Ian Somerhalder, who played the charming Damon Salvatore inThe Vampire Diaries, realized the show would be a hit with audiences after an early episodes aired. ThroughoutThe CW’s fantasy TV show’seight seasons,The Vampire Diarieshad some truly memorable episodes that stand out and remain popular even to this day.
However, one episode was Ian Somerhalder’s guiding light to how successful the series would be. AsThe Vampire Diarieswent on and found its identity, several episodes from its first season still stand out. While it could be argued thatThe Vampire Diaries’ last two seasonsweren’t of the same caliber as its earlier installments, it’s still worth looking into the episode that proved the show’s potential.

“Lost Girls” Is When Ian Somerhalder Realized The Vampire Diaries Was Going To Be A Hit
“Lost Girls” Was A Key Episode In The Vampire Diaries
Ahead of the premiere ofThe Vampire Diaries’ final episode, Ian Somerhalder, Paul Wesley, Zach Roerig, and Michael Malarkey sat down withParadeto talk about their favorite moments from the show. Although several episodes are special to the cast and the creators ofThe Vampire Diaries,one episode in particular was the highlight for Wesley and Somerhalder.
The Vampire Diariesseason 1, episode 6, titled “Lost Girls,” was the moment that Somerhalder realized that his fantasy show was actually good.The Vampire Diariesactorrevealed that “Lost Girls” was his favorite episode, which is not surprising, asit was the episode that changed the course of the show and catapulted the series to fame.

Why “Lost Girls” Is Considered One Of The Vampire Diaries' Best Episodes
“Lost Girls” Set The Stage For The Rest Of The Vampire Diaries' Storylines
While it could be argued that there are other episodes inThe Vampire Diariesthat are better,“Lost Girls” serves as the show’s most important episode.BeforeTVD’s season 1, episode 6 aired, there wasn’t enough information about the creatures of the night or where they came from. However, “Lost Girls” changed that by explaining some of the lore that was integral to the plot ofTVD.
It’s in “Lost Girls” that we get to see both sides of the older Salvatore brother. Although he killed Vicki and forever changed the course of her life,it also showed that Damon had a vulnerable side due to the flashbacks that depicted how he cared about Katherine. It was also heartwarming to see that there was a time when Damon and Stefan were close before Katherine came between them.
“Lost Girls” was the first episode inThe Vampire Diariesto be considered great.
Elena’s realization that the supernatural world existed was a key plot point inTVD, especially because the rest of the show became about saving her from the villains who wanted to harm her. “Lost Girls” was the first episode inThe Vampire Diariesto be considered great, and that was largely due to the storyline’s structure and the lore it included.
The Vampire Diaries
Cast
Based on the novels by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is a story about the developing love triangle between Elena Gilbert and two vampiric brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Set in the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, the show follows the trio from high school through college as they battle for one another’s affection.