To me they are a detail that could've been used in a better way but is not essential to the show.
Elena, Stefan and Damon are the "main characters of the show" with elena supposedly being the "protagonist". The term protagonist means that you must be able to RELATE to him/her in some level of perception. Protagonist is the ENTRYPOINT for the viewer to the world of the show and its immersion source.
There's nothing relatable about Elena. There's no "Elena".
I don't want to see textbook characters, I want to see new ones.
Now I am sorry, but thats' arrogant. Here, go, please, reinvent the entirety of laws of physics, or the entirety of mathematics.
Through last two thousand years and more every possible character has been created. One would need to be exceptionally talented to "reinvent the wheel" and tvd writers are NOT that.
Elena might not fit the "textbook definition" of a heroine (whatever that is in your opinion) but I think that's a good thing.
thats not a "good" thing.
Thats the basis of storytelling theory being undermined. You know what else does that? Fanfiction. There are certain rules on HOW one builds the character if one wants to make a compelling, strong work of fiction with good quality writing.
Thats what separates bad quality writing from good quality writing.
queenbee94 Rank: Regular Character
March 28th, 2012 4:14 PM
I don't want to see textbook characters, I want to see new ones. I often find characters' reactions on TV shows unrealistic and ridiculous and maybe Elena fits that description sometimes but I get over it because Elena's reactions don't interfere with my perception of the show. To me they are a detail that could've been used in a better way but is not essential to the show. Obviously we have different opinions and obviously you have no intention whatsoever to change yours so I'm going to stop trying. We can't change the show so we might as well accept its flaws and just get over it.
queenbee94 Rank: Regular Character
March 28th, 2012 4:14 PM
Again, I think it's natural for someone to hold their emotions until it gets too much. You say we don't see her holding these emotions (which is the point by the way) but just last episode she wanted to tell Jeremy all about her problems with Alaric etc and cry and she stayed strong (regarding my point that she needs to stay strong for jeremy).
Yes, Elena mourning and crying and visiting the graves disappears after 4 episode because people get bored of that. People don't want to see sad Elena all the time. People also don't want to hear about those parents we have absolutely no relation to every episode. This is a show about vampires and supernatural beings and romance. It's not about grief and emotions. Hence the show mentioning how sad Elena was after Stefan left and Jenna died. They don't need to display that.
Elena might not fit the "textbook definition" of a heroine (whatever that is in your opinion) but I think that's a good thing. I don't want to see textbook characters, I wan
With S1 events alone, adding her parents deaths you would have some seriously life-changing stuff. Hell, HAVING A STALKER in your life can affect you a lot and a lot more than just that happened. Yet at that alone Elena reacted to NOTHING. It got even more hilarious latter on.
Amie Rank: Regular Character
March 28th, 2012 3:21 PM
In one year (in tvd terms) Elena lost her parents, her biological parents, her aunt, and apart from all the other supernatural stuff happening in her town, she WITNESSED her mother killing herself in front of her and her aunt killed in front of her, she herself got "killed" by a psycho murderer...Now if that were me, I would probably be in intense therapy sessions. Now, what has TVD done to show us how she dealt with all of that? S3 started with how many months passed since the events of s2, just a few, and you want me to believe that she managed to get over the death of 5 family member's death in such a short time. S3 began with Elena mainly being concerned with Stefan's whereabouts, there was no mention of how she dealt with all those deaths all this time, NOTHING! So that is why I find it weird that only now we are getting an episode where we are going to be SHOWN Elena's guilt over everything that has happened.
She needs to be a responsible sister to Jeremy and protect him, therefore she sometimes has to stay strong for him. Losing her birth parents probably wouldn't have had a huge impact on her life as they both treated her badly and she barely even knew them. Losing her parents and aunt Jenna surely was traumatic, but I don't think somebody who goes through that instantly needs to break down and have psychotic consequences.Losing someone you love very dearly is horribl
Good head canon fanfic. Yet again, never shown in the show. Never emphasized. Thats the problem.
Now its too late. Elena does not fit the textbook definitions of main character, nor protagonist, nor a hero. She is nothing. And it Is too late to develop her. If she was some extra who appears every 20 eps then sure. But she is damn lead heroine...supposedly. and she has the ammount of personality of a broomstick.
Lastly, I'd like to point out that this is still a TV show we're talking about - Just like any other TV show it is unrealistic. Of course a lot of things happen within short time - anything else would be boring. Elena crying all the time would be a horrible plot.
