'The Vampire Diaries': Exploring Stefan Salvatore’s turbulent journey toward becoming Ripper
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'The Vampire Diaries' has become one of the most popular shows over the years, captivating viewers with its engaging storylines, powerful characters, and supernatural elements.
The series has garnered a large and dedicated fanbase because of its mix of romance, drama, and mystery, along with its compelling portrayal of vampires, werewolves, witches, hybrids and other supernatural beings.
'The Vampire Diaries' portrays Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) as a virtuous vampire, defined by his strong ethical principles and constant effort to do the right thing. However, at some point, he becomes the Ripper, a darker version of himself. In this state, Stefan loses control and indulges in his bloodlust. He is unable to stop drinking until he has drained every single drop of blood from the human body.
How Stefan Salvatore became the infamous Ripper?
In 1864, the Salvatore brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder), encountered Katherine Pierce (Nina Dobrev), a stunning and enigmatic vampire. She immediately captivated both brothers with her charm and beauty.
To save Katherine from being captured and killed by the humans, both Stefan and Damon sacrifice their lives. However, she turned them into vampires before her own escape.
Stefan later confronted his father, who admitted to shooting Damon and Stefan. However, Stefan accidentally stabbed his father, causing a fatal wound. Despite his efforts to save him, Stefan gave in to his craving for blood and fed on his father. This event marked his transition into a vampire and solidifying his descent into becoming the Ripper.
Stefan was turned into a vampire in 1864 and became a Ripper shortly after due to his inability to control his newfound transformation and insatiable thirst for blood. This dark side of Stefan emerged as a result of the trauma and shock of becoming a vampire, leading him to lose control.
As time went on, Stefan's notoriety as the Ripper solidified, painting him as a vampire whose addiction to human blood was insatiable. His feeding habits were marked by extreme violence, often resulting in his victims being brutally torn apart.
In his uncontrollable bloodlust, Stefan became the Ripper of Monterey, after massacring an entire village, including men, women, and children. This ruthless act solidified his reputation as a vampire whose thirst for blood knew no bounds.
It was later revealed that Stefan's mother, Lily (Annie Wersching), was also a volatile Ripper, having been responsible for over 3,000 deaths across Europe. Because of this, Stefan might have had a genetic or familial inclination towards being the Ripper.
What did Ripper Stefan do to humans?
Ripper Stefan could not stop drinking until there was no blood left in the body, tearing them apart. Nevertheless, he often placed the victim's head back on their body as a way to cope with the guilt.
In the 1920s, Stefan resorted to a haunting method to keep track of his victims, inscribing their names on the wall of his Chicago apartment.
At that time, he met Klaus Mikaelson (Joseph Morgan) and Rebekah Mikaelson (Claire Holt), two of the Original vampires. Klaus was genuinely impressed by Stefan's adeptness at psychological manipulation, particularly in instances where Stefan compelled individuals to commit horrific acts.
Ripper Stefan was so deeply addicted to human blood that even the smallest amount could trigger an uncontrollable urge in him. This addiction consumed him, driving him to desperate lengths to satisfy his craving and leading to increasingly violent and destructive behavior.
How Stefan Salvatore finally tamed the Ripper?
Stefan's life took a drastic turn when he met Lexi (Arielle Kebbel), another vampire who became his close friend and helped him learn to control his urges.
Stefan began to find a sense of balance and peace, allowing him to resist the temptations of his Ripper instincts. He chose to drink animal blood that allowed him to avoid harming innocent people.
Being a vampire, human blood is typically considered necessary for sustaining their strength and vitality, while animal blood is often seen as inferior and can weaken them. However, Stefan accepted the challenge by choosing to sustain himself on animal blood.
Stefan returned to his Ripper persona after Klaus, the powerful Original vampire, blackmailed him in Season 2, Episode 22. In exchange for sparing Damon's life, Klaus demanded that Stefan drink human blood, as he found Stefan more amusing in his Ripper state. Stefan, driven by the desire to save his brother, yielded to Klaus's demands and became the Ripper again.
Stefan's time as the Ripper was marked by violent killing sprees, which only deepened his sense of guilt and remorse. However, Damon and Elena Gilbert (also played by Nina Dobrev) played crucial roles in helping Stefan control and tame his Ripper instincts.
How to stream 'The Vampire Diaries'?
'The Vampire Diaries' is available for streaming on Max in the United States.
A basic Max subscription with ads costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year. For an ad-free experience, the subscription is $15.00 per month or $149.99 for a year.
Both options allow streaming on up to two devices simultaneously in full HD 1080p quality.
Max also offers an 'Ultimate' subscription tier, which is ad-free and permits streaming on four devices at once. This tier includes 100 downloads for offline viewing and provides the option to watch certain titles in 4KHD with Dolby Atmos sound, provided compatible equipment is available.
The Ultimate plan is priced at $19.99 per month or $199.99 for an annual subscription.
'The Vampire Diaries' trailer