My only wish for the Vampire Diaries is for the writers to let Elena be strong and amazing without always needing to be saved by the men in her life

I’m not asking for her to become a vampire, I’m asking for her to be a strong female character. She doesn’t have to have super human strength, she doesn’t have to have any powers, I just want her to take control of her life. I want her to be smart. I want her to stop rushing into things without thinking them through. I understand she can’t help that there are people out there like Klaus who hunt her down, but at the same time I don’t want her to have to be saved all the time. 

Look, I was 10 years old when Buffy the Vampire Slayer premiered on television. I watched that shit like it was my job (I even loved the movie when it came out in 1992. My 5 year old self didn’t care that it wasn’t that great, I cared that Buffy was a badass.) That show has influenced my life (and the lives of people across the world) in so many ways, but mostly it made me believe that women should be strong. Since Buffy there have been so many strong female characters (supernatural and non-supernatural) on television and I wish that the writers would stop making Elena a victim as often as they do. Granted, it makes for some great storytelling and I love that the show is always keeping me on my toes, but is it so much to ask for that she be stronger?

I know the show doesn’t put Elena in harms way as much as some television shows have done with their own heroines (I’m looking at you Smallville), but Elena needs to start taking charge of her life, she needs to grow, she needs to believe that she is strong. She needs to know that she has people on her side who will always be there to help her, but she also needs to have the ability to kick some real fucking ass. I mean, just being able to fight back, even a little bit, would mean some character development. Alaric was introduced as a vampire hunter and it seems he is going back to his role as a protector on the series now, have him work with her so she’s doesn’t appear so helpless all the time.

There are plenty of strong female characters out there that don’t necessarily have supernatural powers. Look at Veronica Mars. Look at Kara Thrace. Look at Gemma Teller Morrow (ok, maybe don’t go that far, though seeing Elena take a skateboard to someone’s face would be hilarious). Those women are strong because the world they live in made them strong. If anyone should be a powerful, strong female character on television, it’s Elena. I just want the writers to see that.