Yes. Shall I write the whole BASIC rules of good quality writing?
"Unrealistic" does not excuse neglecting the basic writing guidelines. Elena has no character baseline, no FOILs, no character road, no dilemma's, no challenges, no character buildup, no self insights, no change in character buildup, no life background.
Elena crying all over the place is not needed. ELENA CRYING is. Elena REACTING is. Elena BEING A PERSON, relatable person just like a "protagonist" should be WAS NEEDED.
Now its too late. Elena does not fit the textbook definitions of main character, nor protagonist, nor a hero. She is nothing. And it Is too late to develop her. If she was some extra who appears every 20 eps then sure. But s
Feeling the things she "was supposed to feel" now is not "too little, too late" but actually a human coping mechanism which seals all bad emotions into one's body but comes out at one point when the person cannot deal with their pain in quiet anymore. This might be the case, if Alaric really dies.
Agreed, but thats not how Elena handles it.
WE DO NOT SEE HER HOLDING IN HER EMOTIONS.
We see her having no emotions.
Which makes this whole situation as believable as her "I wanna be normal" breakdown. Which is - entirelly unbelievable laugh-worthy and too late.
Everything that is happening in the rest of the series (Elena being kidnapped and learning about the curse and the role she plays in it) is shocking but it doesn't mean Elena needs to have a mental breakdown and battle depression.
No but she is teenager 17-18 year old human girl. She needs to have human reactions to that. She never did.
Elena is strong, that much we know.
WE DO NOT KNOW THAT. Characters Say that. How caring she is how strong she is. Which all just makes her even more of mary sue.
She needs to be a responsible sister to Jeremy and protect him, therefore she sometimes has to stay strong for him. Losing her birth parents probably wouldn't have had a huge impact on her life as they both treated her badly and she barely even knew them. Losing her parents and aunt Jenna surely was traumatic, but I don't think somebody who goes through that instantly needs to break down and have psychotic consequences.Losing someone you love very dearly is horribl
A very similar thing happened when Jenna died. With the time jump, Elena had enough time to come to terms with what happened.
AND WE NEVER SEEN THAT. No character development. No development.
Characters saying it happened DOES NOT MAKE IT TRUE.
It was also established that blood is thicker than water for Elena and Stefan wouldn't get in the way of her relationship to Jeremy and Jenna. (Bella on the other hand is ready to never speak to her family again if it means she can be with Edward for the rest of eternity.)
Yet again thank you for fanfiction. The show never bothered to actually show it. THAT'S THE PROBLEm
Which brings me to my next point: Elena's reaction to death. I do agree with the others that Elena did mourn her parents' death in season 1. Firstly the show was set 4 months after the accident and at that point she would not be crying herself to sleep anymore but would have accepted the fact that she needs to move on. Moreover we see her visiting their graves and writing in her diary about her feelings, which are at this point totally valid.
And both those points DISAPPEAR four episodes in. And she never ever remembers her parents till the Steffan-suicide-try scene. And then they are forgotten ag
You say she is "obsessed with a male character for no reason at all" because she tries to find him. Now, I don't know about you but if my boyfriend, who loves me, basically trades his soul in order to save his brother's life and disappears, I would be worried sick and look for him anywhere to see if he's in danger and if there's any possible way of bringing him back - regardless if he's a vampire or not. Therefore she is not "obsessed" with Stefan, she is just in love with him and worried.
That does not change anything. SHE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT HE TRADED. Through S2 and S3 we see nothing of her life, but her obsession with a male figure in her life. In that aspect she is bella. The only difference is that she is not wimpering on how cool vampires are all the time, but she is still exactly like bella in that aspect on how sexist her character portrayal is.
Unlike Bella, Elena clearly doesn't want to be a vampire and does see them as evil and inhumane creatures which they are. his conflicts with her love for Stefan who she should stay away from for her own safety, but she is in love with him from the start and oblivious to all the baggage he has. When she actually is in real danger it is already too late to go back.
Thank you for your head-canon. Now please lets talk about this when SHOW ACTUALLY displays that.
fear mixed with being intruiged by this supernatural world, maybe the need to feel special, as she is supposed to be the only one knowing the Salvatore's secret.
Nice and dandy if show displayed that. It did not. It displayed that for whopping two scenes and then forgot about it and she was all happy go lucky dancing with predators.
