Skip to content

Top Navigation

EW.com EW.com
    • All TV
    • TV Reviews
    • TV Reunions
    • Recaps
    • What to Watch
    • Winter TV
    • Comedy
    • Crime
    • Drama
    • Family
    • Horror
    • Reality
    • Sci-fi
    • Thriller
    • All Movies
    • Movie Reviews
    • Trailers
    • Film Festivals
    • Movie Reunions
    • Movie Previews
    • All Music
    • Music Reviews
    • All What to Watch
    • What to Watch Podcast Episodes
    • TV Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • All BINGE
    • EW's Binge Podcast Episodes
    • Recaps
    • Survivor
    • This is Us
    • RuPaul's Drag Race
    • Stranger Things
    • The Boys
    • The Blacklist
    • The Walking Dead
    • Better Call Saul
    • All The Awardist
    • The Awardist Podcast Episodes
    • Oscars
    • Emmys
    • Golden Globes
    • SAG Awards
    • Grammys
    • Tony Awards
    • All Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Author Interviews
    • All Theater
    • Theater Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • Gaming
    • All Events
    • Comic-Con
  • Celebrity
  • Streaming

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe

Explore EW.com

EW.com EW.com
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The 10 best songs of 2022

      The 10 best songs of 2022

      From disco-trap to deconstructed techno to Dolly-style country, we rank our favorite tracks this year. Read More
    • The 10 best movies of 2022 (and 5 worst)

      The 10 best movies of 2022 (and 5 worst)

      Let there be Mavericks, Bollywood magic, and a Cate Blanchett maestro on the loose. Read More
    • The true story of the g-strings and murders behind Welcome to Chippendales

      The true story of the g-strings and murders behind Welcome to Chippendales

      A look back at the crazy true story of Chippendales founder Somen "Steve" Banerjee and the murder and murder-for-hire plots at the center of the Hulu series. Read More
  • TV

    TV

    See All TV
    • TV Reviews
    • TV Reunions
    • Recaps
    • What to Watch
    • Winter TV
    • Comedy
    • Crime
    • Drama
    • Family
    • Horror
    • Reality
    • Sci-fi
    • Thriller
  • Movies

    Movies

    See All Movies
    • Movie Reviews
    • Trailers
    • Film Festivals
    • Movie Reunions
    • Movie Previews
  • Music

    Music

    See All Music
    • Music Reviews
  • What to Watch

    What to Watch

    See All What to Watch
    • What to Watch Podcast Episodes
    • TV Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
  • BINGE

    BINGE

    See All BINGE
    • EW's Binge Podcast Episodes
    • Recaps
    • Survivor
    • This is Us
    • RuPaul's Drag Race
    • Stranger Things
    • The Boys
    • The Blacklist
    • The Walking Dead
    • Better Call Saul
  • The Awardist

    The Awardist

    See All The Awardist
    • The Awardist Podcast Episodes
    • Oscars
    • Emmys
    • Golden Globes
    • SAG Awards
    • Grammys
    • Tony Awards
  • Books

    Books

    See All Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Author Interviews
  • Theater

    Theater

    See All Theater
    • Theater Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • Gaming
  • Events

    Events

    See All Events
    • Comic-Con
  • Celebrity
  • Streaming

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. TV
  3. The Vampire Diaries: 16 of Stefan Salvatore's Best Moments

The Vampire Diaries: 16 of Stefan Salvatore's Best Moments

Samantha Highfill
By Samantha Highfill March 11, 2017 at 10:28 AM EST
Skip gallery slides
FB

1 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Stefan Salvatore’s Best Moments

O Come, All Ye Faithful
Credit: Bob Mahoney/The CW

Stefan Salvatore earned his hero hair. Whether you’re talking about the moment he first saved Elena from the car accident or the time he saved everyone (and gave them all a shot at peace) by sacrificing himself in order to destroy hell, there’s no doubt that he was the hero of the story. So, in honor of his sacrifice in the Vampire Diaries series finale, we’re looking back at his best moments, ahead.

1 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

When Only He Could Tell the Difference Between Katherine and Elena

TVD-Realizes-Katherine
Credit: The CW

When Elena said a temporary goodbye to Stefan in the season 6 finale, she told him that he’d always known her better than anyone else, a fact that Stefan proved time and time again over the course of the series. At the end of season 1, Katherine was able to fool Damon into thinking she was Elena long enough to kiss him, but in the season 2 premiere, it took Stefan about a minute to realize he wasn’t talking to Elena. Jump to season 5, and it was Stefan who finally put two and two together and realized that Elena hasn’t been herself lately … because Katherine was possessing her.

