The Vampire Diaries has enjoyed a successful run thus far, but with the departure of a main character, that success is waning.
Season six saw the departure of one of the show’s main characters, Elena, played by Nina Dobrev. Her reason for leaving was to pursue film opportunities.
“I always knew I wanted Elena’s story to be a six season adventure, and within those six years I got the journey of a lifetime,” Dobrev told fans via Instagram in 2015.
Season seven of the CW series was moved to Fridays, perhaps one of the worst days of the week for a show to air (with the exception of a few). Since it’s season premiere, ratings have fallen, and rumor has it that Dobrev’s ex-boyfriend, Ian Somerhalder is not happy.
Celebrity Dirty Laundry reports that Somerhalder blames his ex for the dip in ratings, and it’s speculated that Dobrev left the show because she didn’t want to be around Somerhalder and his wife, Nikki Reed (the couple married last April).
Reed reportedly moved to Georgia while Somerhalder filmed TVD, which made for some awkward interactions on set (again, this is speculation).
Dobrev, however, addressed the rumors that she had bad blood with the couple last May.
“When I heard about the wedding, I thought it was beautiful,” Dobrev told E! News of her ex and Reed.
“They look happy and I am happy and so I don’t see why there should be a problem with that. The drama is in the media, it’s not with us. But of course, we’re on a teen drama show, everyone’s going to look for drama.
“If there’s no drama, there’s nothing to write about. I just ignore it.”
The show hasn’t commented anything in regards to ratings, a series finale and whether or not Dobrev will return to mark the end of the show that put her on the map.