It had so much potential. Showcasing her guilt over parents deaths and how it affects her outlook towards the predatory nature of vampires and need of closeness. Show chose to ignore that. That's the problem of S1 Elena. She never reacted. We never could relate to her. She was less of a bella and quite likeable but still bella.
The biggest difference between her and Elena is that Elena (precisely in S1) actually reflects the emotions any average human would have if confronted with such a situation:
Ding ding dong, how wrong. Normal human reaction to a vampire would be no different than reaction to grizly bear. Studied enough psychology in my university years to know that.
Elena's reaction was APPROPRIATE, for exactly ONE episode of her finding out who steffie is. Five seconds latter she was a lovesick puppy. Her mistrust and self-confusion and mixed feelings SHOULD have continued through season one.
So, judging from what you've written so far, you think Elena basically is Bella Swan, is dependant on Stefan which you believe to be unrealistic, and has not spent enough time (or any time at all) mourning the loss of her parents, her other parents and her aunt. Am I right?
Yes, thats bassically it. Every damn storyline of hers revolves around her love interests. She had an independant(sort of...) story of searching for her mother in S1 and surprise - She was more likeable in that season. After that she is just....there, looking pretty, displaying mary sue traits and not having any semblance of character.
another guest
March 28th, 2012 2:47 PM
queenbee94: VERY WELL SAID!!! I couldn't agree with you more. Thank you for putting it all so eloquently.
Angie
March 28th, 2012 2:45 PM
OMG queenbee94 and bored now is the same person !!!!!
get a life looooser !!!!!!
sasha
March 28th, 2012 1:53 PM
I hope I'm just leaping to conclusions and wrong, but this sounds so BORING for a season finale. Really? Memory lane and regret? It sounds depressing, and not thrilling. Sure the flashback to the car accident might reveal something we don't know about Elena and her parents, but it sounds like loads of boring. We've got Originals and the Salvatores and all this awesome material in the present that it seems super senseless to be flashing back to the immediate past.
queenbee94 Rank: Regular Character
March 28th, 2012 12:48 PM
Feeling the things she "was supposed to feel" now is not "too little, too late" but actually a human coping mechanism which seals all bad emotions into one's body but comes out at one point when the person cannot deal with their pain in quiet anymore. This might be the case, if Alaric really dies.
Lastly, I'd like to point out that this is still a TV show we're talking about - Just like any other TV show it is unrealistic. Of course a lot of things happen within short time - anything else would be boring. Elena crying all the time would be a horrible plot.
queenbee94 Rank: Regular Character
March 28th, 2012 12:48 PM
A very similar thing happened when Jenna died. With the time jump, Elena had enough time to come to terms with what happened. Everything that is happening in the rest of the series (Elena being kidnapped and learning about the curse and the role she plays in it) is shocking but it doesn't mean Elena needs to have a mental breakdown and battle depression. Elena is strong, that much we know.She needs to be a responsible sister to Jeremy and protect him, therefore she sometimes has to stay strong for him. Losing her birth parents probably wouldn't have had a huge impact on her life as they both treated her badly and she barely even knew them. Losing her parents and aunt Jenna surely was traumatic, but I don't think somebody who goes through that instantly needs to break down and have psychotic consequences.Losing someone you love very dearly is horrible but humans adjust to what has happened and are capable of moving on. Not forgetting, but moving on with their lives.
Feeling the things
queenbee94 Rank: Regular Character
March 28th, 2012 12:48 PM
It was also established that blood is thicker than water for Elena and Stefan wouldn't get in the way of her relationship to Jeremy and Jenna. (Bella on the other hand is ready to never speak to her family again if it means she can be with Edward for the rest of eternity.)
Which brings me to my next point: Elena's reaction to death. I do agree with the others that Elena did mourn her parents' death in season 1. Firstly the show was set 4 months after the accident and at that point she would not be crying herself to sleep anymore but would have accepted the fact that she needs to move on. Moreover we see her visiting their graves and writing in her diary about her feelings, which are at this point totally valid.
Damon: She's strong and crafty and you'll die. Elena: At least I'll die trying.
March 28th, 2012 4:38 PM
To me they are a detail that could've been used in a better way but is not essential to the show.
Elena, Stefan and Damon are the "main characters of the show" with elena supposedly being the "protagonist". The term protagonist means that you must be able to RELATE to him/her in some level of perception. Protagonist is the ENTRYPOINT for the viewer to the world of the show and its immersion source.
