The Vampire Diaries: 15 Unforgettable Damon & Elena Moments That Will Leave You Breathless

In the finale of The Vampire Diaries, after eight seasons filled with drama, tension, and a sleeping curse, Damon and Elena's tumultuous love story finally culminated in a happily ever after. Despite the obstacles presented by a love triangle, their journey came full circle as they ended the show together, content and human. Their initial encounter occurred when Damon sought trouble rather than companionship, but their bond carried the series forward, ultimately granting Elena the life she had always yearned for.

What makes the Damon and Elena episodes truly remarkable is that actress Nina Dobrev departed the series in season 6, yet numerous pivotal moments transpired before her exit. Nevertheless, Dobrev reprised her role as Elena in the season finale, affording Damon a gratifying conclusion and neatly tying up their storylines. A comprehensive rewatch centered on Damon and Elena explores the significant milestones in their relationship, encompassing both elation and heartache, featuring an abundance of dances, conflicts, love, and loss.

Season 4, Episode 4: "The Five"

Season 5, Episode 1: "I Know What You Did Last Summer"

In the fourth season of Vampire Diaries, Elena undergoes a transformation into a vampire, necessitating a period of adjustment as she embraces her new role in the world. Fortunately, Damon steps up as a reliable presence, aiding Elena in adapting to her newfound instincts. "The Five," an episode from this season, highlights the significance of Damon's assistance and his unwavering love for Elena. During this episode, Damon provides Elena with guidance on how to satisfy her hunger without causing harm, and their interactions are filled with intense passion, solidifying the notion that Damon and Elena were always destined to be together, rather than Elena and Stefan.

In season 5, the Damon and Elena episodes showcased their profound love for each other. After successfully defeating Silas in season 4, this premiere episode depicted a blissful summer of romance, while Stefan remained trapped at the bottom of the quarry. However, this marked the beginning of a new chapter as Elena embarked on her college journey, leading to a resurgence of turmoil. Nevertheless, amidst the challenges, this episode portrayed the two characters in a joyful and carefree relationship, a rarity in The Vampire Diaries.

Season 6, Episode 22: "I'm Thinking Of You All The While"

Season 5, Episode 3: "Original Sin"

The most challenging period in the Damon and Elena storyline occurred in the sixth season, primarily due to Elena's departure from the show. This season was marked by intense sadness as Elena bid farewell to her loved ones while in a subconscious state, linked to Bonnie. However, she managed to express her heartfelt goodbye to Damon during this time. In a poignant moment, they engaged in a passionate final dance on the very road where they first met, concluding with a loving kiss. It was at that moment that Elena confessed her love for Damon before ultimately parting ways.

The relationship between Damon and Elena on The Vampire Diaries was anything but ordinary. They constantly found themselves in intense arguments, surrounded by drama, and consumed by jealousy due to the ongoing love triangle. However, there were also moments of tranquility that allowed fans to truly appreciate their connection. In the third season episode titled "Original Sin," viewers got a glimpse of what it would be like if Damon and Elena could simply enjoy a peaceful romance. Sadly, their happiness was short-lived when Silas unexpectedly arrived, but for a brief moment, it showcased the happiness and fulfillment Damon and Elena deserved in their lives.

Season 3, Episode 10: "The New Deal"

For a significant portion of the initial three seasons, Damon struggled with his insatiable thirst for blood and his deep affection for Elena. This struggle makes "The New Deal" an episode of great importance in Damon and Elena's love story. During this particular episode, Damon finds himself torn as he debates between his love for his brother and his blossoming love for Elena. After Stefan intervenes to stop the plan to kill Klaus and saves his sibling, Damon resolves to make his move for Elena. Though he admits feeling guilty about it, he finally kisses Elena, and their relationship is propelled into full throttle.

Season 1, Episode 11: "Bloodlines"

Damon and Elena's relationship doesn't have the smoothest beginning. From the moment they meet, Stefan cautions his new girlfriend about his brother's behavior, and Elena is rightfully appalled by Damon's mistreatment of Caroline. However, everything changes in "Bloodlines." Damon rescues Elena from a car accident and invites her on a spontaneous trip to Georgia. During their time together at a bar, they form a genuine bond and begin to truly understand each other. At this stage, their connection is purely based on friendship, but it's a significant turning point for both of them. It's the first time Elena begins to appreciate Damon's true personality and starts to develop feelings for him.

Season 3, Episode 22: "The Departed"

Season 3, Episode 1: "The Birthday"

Damon and Elena spend the entire episode "The Departed" separated, except for one flashback scene. Elena is hurriedly sent out of town by Matt, and she is eventually faced with the difficult decision of choosing between Damon and Stefan. Ultimately, she selects Stefan, but tragically loses her life before they can reunite when she is forced off Wickery Bridge. Although it may not sound like a scenario conducive to a Delena episode, the way it is set up is tremendously significant. Elena reflects that her decision might have been different if she had met Damon first, only to have a flashback reveal that they actually had met, but Damon compelled her to forget. This revelation serves as the first real indication for eager fans that Damon and Elena might actually be endgame, despite the obstacles they face.

