forces everyone to band together to help her pull through. Meanwhile, a new threat leaves Caroline's life in jeopardy, and forces Stefan to make a rash decision.

Despite their best efforts to help Bonnie through the harrowing predicament she now faces, Damon, Enzo and Caroline realise their options are running out. With their only chance of saving their friend lying inside the Armory, they may need help from an unlikely source.

Months after Damon and Enzo vanished from the Armory vault, Stefan tirelessly pushes forward with their search. Meanwhile, a dangerous encounter with an unexpected visitor leaves Caroline and Alaric fearing that someone - or something - may be targeting their family.

After learning that someone from Stefan's past may be Damon and Enzo's next target, Stefan, Bonnie and Caroline head to North Carolina. There, Bonnie takes drastic measures in an attempt to break Enzo free of whatever has a hold over him.

As Enzo continues to fight the control over him, Bonnie finds herself at the centre of a deadly game and forced to make a heart wrenching decision. At the Armory, Alaric researches a mysterious artefact that he hopes will help in their fight.

Damon's latest mission takes him to Texas where a violent run-in with Peter Maxwell leads to a surprising revelation. After gaining the upper hand in their fight to save Damon and Enzo, Stefan and Alaric uncover the origins of the mysterious force they're up against.

Spiralling down a dangerous path of self-destruction, Damon's latest actions prove he may be beyond the point of return. When tragedy strikes close to home, Stefan and the others are forced to remember what matters most to them.

When her children become the focus of the Siren's latest plan, Caroline takes drastic measures to ensure her family's safety. When Enzo finds himself unable to fight off Sybil's latest move, Stefan dives into his subconscious and sets off a chain of events.

Faced with the fallout from his dealings with Cade, Stefan is determined to have one thing go right - Christmas Eve with Caroline. But, when Damon and Sybil crash their dinner, which had been joined by Alaric, Matt and Peter, things quickly take a dark and twisted turn.

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 artefact that can be used against her.

Stefan and Damon return to Mystic Falls at Sybil's request as she is still in search of the historical artefact. Stefan, Damon, Caroline, Bonnie and Enzo all attend the Miss Mystic Falls pageant where Sybil continues to taunt Damon with memories of Elena.

Sybil enacts revenge on Damon by putting him in a catatonic state. Caroline and Bonnie enter Damon's mind and discover Stefan is the key to Damon's fate. It's a race against time for the bell as both Sybil and her sister Seline jockey for its control.

Cade returns to Mystic Falls and presents Damon and Stefan with additional assignments, each with unthinkable consequences. Even with tension growing in their friendship, Caroline and Matt do their best to protect the residents from Cade's appetite for their souls.

In order to save Stefan's soul, Damon makes a deal with Cade to retrieve the Maxwell journal. Caroline desperately tries to connect with Stefan before Cade goes through with his plan.

Damon and Alaric face an old enemy after finding a weapon that might destroy Cade. Stefan is held captive by a surprising acquaintance and is forced to confront a dark secret from his past. Meanwhile, Cade focuses his attention on Bonnie and digs deep into her mind.

Damon and Stefan must join forces against Cade in order to save Elena's casket. Meanwhile, Caroline and Alaric deal with their daughters' burgeoning magical powers.

A wedding is quickly planned in order for Damon and Stefan to lure a dangerous enemy out into the open. This looming threat puts the fate of Mystic Falls in eminent danger and must be destroyed.

With the fate of Mystic Falls at stake, Stefan and Damon must fight their greatest enemy for one last battle.