Elena Gilbert is initially introduced as the main character in The Vampire Diaries, but the character departed from the screen following actress Nina Dobrev's real-life departure. In season six's "I'll Wed You In The Golden Summertime," Kai Parker puts Elena in an enchanted sleep ensuring she will only wake up if her best friend Bonnie Bennet dies.
Elena returns for the series finale "I Was Feeling Epic." Seasons seven and eight, however, feature the Mystic Falls gang facing life without her. There were numerous instances of the show improving in her absence - as well as evidence that show suffered without its lead character...
Better Without Elena: The Salvatore Brothers Bonded More
The relationship between vampire brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore took center stage after Elena's departure. The last two seasons of the show explored the complicated history between the brothers. Both Stefan and Damon have to pull each other back from the brink of darkness.
A particularly emotional scene in "I Went To The Woods" includes Damon desperately searching for Stefan after he becomes stranded in the woods whilst trapped in a human body. It is one of the strongest scenes in the entire series and highlights Damon and Stefan's relationship.
Better With Elena: Elena Is The Main Character
Elena's departure felt abrupt considering she was the main character of the show. Fans are first introduced to Elena Gilbert in the pilot episode through a voiceover narration of her diary entries. She remains the central character until Kai places her in an enchanted coma in the season six finale.
Season seven was initially jarring without the protagonist of The Vampire Diaries. Elena's absence was apparent and, even though she was missing from the screen, her presence was felt throughout the show's later seasons.
Better Without Elena: Damon And Bonnie's Friendship Developed More
One of the best parts of the show's sixth season was the unlikely but charming friendship between Damon Salvatore and Bonnie Bennett. Both become trapped in Kai's prison world following the destruction of the Other Side. During their time together, the vampire and the witch become best friends and their friendship is further explored in season seven.
Damon and Bonnie's friendship is complex but the two truly care for each other, despite their history. With Elena gone, Bonnie spends more time with Damon and Alaric and the trio are more entertaining.
Better With Elena: There's No Love Triangle Without Elena
The initial premise of the show, based on a series of books written by L.J Smith, was the love triangle between human Elena Gilbert and vampire brothers Damon and Stefan Salvatore. Season six moves away from the triangle. Stefan falls in love with Caroline and moves past his relationship with Elena.
Although Stefan and Caroline's romance was epic, the main premise of The Vampire Diaries became lost. The narrative direction felt jarring as it became clear that the writers were writing around actress Nina Dobrev's departure.
Better Without Elena: Elena Wasn't Always Likable
Although Elena was the main character in The Vampire Diaries, she wasn't always entirely likable. Elena becomes more selfish and less compassionate in season four after she becomes a vampire. In "A View To A Kill," she helps Jeremy kill Kol despite knowing the Original's death will kill thousands of vampires.
Elena was said to be compassionate by other characters such as Stefan and Elijah but she didn't always exemplify these traits. Many fans disliked her, especially after the character turned off her humanity switch following Jeremy's death.
Better With Elena: No Elena Means No Katherine
The real-life departure of actress Nina Dobrev from The Vampire Diaries meant that both Elena Gilbert and her doppelganger Katherine Pierce would no longer be apart of the show. Katherine died in season five and was last seen being dragged to Hell. She returned for the series finale though she could have played a bigger role as the show's final villain.
Katherine was one of the most interesting and entertaining characters in the series. She could have been Cade's right-hand woman in the final season instead of the Sirens.
Better Without Elena: Stefan Had Other Love Interests
The Vampire Diaries moved away from the love triangle premise after Nina Dobrev's announced departure from the show. Damon and Elena's relationship grew stronger before her enchanted coma and Stefan moved on and found love with Caroline, as well as reuniting with his first love Valerie.
Elena's absence meant that the show could introduce other love interests for Stefan. In season eight's "We're Planning A June Wedding," Caroline and Stefan get married in a moment that made Steroline shippers everywhere rejoice.
Better With Elena: The Characters Miss Her
The rest of the characters feel the loss of Elena in the show's later seasons and it is hard not to sympathize with them. Damon loses his girlfriend and struggles to cope without her. Bonnie and Elena are doomed to never see each other again as Elena will only wake up when Bonnie dies.
Stefan, Damon, Caroline, and Bonnie write diary entries for Elena to read throughout seasons seven and eight. Fans see how much they miss her and the terrible impact her cursed coma has on them.
Better Without Elena: More Supernatural Elements
The supernatural mythology in The Vampire Diaries was further explored after Elena's exit from the cast. Season seven saw the Salvatore brothers take on Rayna Cruz and the show featured an interesting storyline surrounding a shamanic huntress that was reminiscent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
In season eight, the show expands its roster of supernatural creatures to include Sirens with the introduction of Sybil and Selene. The Mystic Falls gang fights the Devil himself and destroy Hell for good.
Better With Elena: She's Damon's Moral Compass
Elena encourages Damon to be a better person and could be considered the vampire's moral compass. Without her, Damon spirals and struggles to cope. He goes on a killing spree whilst controlled by Sybil, signaling his descent back into darkness without Elena.
Damon ultimately comes back from the brink of evil with the help of Stefan, but the relationship between the Salvatore brothers is complicated. Elena is arguably the only person who can truly reach Damon and inspires him to be human.