The Vampire Diaries: A Passionate Journey of Love and Redemption - Damon & Elena's Epic Relationship Unveiled, Season By Season

The relationship between Damon and Elena in The Vampire Diaries was the main focus of the show. Their will-they-or-won't-they story line drove the plot, even when one of them was believed to be dead. Initially, the show revolved around a love story between a human girl, Elena, and a vampire named Stefan. However, it was when Elena fell in love with Damon, Stefan's brother, that things really took off and the show became a beloved supernatural hit. Despite their romance, Damon and Elena often had difficulties understanding each other.

Damon was an ancient vampire who had lived for over a century, while Elena was a teenage girl who resembled his former lover, Katherine. Elena longed for Damon's love and wanted him to abandon his dark past filled with murder and revenge. However, their journey was obstructed by various obstacles such as werewolves, curses, and even traveling witches, causing their love story to sometimes take tragic turns. Even when Elena died, it seemed like they would never be able to have a happy ending. However, in the end, Elena returned and their love story had a fitting conclusion, although it was filled with many surprising twists and turns.

Before Season 1

In relation to the Damon and Elena relationship in I Vampire Diaries, the foundations were established prior to the show's premiere. Throughout the series, Elena frequently expressed that had she encountered Damon before Stefan, she might have chosen him. What adds an ironic twist to this notion is that she had indeed met him before, unbeknownst to her. This fact was revealed in a poignant flashback during the season 3 finale titled "The Departed." At that critical moment, with Elena's life hanging by a thread, Damon was desperately racing against time, desperately trying to find a way to save her.

Season 1, Episode 2: "Night Of The Comet" - Season 1, Episode 10: "The Turning Point"

This is when he recalled their initial encounter - it also clarified how Damon recognized Elena when they first met at the Salvatore Boarding House in season one. On the fateful night of Elena's parents' demise, she crossed paths with Damon on the deserted road, and he initially confused her with Katherine. Expressing his desire for a love that was both passionate and slightly perilous, he nonetheless wanted Elena to pursue her own desires. As he departed, he ensured that their encounter would be erased from her memory.

Initially, Damon's feelings for Elena were far from the intense love they eventually became. In fact, when they first crossed paths on the show, Damon had no qualms about letting her meet her demise on multiple occasions. His sole focus was on extracting Katherine from the tomb, neglecting any other considerations. However, circumstances took a turn when he discovered Katherine had already been liberated. The moment Damon encountered Elena in the second episode, he recognized her true identity immediately. However, it took two seasons for viewers to comprehend why he could distinguish Elena from Katherine. Nonetheless, during that period, Elena was involved with Stefan while Damon mostly lingered on the periphery.

Season 1, Episode 11: "Bloodlines" - Season 1, Episode 19: "Miss Mystic Falls"

The turning point in Damon and Elena's relationship occurred during the 11th episode of season 1. Elena stumbled upon a photo that revealed her striking resemblance to Katherine, which led to her chance encounter with a hooded man. Despite the initial fright, this encounter allowed Damon and Elena to engage in deeper conversations and connect on a personal level. Damon then introduced her to his witch friend Bree, resulting in a successful outing. However, their happiness was short-lived as Elena was kidnapped as a means of revenge against Damon for a past killing.

This incident prompted both Damon and Stefan to join forces in protecting Elena. However, Damon was still determined to free Katherine from the tomb. Meanwhile, Stefan had been hiding his consumption of human blood, which came to light during the Miss Mystic Falls Pageant. Damon stepped in as Elena's date, initiating the full-blown love triangle. Damon's support and presence for Elena during this event proved to be unlike anything she had experienced before, and this became a crucial moment in shaping their future.

Season 1, Episode 22: "Founder's Day" - Season 2, Episode 8: "Rose"

During the second season of The Vampire Diaries, Damon's feelings for Elena become evident as he confesses that he has fallen in love with his brother's girlfriend. However, their journey began with a mistaken kiss. In the finale of season 1, Damon mistakenly believed he was kissing Elena when it was actually Katherine. When Damon confronted Elena about the kiss, she had no knowledge of what he was referring to and rejected his advances. This resulted in Damon losing control and ending their friendship by killing Jeremy. Although they began to reconcile, a new twist emerged when Caroline was transformed into a vampire. Elena defended Caroline's right to live as a vampire, fueling further tension between Damon and Elena.

