'The Vampire Diaries' Death Toll: Characters we've loved and lost

We loved him because: Elena's little brother has come so far since he was a broody, pot-smoking angst-fest in Season 1. We've watched him fall in and out of love, become the man of his house, and grow into a strong, capable hunter with a protective streak a mile wide. Also, the kid had the best arms. Just really great arms.

We lost him because: Katherine, disguised as Elena, fed him to the evil witch-vamp Silas in order to get the cure, and his fancy ring didn't work.