2 of 17

3 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

When He Gave Katherine A Beautiful Farewell

The Vampire Diaries (screen grab) CR: The CW
Credit: The CW

For all Stefan Salvatore's flaws, the one thing no one could ever deny about him was that he had a huge heart. And even when Katherine Pierce, the woman who had caused Stefan and Damon so much pain over the years, was on her deathbed, he somehow found it in himself to show her compassion. While everyone else celebrated being rid of the troublesome doppelganger, Stefan gave her the greatest gift: He went inside her head and let her see her baby for the first time. Stefan always saw the good in people, which is why the good in him always shined through.

3 of 17

Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

4 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

When He Helped Caroline (And Mouthed “I Love You”)

The Vampire Diaries (screen grab) CR: The CW
Credit: The CW

This moment was great for many reasons. Not only did it symbolize the beginning of Stefan’s friendship with Caroline as he guided her through the early stages of vampirism, but it once again showed how much he cared for others. He might not have known Caroline for very long at this point, but he knew when she needed her friends, so thoughtful Stefan called Bonnie and Elena to come help Caroline in her moment of need. And that brings us to the other great thing about this: The way he mouthed “I love you” to Elena, as if he was overcome with how much he loved her, as if he simply couldn’t believe it. Suffice it to stay, Stefan never lost that romance-novel stare and this might be when it was at its best.

4 of 17

Advertisement

5 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Every moment with Lexi

The Vampire Diaries (screen grab) CR: The CW
Credit: The CW

Lexi brought out the best in Stefan, whether they were at a Bon Jovi concert, the Mystic Grill, or fighting to stay alive on the Other Side. As much time as Stefan spent brooding, Lexi was the best friend that brought out his playful side. She allowed him to be comfortable enough to relax and maybe even smile. She helped get him through some of his worst times, and showed us some of his best, which is why it only makes sense that she was waiting for him when he found peace.

5 of 17

6 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Every Time He Saved Damon

The Vampire Diaries (screen grab) CR: The CW
Credit: The CW

In the season 1 finale, Stefan ran into a burning building to save his brother. In the season 2 finale, he “sacrificed everything to save his brother,” by leaving Mystic Falls (and Elena) behind to go on a Ripper binge with Klaus. And in season 3, he stopped Damon from killing Klaus — you guessed it! — to save Damon’s life. Those are only a handful of times Stefan put Damon first, not including his final sacrifice so that Damon could get the life he wanted. Translation: Stefan Salvatore was a great brother.

6 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

7 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

He Couldn’t Think Of A Better Reason To Die

The Vampire Diaries (screen grab) CR: The CW
Credit: The CW

When Elena was kidnapped after the masquerade ball in season 2, Stefan had a one-track mind: Save Elena, no matter what. The instant they got a lead on where she was, he hit the road. He might’ve been going in blind and risking his life in the process, but as he told Damon, “It’s Elena.” And that’s all he needed to know. Even when Damon tried to give him a reality check that they could be walking into a death trap, Stefan simply responded by telling his brother that he “can’t think of a better reason to die.” As Elena would tell Stefan seasons later, “Your instincts were always to protect me.”

7 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement

8 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

He Was Able to Resist Compulsion

The Vampire Diaries (screen grab) CR: The CW
Credit: The CW

“The only thing stronger than your craving for blood is your love for this one girl.” Klaus said those words to none other than Ripper Stefan, who had been built up as the thirstiest of bloodthirsty creatures. When Stefan tasted human blood, it was all he could think about … except when it came to Elena. In season 3’s “The Reckoning,” Stefan proved just how much he loved Elena by somehow managing to resist Klaus’ compulsion to feed on her. And in an equally powerful and heartbreaking moment, even after Stefan stabbed himself to keep Elena safe, he gave Klaus one final shove — even though he knew it was pointless — as he yelled, “No” just to prove he wouldn’t give up his humanity without a fight. In the end, Klaus compelled him to turn his emotions off, but it wouldn’t last. Stefan would find a way back to both his humanity and Elena. As Klaus later said, “Crazy or not, that kind of love never dies.”

8 of 17

Advertisement

9 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

He Offered His Own Life to Save Jenna

The Vampire Diaries (screen grab) CR: The CW
Credit: The CW

If we’re being completely honest, Stefan’s middle name could’ve been “sacrifice” for all of the people he was willing to die for in order to save over the years. But one of the first real sacrifices came in season 2, when Klaus needed to kill a vampire in order to unlock his curse. When Klaus decided to turn and kill Jenna, Stefan stepped up. He wasn’t about to let Elena lose another parental figure in her life. So, putting the woman he loved first, he volunteered to take Jenna’s place. In the end, Klaus wanted Stefan alive, but it’s the thought that counts.

9 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

10 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

He Was Happy For Damon

The Vampire Diaries (screen grab) CR: The CW
Credit: The CW

The season 4 finale was arguably the most heartbroken Stefan ever was. After a season of debating the sire bond and Elena’s feelings for Damon, Stefan learned that Elena did, in fact, love his brother, which left him without the love of his life. And yet somehow, Stefan was able to rise above all of the heartache and, before leaving town, tell his brother, “I’m not happy about Elena, but I’m not NOT happy for you either.”