Their strained relationship caused significant drama until the episode titled "Rose." During this episode, Elena is kidnapped by Rose and Trevor, leading Damon to ally with his brother Stefan to rescue her. Once rescued, Elena expresses her gratitude towards the brothers, and it is in this moment that Damon declares his love for Elena for the first time. However, he immediately uses his abilities to erase the memory from her mind. This pivotal moment marked a turning point in their relationship as Damon started treating Elena differently, forever altering the course of their connection.

Season 2, Episode 9: "Katerina" - Season 2, Episode 22: "As I Lay Dying"

Damon, after initially revealing his intentions and then keeping them hidden, made a commitment to protect Elena at any cost. Elena came to understand that Damon knew Bonnie's death was necessary, which angered her, but Damon reassured her that he would always choose Elena's well-being over others. This significant moment deepened Elena's understanding of Damon's emotions. However, this decision ultimately led Damon to make a life-altering choice for Elena. Upon discovering that Klaus intended to kill Elena for a ritual, Damon ensured her survival by having her consume his blood so she could come back to life as a vampire.

Nevertheless, when Elena does come back to life, she doesn't transition as expected, leading Damon to seek her forgiveness. However, unbeknownst to Elena, Damon was suffering from a fatal werewolf bite. As Elena tries to assist him, Damon experiences hallucinations and inadvertently attacks Elena. Despite this unforeseen consequence, everything turns out for the best. Elena takes Damon to care for him, and during this time, he admits his love for her once again. Elena confesses that she may have preferred him as a human, but now acknowledges her feelings for him. Damon and Elena share a passionate kiss, believing that Damon's death is imminent. However, Stefan sacrifices himself to Klaus as part of a deal for a cure, and Katherine delivers it just in time.

Season 3, Episode 1: "The Birthday" - Season 3, Episode 22: "The Departed"

Season 3 showcases Damon and Elena's opportunity to shine as a couple. With Stefan's absence, they work together to rescue him from the clutches of Klaus. As their hope diminishes, their bond strengthens, leading to an intense moment of passion when they share a remarkable kiss in the episode "Heart of Darkness."

Their connection becomes a source of conflict, as it feels like a betrayal to Stefan, and Elena struggles to suppress her feelings for Damon. Eventually, their emotions come to the surface at the same time Stefan begins returning to his true self. Despite all that has transpired between Damon and Elena, she chooses to be with Stefan just before a life-threatening event at Wickery Bridge in the season finale "The Departed." This time, Elena is saved from drowning by Meredith's vampire blood, and she awakens in transition.

Season 4, Episode 1: "Growing Pains" - Season 4, Episode 23: "Graduation"

In the opening minute of Season 4 of The Vampire Diaries, Elena makes a shocking revelation - she had Damon's blood in her system when she died. This twist not only adds a breath of fresh air to the storyline, but it also highlights Damon's unwavering love for Elena. As a vampire, Elena undergoes a drastic transformation, leading her to leave Stefan in favor of his brother. However, the show refuses to simply give fans what they desire, as it is soon revealed that Elena is bound to Damon after their intimate encounter.

Damon begins to question Elena's affection for him, which wasn't surprising considering his initial skepticism. Following Jeremy's death, Elena's emotions are shut down, complicating the distinction between reality and illusion. It is only at the culmination of the season that the truth is finally exposed. In a beloved scene among fans, Elena declares her love for Damon once the sire bond is broken. Their intimate moment by the fireplace remains one of the most memorable instances in the entire show, solidifying the resolution of The Vampire Diaries' love triangle.

