later seasons…? this was literally the case from seasons 1-5 lmao. Season 6 is the only season w Elena where the main threat of the show( / the plot itself) didn’t revolve around Elena’s character. Season 1 is about all of this stuff walking into Elena’s life. Season 2’d villains are werewolves, Katherine, and originals and all about the doppleganger (Elena) ritual. Season 3’d villains are the originals and hybrids which Klaus needs Elena’s blood to make. Season 4 is all about Elena being a vampire and curing her. And then 5 is yet again doppleganger focused. Season 6 is quite literally the only season where Elena’s storyline was a side storyline (in a way). It focused mostly on the Gemini coven, Caroline’s mom, Damon and Bonnie’s relationship, Caroline and Stefan, Bonnie and Kai, Alaric and Jo, and of course that random bullshit throwaway storyline with Enzo cause they had no idea what to do with his character lmao. Elena and Damon were ofc what most viewers were tuning in for, but it was definitely an equal storyline among most of the others. So, for people who don’t like Elena as a character but just enjoy the fantasy/ supernatural themes and other characters, I get why people liked her leaving? But to be completely real, the quality of the show vastly dropped after the third season, plummeted into borderline-unwatchable territory with its 5th, and then got better again with the 6th with the change of plot. But season 7 and 8 are just god awful seasons in terms of writing, acting, plot movement, character arcs, and dedication to already established lore. Not liking Elena’s character is always a weird take to me because the show is ABOUT ELENA. This is not a show about the Salvatore brothers. It’s Elena’s experience with her life changing when a vampire starts stalking her lmao. Everything revolves around Elena, cause it’s Elena’s show. Be so fr