Seven Minutes to Midnight

 is the fifteenth episode of the seventh season of The Vampire Diaries and the one hundred and forty-eight episode of the series.

Summary
PHANTOM PAIN – When the latest menace takes its toll on the whole town, everyone sets out to protect it. With the traumatic effects of the Phoenix Stone taking a toll on his brother, Stefan attempts to help Damon regain his grip on reality, while secretly struggling with his own experience in the stone. Bonnie realizes that everyone is about to succumb to the darkness and asks Caroline for her help. With her friends turning on each other, Elena tries to find out the phantoms weaknesses.

Main Cast

 * Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert
 * Paul Wesley as Stefan Salvatore
 * Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore
 * Kat Graham as Bonnie Bennett
 * Candice Accola as Caroline Forbes
 * Zach Roerig as Matt Donovan
 * Matt Davis as Alaric Saltzman
 * Michael Malarkey as Lorenzo
 * Hunter Parrish as Andrew Montez

Recurring Cast

 * Elizabeth Blackmore as Valerie
 * Jaiden Kaine as Beau
 * Scarlett Byrne as Nora
 * Teressa Liane as Mary-Louise
 * Luke Benward as William Duncan
 * Leslie-Anne Huff as Rayna Cruz

Cultural References

 * The title is taken from the well-known Doomsday Clock. In 1947, during the Cold War, the Clock was started at seven minutes to midnight and was subsequently advanced or rewound per the state of the world and nuclear war prospects.
 * Seven Minutes to Midnight was the second and final single released by Pete Wylie's Wah! Heat incarnation. The band had made major line-up changes and bass guitar player Pete Younger was replaced by Colm Redmond, then Carl Washington who became Wylie's right hand.
 * Seven Minutes to Midnight is also an episode of the series Heroes.