What Episode Does Elena Become A Vampire? & 9 Other Important Elena Episodes From The Vampire Diaries
Elena Gilbert has a significant supernatural evolution in The Vampire Diaries, going from human to vampire to human once again. The doppelganger is drawn into the dangerous world of the undead when vampire brothers Stefan and Damon return to Mystic Falls. Conflicted by her feelings for the Salvatores, Elena embarks on passionate affairs with both brothers that result in several life-altering moments.
Elena's relationships with the Salvatores, as well as her mysterious lineage as a Petrova doppelganger, lead to many changes in her life, including her transition into a vampire. Elena's season 4 journey as a new member of the undead remains a vital stage in her ever-increasing journey throughout the series.
10 Becoming A Vampire - "Growing Pains" S4.E1
It seemed inevitable from the beginning of The Vampire Diaries that Elena would eventually become a vampire. The series heroine perishes in season 3's finale "The Departed" after crashing into the watery depths below Wickery Bridge. Elena dies with Damon's blood in her system, triggering her transition.
The first episode of season 4, "Growing Pains," features Elena coming to terms with her transformation. Against Bonnie's efforts, the doppelganger is forced to drink human blood and complete her change into one of the undead.
9 Meeting Stefan - "Pilot" S1.E1
Elena's life changes forever when she meets Stefan Salvatore in the pilot episode. Still reeling from the death of her parents, the doppelganger is drawn to the mysterious new student at Mystic Falls High and immediately becomes enamored with him.
Her relationship with Stefan alters the course of the show. While not an endgame pairing, Elena's romance with Stefan helps her to mourn the past and embrace the future.
8 Discovering The Truth About Vampires - "Lost Girls" S1.E6
Elena learns the truth about her new beau during season 1's "Lost Girls." After confronting Stefan, the vampire relents and tells her about his history as a vampire, as well as revealing Damon's culpability in the town's recent murders.
Initially, Elena struggles to see past Stefan's true nature. But she eventually comes to terms with Stefan's undead status in time to deal with the consequences of Damon turning Vicki into a vampire.
7 Jenna's Death - "The Sun Also Rises" S2.E21
Elena tragically loses an integral person in her life during the moonstone ritual in season 2. After living in fear of Klaus for most of the season, she is sacrificed by the Original hybrid to break the curse that restricts his werewolf heritage.
During the ritual, Klaus turns Elena's aunt Jenna into a vampire before staking her to death in sacrifice. This heart-wrenching moment is one of TVD's saddest moments, depriving Elena of a beloved parental figure.
6 Gives Into Her Feelings For Damon - "Heart Of Darkness" S3.E19
Despite initially falling in love with Stefan, Elena struggles with her feelings for both Salvatore brothers throughout the first half of the series. During a road trip to Denver to see Jeremy, Elena gives in to her feelings for Damon and engages the vampire in a steamy motel make-out session.
Although this isn't Elena's first kiss with Damon, it represents her acting on her feelings and taking matters into her own hands. She initiates her encounter with Damon and allows herself to give in to emotions for the elder Salvatore.
5 Turning Off Her Humanity - "Stand By Me" S4.E15
Elena's world is rocked by grief once again during the fourth season of The Vampire Diaries. Katherine ambushes the group and kills Jeremy by feeding him to Silas before fleeing with the cure. Broken by the death of her brother, Elena turns her humanity off at Damon's behest.
"Stand By Me" explores the relationship between the Gilbert siblings. Elena breaks down after accepting the reality of Jeremy's death, before chillingly burning their house to the ground after shutting out her emotions.
4 Leaving High School - "Graduation" S4.E23
True to form for Mystic Falls, Elena's graduation is anything but uneventful. With her humanity back and the sire bond broken, the doppelganger and her friends move on to battle a series of vengeful ghosts while the veil to the Other Side is lowered.
Elena's time at high school concludes with an epic showdown against Katherine that sees the older vampire ingest the cure. The episode culminates with Elena choosing Damon, both of them oblivious to the return of Silas.
3 Taking The Cure - "I'd Leave My Happy Home For You" S6.E20
Elena accepts life as a vampire but never stops longing for her humanity. In season 6's "I'd Leave My Happy Home For You," she finally gets what she wants when Damon agrees to take the cure with her, giving up his vampirism to pursue a human life.
The couple takes time to enjoy the benefits of being a vampire one last time before embarking on the next stage of their life together. Elena takes the cure and becomes human again — but their happy ending is soon postponed.
2 Elena's Enchanted Coma Begins - "I'm Thinking Of You All The While" S6.E22
The real-life departure of actress Nina Dobrev led to Elena's character being written into a cursed coma in the season 6 finale. Kai's spell tethers Elena's life to her best friend Bonnie, preventing the doppelganger from waking up while the Bennett witch lives.
Elena shares emotional goodbyes with her loved ones before being left to sleep in a coffin, including a final dance with Damon on the road where they met.
1 Reuniting With Her Loved Ones - "I Was Feeling Epic" S8.E16
Elena awakens from her enchanted sleep during the series finale "I Was Feeling Epic." Mystic Falls is saved from hellfire when Bonnie and the spirits of the Bennett witches assemble to protect the town. Empowered by the impressive feat, Bonnie finally breaks Kai's curse, causing Elena to wake up at last.
She reunites with Damon and lives to lead a normal life with her human lover. "I Was Feeling Epic" gives a suitable conclusion to Elena's journey, including a reunion with her parents in the afterlife. Along with her transition into a vampire in "Growing Pains," the finale remains one of Elena's strongest episodes from the series.