The The Originals, over and over, especially considering The Vampire Diaries is still so popular years after it concluded.
The entire series of The Vampire Diaries has been rewatched by loyal fans multiple times over, making it easier for them to pick out the best episodes. Some of them have gone over to Ranker to vote on which episodes will truly go down as the greatest.
Bloodlines (Season 1, Episode 11)
Among the highest ranked episodes, "Bloodlines" is the earliest in show history. There's no doubt that its popularity comes from what it meant for the Delena relationship. Picking up after Elena found out that she's identical to Katherine, Damon rescued her from a stranger following a car accident.
This installment saw the two spend the day together and form their first real bond after Damon spent the previous episodes as a villain. Viewers also got the reveal of Damon being the vampire who killed Isobel, starting up his uneasy relationship with Alaric. For Damon fans, this is must-see TV.
Heart Of Darkness (Season 3, Episode 19)
Speaking of Damon and Elena, things really heated up for them throughout season 3. It all came to a head for Delena in "Heart of Darkness," when Stefan sent them on a trip together so Elena could test if she had feelings for him. She showed that she did as the two engaged in a steamy kiss outside of their hotel room.
As is often the case with this show, there were plenty of other things going on. That included Esther's shocking body swap plan with Rebekah, her ploy to get Alaric to work with her, and Kol constantly threatening the life of Jeremy, making for an exciting hour.
As I Lay Dying (Season 2, Episode 22)
If there's one thing The Vampire Diaries did well, it was end their seasons. The finales were almost always pulse-pounding and intense, with "As I Lay Dying" being slightly different. Most of the action came in the penultimate episode and this one dealt with the emotional fallout.
Damon was on his deathbed following a werewolf bite from Tyler, saying a heartbreaking goodbye to Elena and getting a kiss just before he was saved. Part of what made this episode work so well was that it changed things going forward as Stefan agreed to work with Klaus to save Damon, which drove a huge wedge between himself and Elena.
The Birthday (Season 3, Episode 1)
The immediate follow-up to "As I Lay Dying" was "The Birthday." It set the tone for season 3 as Damon and Elena grew closer while Stefan was off with Klaus. There was hope though as things ended with Stefan calling Elena and she knew it was him despite him not saying a word.
The episode also shined because it set other storylines in motion including Jeremy communicating with the ghosts of his ex-girlfriends, Klaus bonding with Stefan, and Caroline being found out as a vampire by Tyler's mother. It's not a groundbreaking episode but it's an important one during the show's heyday.
Founder's Day (Season 1, Episode 22)
Like season 2, season 1 ended on a high note. The Gilbert device that targets supernatural creatures was used, putting every vampire in harm's way while also revealing that the Lockwood family had secrets of their own. There was also the heartbreaking death of popular ing character Anna.
Bonnie also drew a line in this episode, warning Stefan that she'd kill Damon if he hurt another person, cementing her status as a tough character who cared about human life. The real kicker came right at the end though, as Katherine made her first official appearance by impersonating Elena and cutting off John's fingers.
Masquerade (Season 2, Episode 7)
Katherine's arrival was the main focus of the first third of season 2. She posed a legitimate threat with a past connection to both Salvatore brothers and seemed like Katherine would be the main antagonist for the entire season. So, it was shocking to see everyone come together to fight her in "Masquerade."
This episode is filled with thrilling twists as Elena's friends and family went up against Katherine, only for her to seemingly have backup plans for her backup plans. She was ready for nearly every situation, making for a gripping episode. The fact that she gets beaten only to tease the next battle for the heroes made for a satisfying ending.
The Sun Also Rises (Season 2, Episode 21)
Most of season 2 built up to the big moment of Klaus attempting to break the sun and moon curse, making himself a hybrid. That finally happened in "The Sun Also Rises" but nobody expected it to go the way it did. Right from the start, there were twists as Klaus turned Jenna into a vampire just to sacrifice her in the ritual.
That heartbreaking death was just the tip of the iceberg. This episode also included Jeremy dying, Bonnie working to bring him back (with consequences), the reveal of Damon's werewolf bite, and John sacrificing himself for Elena. It's as tense an episode as you can find and Klaus surviving it set up the future of the franchise.
The Departed (Season 3, Episode 22)
In of pure importance, this was the episode that altered the entire course of the series. It seemed like the show was building toward Elena becoming a vampire for a while and the season 3 finale finally saw it happen, though the audience had no idea that her stunning death came with vampire blood in her system.
The closing shot of her awakening from death is one of the show's most iconic moments. The many storylines of the season came to a head here, including the supposed death of Klaus, only for Bonnie to find a way to keep him alive. "The Departed" wrapped everything up nicely and set the stage for great future stories.
Graduation (Season 4, Episode 22)
Once again, a season finale is among the show's best episodes. "Graduation" marked another changing of the guard for the series as the main characters finished their high school careers and prepared to go to college.
The show had hit a bit of a stumble following the Mikaelsons leaving for their spin-off The Originals but Klaus returned to save Caroline and her friends. He also allowed Tyler to return to Caroline in one of the best moments for Klaroline fans. The twist of Stefan being a Silas doppelgånger ended things with a bang, making for one of the show's best twists.
I Was Feeling Epic (Season 8, Episode 16)
Following the departure of Nina Dobrev, The Vampire Diaries felt a bit odd in its final seasons. Losing your protagonist will do that but the show rebounded well by focusing on the relationship between Stefan and Damon as brothers. Despite the feelings about season 8, there's no doubt that it ended strongly.
The series finale, "I Was Feeling Epic" brought back Katherine as the main villain and featured heartbreaking moments like Stefan's death soon after marrying Caroline. The most touching part came at the end as everyone reunited happily in the afterlife. It was a rare case of a long-running show nailing its final episode.