But ... but... but... what about Caroline? (I'm not watching the show but I know those two are supposed to be together... right?)

No, not necessarily. There's Matt (who has been her main love interest), and there's a heap of people shipping Caroline and Stefan (including me). They've just been building the Tyler/Caroline relationship in the last five or six episodes this season.

This really made me sadder than it should. I don't want any of the regulars to leave, I guess. But I have hope that he'll be back one day, we just don't know when. And I agree that it's always a good thing if they put the story and characters before the actors. I just hope that Michael finds another job he likes that will have him able to return to Mystic Falls one day *sigh*

I was starting to enjoy Tyler's storyline, but with that storyline came a lot of werewolves vs. vampires stuff and a bunch of additional characters I didn't care about (lol sounds like True Blood), so I'm OK with him taking a hiatus. I do hope it's brief, but there were too many kids on the dancefloor so I'm fine with him bowing out as long as it results in more streamlined storytelling.

Replying to this before I hit up your TVD reaction post.

Although I was shocked to hear that Michael Trevino was leaving the show (for how long no one knows, except of course for Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec) I think the decision to have Tyler leave Mystic Falls to learn how to deal with the werewolf curse and separate him from all the other supernatural stuff going on was a good call. Tyler is still a novice werewolf who (1) doesn't know how to deal with what has happened to him, (2) doesn't want to deal with what has happened, and (3) has no idea what the future holds for him. He knows the basics and after finding out about the sun and moon curse, that Elena has to be sacrificed in order to end his misery, and after having morality battles within himself, it's best that he take himself out of the equation, find himself, and learn to live his life as a supernatural being.

I teared up when I realized that Tyler was choosing to leave because I was really beginning to like his character, but to move his future story along it needed to be done. The only part I didn't like is that he left with Jules. I can only imagine what crap she will beat into his head which will possibly lead to issues with Damon, Stefan and Caroline when he returns.

I agree with you about the writers putting the story and the characters first instead of appeasing people by keeping an actor because they have a fan base and no real story. Trevino and the show deserve it :)

Yeah, I read that last night. Which is what I meant about not really being upset he left the show.

I wasn't expecting him to be GONE gone either. But it looks like he is. At least for awhile. I do think he'll be back.

I think he'll be back too. :)

I'm surprised he's leaving. But I understand in the show but I wonder what' Michael got going on now since he's not gonna be around for a while.