Damon Salvatore did not die in the final episode of The Vampire Diaries. Instead, he made the ultimate sacrifice and took the cure for vampirism alongside his brother, Stefan, to defeat Katherine Pierce, becoming human and living out his life with Elena Gilbert.
The Dramatic Showdown with Katherine: A Turn of Events
The series finale, titled “I Was Feeling Epic,” centered around the return of Katherine Pierce, the formidable and manipulative villain who had haunted the lives of the Salvatore brothers for centuries. Katherine sought to destroy Mystic Falls using the fires of hell. Stefan, in a selfless act, ultimately sacrificed himself to ensure Katherine’s demise by pulling her into hell with him, using the fire and his own compulsion.
While Stefan’s death was devastating, it directly facilitated Damon’s survival and allowed him to experience the human life he had always craved with Elena. The plan hinged on Stefan taking the cure and then injecting it into Damon while they were battling Katherine in the tunnels beneath Mystic Falls. However, Stefan made the ultimate decision to sacrifice himself and thus injected himself with the cure at the very last moment so that he could be the one to take Katherine down. This left Damon alive and capable of being human again.
The ending showed Damon and Elena living a long and happy human life together, ultimately reuniting with their loved ones in the afterlife. It was a bittersweet conclusion, marked by loss but ultimately filled with love and redemption.
Decoding the Finale: Deeper Insights
The finale was packed with emotional moments and complex character arcs. To fully understand the events surrounding Damon’s survival and future, let’s delve into some frequently asked questions:
FAQs: Unraveling the Mysteries of Damon’s Ending
Q1: How did Stefan sacrifice himself if he was a vampire?
Stefan’s sacrifice was possible because he had taken the cure for vampirism, making him human again. This allowed him to destroy Katherine, who was vulnerable to the flames of hell, and because Stefan was human, he also destroyed himself along with her. The fire would not have harmed a vampire.
Q2: Why didn’t Damon sacrifice himself instead of Stefan?
The writers established that Stefan believed Damon deserved happiness with Elena. Furthermore, Damon was needed to live the happy life with Elena that Stefan felt he could not have after everything he had done. Stefan ultimately made the unilateral choice.
Q3: What happened to Elena after Damon became human?
Elena and Damon lived a long and fulfilling human life together, eventually getting married and growing old together. The finale showed glimpses of their future, demonstrating their happiness and commitment to each other.
Q4: Did Damon ever regret becoming human?
The series doesn’t explicitly state whether Damon ever regretted his decision. However, the overall portrayal suggests he found fulfillment and contentment in his human life with Elena, making it a worthwhile trade for his immortality. The final scene depicts them happily reunited with friends and family in the afterlife, confirming their shared satisfaction with their choices.
Q5: How did Damon and Elena reconnect after Elena was put into a sleeping curse?
Kai Parker, the heretic who put Elena under the sleeping curse, was the link to Elena. So once Bonnie Bennett was able to break the Bennett Curse, Elena was free of the curse.
Q6: Was Katherine truly destroyed in the finale?
Yes, Katherine was destroyed when Stefan dragged her into the fires of hell. This effectively ended her reign of terror and prevented her from causing further harm to Mystic Falls.
Q7: What happened to Bonnie Bennett after the finale?
Bonnie traveled the world, fulfilling her dreams and honoring the memory of Enzo, her deceased boyfriend. Her powerful magic played a crucial role in defeating Katherine and ensuring the safety of her friends. Bonnie also was the witch responsible for breaking Elena’s Sleeping Beauty curse, which freed Elena to be with Damon.
Q8: Did any other characters die in the series finale?
Besides Stefan and Katherine, no other major characters permanently died in the series finale. Several characters faced near-death experiences, but ultimately survived.
Q9: How did the writers decide on Damon’s fate?
The writers aimed for a bittersweet ending that offered both closure and hope. Giving Damon a chance at a human life with Elena provided a satisfying conclusion to his character arc, fulfilling his desire for love and normalcy. However, the choice to sacrifice Stefan was considered a vital part of the plot.
Q10: Did Damon and Elena have children?
While the series finale doesn’t explicitly depict Damon and Elena having children, it’s heavily implied they built a family during their long human life together. The focus remained on their enduring love and commitment to each other, leaving the specifics of their family life open to interpretation.
Q11: Was the cure for vampirism truly a permanent solution?
The cure, taken from Silas and later used by Stefan, was presented as a permanent solution for individual vampires. The cured vampire would revert to a human state and age naturally, as seen with Damon and Stefan. However, the cure’s potential impact on the wider vampire community remained a complex and debated topic within the Vampire Diaries universe.
Q12: How did the finale address the theme of redemption?
The finale heavily emphasized the theme of redemption, particularly for Damon and Stefan. Both brothers had committed acts of violence and made questionable choices throughout their lives as vampires. Stefan’s sacrifice served as his ultimate act of atonement, while Damon’s opportunity to live a human life with Elena offered him a chance to finally achieve peace and happiness.
The Legacy of Damon Salvatore: A Heroic Conclusion
Despite his initial portrayal as a charming but ruthless vampire, Damon Salvatore evolved significantly throughout The Vampire Diaries. His love for Elena and his brother, Stefan, ultimately motivated him to become a better person.
His decision to take the cure and embrace humanity symbolized his willingness to sacrifice his immortality for a chance at a normal life. While the finale was tinged with sadness due to Stefan’s death, it ultimately offered a sense of hope and closure, solidifying Damon’s place as a complex and beloved character in television history. It underscored the notion that even those with a dark past can find redemption and happiness through love and sacrifice. The ending cemented the legacy of the show: a tale of love, loss, and the enduring power of choice, even in a world filled with the supernatural. The sacrifice Stefan made ensured that Damon and Elena could have a future, thus proving his ultimate love and redemption.