Elena Gilbert definitively gives Katherine Pierce the cure in Season 5, Episode 11, titled “500 Years of Solitude” of The Vampire Diaries. This episode marks a pivotal moment in the series, solidifying the complex and often antagonistic relationship between the two doppelgangers.
The Context Leading Up to the Cure Exchange
Understanding the gravity of Elena’s action requires a look at the events leading up to this critical episode. Katherine Pierce, formerly a powerful and cunning vampire, had been rapidly aging after ingesting the cure to save Stefan from Silas. This aging process was gruesome and irreversible, quickly deteriorating her physical and mental state. Simultaneously, the group was dealing with Silas’s manipulations and the growing threat he posed to Mystic Falls.
Elena, despite the animosity between them and the damage Katherine had inflicted over the years, found herself wrestling with a flicker of empathy. She witnessed Katherine’s desperate attempts to cling to life and the terror she felt facing her impending death. This empathy, coupled with a strategic calculation, ultimately led to Elena’s fateful decision.
The Moment of Truth: Elena’s Decision
In “500 Years of Solitude,” Katherine manipulates events to her advantage once again, creating chaos within the group. However, her weakening state makes her vulnerable. Elena, observing Katherine’s suffering, ultimately makes the shocking decision to give her the cure. This act is not purely altruistic. Elena, in a moment of vulnerability herself, expresses her frustration with Katherine’s perpetual involvement in her life and hopes that by giving her the cure, she can finally be rid of her.
The exchange itself is emotionally charged. Katherine, weakened and desperate, accepts the cure with a mixture of relief and suspicion. This moment highlights the twisted dynamic between the two doppelgangers, characterized by both animosity and a strange, twisted connection.
The Aftermath of the Cure
Giving Katherine the cure, ironically, does not lead to the desired peace for Elena. Instead, it sets in motion a chain of events that have far-reaching consequences. While Katherine initially regains her youthful appearance, the cure soon reveals a darker purpose: it makes her a vessel for another powerful entity, allowing her to be possessed by someone else’s spirit. This twist fundamentally alters Katherine’s character and leads to new challenges for the Mystic Falls gang. The brief respite from Katherine’s manipulative schemes is quickly shattered.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
H2 Understanding the Cure and its Implications
H3 What exactly is the cure in The Vampire Diaries?
The cure in The Vampire Diaries is a supernatural substance that can reverse vampirism, turning a vampire back into a human. It originated with Silas and Amara, two immortal beings who were the source of the vampire and doppelganger bloodlines. The cure is a single dose and can only be extracted from a vampire who has already taken it, making it a rare and highly sought-after artifact. Taking the cure ages the vampire to their proper age.
H3 Why was Katherine aging so rapidly after taking the cure initially?
Katherine experienced rapid aging because she was over 500 years old. As a vampire, her aging process was halted. When she took the cure, her body began to catch up on all the years she had lived as a vampire, causing her to age at an accelerated and painful rate.
H3 Who originally possessed the cure before Katherine took it?
The cure was originally in Silas’s possession. He was imprisoned and entombed on an island, and the tomb was essentially the key to the cure. When it was extracted from Silas, it was initially given to Klaus, who, as an Original Hybrid, couldn’t be cured. Damon later forces the cure down Klaus’s throat, but Klaus survives, making him vulnerable, and eventually, Elena is able to extract it from him, leading to Katherine eventually taking it.
H2 The Motivations Behind Elena’s Action
H3 Was Elena genuinely trying to help Katherine, or was there another reason?
While a flicker of empathy undoubtedly played a role, Elena’s decision was multifaceted. She was exhausted by Katherine’s constant presence in her life and hoped that giving her the cure would force her to leave Mystic Falls. There was also an element of strategic calculation; a weakened Katherine was potentially less of a threat than a rapidly aging one.
H3 Did Stefan influence Elena’s decision to give Katherine the cure?
Stefan, while generally more compassionate than Damon, was largely ambivalent about Katherine’s fate. While he may not have actively encouraged Elena to give Katherine the cure, he also didn’t actively dissuade her. His focus remained on stopping Silas and protecting Elena and their friends from the immediate threats.
H3 How did Damon react to Elena giving Katherine the cure?
Damon was initially skeptical and angry about Elena’s decision. He distrusted Katherine implicitly and believed that she didn’t deserve salvation. He also foresaw that Katherine, even as a human, would continue to cause trouble, a prediction that ultimately proved accurate.
H2 Consequences and Alternative Timelines
H3 What would have happened if Elena hadn’t given Katherine the cure?
If Elena hadn’t given Katherine the cure, Katherine likely would have died from the rapid aging. This might have removed her as an immediate threat, but it also would have prevented the subsequent events, including the Travelers storyline and the possession of Katherine’s body by another entity.
H3 Could someone else have taken the cure from Katherine after she took it?
Yes, another individual could have taken the cure from Katherine after she took it. The cure is transferable through blood ingestion from someone who has taken it. This is demonstrated earlier in the series when Elena extracts it from Klaus.
H3 What long-term effects did taking the cure have on Katherine?
The most significant long-term effect was making Katherine a vessel for other entities. The cure weakened her defenses, making her vulnerable to supernatural possession.
H2 The Larger Impact on the Series
H3 How did Katherine’s transformation (both aging and then returning to human form) affect the overall plot of Season 5?
Katherine’s situation became a major plot point in Season 5, driving much of the conflict and character development. Her aging, her attempts to survive, and the subsequent possession storyline all contributed to the season’s overarching narrative.
H3 Did giving Katherine the cure ultimately help or hurt the characters in the long run?
Giving Katherine the cure ultimately hurt the characters in the long run. While it might have seemed like a merciful act in the moment, it opened the door to even more dangerous and unpredictable circumstances, as demonstrated by the events that followed. It highlighted that removing a threat does not always guarantee safety and peace.
H3 Was there any symbolic meaning behind Elena’s decision to give Katherine the cure?
Yes, there was a symbolic meaning. It represented Elena’s attempt to break free from the cycle of violence and manipulation that Katherine perpetuated. It was an effort to rise above the animosity and choose a different path, even if the outcome was ultimately unintended and negative. It highlights the complexities of compassion versus strategic thinking in the face of seemingly insurmountable evil. The act itself underscores the enduring struggle between good and evil that permeated the series.