The episode's true core rests on Damon’s shoulders. The "old" Damon would have let Bonnie die to keep Elena awake. Choosing to save Bonnie and wait 60+ years for Elena proved his ultimate redemption and cemented his character development.
The writers' treatment of Alaric was a frequent complaint. After losing Jenna and Isobel, the scene where he holds the body of his murdered, pregnant bride Jo, followed by his attempted suicide in the car, was considered overly dark.
A massive takeaway praised by reviewers at TV Fanatic and Den of Geek was the realization that the show had successfully moved past its original teenage love triangle. Stefan admitting to Caroline that Elena's greatest gift was bringing his brother back to him reframed the entire show as a love story between Damon and Stefan.
To give Elena a personal farewell with every character, the episode uses psychic shared visions. Moving from the stoner den with Jeremy to the feather trick with Bonnie, these highly nostalgic walks down memory lane were absolute tear-jerkers for long-time viewers.