There's nothing relatable about Elena. There's no "Elena".
March 28th, 2012 4:36 PM
I don't want to see textbook characters, I want to see new ones.
Now I am sorry, but thats' arrogant. Here, go, please, reinvent the entirety of laws of physics, or the entirety of mathematics.
Through last two thousand years and more every possible character has been created. One would need to be exceptionally talented to "reinvent the wheel" and tvd writers are NOT that.
March 28th, 2012 4:35 PM
Elena might not fit the "textbook definition" of a heroine (whatever that is in your opinion) but I think that's a good thing.
thats not a "good" thing.
Thats the basis of storytelling theory being undermined. You know what else does that? Fanfiction. There are certain rules on HOW one builds the character if one wants to make a compelling, strong work of fiction with good quality writing.
Thats what separates bad quality writing from good quality writing.
Rank: Regular Character
March 28th, 2012 4:14 PM
I don't want to see textbook characters, I want to see new ones. I often find characters' reactions on TV shows unrealistic and ridiculous and maybe Elena fits that description sometimes but I get over it because Elena's reactions don't interfere with my perception of the show. To me they are a detail that could've been used in a better way but is not essential to the show. Obviously we have different opinions and obviously you have no intention whatsoever to change yours so I'm going to stop trying. We can't change the show so we might as well accept its flaws and just get over it.
Rank: Regular Character
March 28th, 2012 4:14 PM
Again, I think it's natural for someone to hold their emotions until it gets too much. You say we don't see her holding these emotions (which is the point by the way) but just last episode she wanted to tell Jeremy all about her problems with Alaric etc and cry and she stayed strong (regarding my point that she needs to stay strong for jeremy).
Yes, Elena mourning and crying and visiting the graves disappears after 4 episode because people get bored of that. People don't want to see sad Elena all the time. People also don't want to hear about those parents we have absolutely no relation to every episode. This is a show about vampires and supernatural beings and romance. It's not about grief and emotions. Hence the show mentioning how sad Elena was after Stefan left and Jenna died. They don't need to display that.
Elena might not fit the "textbook definition" of a heroine (whatever that is in your opinion) but I think that's a good thing. I don't want to see textbook characters, I wan
March 28th, 2012 4:01 PM
@Amie. Agreed Exactly.
With S1 events alone, adding her parents deaths you would have some seriously life-changing stuff. Hell, HAVING A STALKER in your life can affect you a lot and a lot more than just that happened. Yet at that alone Elena reacted to NOTHING. It got even more hilarious latter on.
Rank: Regular Character
March 28th, 2012 3:21 PM
In one year (in tvd terms) Elena lost her parents, her biological parents, her aunt, and apart from all the other supernatural stuff happening in her town, she WITNESSED her mother killing herself in front of her and her aunt killed in front of her, she herself got "killed" by a psycho murderer...Now if that were me, I would probably be in intense therapy sessions. Now, what has TVD done to show us how she dealt with all of that? S3 started with how many months passed since the events of s2, just a few, and you want me to believe that she managed to get over the death of 5 family member's death in such a short time. S3 began with Elena mainly being concerned with Stefan's whereabouts, there was no mention of how she dealt with all those deaths all this time, NOTHING! So that is why I find it weird that only now we are getting an episode where we are going to be SHOWN Elena's guilt over everything that has happened.
March 28th, 2012 3:20 PM
She needs to be a responsible sister to Jeremy and protect him, therefore she sometimes has to stay strong for him. Losing her birth parents probably wouldn't have had a huge impact on her life as they both treated her badly and she barely even knew them. Losing her parents and aunt Jenna surely was traumatic, but I don't think somebody who goes through that instantly needs to break down and have psychotic consequences.Losing someone you love very dearly is horribl
Good head canon fanfic. Yet again, never shown in the show. Never emphasized. Thats the problem.
March 28th, 2012 3:17 PM
Now its too late. Elena does not fit the textbook definitions of main character, nor protagonist, nor a hero. She is nothing. And it Is too late to develop her. If she was some extra who appears every 20 eps then sure. But she is damn lead heroine...supposedly. and she has the ammount of personality of a broomstick.
