The Vampire Diaries enthralled viewers with a supernatural love triangle, novel characters, and captivating plot lines from its first episode, but there was one character who was the biggest draw for fans: Damon Salvatore. The elder of the two Salvatore brothers, Damon could be equal parts funny, dangerous, charismatic, and devastatingly romantic if he wanted.
Damon entered The Vampire Diaries as a certified villain but had an amazing redemption arc, thanks to the love and warmth he got from Elena. From sweet brotherly moments to touching moments of kindness, Damon Salvatore knew how to capture the audience's hearts and keep them.
10 His Entry Scene
With enough mystery built up around Stefan in the first episode of The Vampire Diaries, Damon's unexpected appearance only ramped up the excitement for the rest of the series. After being away from Stefan for 15 years, Damon sent in a crow to signify his presence before stepping into the Salvatore Boarding House to greet Stefan with his iconic "Hello, Brother" quote.
Damon made it clear that he was in Mystic Falls to create chaos and disrupt Stefan's life, especially when it came to Elena Gilbert. The older vampire spoke of his other powers, too, but these disappeared after the first episode of TVDin a move that made no sense. Still, Damon brought villainous energy as well as higher stakes with this famed entry scene.
9 He Steps in for Stefan at the Miss Mystic Pageant
One of the biggest betrayals in The Vampire Diaries happened when Stefan turned into a Ripper and left Elena all alone during the Miss Mystic Pageant. Luckily, Damon stepped in rather smoothly for the missing Stefan, escorting Elena to the Miss Mystic dance. This was one of the first times the two of them had a civil interaction, and it was obvious that there was a spark between them.
After months of loss and trauma, the pageant was a normal day for Elena, which she was looking forward to. Damon saved the day for her with his quick thinking, and the charming dance they shared was proof of their chemistry as well as Damon's caring side.
8 He Tells Elena He Loves Her for the First Time
It was clear that Damon had feelings for Elena long before she did, and their intensity only grew over time. He realized how much he cared for her when Elijah and Rose put her life in danger. In one of the most emotional moments of The Vampire Diaries, Damon found Elena's precious vervain necklace and confessed how much he loved her.
For once in his life, Damon chose not to be selfish with Elena. He knew that telling her this was unfair since she was with Stefan, so he compelled her to forget what he had said to spare her the pain of knowing how he pined for her. It was a moment of growth for Damon, who usually lived as he pleased, without caring about consequences.
7 He Helps Rose Have an Easy Death
Damon formed a strong attachment with Rose after she defected to their side and worked to protect Elena from the Originals. She proved to be a friend, confidante, and companion in the best way possible, but unfortunately was bitten by a werewolf. Unable to get a cure on time, Rose passed away from her injuries after nearly five hundred years.
Damon, however, did not let Rose pass away in pain and agony. He used his telepathic powers to be with Rose in her last moments, constructing a beautiful scenery for her from her hometown. Damon held her, and she passed away happy and in the place she loved. It was a generous gesture and showed real character development in his arc on The Vampire Diaries.
6 He Meets Elena First
Season 3 of The Vampire Diaries saw Elena choosing between the brothers, choosing Stefan because she met him first. In a surprising twist, a flashback showed viewers that it was, in fact, Damon who had encountered Elena on the street years ago as she waited to be picked up by her parents.
Their meet-cute was nowhere near as intense as Stefan and Elena's but more of a harmonious meeting between familiar souls. Damon was struck by her similarity to Katherine but treated her like a separate person when it was clear that she wasn't her. He immediately recognized in Elena, a young woman who wanted passion, adventure, and excitement in her life, which foreshadowed their upcoming love story beautifully.
5 He Jokes With Stefan and a Teddy Bear
Over the course of several seasons, Damon's hatred for Stefan gave way to genuine care and affection. When he saw Stefan struggling with his feelings for Caroline, he decided to make him see the light, but in his signature comic manner. Damon held up Miss Cuddles, Bonnie's teddy bear, and hilariously spoke through her about how it was okay for Stefan to feel sensitive about ruining his relationship with Caroline.
Damon tried telling Stefan he had been blind to her apparent feelings with laugh-out-loud dialogue like "I saw that from a mile away, and my brain's made of cotton!" The elder Salvatore was known for his witty one-liners, and this was one of his best, hands down.
4 His Time With Bonnie in the Prison World
The relationship between Bonnie and Damon was famously hostile, but that was before they got trapped in the Gemini Coven's Prison World together. In a truly dramatic moment, Bonnie and Damon watched the Other Side collapse in front of them, and they held hands in solidarity, not knowing what came next.
Fortunately, Sheila Bennett ensured they would land in a safe alternate universe. Damon and Bonnie lived the same day in 1994 over and over, making pancakes, solving crosswords, and going to the supermarket together. Their banter and chemistry grew over time, and Damon became very attached and protective of the Bennett witch. It was heartwarming to watch him develop a forever friendship with her.
3 The Eulogy for Liz Forbes
Damon did not have many friends, but once he formed a friendship with someone, it was forever. Sheriff Liz Forbes was someone he had befriended in the hopes of hoodwinking her about the existence of vampires in Mystic Falls, but their bond stood strong even when she found out that Damon was one. They remained helpful to each other for years, and Damon truly respected Liz.
Her death was a blow to characters as well as fans, but one that was softened by Damon's touching eulogy for her. He recognized the strength and beauty of the sheriff's daughter, Caroline, and conveyed Liz's last message to her. It was a speech that was simple but reiterated the contributions of the sheriff and gave confidence to Caroline to move forward with her life.
2 He Wants to Be a Human With Elena
Elena's transformation into a vampire was something she never wanted, which was why getting the cure for her was so important. However, Elena turning into a vampire and Damon staying human was a big hurdle that the couple would have to cross. In a rare moment of vulnerability, Damon admitted to Elena that he missed being human daily but hid it under a layer of bravado out of fear.
He had always extolled the benefits of being a vampire, but deep down, he always resented Stefan for making him turn completely. For once, Damon allowed himself to be honest with Elena and told her he was ready to take the cure too, especially if it meant living a happy human life with her.
1 He Saves Stefan's Life When He Turns Human
After being released from the Phoenix Stone, Stefan's soul settled in the body of a wanted alcoholic fugitive. On the run and debilitated, he was close to death in the freezing cold. However, Damon could never let his brother perish on his watch.
Acting like an elder brother, he searched high and low to understand which body Stefan had transferred into. After achieving the Herculean task of identifying him, Damon heroically searched for him in the snow, reaching him just before he gave up. Damon's persistence in finding his brother and saving him was commendable and spoke volumes about how much he cared for his family.