The Vampire Diaries exec Julie Plec has shared her favourite episodes from the first three seasons. What made the list – and which notables were left off?

On her personal Twitter account, Plec sent out a string of tweets listing her favourite episodes in order of airing, in honour of the three-year anniversary of the Vampire Diaries pilot episode (which, incidentally, did not make this list) premiering on The CW.

Plec mentioned a lot of different episodes; we’ll run through the list and share her reasons for each. The episodes are numbered and summarised for your convenience, and if you’d like to read more about the ones Plec selected as her favourites, you can read more detailed summaries in our Vampire Diaries fandom hub.

Read all about Julie Plec’s choices from the first three seasons, and see if you agree:

Season 1

1×03 “Friday Night Bites”
In this episode, Elena invites Stefan over to her house to alleviate Bonnie’s fears about him, and Damon and Caroline crash the party. This is on the list because we get, “our first understanding of who Damon was and who was he going to become.”

1×05 “You’re Undead to Me”
Bonnie starts a fire and Elena learns more about Stefan and Damon from a mysterious stranger. Plec picked it because of Mads Langer’s ‘Beauty of the Dark’ montage, ending with the question, “What are you?”

1×06 “Lost Girls”
For the flashback episode which reveals Stefan and Damon’s human lives and their relationship with Katherine, Plec simply says, “for @kevwilliamson at his finest: Damon and Vicki.”

1×09 “History Repeating”
This is the episode in which Alaric arrives, and it made the list “because Marcos [Siega] directed it w zero prep during the darkest time of Season 1 and it rocked, & for football brother-bonding.”

1×17 “Let the Right One In”
Stefan is captured by the vampires that escaped from the tomb and Matt’s mother comes to town. Plec’s reason for this one is, “because it proved our crew could do anything — but that they would kill us if we ever made them do it again.”

1×18 “Under Control”
This episode in which Stefan is battling his bloodlust after feeding on Elena gets an honourable mention because of “getting to watch @paulwesley try not to lose his Rippah shit. And for Uncle John and Paramore.”

1×22 “Founder’s Day”
Plec picks the season 1 finale which brought the return of Katherine and the big Founder’s Day party because “we made a feature film in 10 days. And because of that whole Katherine thing….”

Season 2

2×06 “Plan B”
This is one of Plec’s absolute favourite episodes. In the episode, Damon deals with Mason Lockwood while Jeremy tries to help deal with Katherine. “To this day one of my Top 5,” Plec says. “First major act 6 sob-fest of the season. And Katherine at her most diabolical. RIP Uncle Mason.”

2×07 “Masquerade”
One of the big dress-up episodes, “Masquerade” features a big showdown between Katherine and the Mystic Falls gang, and there are mistaken identities all around. This is, “another @kevwilliamson gold medal: breaking Aimee’s spine on the dance floor.”

2×08 “Rose”
Another honourable mention, this is the episode that introduces Elijah. “For our first intro to the Gillies,” Plec simply states.

2×09 “Katerina”
This episode should come as no surprise, often being included on favourite episode lists. It delves masterfully into Katherine’s backstory, and Plec says, ” @ninadobrev at her greatest, the first mention of Klaus!”

2×12 “The Descent”
Rose succumbs to her werewolf bites, and Plec shares what is probably a common sentiment among fans: “Most I’ve cried watching the first cut of an episode. Still gets me every time. RIP Rose.”

2×19 “Klaus”
Plec has high praise for this episode which flashes back to 1491 to reveal Katherine’s dealings with Klaus and Elijah, saying, “ever was an episode full of exposition so well-executed. And because the Sun and Moon Curse was fake.”

Season 3

3×03 “The End of the Affair”
This popular flashback episode is full of great costumes and music as we see Stefan, Klaus and Rebekah in 1920s-era Chicago. Plec says, “@carolinedries and @chrisgrismer outdid themselves, and @verschoo let them do it. A mini-movie.”

3×07 “Ghost World”
Another popular episode with fans, this episode gave Anna and her mother a beautiful reunion and send-off. “Because every now and then it’s okay to just CRY,” Plec explains, “And for @tyleredits using ‘This Woman’s Work’ while Anna reunites w her mom.”

3×11 “Our Town”
Caroline celebrates her 18th birthday, Tyler struggles against his connection to Klaus, and Dr. Fell continues to mystify Alaric. “Editor Lance Anderson at his best,” Plec writes, and notes a poignant moment which only after the end of season 3 would strike a cord with viewers: “We already knew when Elena and Matt stood on Wickery Bridge how the season would end.”

3×20 “Do Not Go Gentle”
Another party episode, this time putting the characters in roaring 20s costumes, while Esther and Alaric plot to kill the Originals. “‘Be Still’, @ErnestoRiley,” Plec says.

She also brings up 3×22 “The Departed,“ the season 3 finale. While it didn’t make her list, Plec allows that, “I of course LOVE [it], but it was a traumatic prep/production/post process so I’m a bit too jaded.”

And finally (we felt like we had to save this one for last), Julie Plec reveals what is probably her favourite episode of all:

3×05 “The Reckoning”
“Might be my number 1 favorite episode of the whole series,” the showrunner writes of the episode which sees Caroline arrange Senior Prank Night for her friends, while Klaus uses his hold on Stefan to terrorize the students.

So that’s Julie Plec’s all-time favourite episodes! Some episodes that usually appear on fans’ favourite episode lists were curiously absent, including “Dangerous Liaisons,” “Ordinary People,” “The Return” and the very popular season 2 two-parter finale which killed off Aunt Jenna, “The Sun Also Rises” and “As I Lay Dying.”

Are you surprised by the episodes Plec chose or didn’t choose from the three seasons of The Vampire Diaries that have aired so far? Tell us if you agree or disagree with Julie Plec’s list, and what your own favourite episodes are!

The Vampire Diaries returns on October 11 at 8/7c on The CW.