In the series opener, Virginia high-schooler Elena falls for a new student, who is actually a centuries-old vampire struggling to live peacefully among humans. Their budding relationship is threatened when his evil vampire brother arrives in town and tries to capture Elena's heart for himself. (TV Guide)
Vicki recovers in the hospital from an attack and begins to remember what happened, but Stefan tries to prevent her from recalling what actually occurred. Meanwhile, Elena meets Damon, who reveals to her some surprising secrets about Stefan's past; and Jeremy struggles with his feelings for Vicki. (TV Guide)
Stefan joins the football team after an impressive athletic display. Elsewhere, Elena invites Stefan and Bonnie to dinner in hopes that they will bond, but Damon disrupts the evening with an unexpected visit; an act of violence shocks the town. (TV Guide)
Stefan escorts Elena to the town's annual Founder's Party, where Damon tells her a surprising story about his family's past. It prompts Elena to ask Stefan questions he refuses to answer and forces him to take action against his brother. (TV Guide)
A stranger tells Elena that he recognizes Stefan from 1953 when Stefan's uncle was killed by a wild animal. The revelation sends her searching for the truth. Meanwhile, Damon tries to lure Caroline to the dungeon Stefan trapped him in so she can free him, and Bonnie discovers psychic powers she didn't know she possessed. (TV Guide)
Stefan is forced to tell Elena he is a vampire, and he reveals his family's history to her and how his rivalry with Damon began. Meanwhile, Damon considers turning Vicki into a vampire and he threatens to harm Elena if Stefan doesn't return his ring that protects him from the sun. Meanwhile, the sheriff and mayor take action to protect Mystic Falls from further violence, but it only leads to more of it. (TV Guide)
Vampire Vicki turns the school's Halloween haunted house into a truly terrifying experience when she can't control her urge for blood. Meanwhile, Damon is surprised by Bonnie's psychic abilities when he tries to take back a necklace she's wearing that belongs to him. (TV Guide)
An old friend visits Stefan on his birthday and she gives Elena some insight into dating him. Meanwhile, Caroline attempts to get Damon's medallion back from Bonnie, and Damon offers to help Sheriff Forbes, which leads to tragedy. (TV Guide)
Damon reveals to Stefan the actual reason why he returned to Mystic Falls and the news stuns Stefan. Meanwhile, Bonnie is disturbed by terrifying dreams about one of her ancestors, and she and Caroline hold a séance. And Jeremy introduces his new history teacher to his aunt Jenna. (TV Guide)
Damon learns another vampire is in town when a body drained of its blood is discovered, and he searches for the person. Meanwhile, Elena confesses her love for Stefan and persuades him to stay in Mystic Falls, but she also makes a devastating discovery that adversely affects her relationship with him; and Jeremy resumes a hobby of drawing fantasy creatures that he had abandoned after his parents died. (TV Guide)
Damon rescues Elena from a car accident and takes her to Georgia. While there, he surprises an old flame, but he's confronted by someone who attempts to make him pay for past wrongdoings. Meanwhile, Bonnie fears she is losing her powers, and Jeremy meets a cute girl who believes vampires are present in Mystic Falls. (TV Guide)
Stefan and Damon attempt to learn the identity of a new vampire who is threatening Elena, and they accompany her to a school dance with a 1950s theme where they hope to lure the vampire. Meanwhile, Matt begins working at the Mystic Grill to earn extra cash, and Anna tries to gain possession of the journal that belonged to Jeremy's ancestor. (TV Guide)
Stefan and Damon recall how their father became a vampire hunter in 1864, targeting Katherine and damaging the brothers' relationship. And Stefan confronts Alaric over why he's in Mystic Falls. Meanwhile, Bonnie learns the truth about Ben, and Anna searches for the Gilbert journal that holds the secret to opening Katherine's tomb. (TV Guide)
Bonnie and Grams attempt to open the mysterious tomb that Damon believes has confined Katherine for the past 145 years. Meanwhile, Anna threatens to kill Jeremy if Stefan doesn't help her get her mother out of the tomb, and Damon learns a devastating secret about Katherine. (TV Guide)
Matt's mother appears unexpectedly; Damon takes part in a fund-raising bachelor raffle; Elena searches for information about her birth mother; Alaric confronts Damon about his late wife. (TV Guide)
Elena and Stefan go on an awkward double date with Caroline and Matt; Anna brings her vampire mother to visit Damon; Jeremy cuts himself to see if Anna will reveal herself to be a vampire; and Damon tries to seduce Matt's mother. (TV Guide)
Stefan and Damon face a dangerous new enemy. The encounter leads to a perilous situation for Stefan, and Elena tries to get Alaric to help. Meanwhile, Caroline makes a shocking discovery when her car breaks down during a storm; and Matt's mom visits, giving him hope that she will stay for good. (TV Guide)
Elena and Jeremy receive a surprise visit from an uncle who controls their estate, and he has a violent encounter with Damon. Meanwhile, Stefan struggles to resist drinking human blood to gain strength, and he gets drunk at a Founders Day event, where Matt and Tyler get into a fight. (TV Guide)
Elena and Caroline compete for the title of Miss Mystic Falls during the Founder's Day Gala. Meanwhile, Stefan's need for human blood continues to consume him and he kidnaps a girl from the gala to feed upon her; and Damon learns John Gilbert is seeking a mysterious device created in 1864 that Pearl has in her possession. (TV Guide)
Elena learns the truth about how Stefan and Damon became vampires back in 1864, and Stefan struggles with whether he wants to continue to live. Meanwhile, Pearl decides to move away from Mystic Falls after a nasty confrontation with Johnathan Gilbert, but Anna refuses to go with her. (TV Guide)
Alaric's vampire wife Isobel returns to town and demands a meeting with her daughter Elena in order to gain access to a mysterious device that can allegedly harm vampires. To ensure that Elena cooperates, Isobel kidnaps Jeremy and threatens to kill him. (TV Guide)
The first season concludes with a Founder's Day celebration that ends in destruction and death because of a plan set in motion by Johnathan Gilbert to kill all of the town's vampires. Meanwhile, Elena tries to repair her relationship with Jeremy, but he refuses to listen to her and considers Anna's offer to become a vampire. (TV Guide)