Season 5, Episode 1: "I Know What You Did Last Summer" - Season 5, Episode 22: "Home"

Damon and Elena finally became an official couple in The Vampire Diaries Season 5, after many years of longing. Their newfound relationship felt both surreal and completely organic. At the beginning of the season, they reveled in the bliss of their passionate romance, spending a memorable summer together. However, their happiness was soon disrupted as Elena headed off to college in Mystic Falls, while Damon remained behind. This separation proved to be a challenge as Stefan, returning as Silas, manipulated Elena into attempting to kill Damon, revealing the inherent danger they faced when apart.

But despite their deep love for each other, Damon and Elena's relationship is never smooth sailing. After Damon rescued Silas/Stefan, he discovered that the universe was conspiring to reunite Elena with Stefan, in order to keep her away from Damon. The tension reached its peak in "While You Were Sleeping" and "Rescue Me," where Elena lost control and Damon had to resort to killing to save her from herself. This ultimately led to their breakup, although it was not permanent. In the season finale, Damon sacrificed himself after Elena professed her love to him, and he crossed over to the other side while she remained alive, feeling utterly alone.

Season 6, Episode 1: "I'll Remember" - Season 6, Episode 6: "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get"

Elena, devastated by Damon's loss, persuaded Lucas to provide her with special herbs that would induce hallucinations of him. As time went on, this became insufficient, leading Elena to beseech Alaric to compel her to forget her love for Damon. Unbeknownst to all, Damon and Bonnie weren't deceased; instead, they were trapped in a prison world. This presented a predicament because Elena only lost her memory of Damon's love, recalling him solely as a malevolent individual. Upon Damon's return, he embarked on a quest to locate Elena and rekindle her recollection of their past.

Season 6, Episode 7: "Do You Remember The First Time" - Season 6, Episode 22: "I'm Thinking Of You All The While"

In the latter part of season 6, Damon and Elena made efforts to rekindle their love. The focus was on Elena's desire to regain her memories, which Damon supported by giving her the necessary time. This season also showcased Damon's growing altruism as he embarked on a mission to rescue Bonnie, believing in his capability to become a better person. Elena eventually decides to create new memories with Damon, leading them to once again experience both conflicts and love. The culmination of their journey came in the episode "I'd Leave My Happy Home For You," where Elena finally recovers her memories, albeit nearly too late.

In the penultimate episode, "I'll Wed You In The Golden Summertime," Alaric and Jo's wedding brings Elena and Bonnie together to support the couple. Stefan and Damon also begin to find common ground once again. It seemed like Damon and Elena, along with the other characters, were finally reaching a harmonious point in their lives. Damon even contemplates a life as a human, making a life-changing decision. However, the joyful occasion takes a tragic turn when Jo is stabbed during her vows, prompting Kai to launch an attack on the wedding hall. As a result, Elena succumbs to a deep coma, leaving fans of Damon and Elena's relationship heartbroken.

The two shared a final moment together, filled with intense emotions as Elena bid farewell to her loved ones in her subconscious. Damon joined her in a heartfelt dance that culminated in a passionate kiss. With tearful eyes, Elena confessed her love for Damon before embarking on her journey to the other side. To honor her memory, Damon and Stefan carefully laid Elena to rest in a crypt, marking the bittersweet conclusion of the Damon and Elena love story within the Vampire Diaries. This farewell took on even greater significance as it coincided with Nina Dobrev's departure from the show.

Season 8 - Damon And Elena Live Happily Ever After As Humans

The relationship between Damon and Elena in The Vampire Diaries wasn't over yet. Despite not making any appearances in the final season, Elena played a significant role. Damon's memories were manipulated by Sybil, causing him to forget about Elena. However, his love for her was indomitable and couldn't be wiped out. When Bonnie died, Elena had the chance to return, and when Bonnie broke the spell, Damon and Elena were reunited once again.

They both chose to take the cure, fulfilling Elena's long-held desire to regain her humanity. In a heartwarming flash-forward, Damon and Elena were seen hand in hand in the afterlife, symbolized by Elena wearing a wedding ring. While they didn't make further appearances in any spin-offs, their existence was acknowledged in Legacies, where it was revealed that they lived together and provided temporary shelter to Josie.