| “ | "I don't want to be a hero, Elena. I just want my life back." | „ |
| “ | "This is our family's legacy. You do not have the right to just walk away from it." | „ |
| “ | "I killed your wife. I killed her, and I am sorry." | „ |
John Gilbert or John Gilbert II is the main antagonist of Season 1 and a supporting character in Season 2 of the CW television series The Vampire Diaries.
He is the biological father of Elena Gilbert and uncle of Jeremy Gilbert. John was estranged from his family for many years and returned to Mystic Falls when Elena's parents died in a car accident. He was portrayed as an alcoholic and a womanizer who had a strained relationship with his children. John was also a member of the secret organization, The Founders' Council, which aimed to protect Mystic Falls from supernatural creatures. He was eventually revealed to be working with vampire hunters and died in season two after using a device to incapacitate vampires during a town event.
He was portrayed by David Anders who plays Cyrus Vanch on Arrow and Blaine Deebers on Izombie.
Roles[]
He is a founding member of the town council and the father of Elena Gilbert. John is initially portrayed as a distant and estranged father who returns to Mystic Falls with a hidden agenda. He is later revealed to be a vampire hunter and works with the council to rid the town of vampires. John's actions often put him at odds with his daughter and her friends, who are themselves vampires or allies of vampires. Throughout the series, John is involved in various power struggles and conflicts, ultimately leading to his death.
Personality[]
John Gilbert's personality can be described as complex and conflicted. He was initially portrayed as a loving and caring father to his children, but his darker side was gradually revealed as the series progressed. He was shown to be willing to do whatever it takes to protect his family, even if it meant making questionable decisions and alliances.
John was also depicted as being extremely protective of the town of Mystic Falls, and was willing to work with the vampire-hating organization, the Founder's Council, to rid the town of supernatural threats. However, his hatred towards vampires was largely driven by personal vendettas, and his actions often put innocent lives at risk.
Overall, John Gilbert's personality was characterized by his intense loyalty to his family and his town, but also by his tendency to let his personal biases and emotions cloud his judgement.
Killed Victims[]
- Pearl Zhu
- Anna
- Two Unknown Vampires
- Noah
Villanous Acts[]
- Plotting with Isobel to kill off vampires in Mystic Falls, including Stefan and Damon Salvatore.
- Killing Anna and other vampires by using the invention that he and Isobel created.
- Knocking out and cuffing Sheriff Elizabeth Forbes to carry out his plan against the vampires.
- Setting fire to the building where he had trapped the vampires, causing the death of Richard Lockwood.
- Abusing his daughter Elena emotionally, insulting her and expressing his hatred of vampires in front of her.
- Attempting to convince Jeremy to hate vampires and turn against them, even giving him his father's ring which could make him invulnerable to supernatural attacks.
- Betraying and trying to kill Damon on multiple occasions.
- Lying to Elena and pretending to care about her, while actually using her to further his own agenda.
- Giving Damon the White Oak Ash Dagger, a weapon that could be used to kill Klaus, which ultimately led to the death of Tyler's mother Carol Lockwood.
- Helping Katherine Pierce escape from the tomb and providing her with information that could be used against the Salvatore brothers.
Abilities[]
- Intelligence: John was portrayed as a highly intelligent character, who was able to use his knowledge to gain an advantage over others.
- Combat skills: John had some combat training, which helped him to defend himself in dangerous situations.
- Investigative skills: John worked as a journalist and had a knack for investigating things. He used his investigative skills to uncover the secrets of the supernatural creatures in Mystic Falls.
- Manipulation: John was shown to be a master manipulator. He was able to manipulate his daughter Elena and others to achieve his goals.
- Firearms proficiency: John was proficient in using firearms and often carried a gun with him for protection.
Equipment[]
- Guns: John Gilbert was known to carry around guns and used them on several occasions throughout the show.
- Gilbert Ring: John Gilbert wore a Gilbert ring, which allows vampires to walk in the daylight, while also bringing them back to life when they die.
- Anti-Vampire Weapons: John Gilbert created a variety of anti-vampire weapons, including wooden stakes and vervain, which could weaken and immobilize vampires.
- Sunlight Grenade: John Gilbert developed a grenade that releases UV radiation, which is deadly to vampires, and can burn them on contact.
- Lockets: John Gilbert used lockets to store vervain, which he used to weaken and subdue vampires.
Trivia[]
- In the show, John Gilbert is a descendant of one of the founding families of Mystic Falls.
- John was once engaged to Isobel Flemming, who later became the mother of Elena Gilbert.
- John had a strained relationship with his daughter, Elena, due to his absence in her life and his attempts to control her.
- John was turned into a vampire by Anna, a vampire who was in love with his ancestor, Pearl, in order to obtain a device that could kill vampires.
- Despite being a vampire, John ultimately sacrificed himself to save Elena and the town of Mystic Falls.
- David Anders also played another villainous character in the show, the vampire, Julian.
- John's ring, which was made of lapis lazuli and could protect him from the sun, was later passed down to his daughter, Elena.
- John's initials, J.G., were seen on a tombstone in the Mystic Falls cemetery in the final episode of the show.