The third season kicks off with Damon and Elena embarking on a summer-long mission to find Stefan, who had absconded from the town with Klaus. Despite the seemingly non-romantic nature of this pursuit, their prolonged solitude together has transformed their relationship. Their connection has grown stronger, and Damon has become one of the individuals in whom Elena places the utmost trust. This particular episode brims with powerful moments, such as when Damon presents Elena with her necklace as a birthday present. However, it is the retrospective significance of this event that renders it a true turning point. Subsequently, in the sixth season, Elena discloses that this was when she realized her love for Damon, injecting a fresh layer of tension into the subsequent episodes leading up to their eventual union.

Season 2, Episode 22: "As I Lay Dying"

Damon and Elena's initially uncertain bond appeared to reach its breaking point when Damon, in a state of intoxication and distraught over Elena's rejection, tragically snaps her brother's neck. Normally, this act would be irreversible, but thanks to the protective Gilbert ring worn by Jeremy, he is miraculously revived, and over time, the two manage to mend their friendship. As the second season concludes, Elena's affection for Damon has grown even stronger than before. When faced with the prospect of Damon succumbing to a werewolf bite, she musters the courage to kiss him for the first time. Though this kiss is more of a bittersweet farewell gesture, the episode unequivocally confirms that despite any denials, Elena harbors romantic feelings for her boyfriend's sibling.

Season 3, Episode 19: "Heart Of Darkness"

The palpable tension between Damon and Elena is evident throughout the majority of the third season. With Stefan mostly absent from the picture, Elena battles her increasing attraction to Damon, eventually succumbing to it in the episode "Heart of Darkness." While on a road trip in search of Jeremy and to communicate with Rose on the Other Side, Elena discovers the selfless act Damon performed for Rose in her final days. Overwhelmed by this revelation, she initiates their first passionate embrace in the middle of a motel hallway. This passionate moment marks the culmination of years of unresolved tension, making it one of the most highly anticipated episodes of the show and featuring one of the most acclaimed kisses in the entire series of The Vampire Diaries.

Season 1, Episode 19: "Miss Mystic Falls"

Season 6, Episode 7: "Do You Remember The First Time?"

Elena and Damon establish a genuine friendship just as Stefan's behavior becomes erratic in season 1. Unfortunately, Stefan's timing couldn't be worse as it coincides with the Miss Mystic Falls pageant. Consumed by his bloodlust, Stefan leaves Elena vulnerable to potential humiliation in front of the entire audience. Fortunately, Damon steps up and takes Stefan's place for the dance. This moment marks several notable firsts: Damon's first sincere romantic gesture, the initial clear indication of his and Elena's intense chemistry, and, as Elena confesses to Alaric in season 6, the first time she finds Damon alluring. Above all, this episode highlights the stark contrast between him and Stefan.

Having been exposed to multiple deaths throughout the show, Elena has developed a resistance to dealing with the loss of Damon. Instead, she implores Alaric to erase all memories of their relationship. However, her plan is thwarted when Damon miraculously reappears in Mystic Falls, having escaped from Kai's prison world unscathed. Determined to jog Elena's memory about their deep connection, Damon endeavors to remind her of pivotal moments they shared. This proves to be an emotionally gut-wrenching experience, especially considering the arduous journey they endured to finally be together. Nonetheless, it also yields one of their most profoundly romantic scenes, as Damon reminisces about the time he vowed eternal love to Elena and shared a passionate kiss with her in the pouring rain.

Season 2, Episode 8: "Rose"

Season 4, Episode 23: "Graduation"

Damon's feelings for Elena had been evident long before the events of "Rose," but it is during this particular episode that his emotions are fully laid bare. When Rose and Trevor abduct Elena, Damon willingly teams up with Stefan to rescue her. Stefan confronts Damon, making it abundantly clear that he is aware of his brother's love for Elena. Damon does not deny it, and later, for the first time, he confesses those three significant words to Elena before using his powers to erase her memory of his revelation. This act marks the first instance in the series where Damon acts selflessly, and it serves as a defining moment in his interactions with Elena going forward.

Damon and Elena's relationship becomes even more turbulent once it becomes official. After the revelation of the sire bond and Jeremy's tragic death, it seems unlikely that they will ever have a chance to be together authentically. However, everything changes during "Graduation". As the sire bond is finally broken, Elena affirms that her love for Damon is genuine and chooses him over Stefan. This pivotal moment in the series delivers immense satisfaction to Delena shippers, putting an end to The Vampire Diaries' notorious love triangle and signaling the start of their official relationship.

Season 4, Episode 7: "My Brother's Keeper"

Stefan and Elena's relationship begins to unravel when she undergoes the transformation into a vampire. Ultimately, their journey reaches its conclusion in the episode "We All Go a Little Mad Sometimes" of season 4, paving the way for Damon and Elena to take center stage in "My Brother's Keeper". Elena attributes her breakup to Damon, creating a captivating 40-minute episode laden with intense anticipation. Finally, the stars align and the two succumb to their emotions, despite the complications posed by the revelation of the sire bond. It is a monumental moment as they let go of their suppressed feelings after an extended period of restraint.