The Vampire Diaries ''The Vampire Diaries'' is an American supernatural fiction, supernatural teen drama television series developed by Kevin Williamson (screenwriter), Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, based on the The Vampire Diaries (novel series), book series ...

'', an American

supernatural Supernatural refers to phenomena or entities that are beyond the laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin (above, beyond, or outside of) + (nature) Though the corollary term "nature", has had multiple meanings si ...

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

, was renewed for a fourth season by the U.S. channel

The CW ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

on May 3, 2012, seven days before the third season's finale. Unlike the previous seasons that aired in September, it premiered on October 11, 2012, to avoid competition from major television shows. Season 4 consisted of 23 episodes instead of the usual 22 episodes. On January 11, 2013, it was announced that a back-door pilot focused on the Originals, titled '' The Originals'', would air on April 25 in the hopes that that series was picked up. On April 26, 2013, The CW announced that ''The Originals'', ''The Vampire Diaries'' spin-off series, had been picked up for a full season slated to premiere in the fourth quarter of 2013. On February 11, 2013,

renewed the series for a fifth season.

Cast

Main

Nina Dobrev Nikolina Kamenova Dobreva ( bg, Николина Каменова Добрева, ; born January 9, 1989), credited professionally as Nina Dobrev ( ), is a Canadian actress. She is best known for portraying Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce on ...

Elena Gilbert Elena Gilbert is a fictional character and protagonist from the novel series ''The Vampire Diaries (novel series), The Vampire Diaries''. In The Vampire Diaries, the television series adaptation, set in the fictional town of Mystic Falls, she is p ...

Katherine Pierce ''The Vampire Diaries'' is an American fantasy-drama Television show, television series which was first broadcast on The CW Television Network, The CW from 2009 to 2017, airing 171 episodes over 8 seasons. Kevin Williamson (screenwriter), Kevin ...

Paul Wesley Paweł Tomasz Wasilewski (; July 23, 1982), known professionally as Paul Wesley, is an American actor, director and producer. He is known for starring as Stefan Salvatore on the supernatural drama series ''The Vampire Diaries'' (2009–2017) as ...

Stefan Salvatore Stefan Salvatore is a fictional character and one of the two main protagonists from L. J. Smith's novel series ''The Vampire Diaries''. He is portrayed by Paul Wesley in the television series CW's ''The Vampire Diaries'' and ''The Originals''. St ...

Silas Silas or Silvanus (; Greek: Σίλας/Σιλουανός; fl. 1st century AD) was a leading member of the Early Christian community, who according to the New Testament accompanied Paul the Apostle on his second missionary journey. Name and et ...

Ian Somerhalder Ian Joseph Somerhalder (born December 8, 1978) is an American actor. He is known for playing Boone Carlyle in the TV drama ''Lost'', Damon Salvatore in The CW's supernatural drama ''The Vampire Diaries'', and Dr. Luther Swann in Netflix's sci ...

Damon Salvatore Damon Salvatore is a fictional character In L. J. Smith's novel series ''The Vampire Diaries''. He is portrayed by Ian Somerhalder in the television series. Damon is the one of the two main protagonists along with Stefan Salvatore, especially in ...

Steven R. McQueen Steven Chadwick McQueen (born July 13, 1988), known professionally as Steven R. McQueen, is an American actor, best known for his role as Jeremy Gilbert in The CW fantasy supernatural drama ''The Vampire Diaries'' from 2009 to 2015 and in 201 ...

Jeremy Gilbert ''The Vampire Diaries'' is an American fantasy-drama television series which was first broadcast on The CW from 2009 to 2017, airing 171 episodes over 8 seasons. Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec adapted the TV series from L.J. Smith's no ...

Kat Graham Katerina Alexandre Hartford Graham (born September 5, 1989) is an American actress, singer and dancer (now distributing music under the stage name Toro Gato). She is widely known for her role as Bonnie Bennett on The CW supernatural drama seri ...

Bonnie Bennett ''The Vampire Diaries'' is an American fantasy-drama television series which was first broadcast on The CW from 2009 to 2017, airing 171 episodes over 8 seasons. Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec adapted the TV series from L.J. Smith's no ...

