I hope I’m not going to start a big debate in The Vampire Diaries fandom, but I’ve spent the day reading the various opinions about last night’s great finale. A lot of fans of the Damon-Elena romance were disappointed that Elena had chosen Stefan, but several fans pointed out that her feelings could change when, as a vampire, she actually remembers that she met Damon first.
Let’s recap. Elena spoke to Damon on the phone and told him that she was choosing Stefan. In fact, her exact words were: “I love him, Damon. He came into my life at a time when I needed someone and I fell for him instantly. No matter what I feel for you, I…I never un-fell for him. I can’t think about ‘always’. All I can think about is right now. And I care about you, Damon. Which is why I have to let you go. I mean, maybe if you and I had met first…”.
Guess what? She actually did meet Damon first. Before her parents died, he spotted her walking on the outskirts of town and, believing she was Katherine, he approached her. Then he compelled her to forget that they met because he didn’t want to announce his presence in town yet.
But that first meeting shouldn’t become the basis of their relationship. Chances are Elena (when she becomes a vampire) will remember that she met Damon first, but if she’s so shallow as to base her relationship with any man/vampire based on the date in a calendar, then she doesn’t deserve either Salvatore.
The actual date of the meeting shouldn’t matter. The first part of Elena’s explanation should matter more. The truth is that she met Stefan when she was grief-stricken about her recent loss and he helped her to heal. She loves him, not only for what he did, but also because of who he is.
If, one day in the future of The Vampire Diaries, she chooses to be with Damon, then she should pick him because he loves her, because of how he shows that love to her, and because of how he makes her feel. Who she met first doesn’t matter, because that first meeting isn’t enough to base a relationship on. Sure, he was clearly attracted to her and he wanted good things for her, but that’s not enough.
Stefan helped Elena learn to be human again, instead of a grieving mess. Maybe Damon will help her come to terms with becoming a vampire. Frankly, that’s a far better reason to choose him.
But, at this point, I kind of hope she stays with Stefan for a little while, because this never-ending back-and-forth thing is tiring. If she had chosen Damon in the finale, I would have preferred she stay with him so as to avid the endless love triangle. I think Elena will have enough problems during next season of The Vampire Diaries that she can’t be consumed with a love triangle.
Maybe one day she will choose Damon, but I sincerely hope that their relationship is based on more than a first meeting, because his feelings for her are clear and everyone involved in this love triangle deserves more than a chance meeting to dictate their futures. My faith is in Julie Plec and her excellent writers to provide a very solid basis for either relationship going forward, so I hope it comes to pass.
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