The Vampire Diaries - Season 6eps22 -

Tyler triggering his werewolf curse again by killing Liv felt like a step backward for his character, making his storyline seem repetitive.

A massive takeaway praised by reviewers at TV Fanatic and Den of Geek was the realization that the show had successfully moved past its original teenage love triangle. Stefan admitting to Caroline that Elena's greatest gift was bringing his brother back to him reframed the entire show as a love story between Damon and Stefan. The Vampire Diaries - Season 6Eps22

The Vampire Diaries season 6 episode 22 review - Den of Geek Tyler triggering his werewolf curse again by killing

To give Elena a personal farewell with every character, the episode uses psychic shared visions. Moving from the stoner den with Jeremy to the feather trick with Bonnie, these highly nostalgic walks down memory lane were absolute tear-jerkers for long-time viewers. The Vampire Diaries season 6 episode 22 review

The Gemini Coven was eliminated quickly due to Kai's temporary death to prepare for the next season's villains (The Heretics). Many felt this cut off a rich storyline prematurely.

The episode's true core rests on Damon’s shoulders. The "old" Damon would have let Bonnie die to keep Elena awake. Choosing to save Bonnie and wait 60+ years for Elena proved his ultimate redemption and cemented his character development.