The Vampire Diaries: Why Michael Trevino's Tyler Left After Season 6
The Vampire Diaries season 6 marked the departure of three major characters, including Tyler Lockwood. Why did Michael Trevino's character exit?
In The Vampire Diaries season 6 finale, Tyler Lockwood (Michael Trevino) decided to leave Mystic Falls because of Elena Gilbert (played by Nina Dobrev). Season 6 saw the exit of three central characters. Jeremy Gilbert (Steven R. McQueen) left Mystic Falls to hunt vampires. Dobrev's character succumbed to a sleeping spell cast by Kai Parker, and Tyler left for parts unknown.
The Lockwoods carried a werewolf gene that Tyler triggered during season 2 when he accidentally killed a female classmate. In 2015, Trevino told People, "Once you become a werewolf and you’ve taken on that transformation, you won’t really see Tyler hanging out with Stefan (Paul Wesley) or Damon (Ian Somerhalder). And werewolves are recluses – they stick to their own, and they’re not always around." Trevino went on to say Tyler's romance with Caroline Forbes and his transformation into the first hybrid prolonged his character's time on the show. Still, Tyler would disappear for episodes at a time because of his antagonistic relationship with fan-favorite Klaus Mikaelson and Tyler's outsider status among the show's other core characters. It certainly didn't help that fans loved Klaus and Caroline's chemistry and rooted for the two to become a couple right up until Klaus' death during The Originals series finale.
After the Travelers killed Tyler during season 5, he returned from the Other Side human again. However, during the season 6 finale, Tyler's curse was reactivated when a dying Liv urged him to kill her to save himself. Most of the episode focused on Elena, as her friends and loved ones entered her mind to say their goodbyes. Elena's final conversation with Tyler set up Trevino's departure as she urged him to leave Mystic Falls. "You need to get out of here, Tyler. You need to figure out what it is you wanna do, who you wanna be, and then just ... really fight for it. You're gonna be fine, Tyler. You're a werewolf now, embrace it. Don't fight it. Let it be the thing that makes you extraordinary." Trevino's departure was overshadowed by Dobrev's exit, which shifted the show's focus and the ending The Vampire Diaries creator Plec had planned since season 2.
In April 2015, fans were still reeling from Dobrev's announcement via Instagram she wouldn't be returning for season 7, when Plec issued a statement to People Trevino would be leaving as well. "Michael has been a beloved member of the Vampire Diaries family since day one. Even though he’s also going to be out in the world exploring new opportunities, we look forward to finding creative ways to make sure he and his character Tyler Lockwood always remain a part of the show.” Trevino confirmed to People Tyler's storyline had nowhere left to go:
I had a sit-down talk with [TVD creator] Julie Plec and honestly it’s just difficult. They also don’t want to keep me on the show and have a repetitive storyline. Not only for myself, personally, as an actor, but then also for fans – they don’t want to see the same recycled storyline. That’s just the truth. As the show evolves, you have different characters come in because you need new energy. It was just a bit difficult to not have to repeat ourselves, when it came to Tyler, so it was just best to move on at this point.
Trevino returned for three episodes during season 7. Tyler's main purpose was to protect Elena's sleeping body from both Damon's enemies and the elder Salvatore brother himself. Tyler had moved on and urged his best friend Matt Donovan, who went on to appear on The Originals spin-off Legacies, to do the same during episode 11, "Things We Lost in the Fire." Tyler called Mystic Falls a "cesspool," and claimed the best thing he ever did was leave his hometown. Sadly, Tyler's fate was sealed during season 8, episode 3, "You Decided I Was Worth Saving," when Damon Salvatore ripped his throat out. However, Tyler popped up in The Vampire Diaries series finale's final moments, seemingly having found peace with Vicki Donovan, who he dated during season 1.
Comments