First of all, KAI! The promise of more Kai! Potential Kai/Bonnie interactions! More evidence that we could see KATHERINE!

Not to mention shit like 'With an arm full of discount clothes, I realised I couldn't discount my feelings'

The movies never happened

And I mean… Charlotte was superficial and all, but she had a good heart and she grew a lot. And Samantha is a lot of things but she never treated anyone poorly or let her friends down. I'm kind of confused how any of them could be considered vapid, awful assholes

Yeah, especially during season 4 it's hard to believe those two getting back together could be considered a happy ending

I still shudder to think about that episode where he dumped his nice new girlfriend during sex because Miranda left a friendly message on his answering machine. "Nice Guy" huh…

Yeah, as the show went on it lost that down-to-earth quality, and the movies spun into total wish-fulfillment territory

Damn, season 6 really was fantastic at times. I loved Miranda's wedding

They've definitely written themselves into a corner in that sense. The season one falling out between Hannah and Marnie was epic and rang really true for me, I loved it, but by committing to destroying the most solid relationship of the show they've left all of the girls really unmoored and disconnected. It might be…

I've always found it insane that Big is seen as this swoon-worthy ideal guy the show is remembered for when Steve, Aiden, Harry and Smith were such genuinely wonderful people you'd be lucky to find as a partner or even friend

He and Aiden both, just quietly sitting in the back in case they were needed and to show their support. I loved that moment

I think they meant only present-day events and no flashbacks

Well, narratively Elena has to come back to round out a few character arcs. But the sooner she can do that and give way to Katherine, the better

He remembered enough to consciously come back for her… I think this is one of the times the reenactments were based on a lie

Well, that's the thing. On another show I'd say Alex should definitely go to prison, but it doesn't sit right with me after - as the show itself has pointed out - other characters have brawled in the hospital hallways and not even been reprimanded. I mean, obviously this assault was more severe, but what Owen and co…

Huh. I always figured Caroline's arc would end with her and Klaus running off to explore the world together with their three kids as a weird magical blended family, but I guess there's still time for this engagement to fall apart. I do kinda get the impression that Stefan might die and his happy ending will just be…

That's gotta be where The Other Side collapsed into when people there were being sucked away through vortexes. Honestly, a Katherine return would go a long way to redeem this show in the lead-up to the finale

Marriage feels redundant between immortal beings. If the words 'til death do us part' are uttered during the ceremony I will lose it

That's… kind of my point. They're taking such a safe, predictable route rather than exploring the interesting chemistry the rest of the cast has

I'm sure I've seen this movie before - he sets his mansion on fire and perishes dramatically surrounded by the many Cool Rich Guy Things no one else will ever get to use, right?