Elena Gilbert turns into a vampire in the Season 3 finale of The Vampire Diaries, specifically in Episode 22 titled "The Departed." She dies with vampire blood in her system, which had been given to her by Doctor Meredith Fell to save her life after a severe brain hemorrhage. After her death, she wakes up as a vampire in transition. Her first full episode as a vampire is in Season 4, Episode 1, titled "Growing Pains," where she comes to terms with her transformation and decides to complete the vampire transition despite initially not wanting to become one.