Zach Roerig Zachary George Roerig (born February 22, 1985) is an American actor, known for his roles as Casey Hughes on ''As the World Turns'', Hunter Atwood on '' One Life to Live'' and Matt Donovan on ''The Vampire Diaries''. Early life Roerig was born ...

as Matt Donovan *

Candice Accola Candice René King ( Accola; born May 13, 1987) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Caroline Forbes in The CW supernatural drama series ''The Vampire Diaries'' and her recurring role as the same character on th ...

as Caroline Forbes *

Michael Trevino Michael Anthony Trevino (born January 25, 1985) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as List of The Vampire Diaries characters#Tyler Lockwood, Tyler Lockwood on The CW, The CW's ''The Vampire Diaries''; and as Kyle Valenti in Roswe ...

Tyler Lockwood ''The Vampire Diaries'' is an American fantasy-drama television series which was first broadcast on The CW from 2009 to 2017, airing 171 episodes over 8 seasons. Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec adapted the TV series from L.J. Smith's no ...

* Joseph Morgan as Klaus Mikaelson

Recurring

Claire Holt Claire Rhiannon Holt (born 11 June 1988) is an Australian actress. She is known for her roles as Emma Gilbert in '' H2O: Just Add Water'', Samara Cook in ''Pretty Little Liars'', Chastity Meyer in ''Mean Girls 2'', Rebekah Mikaelson in ''The ...

as Rebekah Mikaelson *

David Alpay David Alpay (born 6 October 1980) is a Canadians, Canadian actor, musician and producer, known for playing Mark Smeaton in the Showtime (TV network), Showtime series ''The Tudors'' and Jade in the Epix series ''From (TV series), From''. Early ...

as Atticus Shane *

Grace Phipps Gracie Gillam (born Grace Victoria Phipps; May 4, 1992), formerly credited as Grace Phipps, is an American actress, singer, and dancer. She is well known for starring in the Disney Channel movies ''Teen Beach Movie'' and '' Teen Beach 2''. Ear ...

as April Young *

Phoebe Tonkin Phoebe Jane Elizabeth Tonkin (born 12 July 1989) is an Australian actress. She is known for portraying Cleo Sertori in '' H2O: Just Add Water'', Fiona Maxwell in ''Tomorrow, When the War Began'', Faye Chamberlain in ''The Secret Circle'', and H ...

Hayley Marshall '' The Originals'' is an American fantasy-drama television series picked up by The CW television network for their fall 2013 schedule, after a backdoor pilot for the series aired as an episode of The CW series ''The Vampire Diaries'' in April ...

Marguerite MacIntyre Marguerite MacIntyre is an American actress, writer and producer. She is known for her role as Elizabeth Forbes in ''The Vampire Diaries'' (2009-2017) and as Miss Rhode Island in the 1994 ''Seinfeld'' episode The Chaperone. Biography She has ...

as Liz Forbes *

Todd Williams Todd Michael Williams (born February 13, 1971) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He attended East Syracuse-Minoa High School graduating in 1989. He then attended Onondaga Community College before signing a professional ...

as Connor Jordan *

Rick Worthy Richard "Rick" Worthy (born March 12, 1967) is an American actor. He is best known for appearing in a variety of science fiction and fantasy television shows. He is perhaps best known for his recurring role as Simon O'Neill cylon model number fo ...

as Rudy Hopkins *

Nathaniel Buzolic Nathaniel Buzolic ( ; born 4 August 1983) is an Australian actor. He was the host of Nine Network's late-night television quiz show '' The Mint'', and had a regular role on the BBC soap opera '' Out of the Blue'' (2008). He was also a co-host of ...

as Kol Mikaelson *

Charlie Bewley Charles Martin Bewley (born 25 January 1981) is an English actor and producer best known for his role as the vampire Demetri in '' The Twilight Saga'' films, Charles Wentworth on '' Nashville'', and Galen Vaughn on ''The Vampire Diaries''. Pe ...

as Galen Vaughn *

Susan Walters Susan Walters, is an American actress and former model, best known for her roles as Lorna Forbes on the ABC daytime soap opera '' Loving'' from 1983 to late 1986 and as Diane Jenkins on the CBS soap opera ''The Young and the Restless'' from 2001 ...

