Vampire Diaries Finale: The Story Behind Nina Dobrev’s Surprise Cameo
Heads up: The following article contains spoilers from Friday’s Vampire Diaries season finale. Treat it like the Armory vault and proceed at your own peril…
Exactly one year after bidding The Vampire Diaries a fond farewell, Nina Dobrev returned for Friday’s hectic season finale — or, at least, her voice did.
Unlike the time we saw Elena earlier this season — when old footage was recycled for the scene in which Damon thought he burned her sleeping body — Dobrev recorded new material for this week’s episode, in which the mysterious villain of the vault enticed Damon with his girlfriend’s voice.
“In this particular case, she came in and did the ADR, [short for automated dialogue replacement],” executive producer Julie Plec tells TVLine. “I reached out and said, ‘We can either cobble it together from a bunch of episodes, or you can come in and see everybody and do ADR. She chose to do it in person, which was great, because it was a nice little personal Nina visit.”
As for when we might see Dobrev as Elena again, Plec says she’s sticking with her original plan of having her return for the series finale — whenever that may be.
“It’s what she and I kind of agreed on when she decided to move on, and it’s what I’ve got in my head,” Plec says. “Obviously things can change throughout time, if the show goes on longer than we expect it to, or if we all collectively decide it would be fun to bring her back earlier, and she wanted to. But in my opinion, she was very clear about what she wanted the next step in her life to be, and she’s doing a great job of achieving that. So I’m sticking with my side of the plan, which is to bring her back at the very end.”
Were you surprised to hear Elena’s voice this week? Drop a comment with your thoughts on the finale below.
We love Steroline!
Lol, of course you do..cough cough Delena. Wonder why???? Lol
Unfortuantely, Dulena killed The Vampire Diaries and Steroline was the nail in the coffin.
I literally feel embarrassed for Ian and Paul. They used to have it all, such a successful show and fans lined up, went crazy, never missed an episode of this used to be great show.
Now it’s cringe worthy when former fans watch this show. Of course some of us (former fans) watched the Finale for whatever the reason, hoping it would be better, finally stopping Dulena, seeing Stelena, one last yeah, whatever.
The show should not return next year. Sadly, it won’t be remembered as, “remember that great show, TVD’s?” and people would talk with fond memories. Now it will be remembered as that Great show that went down hill when Plec and Dries literally wrote it into the ground because of the crush they have on Ian and the imaginary whatever it was with “Delena”. Please cancel this show before it forever ruins whatever career/fans Paul and Ian have.
Thats just your opinion and if you dont like it dont watch it. The show shoulf nlt be canceled because of your stupid opinion.
Lol ur so angry over a show?!.. go ahead and be great behind a keyboard….
Caroline was a mess this season.
Eww. Steroline have no chemistry and Caroline had been with every guy on the show except Jeremy and Enzo, but she will probably be after him next season.
Actually she been with ENZO they made out and alluded to more in the whole traveler doppelganger mess episode. So that leaves Jeremy and i remember something about Caroline and Jeremy flirting or crushing.
What ever happened to jeremy??
Correction.. Caroline has never been with Damon either ! …. Well I dont like it either they way writers toss the female characters around to be someone’s gf in one second and the next one’s in another and next one’s in another n so on… as if they are toys or something.
Caroline was with Damon. Remember when he compelled her?
BEST moment of the episode!! Loved it! Delena is alive. Wow, Damon’s love is so strong, it over rides all fear. He just HAD to check and be sure. Powerful stuff. Epic love. :)
i agree with you in all that you said . i love Damon and elena togheter. foreverDelena….
WORST FINALE IN TVD HISTORY. Just awful.
Thanks God I wasn’t the only one. It is like nothing interesting for the next season.
There’s like nothing to come back for. So the cliffhanger was Damon and Enzo going dark?!?! That’s suppose to be the hook to bring us back next season? LOL Newsflash Damon and Enzo ARE dark and have done horrible things before so how is this interesting? We all know what ever the thing that turned them is going to turn out as dumb as the heretics….so, so disappointed. What a waste of a season.
