'The Vampire Diaries' season 8 spoilers: Should Nina Dobrev return as Elena or Katherine?

(Facebook/The Vampire Diaries)Fans debate on who Nina Dobrev should portray when she returns to The Vampire Diaries season 8.

With speculations saying that season 8 of "The Vampire Diaries" will be its swan song, fans of the once popular vampire series are now debating on how the upcoming season should pan out, especially on whose role Nina Dobrev should reprise once she returns to the show. 

Undeniably, one cause of arguments among the avid followers of the show is how Dobrev's return to the series should be woven into its story: Which of her two characters should be featured? For the non-followers of the show, Dobrev played two characters in "The Vampire Diaries," Elena and her doppelganger Katherine.

Dobrev's Elena character is one of the core characters of the series and, and at one point, became the bone of contention between the two male characters, the Salvatore brothers Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Stefan (Paul Wesley). Eventually, Elena and Damon became the show's prime sweethearts, and even extended their relationship offscreen.

When the real-life relationship between Dobrev and Somerhalder fell apart, with the latter eventually marrying another "vampire," Nikki Reeds of the "Twilight" movie series, Dobrev left the show beginning its sixth season run.

With Somerhalder declaring that he would leave "The Vampire Diaries" after its forthcoming season, along with his current love interest on the show, Kat Graham (Bonnie), fans of Dobrev and Somerhalder clamored that the two be reunited on "The Vampire Diaries" for one last time. Luckily for the fans, the noise that they created did not land on deaf ears as the show's creator, Julie Plec, has affirmed to TV Line that Dobrev is, indeed, coming back for the show's series finale. If Plec was referring to the upcoming season 8, fans can only guess.

Nonetheless, Plec's statement has sparked a debate on whether Dobrev should return as Elena or Katherine. Naturally, for the fans of the pairing of Dobrev and Somerhalder want her to return as Elena and see her share the frame with her once real-life sweetheart again. For the fans of the Somerhalder and Graham, though, Dobrev's return to the show is unnecessary, and, if she would, she should reprise her role as Katherine. Without question, TV Line's interview with Plec just generated contradicting opinions in the comment section.

Whether Dobrev will return as Elena or Katherine, no one really knows at this point in time. One thing is for sure, though: It will be one highly debated reunion for Dobrev and "The Vampire Diaries."

"The Vampire Diaries" returns to The CW for season 8 on Oct. 21.

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