Ratings In its original American broadcast, "500 Years of Solitude" was watched by 2.72 million; up by 0.28 from the previous episode.
Reviews "500 Years of Solitude" received positive reviews. Stephanie Flasher from
TV After Dark gave an A+ rate to the episode saying that it was one to remember. "It had many of the things TVD fans know and have grown to love about the supernatural drama. There was a little something for everyone whether a fan from the very first episode or season 2. The episode fit with the current season’s story-lines while still having that nostalgic feeling viewers expect from a milestone episode. It even included a few familiar faces and events that’d probably only ever happen because it was the 100th episode and a service to the fans." Carrie Raisler from
The A.V. Club gave a B+ rate to the episode saying: "The result [of the episode] is a little awkward at times but certainly well-intentioned, and the whole episode comes across as nothing if not a love letter to all of these characters and actors the fans have loved over the years." She also stated that the writers did the smartest thing by focusing the episode on Katherine and she closes her review: "Either way it ends up shaking out, it was a fun moment in an episode full of them, in a series defined by them. The 100th episode of The Vampire Diaries might not be perfect, but it’s fun and warm and exciting, and a great example of why the show is so beloved." Emma Fraser from
Screenfad gave the episode an A− rate saying that in this episode the show wend old school. "...there was no Whitmore College mystery or experiments this week. Instead they go old school and feature pretty much every important character from the first four seasons focusing on the life and times of Katherine Pierce as she lies on her death bed." Ashley Dominique of
Geeked Out Nation gave an A− rate to the episode saying that the episode is a reminder of why people love the show. "For a 100th episode, it could have packed in a bit more punch, but I don’t have much to complain about. They kept the story moving forward and managed to drop another bombshell. [...] Negativity aside, the episode left me full of smiles and excited to see what is next to come for the characters." Liane Bonin Starr of
HitFix gave a good review to the episode saying: "It was all kind of a perfect 100th episode, and a tear jerker at that. [...] The 100th episode seemed like a fitting send-off to a flawed and interesting character [Katherine] we've grown to, if not love, appreciate as a reliable troublemaker. Best of all, lots of dearly departed characters popped in, either as Katherine's hallucinations or courtesy of Bonnie's anchor status." Eric Goldman from
IGN rated the episode with 8.5/10. "In a season that has felt less focused than others, The Vampire Diaries' 100th episode stood out as a fitting and appreciated tribute to the show's history and all that has occurred. I can't help wishing the big twist was even bigger, considering what this show has pulled off in the past, but overall, this was a heartfelt celebration episode... involving a lot of dead people." Stephanie Hall of
K Site TV gave a good review to the episode saying: "'500 Years of Solitude' reminded us all of many of the reasons we've screamed or gasped at our televisions during the past four and a half seasons of
The Vampire Diaries and even gave us the chance to for new exclamations. While the 100th episode served more as a stroll down memory lane than a whole story in itself, it still managed to propel the series forward and set up an exciting challenge for the characters to face next." Christopher Monigle from
Starpulse also gave a good review to the episode saying that it was the best episode of the season. "It celebrated what fans love most about the series. Despite recent missteps and a general sense of no direction, The Vampirie Diaries has been great fun to watch over the last five years. Plec and Dries told an awesome Katherine story and utilized every character worth a darn." Crystal Bell from
Wetpaint gave a good review to the episode and she praised Dobrev's acting. "The 100th episode of The Vampire Diaries was packed with emotions — from the sheer joy of seeing old faces return, to the excitement of scandalous new hookups, and the utter shock at the realization that some people, especially Katherine, never change. But, what '500 Years of Solitude' accomplished most of all was bringing back the show we fell in love with. The dramatic hour was a return to form for TVD — and here's hoping it keeps up the momentum." Catriona Wightman from
Digital Spy named the episode "a love letter to the fans" and even though there was the big twist at the end, it was the cameos that made her giggle and even tear up. She also praised Dobrev's acting by saying: "...seeing Katherine look in the mirror and do 'Elena's' voice was absolutely thrilling. That Nina Dobrev can make this such a startling moment is testament to her skill - she's actually now playing her doppelganger in her own body, which is mind-warping. I can't help but be impressed by her." Caroline Preece of
Den of Geek gave another good review to the episode saying that it was a fantastic milestone episode. "This was everything a 100th episode should be, from the ghost party at the end to the focus on Katherine and the brief return of the Originals to Mystic Falls. I went into the hour expecting it to be a cheap farewell episode to the show’s best character – aka a bad decision – but instead we got a solid hour of Vampire Diaries that celebrated everything we’ve always loved about it." Despite the general positive reviews, Matt Richenthal of
TV Fanatic rated the episode with only 2/5 saying that overall he was very disappointed and things were repetitive. "The hour was too reliant on returns, on random actions and on a body takeover storyline we've seen played out over and over and over and over." He also criticized the storyline of Caroline and Klaus stating: "It felt forced, shoved in merely to make Klaroline shippers happy and to create an obstacle for Caroline and Tyler down the line." ==References==