10 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

11 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

His Reunion with Elena

TVD-Always-love-you
Credit: The CW

For Stefan and Elena, season 3 was nothing if not a test of their love. But Stefan wasn’t going to let Elena go without a fight. In one of the couple’s greatest moments, Stefan told Elena “I love you, I will always love you” before asking her to confront her feelings about Damon. And in the season’s final hour, just before Elena would choose Stefan over Damon, he gave her a kiss to remember, “just in case there is no later.”

11 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement

12 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Salvatore Brother Hugs

The Vampire Diaries (screen grab) CR: The CW
Credit: The CW

When we first met Stefan and Damon Salvatore, they weren’t exactly on good terms. They hadn’t even lived in the same place for years, but somehow, through falling in love with the same girl — for a second time — and teaming up to beat countless common enemies, they found their way back to each other. And quite frankly, there’s nothing better than a Salvatore brother hug, whether it was the time Stefan realized his brother wasn’t dead in season 6 or the final shot of the entire series, when the brothers found peace … together.

12 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

13 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

He’d Wait For Caroline

The Vampire Diaries (screen grab) CR: The CW
Credit: The CW

Falling in love with Caroline was something that took time. It wasn’t until the season 6 finale that Stefan was ready to admit his feelings, but when he did it, the speech left its mark. Remembering that Caroline was still dealing with her mother’s death, Stefan told the woman he loved that he would wait for her, and when she was ready for him, he would be ready for her. And who doesn’t want to hear that from a Salvatore?

13 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

14 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

When He Apologized to Damon

The Vampire Diaries (screen grab) CR: The CW
Credit: The CW

One of the biggest points of contention for the Salvatore brothers was the fact that, once upon a time, Stefan forced Damon into a life of vampirism. After all, that was why Damon promised his brother “an eternity of misery” all those years ago. So, in season 2, Stefan finally apologized for his actions. It was selfish of him to force Damon into this life, but, as he put it, “I guess I just needed my brother.”

14 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement

15 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

He and Caroline Got Married

We're Planning a June Wedding
Credit: Bob Mahoney/The CW

After an early proposal in season 8, Steroline fans were worried they’d never get their wedding, but the series’ penultimate episode saw Caroline walk down the aisle. And when Stefan was left to improvise his vows, he brought things all the way back to the season 4 prom, when Caroline told him that he would find love again after Elena. He didn’t realize it then, but it would be with her.

15 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

16 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

When He Made A Deal With The Devil

Detoured on Some Random Backwoods Path to Hell
Credit: Bob Mahoney/The CW

As we know, when it came to saving those he loved, Stefan would do anything. And in season 8, he proved that when he made a literal deal with the devil in order to save Caroline’s daughters from a lifetime serving Cade. Instead, he agreed to do the unthinkable — serve Cade, thereby signing himself up for the worst job anyone could imagine.

16 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

17 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

When He Sacrificed Himself to Save … Everyone

I Was Feeling Epic
Credit: Annette Brown/The CW

You knew we’d get here eventually. In the series finale, someone had to die in order to kill Katherine Pierce once and for all and destroy hell. Damon was ready and willing to step up, but in the end, Stefan decided to give his brother a shot at the love he now deserved (and to give Elena the opportunity to get to know the person Damon was before Stefan made him turn). So, after giving his brother the cure, Stefan took down Katherine (and hell) and not only gave everyone the opportunity to live a full life, but he gave them a shot at peace, and there’s no better gift than that.

17 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

  • By Samantha Highfill @samhighfill

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 17 Stefan Salvatore’s Best Moments
    2 of 17 When Only He Could Tell the Difference Between Katherine and Elena
    3 of 17 When He Gave Katherine A Beautiful Farewell
    4 of 17 When He Helped Caroline (And Mouthed “I Love You”)
    5 of 17 Every moment with Lexi
    6 of 17 Every Time He Saved Damon
    7 of 17 He Couldn’t Think Of A Better Reason To Die
    8 of 17 He Was Able to Resist Compulsion
    9 of 17 He Offered His Own Life to Save Jenna
    10 of 17 He Was Happy For Damon
    11 of 17 His Reunion with Elena
    12 of 17 Salvatore Brother Hugs
    13 of 17 He’d Wait For Caroline
    14 of 17 When He Apologized to Damon
    15 of 17 He and Caroline Got Married
    16 of 17 When He Made A Deal With The Devil
    17 of 17 When He Sacrificed Himself to Save … Everyone

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message
    EW.com

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Meredith© Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright EW.com. All rights reserved. Printed from https://ew.com

    View image

    The Vampire Diaries: 16 of Stefan Salvatore's Best Moments
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.