On how Elena Gilbert has to go dark and why as a Damon/Elena shipper, I'm more than okay with that!

[badboy_fangirl]

Not the most eloquent of titles, but the most accurate. First of all, let me say this post is mostly inspired by the lovely lit_chick08, whom I may or may not quote profusely. [Meg, I didn't ask permission, but I hope it's okay to use some of your post regarding this subject]. Second of all, TVD fandom, I love you, and I just want us all to get along, but

Comments

[x5vale]

I love Damon Salvatore. As in: Damon stan 4VR and favorite fictional character of all-time and how did this even happen L-O-V-E. When he's hurt, it hurts me. Actual pain afflicts my chest
It's good to know I am not alone.

To defend Elena to some will feel like a betrayal of Damon, but I find that I must do it.
No it' not a betrayal to Damon. I understand Elena and her reasons and honestly what did happen looked way more less important than it seemed after the first time I watched.

To adapt to the insanity of her world, Katerina Petrova had to die and Katherine Pierce had to be born.
I agree, totally.

Damon is a vampire; a murderous, somewhat amoral vampire.
He is and I love how he deals with his double nature...145 years of existential crisis would have killed everyone but Damon can survive pretty much everything.
Anyway Katherine did what she did to young man who happened to love her too much and who was messed up by her influence.

The fact that nobody ended up permanently dead, or accidentally not dead **cough**Jeremy**

[linsell_farm]

First - that gif is absolutely TOO PERFECT!! This is definitely not JUST a show

[badboy_fangirl]

My thing isn't that I expect every to agree with me, or always feel the same as me, it was just that initially I felt like I was the only one who wasn't mad at Elena. And then I began questioning everything, like maybe I just hadn't paid close enough attention or something...but even upon a rewatch, I just couldn't make myself feel something that I didn't--just like those of you who were annoyed with her couldn't help that that's how you felt. All the same, I appreciate the sentiment. But please know I don't expect us to always agree on everything.

I remember when Damon snapped Ric's neck in 3x04, I really felt that way too--like I couldn't connect because I was so mad at Damon for doing that, and it was hard for me, and I was adrift then. (Good word, adrift.)

Whatever leads to D/E 4VR, I'm all for! :D

[linsell_farm]

Nor do I expect that we'll all agree, but this was the first time that I saw such a vast difference amongst my 'inner circle' of friends. I was mad at Elena and couldn't see past that at all initially. It is my style to vent first and then form my opinion after some (usually very little) discussion with others. This time around, my initial reaction didn't really read as a 'vent' but instead looked more like I'd already made up my mind coming from a place of anger.
It also took a little more reading of others' posts for me to come around to a better frame of mind. It felt so good when that lightbulb went on, though!!

Anyhow, it's all good now. I can't wait to see what transpires between our beloved DE and how they deal with their anger, and passion, and everything else they feel for each other. We've certainly had examples of white-hot chemistry when they're frustrated with one another and I wouldn't mind seeing another one ... :D

[catteo]

I agree so much with everything you say here. The degree of Elena hatred being thrown about is nuts. I may not agree with all of her decisions, but in the context of her characterisation, they make perfect sense. Elena has always been wary of Damon, his love is something that she never asked for, and it's a burden. She never knows when she'll say or do something to send him flying over the edge. Because Damon IS a murderer, no matter which way you cut it, and Elena is never going to be comfortable with that whilst she has no difficult decisions of her own to make. Damon/Elena can never happen unless they meet in the middle, and in Damon's own words "It's right. Just not right now."

[dante_kent]

I agree with EVERYTHING you've written. This post is gold. I loved the hell out of Elena in this episode (at least in all her interactions with Damon). And I say this as a similarly helpless Damon stan (he is my favorite forever, and nothing will ever change that). IT'S OK TO LOVE THEM BOTH.

Meanwhile, I think Elena becoming darker is not only necessary for any sort of Damon/Elena endgame, but is also terribly interesting. The "bad boy gets redeemed through love of a good woman" has been done a million times before. But having a storyline in which the good girl gets all sorts of morally questionable but that it's actually sort of ok? That's new. And TVD is all about taking storylines that should be cliche and making them so much better.

Translation: I am a dark Damon/Elena shipper, ask me how!

[badboy_fangirl]

IT'S OK TO LOVE THEM BOTH.
I see what you did thar! LOLOL.

I love that too, that everything that is traditional they tend to turn on its ear, and it makes sense that that would happen with Elena's characterization too. Really, it's the only thing that can happen, unless end game is supposed to be her with Matt or Alaric! LOL :D

[thesicko1012]

Awesome. Absoulutely loved reading this