DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this article is not to hate on Nina Dobrev or discredit Elena Gilbert’s character whatsoever. It is to emphasize the importance of TVD as a show even without her presence. I'm just as devastated as everyone else from Nina Dobrev's exit from the series -- I may have even sobbed a few times.
When the news broke last spring about how Nina Dobrev would not be returning to the mega-popular television show, "The Vampire Diaries," catastrophe hit. People did not know how their favorite show would function without Elena Gilbert. She is, or at least was, the reason the show existed. However, it had become clear throughout the progression of the show that this was not necessarily the case. The show did not constantly revolve around the at times whiny and annoying Elena Gilbert, who was stuck in the rut of falling in love with the Salvatore Brothers and surviving the vampire life that was thrown at her. Elena Gilbert was not at the center of the show by the second season, and it is time people realized that. So, it should not come as any surprise that the current seventh season of the show, the first without Elena Gilbert, is just as good as any other. It may even be better than some, with the freedom granted from Dobrev’s departure. Here’s why:
1. Just because Elena’s gone does not mean Caroline Forbes has disappeared.
Let’s face it. Caroline Forbes is the most underrated character on primetime television. She is an independent, strong, charming vampire who everyone loves to root for. Caroline is one of the best parts about watching TVD, whether people consciously realize it or not.
2. Or Bonnie Bennett, for that matter.
TVD still has two resident female leaders on the show, and Bonnie is the second half of this equation. With her ultra-powerful witch powers and headstrong personality, Bonnie keeps the show exciting. You can never really predict what she will do next, or how she will react to one of Damon’s preposterous dilemmas. Last season’s storyline with Kai proves that she can make TVD her own, and now has more of an opportunity to do that without the presence of Elena Gilbert looming over her.
3. The Heretics are awesome.
Okay, let me rephrase that. The Heretics are pretty horrible individuals, but the entire concept is amazing. I will not back down from that thought. The Heretics are able to bring back what was always at TVD's core but was missing for a while: vampires. This show desperately needed to bring back what is once prided itself in being all about, and was able to do that with the Heretics. It’s a classic good vs. evil battle, (except, of course, it gets more confusing as the season progresses) instead of some complex storyline about god-only-knows-what.
4. New romantic storylines can be pursued.
All romantic focus used to be on Elena and Stefan. Then, it was Elena and Damon. All other relationships, no matter how awesome or awful, were just background noise. Now, with Elena gone, other relationships can be explored and emphasized. People can be given a chance to actually care about Caroline and Stefan as the next serious relationship. It will sure be interesting to see where Enzo and Lily end up. And I’m excited to see what happens with Bonnie romantically this season, if at all (fingers secretly crossed for Bamon, no shame). The series could use a fun, light relationship as well, instead of the heavy focus on true love it has currently tended to rely upon.
Let’s also not forget about the show’s first same-sex couple, which is awesome. One thing TVD needs to improve upon is its representation of society, and this is a step in the right direction. Dobrev’s departure led the way for the Heretics to take center-stage, and thus the relationship between Nora and Mary-Louise. "The Originals," the spin-off show of TVD, had a gay couple before TVD. I’m not saying that this directly happened because Elena Gilbert left the show, but I am saying that their relationship can be heavily emphasized since Elena’s love life is not the focus of the show anymore.
6. The flash-forwards give the show a breath of fresh air.
In the absence of Elena Gilbert, the newest season has developed flash-forwards that are placed throughout each episode. They are all equally confusing, yet there is satisfaction in knowing that there is a future for these characters to some extent. After being invested in a show for such a long time, it’s exciting to see the future of some characters, even if they aren’t clear or positive. This alleviates the curiosity of how Elena Gilbert is able to be factored out of the equation in relation to each of these characters, even heartbroken Damon.
7. Maybe people will finally have a chance to care about the human(s) on the show.Matt. I’m literally talking about Matt. No one ever cares about Matt, who dated Elena earlier when they were in high school. This is starting to change. Last season, Matt’s desire to become a Mystic Falls Police Officer led the audience to believe he is on to bigger and better things, and without the cloud of Elena Gilbert looming over the characters of Mystic Falls, this can be focused on more. Bottom line: I want more Matt, I want more humans. Maybe Dobrev’s exit will help breed this. The Originals even has more of a focus on humans than its parent show. (Do you notice a common theme here? The Originals is by far the superior show, but that’s for another time)
8. It allows for the thought that maybe TVD was never really about Elena, after all.
Although the books revolve around Elena Gilbert, what made TVD such an awesome and revolutionary show was that it was not always focused on its main character. Julie Plec transformed this show into something so much more than Elena Gilbert’s love story. She was able to create her own world where everyone was eventually just as important as Elena. That was how "The Originals" was born. Sure, it’d be nice to see Elena around, but Plec allowed the show to breathe without her constant presence even while she was still a character. Maybe it never really mattered whether Elena was a part of the show. And maybe that’s why it is fine now.
