“The Vampire Diaries” introduces Elena Gilbert amid Stefan and Damon’s century-long rift, shaped by Katherine’s manipulations. Over six seasons, Elena begins dating Stefan, develops feelings for Damon, and ultimately dumps Stefan to be with Damon—only to polic
Elena Gilbert steps into “The Vampire Diaries” already tangled in a story she didn’t start. In the first couple of episodes. she meets Stefan and Damon. vampire brothers who share a past—and a shared ex-girlfriend. Katherine. The show also makes one thing clear early: Katherine’s manipulations of the brothers created a rift that lasts for a century.
Katherine doesn’t just linger in the background. She’s presented as one of the show’s most formidable antagonists, with almost all of the characters hating her and judging her. And when it comes to what she is, the series doesn’t hide the ball—Katherine admits to being a villain.
Then Elena’s own role in the relationship drama unfolds, season by season, with a pattern that becomes hard to ignore. What starts as Elena dating Stefan turns into something messier as feelings for Damon take root. Eventually, she dumps Stefan to be with Damon.
That sequence isn’t framed as the whole problem, though. The friction comes from what Elena does alongside her choices: she becomes, in the view of the piece, one of TV’s most self-righteous main characters—judging everyone else for the mistakes they make.
And the argument lands where it’s most difficult to brush aside. The character whose actions Elena most closely emulates is Katherine. Make it make sense. the piece essentially dares viewers to do—because the same manipulative emotional geography Katherine carved out of Stefan and Damon is echoed in Elena’s own romantic pivot points. even as Elena criticizes others for doing what she’s most like.
In the end. “The Vampire Diaries” puts Elena at the center of a moral contrast that feels less clear-cut the longer the story runs. The show’s century-old wound may be traced back to Katherine’s manipulations. but Elena’s trajectory—dating Stefan. developing feelings for Damon. and ultimately dumping Stefan to be with Damon—turns that lesson into something sharper and more personal.
The Vampire Diaries Elena Gilbert Damon Stefan Katherine TV characters relationship drama villain self-righteous
So Elena is basically Katherine but with better hair? Got it.
I didn’t even think about the Katherine/Elena parallels like that. It’s kinda wild she “dumps” Stefan and then acts all high and mighty. Also I’m still team Stefan idc.
Wait so the article is saying the vampire rift is Elena’s fault? Like because she dates people out of order? Seems off, the show had been messy way before her. Katherine manipulated them sure, but Elena was like… existing.
“Make it make sense” is right lol. The whole premise feels like one of those takes where they pick 3 scenes and pretend it’s a whole psychology. Elena judging people while doing the same stuff as Katherine, sure, but aren’t they literally all toxic? Also how can you call Katherine the worst when Damon was doing the most the entire time.