No matter what people would find something to bitch about. After so long of making up enemies and playing make believe, its nice
To see the show go back to its roots. If its going to comtinue on. Who knows, maybe Enzo snaps bonnies neck and drinks through the break in the season opener.. I thought it was awesome to consider them going dark again. But its not just dark. Theres a strange being controlling that darkness
Yeah I’m hoping that Damon burns Elena’s coffin for real this time, who knows anything can happen on this show especially since it’s Ian’s last season.
you wish so much that …..to your beenefit to know that damon will not burn Elena ‘s body only beacuse you want this to happen ,well that is not gonna happen.tou are so wrong about all this what you said ,you dont know nothing at alll….
I agree
Can Someone explain to me, why all The flashfowards? They’re confusing me.
i couldn’t agree with you more!!!!
so cliche!!! what’s next??? this series should e ended after 3 season!!!!!! this was the worst season and the worst season finale of all!!!
for me was a big final on season 7 that show us Caroline chosing stefan over Alaric,Damon risked his life to save Bonnie wich gave her the chance to be happy with Enzo ,her true love. but in the moment that damon was so close to get out , he was tented by the voice of Elena,the only thing that he couldn’t resistt ,he loves her…… their flashbacks delena love….but was too late for him and enzo that they were completley changed and out kiling, since they get out that was in the vault. this finall of sesson 7 of the show show us the Steroline,Benzo and Delena love stories, that left us breathless with that thing in the Armory ‘s vault….the best moments and remain to see what happen in the S8 with all of them …i hope and finally the true love winsas i believe in Julie P to give us a great ending .
I’m super happy for Nina and respect the deal between her and Julie. As long as we all get some closure, what more can we ask for? I love Julie Plec ‘ writing and will follow everything she does. I have never been hooked on a show like this before and I’ll be 50 on the 21st. I actually feel kind of goofy about it but the story line is just FANTASTIC!! Admittedly, I miss the Damon Elena love story and would give all due respect to Nina for honoring us with her presence for some HAPPY closure.
I’m so thankful to Nina for leaving, we got a break from the dull and repetitive scenes between Damon and Elena. Can’t wait for season 8 and see all the characters interacting again. Also can’t wait to see the rest of Elena’s story that Julie has planned for the series finale whenever that may be.
Yes! She irked my life before she left
i miss Damon and elena love story ,their scenes togheter ,their chemistry i think to all of them and i believe that their love is strong and will make troguh ,i have hope that will finally win they deserve a happy ending. As Ian ‘s last season to have a positive exit not to be kill off , i dont want this for his caracter as Damon in this show. they could make Delena a happy ending as damon and elena togheter and married , as they leave Mystic Falls and live happily ever after.
i agree with you in all that you said ,you are right and i hope for the next season 8 with so much entuziasm for all the caracters and of course the return of Nina ‘s cacracter as Elena back on Mystic Falls . A happy ending for Damon and Elena far away from Mystic Falls to live togheter ,being a family is all they wanted from life. Delena true love # TVD.S8
Is Damon alive???
Yes but the demon thing from the vault has turned him in to something really bad, along with enzo
I’m fine with a Delena endgame and I love ND! But Julie, you have to fix Caroline. I don’t know who that character is anymore. Who leaves their kids and forgives and gets back together with the guy she supposedly hated, just an episode ago. Very poor writing and horrible storytelling. RIP Caroline Forbes, if your character ever comes back again I’ll tune in, till then I’m out.
I’m not fine with the dullena endgame and I hope Plec realizes that not everyone drank the dullena kool-aid. It has been so nice to not have to endure that toxic obsessive disease that plagued this show. I can only hope Plec will let everyone move on from the plague and when Elena wakes up she will move on as well. I love that Plec said she doesn’t believe in endgames.
The only thing that.makes me.crazy is caroline is dating her best friend father figure. He watch the. In high school as an adult and then is now wanting to marry his teacher. Tgif
Agreed !! Especially after she told her twins that if they cant open the door of the armory then someone will take their mommy away from them and she cant tug them at night… How can she leave them still…. so selfish… poor Alaric n twins :(
I don’t even know what to say about this episode. I can’t say whether I liked it or hated it. I guess I’m just indifferent. Don’t understand how Caroline leaves children she has raised for the last three years behind. But Okay! What happened to Damon and Enzo was not exactly shocking. Okay he heard Elena’s voice and got lured in. Common sense should have told him that was going to happen and it wasn’t her at all. Especially with him being reminded of that on the phone. To me it would have probably been better if he saw her. Maybe from behind or something. That has been done a million times in horror movies. So, it’s not very inventive. The only really interesting part in the episode was Bonnie two seconds from killing Enzo. Other then that, the rest was just bla. I know Matt killed the fiance but did anyone really care about that character enough to waste precious time showing her in a season finale. I know Matt had to get her forgiveness but they could have did that last week. Especially, if we got no cliffhanger for him. I expected more from them. What is the purpose of a cliffhanger if we know exactly what’s going to happen next year. Damon and Enzo are more bad then they normally are. Whoopy! Wasn’t Damon suppose to be more bad then he normally was at the end of last years season? What did we get that was shocking?
