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The Best Episodes of The Vampire Diaries Season 2

Every episode of The Vampire Diaries Season 2 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Vampire Diaries Season 2!

Binge this in 15h 37m•Peaking at 9.1/10

The story of two vampire brothers obsessed with the same girl, who bears a striking resemblance to the beautiful but ruthless vampire they knew and loved in 1864.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 21 - The Sun Also Rises
    9.1/10(2920 votes)

    S2:E21

    With the arrival of the full moon, Elena tries to prepare for whatever Klaus has planned and Tyler faces his second transformation. The terrifying events quickly spin out of control, despite an unexpected act of courage. Finally, Damon admits the truth to Stefan about a terrible new development they must face...

    Director:Paul M. Sommers
    Writers:Mike Daniels, Caroline Dries

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  2. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 7 - Masquerade
    9.0/10(3036 votes)

    S2:E7

    Stefan and Damon decide on a new plan to deal with Katherine at the Lockwood’s masquerade ball. Katherine calls on an old friend, Lucy, to attend the ball with her. Bonnie, Jeremy and Alaric all do what they can to help Stefan and Damon, but Katherine has a surprise planned that none of them could foresee. Things take an ugly turn when Matt and Tyler start doing shots with their friends.

    Director:Charles Beeson
    Writers:Kevin Williamson, Julie Plec

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  3. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 1 - The Return
    8.9/10(3358 votes)

    S2:E1

    The second season begins with Elena discovering her uncle John's bloody body and learning Jeremy's fate, and Damon realizing that Katherine has returned. Meanwhile, Caroline is taken to the hospital following a car accident, and Tyler's mysterious uncle Mason arrives in town.

    Director:J. Miller Tobin
    Writers:Kevin Williamson, Julie Plec

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  4. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 22 - As I Lay Dying
    8.9/10(2956 votes)

    S2:E22

    Mystic Falls screens "Gone with The Wind" in the town square, and Damon's memories of Katherine in 1864 mix with the reality of present-day Elena. Stefan pays a steep price after trying to prevent a tragedy, and Sheriff Forbes makes a dangerous mistake while trying to keep everyone safe. Multiple lives hang in the balance as the consequences of the sacrifice ritual play out to a horrifying conclusion.

    Director:John Behring
    Writers:Mike Daniels, Michael Narducci, Turi Meyer, Alfredo Septién

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  5. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 8 - Rose
    8.8/10(2856 votes)

    S2:E8

    An Ancient Presence In Mystic Falls, Stefan and Damon come to Elena’s assistance and, in the process, learn surprising new information about people, vampires and events in the distant past. Jeremy helps Bonnie after she casts a difficult and exhausting spell, and Caroline does what she can to make things easier for Tyler. Finally, Stefan and Damon reach a new understanding.

    Director:Liz Friedlander
    Writer:Brian Young

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  6. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 19 - Klaus
    8.8/10(2655 votes)

    S2:E19

    Stefan and Damon are furious when they discover that Elena has defied them both to make a new ally and take control of the plan to out-maneuver Klaus. Disagreement over how to protect Elena leads to growing tension between the Salvatore brothers. Meanwhile, Stefan has his hands full trying to keep a confused and frightened Jenna safe. Flashbacks to 1491 reveal Katherine’s introduction to Elijah and Klaus, along with the origin of the moonstone curse. Elena learns shocking new information about Klaus’ motives.

    Director:Joshua Butler
    Writers:Kevin Williamson, Julie Plec

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  7. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 18 - The Last Dance
    8.7/10(2453 votes)

    S2:E18

    As the high school prepares to throw a “1960s Decade Dance,” Elena starts receiving disturbing messages from Klaus via an unusual source. Bonnie tries to reassure Jeremy that she is strong enough to help Elena, but a worried Jeremy asks Stefan for advice. Caroline talks Matt into taking her to the dance. Expecting Klaus to show up at the dance, Damon and Alaric attend as chaperones, but Klaus is playing a complicated game that keeps them on edge. Finally, Damon comes up with a new plan of action that shocks and upsets everyone.

