'The Vampire Diaries' series finale spoilers: A death confirmed -- and it's not who you think

Just when long-time fans are about to bid “The Vampire Diaries” farewell for good, this could happen in a tragic manner as the show’s final set could be at a funeral. Showrunner Julie Plec had already confirmed earlier that someone significant will die again before the show concludes. However, this person might not be who fans think it would be.

Spoilers reveal that a key cast member of the show will not make it to the final episode alive. Who exactly that person is remains a mystery, but it had already been confirmed way before this final season began airing.

Spoiler alert! This article contains “The Vampire Diaries” spoilers. Read on if you would like to know what happens before the next episode airs.

Plec reveals that the production team wanted to go emotionally heavy with the action and with the spectacular of it. She co-wrote the series finale with the show’s co-creator Kevin Williamson and shared that they felt absolutely epic knowing that there is someone who is more likely than the others to bite the dust. Again, they did not say who that is.

Fans already know that Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) will return to “The Vampire Diaries” for one last dance before the show concludes. Looking back at the circumstances when she left, her life remained connected to Bonnie. This entails that as long as Bonnie is alive, Elena will remain asleep.

This could mean that Bonnie’s death could be why Elena would reappear. It could also be that Stefan (Paul Wesley), who had recently transitioned from vampire to human, is attempting to make up for all the troubles that he had caused Damon (Ian Somerhalder) by sacrificing himself so that Damon and Elena could spend eternity together, reports Refinery 29.

Another theory teases that Matt Donovan (Zac Roerig), the show’s only main character who remained human all throughout its entire run, may die once again and not get resurrected this time. There are endless ways to welcome Dobrev’s return. On the other hand, her return might not even be connected at all to the next major death. What’s for sure is that this upcoming plot twist will take with it someone loved by a lot of fans.

Only time will tell who exactly goes next. There is not much time left for the show and, for now, each fan has guesses of his or her own.

“The Vampire Diaries” airs Fridays on The CW in the US. It also airs on Australia on FOX8. The next episode airs Feb. 24, titled “It’s Been a Hell of a Ride.”