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
"The Vampire Diaries" Hell Is Other People (TV Episode 2016) [S7E10] Hell Is Other People
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. is the tenth episode of the seventh season
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. Following his death in the mid-season finale, Damon's
Damon only escapes after finally submitting to his pain and expressing genuine remorse to a vision of his dying mother.
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.
The title is a direct reference to Jean-Paul Sartre’s 1944 play, .