Over the course of its eight seasons, CW's The Vampire Diaries went in new and interesting directions. However, despite some quality moments in later seasons, the show peaked in Season 2, when it dropped more bodies than The Ripper and took characters both new and old in interesting directions.
Here's why The Vampire Diaries Season 2 -- which saw the Originals/Mikaelsons take center stage -- remains the show's best outing.
Enter the Originals
The Vampire Diaries Season 2 saw the introduction of the Originals, who are the first vampires and quickly made everyone else on the show look completely out of their depth. Within his first 15 minutes on screen, Elijah Mikaelson slapped the head off a very old and powerful vampire and removed a stake from his own heart. Later, when Klaus Mikaelson entered, he proved himself equally as deadly, and the show established that the Originals were not a group with which to be trifled.
The introduction of the Originals also worked to further flesh out Katherine, providing a tragic backstory that explained the evil of which she was capable. This helped give Katherine a richer motivation and led to better storytelling for the series as a whole. Overall, the Originals were the best villains The Vampire Diaries ever had, and no one who came after matched them.
Characters Grow in The Vampire Diaries Season 2
Very early into Season 2, Caroline became a vampire, finally making her part of the main storyline. This transformation helped Caroline grow past the antiquated dumb-blonde stereotype she was in Season 1 and become a major player in the story. Season 2 also did something similar for Tyler Lockwood when he was revealed as a werewolf. Even though he never became as important as Caroline, the threat of a werewolf provided credibility to the hype around an original hybrid lurking around somewhere.
Despite everything that was going on in the show's second season, The Vampire Diaries also provided some real growth for Damon and Bonnie. In the first season, Damon was something of a brooding third wheel. However, Season 2 changed him into an active participant in the goings on around him. This time around, Damon had a purpose, and he wasn't looking to hold back. Bonnie, for her part, spent a lot of time discovering herself in Season 2, turning herself into someone who could take down the Mikaelsons if need be. Season 2 puts both of them through the grinder and they come out better on the other side.
The Vampire Diaries Season 2 also fleshed out the show's human characters instead of using them as props. This ultimately worked in the show's favor and resulted in some pretty major deaths. Rose died to prove werewolves were dangerous, leading to a dream sequence that was as haunting as it was beautiful. John, for this part, tragically sacrificed himself to save Elena. Finally, Aunt Jenna died a sadistic, cruel and heartbreaking death at the hands of Klaus that fit perfectly with the series while making viewers want to see him pay for his crimes.
The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Was Full of Twists
The Vampire Diaries Season 2 was filled with great twists. Nearly every episode had a cliffhanger, and the twists and turns were genuinely shocking. Every character worked their own angle, and it all fit together. Season 2 not only had the mystery of a supernatural thriller but also many a moments that made it so human and tragic. The Vampire Diaries was the show's drama at its absolute best, and remains a key reason Season 2 is the series' best outing.
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