THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11

SEASON PREMIERE

"THE VAMPIRE DIARIES" - (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET)

"Growing Pains" (TV-14, LSV) (HDTV)

ELENA'S WORST NIGHTMARE - Elena (Nina Dobrev) awakens on the morning after the accident to find the thing she dreaded most has come true - she died with vampire blood in her system and now must go through the terrible transition to become a vampire�or face certain death. Stefan (Paul Wesley) promises Elena that he and Bonnie (Kat Graham) will exhaust every possible way out of the situation, but Damon (Ian Somerhalder) is furious with his brother for letting Elena die in the first place. Bonnie pays a terrible price for her attempt to change Elena's fate, while Damon takes out his frustration and rage on Matt (Zach Roerig). In a rare moment of empathy, Rebekah (guest star Claire Holt) is deeply touched by Stefan and Elena's devotion to one another. Finally, Pastor Young (guest star Michael Reilly Burke) and the Town Council members begin rounding up the vampires and their supporters, leading to an unexpected tragedy. Steven R. McQueen, Candice Accola, Michael Trevino and Joseph Morgan also star. Chris Grismer directed the episode written by Caroline Dries (#401).