'' The Vampire Diaries'', 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, was renewed for a fourth season by the U.S. channel The CW 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, The CW renewed the series for a fifth season.

Cast

Main

* Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert / Katherine Pierce * Paul Wesley as Stefan Salvatore / Silas *

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 as

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 as Matt Donovan * Candice Accola as

Caroline Forbes ''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 ...

* Michael Trevino as Tyler Lockwood * Joseph Morgan as Klaus Mikaelson

Recurring

* Claire Holt as Rebekah Mikaelson * David Alpay 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 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 as Elijah Mikaelson

Special guest

* Jasmine Guy 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 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 as Caitlin Shane * Cynthia Addai-Robinson 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 as Chris * Madeline Zima 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 as Abby Bennett Wilson * Charles Michael Davis as

Marcel Gerard Marcel may refer to: People * Marcel (given name), people with the given name Marcel * Marcel (footballer, born August 1981), Marcel Silva Andrade, Brazilian midfielder * Marcel (footballer, born November 1981), Marcel Augusto Ortolan, Brazilian s ...

* Daniella Pineda as Sophie Deveraux * Leah Pipes as

Camille O'Connell Camille may refer to: Fictional entities * a Power Rangers Jungle Fury character * Camille Wallaby, a character in Alfred Hedgehog * a character from ''League of Legends'' video game voiced by Emily O'Brien Films *''Camille (1912 film)'', a s ...

*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 ...

as Diego *

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