The Existence of Doppelg?ngers: Mortals in Place of Immortals

The idea of doppelg?ngers in the universe of The Vampire Diaries is deeply rooted in the complexities of immortality and the natural balance of the supernatural world. Silas and Amara, the protagonists' original doppelg?ngers, are instrumental in this aspect of the narrative. Their deaths raise the question of whether the cycle of doppelg?ngers would continue.

Conceptual Background of Doppelg?ngers

Within the lore of The Vampire Diaries, the existence of doppelg?ngers is tied to the immortality of Silas and Amara. When they consumed Qetsiyah's immortality elixir and became true immortals, nature was forced to create mortal shadows, or doppelg?ngers, to serve as a balance. This balance ensures that the forces of nature remain in check, despite the existence of immortals who cannot be killed by conventional means.

The Death of Silas and Amara and the Future of Doppelg?ngers

With the deaths of Silas and Amara, a significant question arises: will the cycle of doppelg?ngers come to an end? While their deaths might seem to suggest that the original cycle has ended, the nature of supernatural lore often allows for unexpected continuities or new interpretations. The universe may find another way to maintain balance, potentially through the creation of new doppelg?ngers from other sources or the emergence of new immortals who can be shadowed.

It is essential to note that the creation of doppelg?ngers is a recurring phenomenon tied to the balance of supernatural forces. While the death of Silas and Amara might imply that no more doppelg?ngers would be born in the traditional sense, it does not necessarily mean that they will not exist in some form. The concept of doppelg?ngers is deeply ingrained in the fabric of the supernatural world, and it is likely that the writers will continue to explore this idea in future narratives.

The Nature of Doppelg?ngers and Their Role in Supernatural Lore

The doppelg?nger curse was triggered as soon as Amara and Silas became immortals. The moment they dies, the doppelg?nger curse should have stopped, as there were no more true immortals. However, doppelg?ngers are not simply a result of being a vampire; being a vampire doesn't constitute immortality as they can still die. The Original Salvatore siblings, for example, do not have doppelg?ngers despite being the first vampires, as their immortality is not true in the same sense as Silas and Amara's.

For at least 1000 years, doppelg?ngers have existed, born and dying in the place of Silas and Amara, who were invulnerable to conventional means of killing. Two known doppelg?nger lines stem from Silas and Amara. The known doppelg?ngers of Silas are Stefan Salvatore and Tom Avery, while known doppelg?ngers of Amara are Tatia Katherine Pierce and Elena Gilbert.

As of Season Eight, Elena Gilbert is the last remaining doppelg?nger. However, since Elena is shown to be deceased in a flash-forward, this species will inevitably become extinct. The first doppelg?ngers introduced in this universe were Elena Gilbert and Tatia Katherine Pierce, but they were initially believed to exist due to Elena being one of Tatia's descendants. It was later revealed that doppelg?ngers are not simply a supernatural species but mystical beings created as a consequence of the use of magic to break the balance of nature.

Doppelg?ngers are supernatural beings born as a loophole in the creation of the Immortality Spell by Qetsiyah. These beings are a part of maintaining the balance between mortality and immortality, representing the concept of nature dictating that all living things must die. Their blood can serve as a binding agent for powerful spells, such as the spell that created the Originals and, consequently, the creation of the vampire race.

Immortality Through Doppelg?ngers and Vampirism

While doppelg?ngers are meant to be the mortal shadows of immortals, they can achieve immortality through vampirism. This is evident in the case of Katherine, Stefan, and Elena. As they were technically human and not fully invulnerable like true immortals, they were susceptible to various methods of killing, such as staking, heart extraction, and decapitation. This demonstrates that the line between immortality and mortality in the supernatural world is often blurred, offering new possibilities for how these beings can coexist in the narrative.

The existence of doppelg?ngers in The Vampire Diaries is a complex and multifaceted aspect of the show's lore. Their role in maintaining the balance between mortality and immortality makes them a crucial element in the narrative. While the death of Silas and Amara might suggest that the original cycle has ended, the nature of supernatural lore often allows for unexpected continuities or new interpretations. The writers may explore these ideas further, leading to the emergence of new doppelg?ngers or the expansion of doppelg?nger lore in new directions.