as Carol Lockwood *

Arielle Kebbel Arielle Caroline Kebbel (born February 19, 1985) is an American actress and model. She has appeared in various television series, including ''Gilmore Girls'' (2003–2004), ''The Vampire Diaries'' (2009–2017), ''Life Unexpected'' (2010), ''90 ...

as Lexi Branson *

Daniel Gillies Daniel John Gillies (born 14 March 1976) is a New Zealand-Canadian actor, film producer, director and screenwriter. He played the role of Elijah Mikaelson on the television series ''The Vampire Diaries'' and its spin-off '' The Originals,'' as ...

as Elijah Mikaelson

Special guest

Jasmine Guy Jasmine Guy (born March 10, 1962) is an American actress, director, singer and dancer. She is known for her role as Dina in the 1988 film ''School Daze'' and as Whitley Gilbert-Wayne on the NBC ''The Cosby Show'' spin-off ''A Different World'', ...

as Sheila Bennett

Guest

Alyssa Diaz Alyssa Elaine Diaz (born September 7, 1985) is an American actress. She is known for her roles on television, such as Celia Ortega on the CBS daytime soap opera ''As the World Turns'', Jasmine on the ABC Family series ''The Nine Lives of Chloe K ...

as Kim * Matt Davis as

Alaric Saltzman ''The Vampire Diaries'' is an American fantasy-drama television series which was first broadcast on The CW from 2009 to 2017, airing 171 episodes over 8 seasons. Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec adapted the TV series from L.J. Smith's no ...

Torrey DeVitto Torrey Joël DeVitto (born June 8, 1984) is an American actress and former fashion model. Her first starring role was as Karen Kerr on the ABC Family drama series '' Beautiful People'' (2005–2006). She followed this up with recurring roles as ...

as Meredith Fell * Paul Telfer as Alexander *Scott Parks as Silas *

Michael Reilly Burke Michael Reilly Burke (born June 27, 1964) is an American actor. He played Rex Van De Kamp on the unaired pilot of ''Desperate Housewives''. Steven Culp replaced him before the pilot aired. He also appeared in The WB series ''Charmed'' in the epi ...

as Pastor Young *

Camille Guaty Camille Guaty (born June 28, 1976) is an American film and television actress. She is known for several roles: as Daisy in ''Gotta Kick It Up!'' (2002), for playing Maricruz Delgado, Sucre's girlfriend, in '' Prison Break'' (2005–2007), and ...

as Caitlin Shane *

Cynthia Addai-Robinson Cynthia Addai-Robinson (born January 12, 1985) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Naevia in the Starz television series ''Spartacus'', DC Comics character Amanda Waller in The CW TV series ''Arrow'', and Nadine Memphis on the US ...

as Aja *

Blake Hood Blake Hood is an American actor. His best known roles include Mark Driscoll on The CW's '' 90210'' and Kyle Abbott on the CBS Daytime soap opera ''The Young and the Restless ''The Young and the Restless'' (often abbreviated as ''Y&R'') is a ...

as Dean *

Ser'Darius Blain Ser'Darius William Blain (born March 10, 1987) is a Haitian-American film and television actor. He is best known for his role as Anthony “Fridge” Johnson in the ''Jumanji'' film series, appearing in the third and fourth entries. Blain is als ...

as Chris *

Madeline Zima Madeline Zima (born September 16, 1985) is an American actress. She portrayed Grace Sheffield on the CBS sitcom ''The Nanny'' (1993–1999), Mia Lewis on the Showtime comedy drama series ''Californication'' (2007–2011), and Gretchen Berg on ...

as Charlotte *

Adina Porter Adina Elizabeth Porter is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Lettie Mae Thornton on the HBO fantasy horror series ''True Blood'' (2008–2014), Kendra James on the HBO drama series '' The Newsroom'' (2012–2014), and Indra ...

as Nandi LaMarche *

Persia White Persia Jessica White (born October 25, 1972) is a Bahamas-born American actress, singer and musician. White is known for her role as Denise Williams on the short-lived television series ''Breaker High'' and as Lynn Searcy on the UPN/ CW sitcom '' ...

as Abby Bennett Wilson *

Charles Michael Davis Charles Michael Davis (born December 1, 1984) is an American actor, model, producer, and director. He is best known for his roles as Marcel Gerard on The CW television drama '' The Originals'' (2013–2018) and Zane Anders on the TV Land original ...

as Marcel Gerard *

Daniella Pineda Daniella Pineda (born February 20, 1987) is an American actress. She has had major roles in several films and TV series, including '' The Originals'', Netflix's live-action '' Cowboy Bebop'', and multiple films in the ''Jurassic Park'' franchise ...

