As Damon’s behavior escalates from destructive to deadly, Stefan begins to regret their last conversation and decides to track Damon down and intervene. For reasons of her own, Elena volunteers to come along. Dr. Wes enlists the Travelers to set a trap that will once again test Damon’s friendship with Enzo. After a heart-to-heart talk with Nadia, Matt enlists Caroline and Tyler’s help to protect Elena, leading to a violent confrontation. Later, when Stefan tries to comfort a dejected Caroline, their conversation leads to a horrifying realization.

The episode was rated 7.87 from 1024 votes.

Damon realizes Elena is in danger and enlists Stefan’s help to find her. The brothers pay a visit to Aaron, and Damon shocks Stefan by revealing his first-hand knowledge of Aaron’s family. In an attempt to stop Damon, Dr. Wes unleashes his secret weapon, forcing Damon to deal with a part of his past he thought was gone forever. Meanwhile, Elena is horrified by Dr. Wes’ confessions about the dark history of Whitmore College and his own ultimate goal. Finally, a frantic Katherine turns to Matt for help, until she realizes that Nadia may be the one who can solve her problem.

The episode was rated 7.90 from 1041 votes.

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 Whitmore student gives Elena some information about Professor Wes Maxfield. While Jeremy struggles to return to his old life, he continues to be the only person who can see and talk to Bonnie. After learning that Silas is searching for Katherine, Damon asks Matt and Jeremy to keep her out of sight. Finally, Nadia uses violence to make a point about her own agenda.

The episode was rated 7.91 from 1109 votes.

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. At Elena's request, Damon comes up with an effective method to get Wes to answer his questions. Meanwhile, Katherine does a favor for Matt and manages to get through to Stefan, who is still struggling to overcome the events of the summer. Finally, Bonnie does her best to cope with her new reality, and Damon makes a terrifying discovery about a secret society.

The episode was rated 7.92 from 1017 votes.

While Mystic Falls observes its traditional Remembrance Day to honor the dead, Damon and Elena try to help Stefan through a confusing time, a task that ends up taking Elena on an emotional journey of her own. A worried Matt tries to figure out the reason behind his mysterious blackouts, and Caroline makes an effort to get to know Jesse better. Jeremy makes a startling confession that hits Damon hard. Finally, Dr. Maxfield puts a plan in motion that will change everything.

The episode was rated 7.97 from 1078 votes.

While Elena and Damon try to explain Amara’s situation to Stefan, Dr. Wes gives Katherine some deeply disturbing news. Nadia shows up at Caroline’s dorm room, searching for Katherine. After a surprising conversation with Amara, Jeremy and Bonnie share a glimmer of hope. 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.

The episode was rated 7.99 from 1034 votes.

Stefan continues to offer Katherine his support while trying to mask his own pain, until Caroline shows up with an unusual form of therapy. After trying to make amends with Caroline, Elena grows so concerned about Damon that she turns to Aaron for help. Later, when Damon tells Elena about a terrible ordeal in his past that he has kept secret for decades, she shares the disturbing information she just learned about her own family. Finally, Aaron decides on a desperate course of action after a conversation with Dr. Wes.

The episode was rated 8.00 from 1031 votes.

On campus, Elena is touched by a sad and secretive student named Aaron. Elena and Damon attend the Whitmore Historical Ball dressed as Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. At the Ball, Elena shares a dance with Dr. Maxfield, who has a disturbing message for her. Caroline's evening at the Ball takes her from happiness to heartbreak. Meanwhile, Nadia reveals her surprising history to Katherine, and Damon tries to make a deal with Silas. Silas' demand that Damon commit an unthinkable act leads to a violent confrontation.

The episode was rated 8.00 from 1053 votes.

When Elena and Katherine have the same dream that Stefan is in danger, they convince Damon to help them find him. However, their plans are thwarted by a mysterious young woman named Tessa who seems to know everything about Stefan's history, and has a disturbing message for Damon about his own future. Silas forces an unwilling accomplice to help him search for Katherine, leading to a confusing and life-threatening situation for Matt. Finally, Silas reveals the reason he's determined to find Katherine, and Damon and Elena face a new reality.

The episode was rated 8.02 from 1099 votes.

Silas happily announces his new goal to Damon and Elena, but they are skeptical when he promises to accomplish one important task in return for their help. A desperate Katherine discovers a new and unexpected consequence of becoming human again, and realizes she needs a new place to stay. In exchange for a spot in the dorm room, she offers to show Caroline how to get answers from Dr. Maxfield. Bonnie is touched by Jeremy’s strength and determination to stand by her. Tessa tells Stefan about her next move, and Damon is stunned when he figures out the secret to her plan.

The episode was rated 8.03 from 1052 votes.

After spending the summer enjoying her relationship with Damon and making sure that Jeremy is adjusting to his new life, Elena moves into the dorm at Whitmore College with her new roommate, Caroline, still believing that Bonnie has been traveling all summer and will soon join them. Katherine makes an unexpected appearance at the Salvatore house. Matt and Rebekah return to Mystic Falls after spending a wild summer in Europe, where they met a mysterious beauty named Nadia. 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.

The episode was rated 8.05 from 1276 votes.

While Nadia remembers her centuries-long search for her mother, Stefan, Caroline and Matt come up with a desperate new plan to save Elena’s life. For the second time, Bonnie and Jeremy must turn to Liv for help. Damon baits Tyler into a nasty confrontation, then takes off to seek revenge on Dr. Wes. Caroline and Tyler come to a new understanding. Finally, Bonnie learns of a terrifying secret that will threaten the lives of all her friends.

The episode was rated 8.07 from 1070 votes.

Katherine remembers the traumatic night in 1490 when she gave birth to the daughter who was immediately taken from her. Stefan lets Elena, Caroline and Bonnie know that Katherine’s health has taken a turn for the worse, while Damon Matt and Jeremy discuss some of Katherine’s most notorious moments. Nadia comes up with a plan to protect her mother, and Stefan and Elena are forced to help her. Caroline is mortified when she realizes she forgot to fill Elena in on the latest shocking gossip. Finally, Elena and Katherine share an unexpected moment of connection.

The episode was rated 8.12 from 1100 votes.

When Stefan and Elena escape from Markos’ control, only to find themselves stranded in a remote location, Stefan gets philosophical with Elena about her relationship with Damon. After their attempt to protect the dopplegangers goes badly, Liv and Luke come up with a dangerous new strategy. Damon recruits Matt and Jeremy to help him set a trap for Markos. Bonnie admits to Caroline that she’s been keeping the truth about the Other Side from everyone, as she searches desperately for a way to stop Markos. Caroline is witness to an unthinkable act of violence by one of the Travelers.

The episode was rated 8.12 from 1031 votes.

Heartbroken by an unexpected tragedy, Damon pushes Bonnie harder than ever to find a way to stop the disintegration of the Other Side. Elena takes matters into her own hands and demands that Liv and Luke help her, but Liv refuses to cooperate until Caroline provides her with some personal motivation. Sheriff Forbes is horrified when Markos uses violence against Tyler/Julian to prove that Mystic Falls is now under the control of the Travelers. As conditions on the Other Side worsen, Bonnie takes the opportunity to settle an old score. Damon comes up with a dangerous plan that relies on split-second timing from Jeremy and Matt, and and everyone is caught up in the confusion when the plan causes a massive explosion in Mystic Falls.

The episode was rated 8.30 from 1108 votes.