Following his death in the mid-season finale, Damon's soul is trapped inside the , a mystical artifact that forces vampires to relive their personal hells.
Damon is repeatedly sent back to a traumatic day during the Civil War in 1863, where he was tasked with capturing a group of deserters. [S7E10] Hell Is Other People
Damon only escapes after finally submitting to his pain and expressing genuine remorse to a vision of his dying mother. Following his death in the mid-season finale, Damon's
"The Vampire Diaries" Hell Is Other People (TV Episode 2016) "The Vampire Diaries" Hell Is Other People (TV
is the tenth episode of the seventh season of The Vampire Diaries , originally airing on January 29, 2016. It is widely considered one of the series' most creative installments, utilizing a "Groundhog Day" time-loop structure to force protagonist Damon Salvatore to confront his deepest regrets. Narrative Summary
Upon waking, Damon is so traumatized that he believes he is still in a loop. He lashes out and seemingly kills Bonnie, Caroline, Matt, and Stefan, leaving the episode on a massive cliffhanger. Philosophical Roots
Each time the loop resets, the situation grows darker. Damon initially believes he can "solve" the loop by being a hero, but the Stone reveals that his true torment is his repressed guilt regarding his mother, Lily.