Nina Dobrev’s Influence on The Vampire Diaries’ Ending: From the Original Plan to the Final Conclusion
The beloved series, The Vampire Diaries, was originally intended to have a different ending than the one it eventually had. However, Nina Dobrev’s departure from the show was pivotal in reshaping the series finale. In this exploration, we’ll delve into the original ending that was planned and how it ultimately concluded.
The Vampire Diaries left an indelible mark on fans, drawing them into a world of fantasy and vampires filled with heart-wrenching moments, shocking deaths, thrilling twists, and a unique love story. Leading the charge was Nina Dobrev, who not only portrayed Elena Gilbert but also Katherine Pierce, the malevolent doppelganger of Elena, and the lesser-known character Amara, who was the origin of the doppelgangers. Joining her were Paul Wesley, who embodied the ever-charming Stefan Salvatore, and Ian Somerhalder, known for his smoldering portrayal of the not-so-nice Damon Salvatore.
The heart of The Vampire Diaries revolved around vampires and their entanglements with humans, but it predominantly focused on Elena Gilbert and her love affairs with the Salvatore brothers. The show’s thrilling journey spanned eight years, leaving fans captivated even after it went off the air. However, the conclusion of the series, marked by Stefan’s sacrifice and Damon’s eventual happiness, wasn’t the original plan. Nina Dobrev had a significant impact on how the series ultimately wrapped up. Let’s dive into the initial ending concept and the influence of Nina Dobrev, a.k.a. Elena Gilbert, on the show’s creators.
Nina Dobrev’s Impact on The Original Ending
The Vampire Diaries concluded with a bang in a gripping series finale, as Stefan (Paul Wesley) made the ultimate sacrifice to banish Katherine to hell forever. He found peace and now resides there with his friend Lexi. The finale also hinted at the eventual reunion of Stefan and Damon, but not for a few decades.
However, in a 2017 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Julie Plec, the show’s creator, revealed that she and Kevin Williamson had outlined the series conclusion back in Season 2. The initial plan was for Damon and Stefan to sacrifice themselves for Elena and continue to exist on the Other Side, presumably alongside Elena’s childhood sweetheart, Matt Donovan.
Nina Dobrev’s departure from the show altered this plan. Plec sought to rekindle the Elena-Damon-Stefan love triangle by transforming Elena and Stefan’s friendship into something deeper. Dobrev’s exit, in Plec’s eyes, solidified the romantic connection between Damon and Elena. She explained, “At that point, the show stopped being about a love triangle and became about the power of these brothers and their love for one another. So there was no way I was killing both of them and giving neither of them a good ending. It was simply not going to happen.”
The Vampire Diaries Conclusion
In the end, Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) and Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder) enjoyed a long and joyful life together in The Vampire Diaries series finale. However, this outcome differed from the original plan crafted by the show’s creators, Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson, which had to be revised after Nina Dobrev’s departure. The Vampire Diaries spanned eight seasons and gave rise to two spin-off series, The Originals and Legacies. While each season introduced new supernatural threats to Mystic Falls and its inhabitants, the central love triangle between Elena and the vampire brothers, Damon and Stefan Salvatore, remained the driving force of the show, sparking ongoing debates among fans.
Elena and Stefan’s love story began in the pilot episode of The Vampire Diaries, but it was plagued by complexities, including Elena’s growing feelings for the older Salvatore. Elena’s decision to choose Damon over Stefan in the Season 4 finale shattered Stefan’s heart. However, as confirmed by Dobrev on Instagram just over a month before the Season 6 finale, she would not be returning for Season 7. The show addressed Elena’s absence by placing her in a supernatural coma. In the finale, Dobrev reprised her roles as Elena and Katherine Pierce, and Damon was granted mortality while Stefan sacrificed himself to protect Mystic Falls and the people he loved.
Explaining The Vampire Diaries’ Ending
Season 7 of The Vampire Diaries primarily revolved around Damon’s efforts to be a better friend and brother in Elena’s absence. Season 8 delved into the Salvatore brothers’ confrontations with their tumultuous pasts, catalyzed by the introduction of Cade, known as the Devil, and the final season centered on themes of retribution, redemption, and forgiveness. In the two seasons following Nina Dobrev’s departure, the show shifted away from its original premise. Stefan and Caroline Forbes found love, yet their relationship lacked the passion and angst seen with Elena. Had Elena remained, the beloved Caroline-Klaus Mikaelson dynamic might have gained more momentum, despite Klaus’s New Orleans spin-off.
While Stefan’s death left many fans in shock, it brought the Salvatore brothers’ journey full circle. Stefan compelled Damon to become a vampire, effectively turning him into a monster. Throughout The Vampire Diaries, Stefan’s goal was to mend their fractured relationship, earn Damon’s forgiveness, and return what he had taken. In the end, both Salvatore brothers became heroes, saving those they cared about. Instead of lingering as ghosts on the Other Side, as initially intended by Plec and Williamson, Stefan found peace, while Damon continued to live on, thanks to the Easter eggs planted in Legacies.
