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