: Fans often note that water represents both death and rebirth for Elena, as she dies where her parents did but is "reborn" as a vampire.
🎯 : The phone call between Damon and Elena on the road is the emotional core of the episode, setting the stage for their Season 4 dynamic.
: To save Matt from drowning after Rebekah runs their truck off Wickery Bridge, Elena insists Stefan save Matt first, leading to her own death. The_vampire_diares_3x22
: While traveling with Matt, Elena calls Damon to tell him she has chosen to go back to Stefan. She famously tells Damon, "Maybe if I'd met you first...".
: A flashback reveals that Damon actually met Elena first on the night of her parents' car crash but compelled her to forget. : Fans often note that water represents both
: Many viewers consider the run of 3x19, 3x22, and 4x1 to be the series' peak character writing.
: Because Dr. Fell had treated Elena’s earlier brain hemorrhage with vampire blood, Elena wakes up in the morgue as a vampire. : While traveling with Matt, Elena calls Damon
: Since Alaric's life was tied to Elena's by Esther, he dies in Damon's arms once Elena "dies" as a human. 💡 Fan Analysis & "Proper" Context