News of actress Nina Dobrev exiting "The Vampire Diaries" after the current season has shocked and upset a good number of her fans, who believe the show just won't be the same without her.
The show was all about Dobrev's Elena Gilbert learning about the existence of the supernatural world, and later becoming a part of it by falling in love with Paul Wesley's Stefan and Ian Somerhalder's Damon. Elena was the central character that held everything together until season 6, where others began to get more screentime and Elena took a backseat.
While this might have been to facilitate the show's progress even after Dobrev exits, fans are having a hard time thinking of "The Vampire Diaries" without Dobrev.
So what will happen to Elena Gilbert now that Dobrev will no longer be a part of the show? Will she take the cure for vampirism and go on to live life as a human, away from all the drama surrounding the Salvatore brothers? Or will a tragedy befall the character once she becomes a human?
Because it is difficult to think of Damon letting Elena just walk away after taking the cure for vampirism, many believe that death is the only way Damon will let Elena go. Speculations are also rife that Elena's departure will pave the way for a Damon-Bonnie romance.
Prediction, damon gives Elena the cure and then she does something else dumb and dies but can't be saved. The end.
— hayley | #APIECEOFME (@biIIboardjacob) April 7, 2015
No wonder they are bringing Damon & Bonnie closer together. They will probably end up as a couple after Elena dies or leaves or whatever — ariana grande. (@stratfordtune) April 7, 2015
#TVDFinalePrediction -- Elena gets her memories back with Damon and then dies.
— " Kris " (@TheMythOfMe) April 6, 2015
Executive producer Julie Plec said in an interview that Elena and Damon's storylines are going to collide, with them asking several serious questions about what they want out of a future together.
"There is quite the doozy of a storyline coming for Damon and Elena, which is all about their relationship, and how it will work, and how they want to make it work," Plec told The Hollywood Reporter.
"The nice thing is they found their way back to each other, and that's good, we want them to have made their way back to each other. But that comes with hurdles. And when you throw a mother and some other surprises into the mix, it definitely tests them in fun and really dynamic ways. Which, while bringing them together and keeping them strong, has them asking a lot of questions about how their future will be together, and what they want out of a future together — in a good way!"
"The Vampire Diaries" airs Thursdays on CW.
