Damon Salvatore is one of the most complex characters in The Vampire Diaries series, known for his charm, wit, and tragic decisions. Among the many dark and intense storylines he experiences, one of the most shocking moments involves Damon choosing to desiccate himself. This decision stunned fans and became a hot topic of discussion on platforms like Reddit, where theories and explanations swirled around his motivations and the emotional weight of his choice. To fully understand how Damon desiccated himself and why, we need to explore the timeline, context, and character psychology behind this pivotal event.
Understanding Desiccation in the Vampire Diaries Universe
What Is Desiccation?
In The Vampire Diaries, desiccation is the process where a vampire essentially shuts down and mummifies due to lack of blood or through voluntary action. It renders them unconscious and motionless, similar to a state of suspended animation. Vampires can desiccate if they are deprived of blood for a long time or if they choose to do so intentionally by force of will.
This ability is usually associated with emotional exhaustion, guilt, or a desire to escape the burdens of immortality. When Damon chose this path, fans across Reddit analyzed his reasons, reflecting on how deeply his pain must have run.
Voluntary vs. Involuntary Desiccation
Involuntary desiccation typically happens after prolonged starvation, but voluntary desiccation is a powerful and rare act of self-punishment or withdrawal. For Damon, it was a conscious choice he gave up, emotionally drained and mentally shattered. His decision wasn’t about survival but about surrender.
The Context Behind Damon’s Desiccation
Timeline of Events Leading Up to It
The incident takes place during The Vampire Diaries Season 7. By this point in the series, Damon has experienced countless losses: Katherine, Elena’s magical coma, the deaths of friends, and his strained relationship with Stefan. After Elena was placed under a magical sleep spell linked to Bonnie’s life, Damon was left to live decades without the love of his life.
This emotional toll began to break him. Without Elena, Damon struggled to maintain purpose and hope. His relationship with Bonnie was complicated, and he constantly wrestled with guilt over his past actions. He wanted to wait for Elena to wake up but found himself incapable of enduring the emptiness in between.
The Decision and the Vault
Damon decided to desiccate himself inside the Armory’s vault, believing it would be the safest place to lie dormant until Elena’s return. His reasoning was that if he could skip ahead in time, he wouldn’t have to suffer. This would allow him to wake up when Elena did, avoiding the pain of waiting and the temptation to destroy everything around him in his grief.
He asked Enzo to watch over him and ensure his body remained undisturbed. The plan was supposed to be simple: lock himself in the vault, desiccate, and wake up decades later. But as fans on Reddit passionately discussed, nothing in The Vampire Diaries is ever simple.
Reddit Theories and Fan Discussions
Psychological Breakdown and Guilt
Reddit threads on Damon’s desiccation often highlight his deep psychological breakdown. Users discussed how Damon carried the weight of guilt from centuries of violence, betrayal, and personal failure. Losing Elena pushed him over the edge. Instead of facing his mistakes and attempting to grow, he chose numbness.
One Redditor commented that Damon’s action was the ultimate form of escapism, and others agreed, saying it reflected his tendency to run from pain rather than confront it. Despite his growth in the series, old habits die hard, and desiccation was his way of hitting pause on existence itself.
Enzo’s Role and the Siren’s Influence
Another widely discussed point was Enzo’s role in the plan. He was Damon’s closest friend at the time and reluctantly agreed to help. However, fans were quick to note that this decision placed Damon in extreme danger. The vault was not a neutral location it was tied to supernatural evil.
The Siren, Sybil, who was locked in the vault, manipulated Damon after he desiccated. Instead of waking up peacefully, Damon was influenced and eventually enslaved by her mind control. Reddit users speculated whether Damon had any sense of this risk or if he underestimated the supernatural dangers inside the Armory.
Redemption Arc or Relapse?
Reddit debates continue over whether Damon’s desiccation was part of his redemption arc or a relapse into his self-destructive tendencies. Some fans saw it as a step backward proof that Damon still couldn’t cope without Elena. Others viewed it as a tragic but human response to immense grief, showing that even strong characters can break under pressure.
Aftermath and Consequences
Waking Up Changed
When Damon eventually awakens from desiccation, he’s no longer the same person. Under the influence of the Siren, he becomes emotionally detached and reverts to his darker nature. He commits acts of violence and struggles with his identity all over again.
This outcome disappointed some fans, but others appreciated the layers it added to his character. It made his eventual return to goodness and self-control more meaningful, reinforcing that healing is not a straight line but a journey filled with setbacks.
Impact on Relationships
Damon’s choice to desiccate and the resulting mind control placed enormous strain on his relationships. Stefan was forced to confront his brother’s decision, and Bonnie, who had counted on Damon for support, felt betrayed. Reddit threads often explore how Damon’s actions hurt those who loved him even if they understood why he did it.
Why Fans Still Talk About It
- Emotional weight: The moment reflects Damon’s pain, love, and vulnerability, making it deeply relatable.
- Philosophical themes: It explores the desire to escape time, mortality, and emotional suffering.
- Plot consequences: The decision shaped events in the later part of the series, showing how one choice can ripple through time.
- Symbolic gesture: For many, Damon’s self-desiccation was a symbol of sacrifice and despair wrapped into one.
Damon Salvatore’s decision to desiccate himself inside the vault wasn’t just a dramatic plot twist it was a culmination of years of trauma, grief, and emotional turmoil. The act symbolized his unwillingness to keep fighting, his longing to be reunited with Elena, and his belief that isolation was the only way to protect himself and others. Discussions on Reddit have helped unravel the layers behind this decision, with fans offering psychological insight, emotional interpretation, and narrative analysis. Ultimately, Damon’s desiccation serves as one of the most poignant reminders of the burden immortality can bring and the fragile humanity that remains even in a centuries-old vampire.