    Director:John Behring
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 20 - The Last Day
    8.7/10(2439 votes)

    S2:E20

    Damon is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to prevent Elena from being a victim of Klaus’ plan to break the curse. Damon’s actions put him at terrible odds with Stefan and the tension that started brewing between the brothers over their differing opinions of how to help save Elena’s life blows up into full-scale conflict. Tyler returns to Mystic Falls after receiving a disturbing phone call. With the full moon marking the arrival of the sacrifice ritual, Stefan and Elena spend a romantic day together — afraid it might be their last.

    Director:J. Miller Tobin
    Writers:Brian Young, Andrew Chambliss

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  9. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 5 - Kill or Be Killed
    8.6/10(2530 votes)

    S2:E5

    Tyler learns more about the Lockwood family curse from Mason. Stefan and Damon argue over how to handle Mason. Elena tries to keep Jeremy from becoming more involved with the Lockwood mystery, but Jeremy makes an effort to hang out with Tyler. Mason gives Sheriff Lockwood some startling information, leading to a night of violence, confession and heartbreak.

    Director:Jeff Woolnough
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 6 - Plan B
    8.6/10(2524 votes)

    S2:E6

    Despite Elena’s efforts to keep Jeremy safe, he offers to help Damon and Alaric deal with Katherine... Sheriff Forbes and Caroline share a few rare moments of quality mother/daughter time. Bonnie accidentally discovers new information about Mason and shares it with Stefan, leading Damon to take matters into his own hands.

    Director:John Behring
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 9 - Katerina
    8.5/10(2545 votes)

    S2:E9

    Elena puts herself in a dangerous position as she searches for the truth about Katherine’s past and what her own future may hold. Knowing that Stefan would never agree to her plan, Elena swears Caroline to secrecy. Damon uses a new-found confidant to help him try to discover the real purpose and power of the moonstone. Jeremy and Bonnie meet Luka, a new student with a surprising family history.

    Director:J. Miller Tobin
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 16 - The House Guest
    8.5/10(2307 votes)

    S2:E16

    Katherine’s mind games are getting on everyone’s nerves, but Damon, Stefan and Elena realize that her knowledge of Mystic Falls history will help them stay alive. Frustrated with her relationship with Matt, Caroline finds a new way to get his attention. Alaric makes a surprising confession to Jenna, and Katherine makes a different kind of confession to Damon. Stefan and Bonnie try to convince Jonas and Luka that they should all be working together, but Jonas’ lack of trust leads to a violent and fiery confrontation.

    Director:Michael Katleman
    Writer:Caroline Dries

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  13. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 2 - Brave New World
    8.4/10(2617 votes)

    S2:E2

    When a confused and desperate Caroline leaves the hospital and joins her friends at the Mystic Falls Carnival, Damon wants to take immediate action, but Stefan and Elena come to Caroline’s defense. Matt is completely mystified by Caroline’s behavior, but still tries to tell her about his feelings for her.. Damon has suspicions about Tyler’s Uncle Mason and uses Tyler’s volatile personality in an attempt to get Mason to reveal his secret. Upset with everything going on around her, Bonnie takes her anger out on Damon.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writer:Brian Young

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  14. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 11 - By the Light of the Moon
    8.4/10(2408 votes)

    S2:E11

    As the full moon approaches, Caroline helps Tyler prepare for the transformation he is powerless to stop. While Stefan and Katherine play mind games on one another, Damon and Alaric are suspicious when a stranger named Jules shows up in Mystic Falls, searching for her missing friend, Mason. Elena is frustrated at the lengths Jeremy and her friends have gone to in order to keep her safe. Bonnie and Luca work together on a spell, while still keeping secrets from one another. Finally, Elijah makes an unexpected appearance with an offer that could change everything.

