Before he was Kelly Severide on Chicago Fire or the guy in Lady Gaga’s "Yoü and I" video, Taylor Kinney was a werewolf. Specifically, he was the guy who finally made the supernatural stakes in Mystic Falls feel real for something other than vampires.
Honestly, looking back at Taylor Kinney Vampire Diaries appearances, it’s wild how much impact he had in such a short window. He wasn’t just a guest star; he was the catalyst for the show’s entire Season 2 shift into werewolf lore.
The Arrival of Mason Lockwood
Mason Lockwood didn't just walk into town; he crashed it. After the death of Mayor Richard Lockwood, Mason returns to Mystic Falls to support his nephew, Tyler. But he isn't just the "cool uncle."
He brought a secret that changed everything: the Lockwood curse.
Basically, if someone with the gene kills another person—even by accident—they trigger a transformation. It’s brutal. It’s painful. And it was exactly what the show needed to move past the "vampires vs. everyone" trope. Kinney played Mason with this effortless, easygoing charm that made you want to trust him, even when he was clearly hiding something behind those blue eyes.
Why the Vampire-Werewolf Rivalry Worked
Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder) and Mason Lockwood were two sides of the same coin. Both were arrogant. Both were fiercely protective. And both were hopelessly in love with Katherine Pierce.
The Barbecue and the Silver Myth
One of the best scenes in Season 2 happened at a simple Lockwood neighborhood barbecue. Damon, being his usual reckless self, decides to test Mason. He believes the old lore that silver hurts werewolves.
He stabs Mason with a silver pie server.
Mason doesn't flinch. He just pulls the silver out and tells Damon, "That's a myth." It was a massive power move. Suddenly, the vampires weren't the apex predators anymore. One bite from a werewolf could kill a vampire, and Taylor Kinney sold that threat perfectly. He wasn't some snarling beast; he was a guy who knew he held the trump card.
The Katherine Pierce Betrayal
If we’re being real, Mason Lockwood was a bit of a tragic figure. He thought he was in a partnership with Katherine. He was hunting for the Moonstone because he believed it would help them be together and break the curse so he wouldn't have to go through the agony of turning every month.
But Katherine was just using him.
She needed a werewolf for the ritual to break the Sun and the Moon curse for Klaus. Mason was just a pawn. It’s sorta heartbreaking to see him realize it right before his end. He wasn't a villain in the traditional sense; he was a man motivated by love, even if that love was directed at the most manipulative vampire in history.
Taylor Kinney Vampire Diaries Exit: That Brutal Torture Scene
The end for Mason Lockwood came in Season 2, Episode 6, titled "Plan B." It wasn't a quick death. Damon and Stefan captured him, and Damon spent what felt like forever (but was actually a 10-hour shoot for the actors) torturing him for information.
Damon eventually rips Mason’s heart out. Literally.
It was a shocking moment because Mason felt like a character who could have lasted seasons. He was the mentor Tyler needed. He was the foil Damon needed. Killing him off so early was a bold choice by the writers, but it left a void in the werewolf storyline that Tyler had to fill on his own.
The Brief Return from the Dead
Death is rarely permanent in Mystic Falls. In Season 3, Mason returned as a ghost when the veil to the Other Side was lowered.
Interestingly, he didn't come back for revenge. He came back for redemption. He led Damon to the Lockwood cave to help find a way to kill Klaus. It was a nice full-circle moment for a character who was arguably "good at heart" but got caught up in the wrong supernatural crowd.
The Career Leap After Mystic Falls
It’s crazy to think that Taylor Kinney Vampire Diaries role was only about ten episodes long.
That small window was enough to put him on the map. Shortly after his time on the show, he landed a role in Shameless and eventually hit the jackpot with the One Chicago franchise.
He’s even admitted in interviews that his mom was the hardest person to tell about Mason’s death. She was such a fan of the show that he had to break it to her gently, telling her that in a supernatural world, "anything can happen."
What We Can Learn from Mason Lockwood’s Arc
If you’re rewatching the series, pay attention to how the show handles the concept of "monstrosity." Mason represents the struggle of someone who never asked for their power. Unlike the vampires who often chose their fate, the werewolf curse was an inherited burden.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Writers:
- Subverting Expectations: Mason’s debunking of the "silver myth" is a masterclass in how to keep a supernatural audience on their toes.
- Character Utility: Even a short-lived character can change the entire trajectory of a show. Without Mason, Tyler Lockwood's transformation would have lacked the emotional weight of his uncle's legacy.
- The Power of Performance: Kinney’s "cool guy" exterior made his moments of vulnerability—like the fear during his first transformation—far more impactful.
Mason Lockwood might have been one of the biggest "what ifs" of the series. Had he stayed, the power dynamic in Mystic Falls would have looked a lot different. But in the end, his short stay was the spark that ignited the most intense seasons of the show.
To dive deeper into the lore, you should go back and watch "Bad Moon Rising" (Season 2, Episode 3). It’s the definitive Mason Lockwood episode. You see the physical toll of the curse and the beginnings of his doomed alliance with Katherine. It holds up surprisingly well even years later.