You took the words right out of my mouth I honestly couldn’t have said it any better! I love the show and the writers but this finale was dull, like you stated the most interesting thing that happened was Bonnie almost killing Enzo. Ugh. I’m mostly likely gonna watch the next season just to know what happens but I really hope they end it with a bang and not a fizzle!
I agree. Caroline was worried about seeing her kids an episode ago and now she is ok to give them up and walk away, just like that. That’s not her. And what’s the point? So she can be with Stefan? No one that’s carried a child, raised them for three years would ever have the heart to do that, especially after what she’s gone through to keep them safe. Caroline and Stefan just do not, I repeat, do NOT have some epic love together. As creepy as it was that she was with Rick, that relationship made more sense. The thing with Damon was dumb. He knows Elena wouldn’t be in the tomb. He’s didn’t live as long as he did by being an idiot. Please bring back the real Damon. The whole Elena story ruined him. And yes, poor Matt. I hope he’s gone now. Not because I didn’t like him, but because he was the token human and his parts were ridiculous. So do the writers have any new material? If not then how about killing off these characters and starting over? These stories have run their course.
You are so wrong, Carolina didn’t leave the girls. She just choose not to go back with Alercic that night. But to to be there for Stefan. And to find closure and to see what time happen. And at the end of the day she knows the girls will be okay and right now Bonnie and her friends needs her.
Second worst season after season four. My theory on the the dark creature probably dark Elena, but whatever it is it probably won’t have any payoff like this entire season.
Agree! Epic Fail!
Bonnie and Enzo are incredible together, their scenes were amazing. Poor Bonnie, her actually love scenes throughout the seasons probably add up to about 1 hour screen time and that’s being generous.
I loved season 7 its the first season I’ve injoyed since 3 but the finale was so disappointing the only parts I injoyed were when Bonnie almost killed enzo and when stefan and caroline got back together. I still think that season 5 was the worst season but even its finale was better then this I hope next years finale is good
I feel like Damon and Enzo are possessed by the Kitsune twins. It’ll be interesting to see what they get up to next season though. Can’t wait!
Right that would be nice if they put the books in the show it’s a bit annoying that they rarely ever use the books in the show
i feel bad for Aleric. They needed to build that relationship more so that we could understand the struggle Caroline was going through when she ultimately chose Stefan.
Agreed ! I feel bad for Alaric too… He had the most tragic love life ever.. All the women he loved either were killed or left him !! He deserves a Happy life too… !! :(
Omg! Ok I loved that enzo and Bonnie finally were happy for like a sec but wtf. . it was ripped away .. And demon get sucked in by the voice.. I can’t wait till next season I think that the love story will be with enzo n Bonnie now as well as Caroline and Stephan
BEST FINALE IN TVD HISTORY! Just amazing!
The last five episodes have been some of the best ever. I can’t wait for season 8. Thank you TVD for getting back on track and making this experience similar to what I felt when I started the show in Season 1. Like life there have been ups and downs but this still a fantastic ride and I for one have no intention of getting off!
Seriously? Even the worst season of TVD has better finale than this. It is like we don’t have yet big bad for the next season, we just do this crappy finale and write in summer
The only reason the people on here are happy is because of ships it has nothing to do with the horrible plots. They don’t care if things are crappy as long as they got the last few minutes of kisses and Damon hearing Elena’s voice. LOL
Exactly. U said the right words. Delena is good but overrated so as steroline
Delena has never been good and highly overrated and steroline is just a joke.
Delena is good in more possible way ,since i watch this show from the beginng was the most slefless thing when Elena love for Damon changed him in a good persson , a better man like she wanted, and she did with her love made him more stronger,to care and help when someone need you. true love make miracle when we are with the personn that we love
I don’t watch the show because of the ships and I thought the finale wasn’t that bad.
