Elena Gilbert’s journey through love and loss in The Vampire Diaries is a complex and captivating narrative. The pivotal moment when Elena definitively remembers her love for Damon Salvatore occurs in Season 6, Episode 7, titled “Do You Remember the First Time?”
The Catalyst for Recollection: Unveiling the Truth
This episode serves as the culmination of Elena’s struggle to recover the memories she had Damon erase during Season 6. After Damon’s supposed death in the prison world with Bonnie Bennett, a devastated Elena asked Alaric Saltzman, a powerful original vampire with the ability to compel memories, to remove all memories of her love for Damon. She believed it was the only way to cope with the unbearable grief.
However, Elena later regretted this decision and desperately sought to regain those lost moments. “Do You Remember the First Time?” sees her engaging in increasingly desperate measures to trigger her memories. Her quest leads her and Damon to a series of locations that held significant meaning in their relationship, locations specifically chosen because they were where Damon’s presence and their connection blossomed.
The episode builds up to a powerful and emotional climax as Elena revisits Mystic Falls High School. Here, she experienced her very first encounter with Damon – a memory erased by Alaric’s compulsion. Facing the weight of those lost moments, and with Damon by her side, Elena realizes the true depth of her feelings. The re-emergence of that crucial first meeting, finally recalled, unlocks the floodgates. She remembers everything: their shared laughter, their undeniable chemistry, and the deep, consuming love she felt for him. This moment solidifies that her love for Damon was not simply a result of the sire bond, but a genuine and deeply rooted connection.
Understanding Elena’s Memory Loss and Recovery
The entire arc surrounding Elena’s compelled memories serves as a commentary on grief, healing, and the nature of choice. It highlights the dangers of trying to erase pain completely, and ultimately celebrates the enduring power of love.
The Psychological Impact of Memory Alteration
Elena’s reliance on Alaric’s compulsion to erase her memories of Damon speaks to the extreme measures people might take to avoid pain. While seemingly a temporary solution, altering memories can have long-lasting psychological effects, disrupting one’s sense of self and connection to the past. This episode directly addresses the complexities and potential consequences of manipulating one’s own memories, even with good intentions.
Damon’s Role in Elena’s Recollection
Damon plays a crucial role in Elena’s memory recovery. He supports her efforts, revisits significant places, and provides gentle encouragement without pressuring her. His patience and understanding highlight his maturity and his unwavering love for Elena, demonstrating that he prioritizes her well-being above his own desire to immediately rekindle their romance. He understands the importance of her making a genuine and informed choice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Elena’s Memory of Damon
Here are some frequently asked questions about Elena Gilbert’s memory loss and her eventual recollection of her love for Damon Salvatore:
Q1: Why did Elena have Alaric compel her to forget Damon?
Elena asked Alaric to compel her memories of Damon because she was completely overwhelmed by grief after Damon’s apparent death in the prison world at the end of Season 5. The pain was unbearable, and she felt she couldn’t cope with the loss. She believed forgetting her love for him was the only way to move forward.
Q2: Did Elena ever truly stop loving Damon, even without her memories?
That’s a complicated question. While she didn’t consciously remember her love for Damon, there were subtle hints and lingering connections throughout the early episodes of Season 6. She was drawn to him in ways she couldn’t explain, suggesting that the core of her feelings remained despite the altered memories. This is shown by her dating Liam, but only visualizing/hallucinating Damon when they kiss.
Q3: What specific events did Elena forget about Damon?
Elena forgot all the significant moments where her feelings for Damon deepened, including their first kiss, the times he saved her life, their intimate conversations, and the overall evolution of their romantic relationship. Essentially, she lost the memories that defined their love story.
Q4: Was the sire bond a factor in Elena’s initial attraction to Damon?
The sire bond did play a role initially. When Elena was turned into a vampire by Damon’s blood, she was initially compelled to do what he said. However, her love for Damon transcends the bond. Her conscious, remembering decision to be with Damon solidifies it as legitimate love.
Q5: How did Damon feel about Elena erasing her memories of him?
Damon was initially devastated. He understood her pain but struggled with the fact that she chose to erase him from her life. However, he eventually accepted her decision and remained supportive, hoping she would one day remember their love on her own terms.
Q6: Did Alaric ever reverse the compulsion on Elena?
Alaric could not reverse the compulsion himself because he was turned into an enhanced original vampire by Esther Mikaelson and subsequently died to reverse the spell. With his death, the compulsion became permanent, making it impossible to simply undo the memory alteration.
Q7: What strategies did Elena try to regain her memories?
Elena tried various methods, including revisiting places that held significance in her relationship with Damon, reading her diary, and talking to friends and family about their memories of her and Damon together. She essentially tried to piece together the puzzle of their love story.
Q8: What was the significance of Mystic Falls High School in Elena’s memory recovery?
Mystic Falls High School was where Elena first met Damon (though she didn’t consciously remember it at the time). Revisiting this location triggered a powerful flood of memories, leading to the full recollection of her love for him. It served as the final piece of the puzzle.
Q9: How did Stefan react to Elena regaining her memories of Damon?
Stefan, while initially hurt, ultimately accepted Elena’s decision. He recognized that her love for Damon was genuine and that she had to follow her heart. Their relationship evolved into a strong friendship based on mutual respect and understanding.
Q10: Did Elena and Damon remain together after she regained her memories?
Yes, Elena and Damon remained together. Regaining her memories solidified their relationship and reaffirmed their love for each other. They eventually got married and lived a happy life together (in the series finale’s vision of the future).
Q11: Does remembering she loves Damon affect Elena’s love for Stefan?
Yes. Even though they are no longer romantically involved, Elena still respects Stefan, but her feelings for Damon are more romantic. The two are no longer comparable when she remembers her love for Damon.
Q12: What is the overall message of Elena’s memory loss storyline?
The storyline highlights the power of love, the importance of facing grief, and the consequences of trying to erase painful memories. It ultimately suggests that true love endures even through the most challenging circumstances and that healing comes from embracing the past, not erasing it. It also highlights the importance of making choices that are authentic and driven by genuine emotion.