March 28th, 2012 3:17 PM
Lastly, I'd like to point out that this is still a TV show we're talking about - Just like any other TV show it is unrealistic. Of course a lot of things happen within short time - anything else would be boring. Elena crying all the time would be a horrible plot.
Yes. Shall I write the whole BASIC rules of good quality writing?
"Unrealistic" does not excuse neglecting the basic writing guidelines. Elena has no character baseline, no FOILs, no character road, no dilemma's, no challenges, no character buildup, no self insights, no change in character buildup, no life background.
Elena crying all over the place is not needed. ELENA CRYING is. Elena REACTING is. Elena BEING A PERSON, relatable person just like a "protagonist" should be WAS NEEDED.
Now its too late. Elena does not fit the textbook definitions of main character, nor protagonist, nor a hero. She is nothing. And it Is too late to develop her. If she was some extra who appears every 20 eps then sure. But s
March 28th, 2012 3:15 PM
Feeling the things she "was supposed to feel" now is not "too little, too late" but actually a human coping mechanism which seals all bad emotions into one's body but comes out at one point when the person cannot deal with their pain in quiet anymore. This might be the case, if Alaric really dies.
Agreed, but thats not how Elena handles it.
WE DO NOT SEE HER HOLDING IN HER EMOTIONS.
We see her having no emotions.
Which makes this whole situation as believable as her "I wanna be normal" breakdown. Which is - entirelly unbelievable laugh-worthy and too late.
March 28th, 2012 3:13 PM
Everything that is happening in the rest of the series (Elena being kidnapped and learning about the curse and the role she plays in it) is shocking but it doesn't mean Elena needs to have a mental breakdown and battle depression.
No but she is teenager 17-18 year old human girl. She needs to have human reactions to that. She never did.
Elena is strong, that much we know.
WE DO NOT KNOW THAT. Characters Say that. How caring she is how strong she is. Which all just makes her even more of mary sue.
She needs to be a responsible sister to Jeremy and protect him, therefore she sometimes has to stay strong for him. Losing her birth parents probably wouldn't have had a huge impact on her life as they both treated her badly and she barely even knew them. Losing her parents and aunt Jenna surely was traumatic, but I don't think somebody who goes through that instantly needs to break down and have psychotic consequences.Losing someone you love very dearly is horribl
March 28th, 2012 3:12 PM
A very similar thing happened when Jenna died. With the time jump, Elena had enough time to come to terms with what happened.
AND WE NEVER SEEN THAT. No character development. No development.
Characters saying it happened DOES NOT MAKE IT TRUE.
March 28th, 2012 3:11 PM
It was also established that blood is thicker than water for Elena and Stefan wouldn't get in the way of her relationship to Jeremy and Jenna. (Bella on the other hand is ready to never speak to her family again if it means she can be with Edward for the rest of eternity.)
Yet again thank you for fanfiction. The show never bothered to actually show it. THAT'S THE PROBLEm
Which brings me to my next point: Elena's reaction to death. I do agree with the others that Elena did mourn her parents' death in season 1. Firstly the show was set 4 months after the accident and at that point she would not be crying herself to sleep anymore but would have accepted the fact that she needs to move on. Moreover we see her visiting their graves and writing in her diary about her feelings, which are at this point totally valid.
And both those points DISAPPEAR four episodes in. And she never ever remembers her parents till the Steffan-suicide-try scene. And then they are forgotten ag
March 28th, 2012 3:10 PM
You say she is "obsessed with a male character for no reason at all" because she tries to find him. Now, I don't know about you but if my boyfriend, who loves me, basically trades his soul in order to save his brother's life and disappears, I would be worried sick and look for him anywhere to see if he's in danger and if there's any possible way of bringing him back - regardless if he's a vampire or not. Therefore she is not "obsessed" with Stefan, she is just in love with him and worried.
That does not change anything. SHE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT HE TRADED. Through S2 and S3 we see nothing of her life, but her obsession with a male figure in her life. In that aspect she is bella. The only difference is that she is not wimpering on how cool vampires are all the time, but she is still exactly like bella in that aspect on how sexist her character portrayal is.
March 28th, 2012 3:09 PM
Unlike Bella, Elena clearly doesn't want to be a vampire and does see them as evil and inhumane creatures which they are. his conflicts with her love for Stefan who she should stay away from for her own safety, but she is in love with him from the start and oblivious to all the baggage he has. When she actually is in real danger it is already too late to go back.
Thank you for your head-canon. Now please lets talk about this when SHOW ACTUALLY displays that.
