Despite being off the air for five years, The Vampire Diaries still maintains as well as picks up new viewers through its streamer, Netflix, proving its significant impact on the CW network as well as pop culture in general. At one point, it even held the CW's record for series premiere viewers, amassing 4.8 million. What is it about the series that keeps fans rewatching?
From daggers to compulsion, from neck-snapping to ripping out hearts, The Vampire Diaries is not short on deception and double-crossing. At every moment, many characters are unsure of who to trust, but some betrayals cut deeper than others and are so shocking that fans are still reeling.
Qetsiyah's Betrayal Of Silas & Amara
It could be argued that Qetsiyah was betrayed first, which she was. She was to be married to Silas, but before that could happen he took an immortality elixir and gave the other dose to his real true love, Amara, Qetsiyah's handmaiden. Qetsiyah sought revenge by creating a cure, gave it to Amara, and then killed her, ensuring Silas and Amara could never be together.
The betrayals mixed up in this love triangle are what fueled the fated love story between the doppelgangers. Those who look like Amara and Silas i.e. Stefan and Elena in each lifetime are destined to find each other. Not only is it a monumental betrayal to someone Qetsiyah loved, but it gives insight into a major plotline in the entire series, serving as a kind of prequel.
When Elena Daggers Rebekah
During a scheme to lure Klaus back into town, Elena literally stabs Rebekah in the back with a white oak-dipped dagger because she can't take any chances with Rebekah getting in the way of their plan. As fans have seen, Rebekah will do anything for her family--after all their family motto always and forever is used as a trump card time and time again--and in the end, she can't be trusted.
This moment was such a betrayal because fans saw Rebekah finally warming up to someone outside of her family, itting she just wants to attend a high school dance like a normal teenage girl. It's a sweet but short-lived moment. Elena daggering her is almost the impetus for Rebekah to shut everyone out and blindly follow her brother in future schemes.
When Damon Betrays ... Kind Of Everyone
In the last season, Damon is controlled by the siren Sybil and does much of her evil bidding. While in his head she wants him to prove to everyone that his humanity is switched off and that there is no saving him. He finds the thing that would hurt as many people the most and kills Tyler Lockwood.
Tyler, a significant character since the beginning, is beloved by many of the other main characters. Fans argue that this betrayal was crucial for Damon to prove a point, but it was at the expense of so many others.
When Katherine Betrays Klaus
The betrayal that started it all. In 1492, Katherine betrays Klaus by hanging herself, making it so she is no longer useful in the moonstone ritual.
This moment was so jaw-dropping because the mystery behind how Katherine became a vampire in the first place was built up so well. It reveals a lot about her character in that she's been brave and a survivor since the very beginning. It also reveals a lot about Klaus as he's introduced into the storyline, 500 plus years post Katherine's betrayal. He doesn't forgive and he certainly doesn't forget.
When Caroline Betrays Tyler
In Vampire Diaries season 5, Caroline finally gives in to the romantic tension built up between her and Klaus. While many fans shipped this, this was still a huge betrayal to Tyler.
Klaus turned him into a hybrid, killed his mother, ran him out of town, and threatened to kill him if he ever saw him again. The two were practically sworn enemies and this betrayal cut Tyler deep. He and Caroline never bounced back from this and Tyler never looked at her the same.
When Elijah Betrays Elena
A man so keen on giving and keeping his word, this came as a huge betrayal. At the end of season 2, they had Klaus right where they wanted him. Weak, vulnerable, and easy to kill. But with the promise of seeing their family again, Elijah goes back on his promise and saves Klaus.
This was tragic for all sorts of reasons. Jenna dies for no reason and Klaus escapes their clutches. But Elena and Elijah seem to share an inexplicable understanding and have since the moment they met. They have no reason to trust each other, yet they do. It was unfortunate to see that bond shatter.
When Klaus Betrays His Siblings
In season 3, the audience learns that it was Klaus who actually killed their mother Esther all those years ago, not Mikael. Klaus led his siblings to believe that because their father murdered their mother, they were orphans. All they had was each other.
This was a crucial betrayal because it sets up the Mickaelson children's strong, almost unbreakable family bond, a bond that makes them so powerful and almost impossible to defeat at many different crossroads throughout the series.
When Stefan Kills Enzo
In season 8, Cade gives Stefan the choice of killing 100 people or killing Elena. Because his humanity is turned off and because it would be much easier to kill one, he chooses Elena. Unfortunately, Enzo stands in his way and Stefan rips his heart out.
Though the last few seasons received lesser ratings, The Vampire Diaries' creators did a great job at setting up the Bonnie and Enzo love story, making it all the more tragic when he dies. Bonnie was a champion of Stefan's from the very beginning, which makes this betrayal hurt even more as she watches him rip out Enzo's heart.
When Damon Betrays Bonnie
When Damon decides to take a long nap until Elena can wake, it's both selfish and understandable. On the one hand, he'll cause less trouble, but on the other hand, he makes this decision without saying goodbye to Bonnie, and knowing it means he'll never see her again.
This came as a shocking and heart-breaking betrayal because these two literally fought for the friendship they grew to share. They butt heads from the beginning. It wasn't until they were forced to repeat the same day in another world with only each other that they bonded. They became one of the most heartwarming relationships to watch develop with their brother-sister-like banter, so when Damon is willing to toss it aside without so much as a goodbye, it's devastating.
When Stefan Betrays Elena
With his humanity turned off, Stefan retreats to his old ripper self where all bets are off and no one is safe. In an attempt to call Klaus's bluff, Stefan kidnaps Elena, force-feeds her his blood, and almost drives them off the Wickery Bridge, the same bridge her parents drove off of and died. He knows this of course because he's the one that saved her that night. Talk about adding salt to the wound.
Even though Elena ended up okay and Stefan swore he knew Klaus would submit, this betrayal was as personal as personal gets. Fans argue it's the moment Stefan and Elena's relationship changed. Although this was still during the time Elena hoped to save Stefan, after this incident, she may have never looked at him the same.