Can The Vampire Diaries exist without its leading lady, Elena Gilbert?
That's the question of the hour now that the reality is sinking in about Nina Dobrev leaving The Vampire Diaries after Season 6 draws to a close next month.
Nina may not have broken the Internet a la Kim Kardashian nude in Paper, but she sure gave it a nice jolt with her departure announcement on Monday.
Her exit immediately raised the inevitable questions of why - and whether it was solely due to the engagement of her ex Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed.
Moreover, it has sparked debate over the hit show's future on the CW, and whether it should even have one once its lead female star bows out in May.
The official answer is yes, the show will go on, at least for one year.
While it's no longer a ratings juggernaut, TVD has already been renewed for Season 7 and, in turn, will return this fall to continue its wildly successful run.
How successful it will be sans Dobrev is another matter, though.
Will it experience a creative resurgence in her absence, or simply limp over the finish line, a shadow of its former self that we barely even recognize?
Shows have survived, and even thrived after major shakeups, but Dobrev is THE face of the show as Elena ... and all the others who have shared her face.
One of Ian Somerhalder's early roles was as Hamilton Fleming in Young Americans. Fleming thought he might be gay, but as it turned out, he was in love with a girl hiding her sex to gain admission to an all-boys school.
Ian Somerhalder's big break came from his portrayal of stranded rich guy Boone Carlyle on LOST. He was sort of in love with his stepsister. It was weird.
Paul Wesley appeared as Max Nickerson on Guiding Light under his birth name Paul Wasilewski. He's not the only TVD star to have gotten his start on a daytime soap opera.
TVD fans will remember when Stefan Salvatore played football for Mystic Falls High School in an effort to appear more normal. He's come so far since then.
But before TVD, there was this, a tv movie called Never Cry Werewolf. Looks like Neens needed to test out the supernatural waters before she decided on Team Vampire.
The role that launched Nina Dobrev into the stratosphere of superstardom has to be Elena Gilbert on The Vampire Diaries. Where will we find a heartbroken Elena in TVD Season 6?
Steven R. McQueen's big break came from his role as Kyle Hunter, a piano prodigy tutored by Ephraim Brown, on Everwood. (Fun fact: One of Julie Plec's favorite shows is Everwood.)
Jeremy Gilbert is all grown up, and man, do we love it! Steven R. McQueen's first few appearances as Elena's little brother had us wondering if he would survive in this supernatural world.
Prior to playing everyone's favorite control freak, Candice Accola was attempting to control her destiny as Chloe Cunningham on Dating Rules For My Future Self.
Michael Trevino started his tenure on The Vampire Diaries as jerky jock Tyler Lockwood. His role was expanded when writers decided to pursue a werewolf storyline. Now he's human again.
Oh, Matt Davis. He first wowed us with the role of Warner, Elle Woods' boyfriend on Legally Blonde. You know, the one who told her she couldn't become a lawyer? Yeah.
Between his stints as Alaric Saltzman on The Vampire Diaries, Matt Davis starred in The CW's Cult, which never really made it off the ground because it was so freaking confusing.
Through thick and thin, The Vampire Diaries is very much Elena's story, even if she's been a character some might have argued (once) was expendable.
As you know if you watch The Vampire Diaries online, the series has dropped off from its past glory days as of Season 5, and has never quite recovered.
That's not something you can pin solely on one character, though.
Elena's family history and romantic ups and downs have been the subject of controversy among fans, but it's hard to argue that she doesn't carry the show.
On the flip side, the Salvatore brothers' bond is just as central to the series, and there are plenty of strong characters - old and new - left in Mystic Falls.
Perhaps Dobrev's exit, whatever personal reasons prompted it on her end, will force the producers to think outside the box and inject new life into the show.
Is being forced into uncharted territory actually a good thing?
You tell us: Can the show go on without Nina? Are you looking at this as a death knell or a blessing in disguise for The Vampire Diaries? Hit the comments!
Paul Wesley and Nina Dobrev represent The Vampire Diaries very well on this cover of Entertainment Weekly. It's safe to say we'll be picking up the issue.
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