March 28th, 2012 3:08 PM
fear mixed with being intruiged by this supernatural world, maybe the need to feel special, as she is supposed to be the only one knowing the Salvatore's secret.
Nice and dandy if show displayed that. It did not. It displayed that for whopping two scenes and then forgot about it and she was all happy go lucky dancing with predators.
It had so much potential. Showcasing her guilt over parents deaths and how it affects her outlook towards the predatory nature of vampires and need of closeness. Show chose to ignore that. That's the problem of S1 Elena. She never reacted. We never could relate to her. She was less of a bella and quite likeable but still bella.
March 28th, 2012 3:06 PM
The biggest difference between her and Elena is that Elena (precisely in S1) actually reflects the emotions any average human would have if confronted with such a situation:
Ding ding dong, how wrong. Normal human reaction to a vampire would be no different than reaction to grizly bear. Studied enough psychology in my university years to know that.
Elena's reaction was APPROPRIATE, for exactly ONE episode of her finding out who steffie is. Five seconds latter she was a lovesick puppy. Her mistrust and self-confusion and mixed feelings SHOULD have continued through season one.
March 28th, 2012 3:04 PM
So, judging from what you've written so far, you think Elena basically is Bella Swan, is dependant on Stefan which you believe to be unrealistic, and has not spent enough time (or any time at all) mourning the loss of her parents, her other parents and her aunt. Am I right?
Yes, thats bassically it. Every damn storyline of hers revolves around her love interests. She had an independant(sort of...) story of searching for her mother in S1 and surprise - She was more likeable in that season. After that she is just....there, looking pretty, displaying mary sue traits and not having any semblance of character.
March 28th, 2012 2:47 PM
queenbee94: VERY WELL SAID!!! I couldn't agree with you more. Thank you for putting it all so eloquently.
March 28th, 2012 2:45 PM
OMG queenbee94 and bored now is the same person !!!!!
get a life looooser !!!!!!
March 28th, 2012 1:53 PM
I hope I'm just leaping to conclusions and wrong, but this sounds so BORING for a season finale. Really? Memory lane and regret? It sounds depressing, and not thrilling. Sure the flashback to the car accident might reveal something we don't know about Elena and her parents, but it sounds like loads of boring. We've got Originals and the Salvatores and all this awesome material in the present that it seems super senseless to be flashing back to the immediate past.
Rank: Regular Character
March 28th, 2012 12:48 PM
Feeling the things she "was supposed to feel" now is not "too little, too late" but actually a human coping mechanism which seals all bad emotions into one's body but comes out at one point when the person cannot deal with their pain in quiet anymore. This might be the case, if Alaric really dies.
Lastly, I'd like to point out that this is still a TV show we're talking about - Just like any other TV show it is unrealistic. Of course a lot of things happen within short time - anything else would be boring. Elena crying all the time would be a horrible plot.
Rank: Regular Character
March 28th, 2012 12:48 PM
A very similar thing happened when Jenna died. With the time jump, Elena had enough time to come to terms with what happened. Everything that is happening in the rest of the series (Elena being kidnapped and learning about the curse and the role she plays in it) is shocking but it doesn't mean Elena needs to have a mental breakdown and battle depression. Elena is strong, that much we know.She needs to be a responsible sister to Jeremy and protect him, therefore she sometimes has to stay strong for him. Losing her birth parents probably wouldn't have had a huge impact on her life as they both treated her badly and she barely even knew them. Losing her parents and aunt Jenna surely was traumatic, but I don't think somebody who goes through that instantly needs to break down and have psychotic consequences.Losing someone you love very dearly is horrible but humans adjust to what has happened and are capable of moving on. Not forgetting, but moving on with their lives.
Feeling the things
Rank: Regular Character
March 28th, 2012 12:48 PM
It was also established that blood is thicker than water for Elena and Stefan wouldn't get in the way of her relationship to Jeremy and Jenna. (Bella on the other hand is ready to never speak to her family again if it means she can be with Edward for the rest of eternity.)
Which brings me to my next point: Elena's reaction to death. I do agree with the others that Elena did mourn her parents' death in season 1. Firstly the show was set 4 months after the accident and at that point she would not be crying herself to sleep anymore but would have accepted the fact that she needs to move on. Moreover we see her visiting their graves and writing in her diary about her feelings, which are at this point totally valid.