    Director:Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 12 - The Descent
    8.4/10(2558 votes)

    S2:E12

    Stefan has his own ideas about Elena’s new plan for the future. While Damon tries to get the truth out of Jules, he asks Elena to keep an eye on Rose, a situation that turns unexpectedly dangerous. Caroline and Matt try to be honest about their feelings for one another, and Tyler’s reaction to Caroline’s generosity comes as a surprise to her... Damon struggles to hide his true feelings when a life-and-death crisis hits him harder than he expected.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writers:Elizabeth Craft, Sarah Fain

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  16. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 3 - Bad Moon Rising
    8.3/10(2554 votes)

    S2:E3

    Elena, Damon and Alaric take a road trip to Duke University and search through Isobel’s research on folklore and paranormal phenomena to see if they can uncover any clues to the mystery surrounding the Lockwood family. Isobel’s former student, Vanessa offers to guide them through the research and ends up getting quite an education herself. Stefan comes face to face with a terrifying new danger in the woods, and Tyler makes a shocking discovery about Mason.....

    Director:Patrick R. Norris
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 10 - The Sacrifice
    8.3/10(2338 votes)

    S2:E10

    Elena decides to take matters into her own hands and offers a tempting incentive to Rose for her help. When things take an unexpected turn, however, Rose calls on Damon to deal with the plan Elena has set in motion. Jeremy’s reckless attempt to help Bonnie retrieve the moonstone lands him in a life-threatening position and forces Stefan to put himself in danger. Bonnie and Luka form a closer connection. Tyler shows Caroline the Lockwood cellar, where she makes a discovery that leaves them both terrified.

    Director:Ralph Hemecker
    Writer:Caroline Dries

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  18. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 15 - The Dinner Party
    8.3/10(2310 votes)

    S2:E15

    Stefan tells Elena about a dark time in his history and the surprising person whose influence changed everything. After getting the truth out of Luka, Jonas makes his feelings clear to Bonnie and Jeremy. Trying to catch Elijah off-guard, Damon arranges a dinner party for him with Jenna, Alaric and Andie, but last-minute information throws Damon’s plan into chaos.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 17 - Know Thy Enemy
    8.3/10(2313 votes)

    S2:E17

    Elena and Alaric both lash out at John when Isobel’s unexpected arrival leaves Jenna devastated. Bonnie works with Damon and Jeremy to find the spell they’ll need to harness her ancestors’ power. A heartbroken Caroline doesn’t know what to do about Matt. Stefan and Damon realize they have a new secret weapon.

    Director:Wendey Stanzler
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 4 - Memory Lane
    8.1/10(2516 votes)

    S2:E4

    Stefan takes drastic measures to find out the real reason Katherine has returned to Mystic Falls, and is shocked when she reveals new secrets about what really happened in 1864. Damon tries a new tactic to resolve his issues with Mason,.... but it proves costly. Tyler pushes Mason to tell him the truth about the Lockwoods. Finally, when Katherine delivers an ultimatum, Stefan and Elena are left with very few options.

    Director:Rob Hardy
    Writer:Caroline Dries

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  21. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 13 - Daddy Issues
    8.1/10(2299 votes)

    S2:E13

    Johnathan Gilbert’s return to Mystic Falls comes as an unhappy surprise to Elena, Jenna and Damon. Caroline lets Stefan know about her conversation with Tyler, and Stefan does his best to reach out to a confused and conflicted Tyler. Jeremy comforts Bonnie after her disturbing conversation with Jonas... When Jules takes a hostage, the situation quickly escalates into a violent confrontation.

    Director:Joshua Butler
    Writers:Kevin Williamson, Julie Plec

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  22. The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 14 - Crying Wolf
    8.0/10(2326 votes)

    S2:E14

    Stefan and Elena get away for what they hope will be a romantic weekend at the Gilbert family lake house, not realizing that they’ve been followed. Jenna starts to worry that Alaric isn’t being honest with her. Jules explains the importance of the sun and moon curse to Tyler, but leaves out an important detail. Damon attends a tea at the Historical Society in order to talk to Elijah, but Elijah isn’t giving up any secrets. With help from Caroline and Jeremy, Bonnie uses deceptive measures to get shocking new information out of Luka. Finally, Tyler offers Matt some relationship advice.

    Director:David Von Ancken
    Writer:Brian Young

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Season 2 Ratings Summary

"The Sun Also Rises" is the best rated episode of "The Vampire Diaries" season 2. It scored 9.1/10 based on 2920 votes. Directed by Paul M. Sommers and written by Mike Daniels, Caroline Dries, it aired on 5/5/2011. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Masquerade".