The Vampire Diaries Season 4

[[The Vampire Diaries]], a one-hour American [[supernatural drama]], was renewed for a fourth season by the U.S. channel [[The CW]] on May 3, 2012, seven days before the [[third season]]'s finale. Unlike the previous seasons that aired in September, it premiered on October 11, 2012, to avoid competition from major television shows. Season 4 consisted of 23 episodes instead of the usual 22 episodes. All the [[previous season's]] characters returned as series regulars apart from [[Matthew Davis]], who was killed off in the Season 3 finale but made guest appearances in the second, twenty-second and twenty-third episodes of the new season.On January 11, 2013, it was announced that a [[back-door pilot]] focused on the Originals, titled [[The Originals]] will air on April 25 for series pick-up. On April 26, 2013, The CW announced that The Originals, The Vampire Diaries' spin-off series, was picked up for a full season slated to premiere next fall.On February 11, 2013, [[The CW]] renewed the series for a fifth season.