I haven’t heard her YETTTTTTT!!!!!! have to way 4 SUNDAY!!!!!
I really, really enjoyed the finale, myself. I’ve been a delena shipper since the beginning so it’s always lovely, to me anyway, when they are able to include her in some way. I didn’t immediately recognize her voice (probably because I didn’t think it would really be her), but knowing it was makes me so happy.
I think it’s Katherine
That would be a really interesting twist!
I’ll start off by saying, I stopped watching after the 100th episode. But when I heared that Nina made a voice cameo, I knew I had to watch. So, my theory is: this thing is what took Katherine and that’s why it sounds like Elena. Thoughts.
I don’t believe that it’s either Katherine or Elena. But rather something else that possesses powers similar to what Silas had, a power that reached into your mind and made you hear what it knew you wanted to hear. Whatever it took to get you to step inside. Which is why Alex heard her sisters voice threw the walls, despite her actually being dead inside. Obviously the writers have ways of making this interesting so I wouldn’t be surprised if it ended being another doppelgänger in there. However I believe they already used that up.
Through*** 🤓
I didn’t like the finale. There was no cliffhanger or anything really to look forward to for the Season 8 premiere. We know Damon and Enzo will eventually go back to being their old selves and they will return to their friends. We knew about the evil that existed in that vault that seemed to manipulate(Elena’s voice) and control whoever went in there, and turn them into monsters. It’s not a big shocker or anything. I just don’t’ understand why Damon didn’t jet out of there as soon as he burned the body. I’m proud of Damon for finally doing the right thing and putting Stefan first. But he lingered in there for no good reason, except that he was probably feeling pretty cocky. Pride comes before the fall.
I was also very disappointed in how Caroline could just leave her kids the way she did. It was very weird. I understand that the situation with Alaric probably should have never even occurred.
But it DID, and now she has a responsibility to take care of it in an honorable and clean way. I don’t believe she did that. She did to them exactly what she felt Stefan did to her.
And she just went back with Stefan, and it was just too quick and sudden. I just don’t buy Steroline. Seeing how passionate and in love Stefan was with Elena, I only see how diluted and watered down his relationship is with Caroline. He’s only with her because he can’t be with Elena. He’s in denial about it, and Caroline does know it deep down.
I know most don’t support Caroline and Alaric- but I wish we could have seen their story the way we saw Bonnie and Enzo’s over the past 3 years. I would have been on board with them, if we saw how they ended up in their present day engagement. I’m not clear on their relationship at all. I understand that Caroline didn’t love Alaric romantically(though she did platonically), but he loved her. But she agreed to marry him. So was their relationship romantic at all? Were they going to act like husband and wife once they got married? Or it was all for the sake of the kids?
I kind of got the idea that Caroline was just gonna stay until they figured out what was up with the vault and then do like a joint custody kind of deal or something… I agree though about wishing we had seen more of them together and what they had been through with the girls and all…
Yeah, I didn’t like the idea of Alaric and Caroline, I mean it’s kind of weird being in a romantic relationship with a former high school teacher, just my opinion. It’s weird. Although I agree with Sara. I don’t think Caroline was leaving those girls for good. Especially when Alaric basically said, “we’ll always be family.” Basically, she’s still their momma, doesn’t mean that she isn’t going to just completely abandon them. Stefan completely abandoned her, it’s different.
The DE part of the episode made my night. This season has been so un-even and nonsensical,but the thing that has always made sense and has been consistently written is Damon’s love and devotion to Elena.
The DE family is still here and we will watch this show until it takes it’s last breath on this earth.
I was excited to hear her voice and even though I love the original Elena I think a recast just for the character would be great because she is a big part of the show and her not being isn’t the same. Bringing her back with a different actress would be great!
I liked this episode.Plus even if Damon is rescued he may not be the same person he was before.
So she’ll be back a year from now at the end of Season 8 when the show ends
Best part in my opinion was the Damon Stefan scene, those are always my favorite and ultimately the heart of the show. I do however find it uncharacteristic of Stefan to let Damon go into the vault alone. I love Stefan but he should have gone with his brother. And we all know even though they tried to make Damon out as the selfish one this season he would have never let Stefan go by himself if the situation was reversed.
Now I get why the 21st episode is called Requiem for a dream, when that actually means Requiem for a what used to be a great show. -_-
LMAO! you’ve said it all!!