The end is near for the Salvatore brothers. As many expected, The Vampire Diaries will be concluding after Season 8. The official announcement was made today at the show's Comic-Con panel in San Diego, where a farewell video by the cast was aired for its gathered fans in Ballroom 20.
While today's news makes it official, discussion of the long-running drama's end has been swirling for quite some time. Back in April, star Ian Somerhalder told fans at a convention that Season 8 would be the show's last. And despite the The CW maintaining at the time that no decision had been made, many saw the writing on the wall.
The Vampire Diaries was a key part of The CW's lineup for a good part of its run. While its ratings have certainly taken a hit in recent seasons, the show was a flagship series for the network for a number of years, even spawning spin-off The Originals back in 2013.
Look for the farewell season of The Vampire Diaries to premiere on Friday, October 21.