Sophie Deveraux Sophie is a version of the female given name Sophia, meaning "wise". People with the name Born in the Middle Ages * Sophie, Countess of Bar (c. 1004 or 1018–1093), sovereign Countess of Bar and lady of Mousson * Sophie of Thuringia, Duchess of ...

Leah Pipes Leah Pipes (born August 12, 1988) is an American actress. She starred in the television series ''Life Is Wild'', the slasher film ''Sorority Row'' and the CW's '' The Originals''. Early life Pipes was born in Los Angeles, California. Career She ...

as Camille O'Connell *Callard Harris as Thierry Vanchure *

Eka Darville Eka Darville (born 11 April 1989) is an Australian actor. He is best known for his roles as Scott Truman in ''Power Rangers RPM,'' Pip in ''Mr. Pip'', Malcolm Ducasse in ''Jessica Jones'' and Diego in '' The Originals''. Biography Early life ...

Diego Diego is a Spanish masculine given name. The Portuguese equivalent is Diogo. The name also has several patronymic derivations, listed below. The etymology of Diego is disputed, with two major origin hypotheses: ''Tiago'' and ''Didacus''. Et ...

Malaya Rivera Drew Malaya Rivera Drew (born February 6, 1985) is an American stage, film and television actress. Drew is best known for her role as Adele Channing on the cable television series ''The L Word'' (2008) and for her role as Katey Alvaro on NBC's long- ...

as Jane-Anne Deveraux *Lex Shontz as Deputy Adams (“Growing Pains” episode).

Episodes

Production

On May 3, 2012 The CW renewed ''The Vampire Diaries'' for a fourth season. Unlike previous seasons, it started on October 11. Kevin Williamson,

Julie Plec Julie Plec (born May 26, 1972) is an American television producer, writer and director, known for her work on The CW television series ''The Vampire Diaries'' (2009–2017) which she co-created with Kevin Williamson, and its spin-offs '' The Or ...

Leslie Morgenstein Leslie Morgenstein is the president and chief executive of Alloy Entertainment. He has been credited with facilitating the adaptation of a number of book titles into television series. Examples include ''Gossip Girl'', ''The Vampire Diaries'', ''P ...

and Bob Levy were executive producers for the series. The season was concluded on May 16, 2013.

Casting

On August 7, 2012 it was announced that

and

would join the show as recurring characters in the fourth season. Tonkin portrayed

, a friend of Tyler's. Williams portrayed Connor, a vampire hunter. The Olympic gymnast

Gabby Douglas Gabrielle Christina Victoria Douglas (born December 31, 1995) is an American artistic gymnastics, artistic gymnast. She is the Gymnastics at the 2012 Summer Olympics, 2012 Olympic all around champion and the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Champi ...

made an appearance in "My Brother's Keeper" as a volunteer decorator for the Miss Mystic Falls Beauty Pageant. On the CW website, an interview with Douglas shares her experience on set and with the cast. Starting with episode 13,

will join the show as Vaughn, like Connor a vampire hunter, and

as Professor Shane's dead wife Caitlin, who is going to reveal information about him. In February 2013, it was announced that

was cast as the witch Sophie for episode 20 "The Originals". This episode serves as a backdoor-pilot for a possible spin-off series, revolving around ''the Originals'' and taking place in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Reception

Critical response

Based on 16 reviews, the fourth season holds a 69% on

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang ...

with an average rating of 7.81 out of 10. The site's critics' consensus reads, "''Vampire Diaries'' gets the best out of star Nina Dobrev, but could use some fresh blood on the page as plotlines struggle to move the series forward."

Ratings

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Vampire Diaries season 4, The 4 2012 American television seasons 2013 American television seasons Fiction about purgatory