The Vampire Diaries: Did Elena get a proper send-off? | EW.com 

Julie Plec on 'Vampire Diaries': 'a ton of story left to tell'

fans watched as Elena Gilbert was put into a magical coma when Kai linked her life to Bonnie’s. So as long as Bonnie is alive, Elena can’t be, which means that Elena went into a 60-plus year sleep in order to allow her best friend to attempt to find happiness. 

And with that, each member of Elena’s life got a chance to say goodbye. It was nostalgic. It was heartbreaking. And it was—strange as it seems to say—fitting. Despite the fact that losing a main character never feels quite right, something about this made sense: Elena Gilbert has always put the lives of her friends before her own. It’s how she died and became a vampire three seasons ago. So to watch Elena finally have to say goodbye after losing pretty much everyone around her? It felt like things had come full circle. What was the alternative? Watch Elena lose someone else?

Looking specifically at her goodbye, the writers gave Elena customized moments with each of the people that she loved. From a sleepover with her girlfriends to a dance in the road with Damon, Elena was able to speak her peace, shed a few tears, and tell her friends to be happy. Even her long-lost journal made a welcome re-entry into the world. 

So yes, it was sad. But it was supposed to be. And more than anything, it was the sort of goodbye that Elena deserved. Agreed?

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