The fourth season begins with Elena waking up after her car accident and realizing she died with vampire blood in her system. Now, she must go through the horrible transition to become a vampire or die. Meanwhile, Bonnie tries to change Elena's fate and pays a terrible price for it. (TV Guide)
Stefan believes a stranger in town who questions the sheriff and the mayor is actually a vampire hunter. Meanwhile, Elena tries to cope with the extreme highs and lows that are part of being a vampire; and Jeremy and Matt are surprised to see a girl they used to know enroll at the high school. (TV Guide)
Connor attempts to uncover town secrets and tries to convince Jeremy to help him. Meanwhile, Elena finds it difficult to control her anger when Rebekah arrives at school; and Stefan takes Elena on a fast motorcycle ride to show her that life can still be fun. (TV Guide)
Elena and Damon attend a fraternity costume party, and he gives her a lesson in choosing a victim. Meanwhile, Rebekah tries to buy Matt's forgiveness; and Klaus reveals a 12th-century encounter with a powerful group of vampire hunters. (TV Guide)
Stefan and Klaus form an unusual alliance to deal with the danger that Connor unleashes on the town that includes taking Jeremy, Matt and April hostage. Meanwhile, Shane tries to help Bonnie get past her fear and guilt. (TV Guide)
The annual Miss Mystic Falls Pageant takes place, and Elena and Caroline give April advice on which dress to wear to the event. Meanwhile, Damon tries to uncover Shane's motives; and Jeremy becomes alarmed by vivid nightmares and turns to Matt for help. (TV Guide)
Stefan and Damon visit New Orleans and recall their last trip there in 1942. While there, Damon runs into one of his former flames. Meanwhile, Elena, Caroline and Bonnie share a fun evening together, until Elena reveals some shocking news. (TV Guide)
A winter-theme party is held in Mystic Falls, but amidst the celebration chaos brews when Stefan and Caroline disagree with Tyler over his plans for Klaus and the hybrids. Meanwhile, Klaus makes a discovery that leads to violence; and Elena and Damon go to the Gilbert lake house to help Jeremy conquer some dangerous inner demons. (TV Guide)
Rebekah questions Stefan, Elena and Caroline about the search for a cure. Meanwhile, Bonnie's father suddenly becomes more involved in her life. (TV Guide)
Matt's life is put in danger, while Damon prepares Jeremy to battle Klaus' new vampires. Later, Shane is questioned about the Founders' Council deaths. (TV Guide)
Klaus turns to Stefan for help when Rebekah refuses his plea to stop Kol and protect Jeremy. Meanwhile, Bonnie has a frightening encounter with Kol; and mayor Hopkins cancels a school dance, but Stefan finds a charming way to make it up to a disappointed Rebekah. (TV Guide)
Shane leads an expedition to a mysterious island near Nova Scotia, where he believes he can locate a cure. Back in Mystic Falls, Tyler confronts Klaus, which leads to violence that involves Caroline. (TV Guide)
A stunning piece of information about the cure is revealed, and it raises the stakes for everyone. Meanwhile, Damon has an ugly encounter with one of the five hunters; and Shane is comforted by a woman from his past. (TV Guide)
Caroline worries about Elena's state of mind; Damon gives some somber news to Rebekah and is surprised at her reaction; Bonnie reveals the rest of Shane's plan. (TV Guide)
Elena returns to high school and joins the cheerleading squad, but when she throws a party out of boredom she gets into a nasty fight. Meanwhile, Klaus tries to use Hayley to get some information he is after; and Damon gives Rebekah some unwanted advice. (TV Guide)
Damon takes Elena to New York City, where he recalls his hedonistic life there in the 1970s. Meanwhile, Caroline and Stefan try to convince Klaus that it would be in his own best interest to help them find Silas; and Bonnie struggles to keep her grasp on reality. (TV Guide)
Elena meets Elijah when she searches for Katherine in a small Pennsylvania town. Meanwhile, Stefan reveals his surprising plan for the future; and Klaus gains a new appreciation for Silas' powers. (TV Guide)
Damon and Stefan try helping Elena by going to the prom, but she has an outburst no one anticipated. Meanwhile, Caroline turns to Klaus after blaming Elena for disrupting her perfect prom plans; and Elijah suggests a drastic challenge for Rebekah. (TV Guide)
Damon and Stefan try to get Elena to become more humane, but their approach is brutal. Meanwhile, Caroline experiences a dangerous encounter with Klaus; and Bonnie becomes suspicious when Katherine makes her an offer that supposedly benefits each of them. (TV Guide)
Klaus travels to New Orleans, the city he and his family helped build, when he learns of a plot against him. While there, he reunites with a former protégé who controls all of the human and supernatural inhabitants of the city. Meanwhile, Hayley falls under the spell of a powerful witch in the French Quarter; and Katherine reveals a surprising vulnerability to Rebekah. (TV Guide)
Caroline tries to distract Elena as graduation day approaches, but Elena refuses to be swayed from her new obsession. Meanwhile, patients are attacked at the hospital; and ghosts appear in town when a storm causes an area-wide power outage. (TV Guide)
On graduation day, ghosts overrun the town and try to settle old scores and fulfill their supernatural destinies. Meanwhile, Elena makes a decision about the Salvatore brothers and confronts Katherine; and Stefan discovers a horrifying secret about Silas. (TV Guide)
