Kat Graham leaving ‘The Vampire Diaries’ after season 8

If “The Vampire Diaries” does choose to continue on The CW after the already-renewed eighth season, it’s now clear that they are going to be doing so without one of their original cast members in Kat Graham.

Speaking recently to Us Weekly while at the iHeartRadio Music Awards over the weekend, the actress / musician made it clear that she is ready to move on to some other things once next season comes to a close:

“Season 8 will be my last season … I just hope that whatever I do after, the crew can come with me. If the crew can come with me, then we’ll be good. The crew is going to be the hardest thing to let go, because we are a family.”

Our real feeling here, though, is that season 8 probably should be the end for the series as a whole. While there have been issues here and there with season 7 it has been our favorite season in years for the show, and with ratings down already, you don’t want to see it go out with a whimper. Ending next season gives it a chance to go while there is still some relevance around it, and you don’t have to go another season without a familiar face in the cast. We’ve already love Nina Dobrev, and there’s certainly a chance that other people could depart, as well. (We at least know that Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder are aboard for season 8 already.)

Ultimately, we’ll probably learn more about the future fate of “The Vampire Diaries” in the months ahead, but given that season 7 is still airing (head over here for a preview for Friday night’s installment), there is not really a reason for the show to hurry with an announcement.

Want more news on everything we cover, sent right to your email inbox? Then be sure to sign up at this link for some other updates via our official CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: The CW.)