Where The Vampire Diaries Went Wrong

With tickets to go to a Vampire Diaries ComicCon in Mystic Falls, GA, and as someone who has seen The Vampire Diaries way too many times, but also one who loves analyzing Movies and TV Shows, I feel qualified to state my opinion on this show. While I may ruffle some feathers, hear me out!

First with the good! The casting directors were spot on with the actors they chose. The entire cast has amazing acting skills (they cry like every episode, I could never) and they’re all so beautiful! And while being talented and beautiful, their outfit choices and the setting style has become a staple for my generation. There is an entire fall fashion dedicated to Elena’s converse, flared dark wash jeans, and the lace tank top with the V neck long sleeve Henley. And the Salvatore house? Stunning.

In the books (yes, I read them), Elena looks more like Caroline than Nina Dobrev, but I adore that they saw Elena in her and chose to go with her. Similar to Hannah Montana slightly altering the story to fight Miley Cyrus, I think this worked out for the best and made it way more interesting. The mid 2000s famously had beautiful brunettes ruling the screens, and in that era, a beautiful well loved blonde as the main character, in my opinion, I don’t think would have been received as well. After hits like Mean Girls, the role of the blonde became slightly antagonist especially to the brunette. Also, Nina Dobrev is simply stunning in any hair color and is such a great actress. Some actors are born to play certain roles with certain personalities and she was meant to be Elena- and I think most TVD fans would agree. Again the casting directors did phenomenal with their choses.

My problem is more with the writers.

I think the first thing I really didn’t like and it didn’t take multiple watches of the entire show to catch but rather within 3-4 seasons in. I noticed I’d have to take breaks from the show as it just began to feel like one long episode at times. With each of the villains in the show, their approach was always the same. First with Katherine and Rebekah, then Qetsiyah and so forth. The same tone, mannerisms and way of delivery was used to get what they wanted or to reveal information or to blackmail them. With Katherine it fitted her. She was snarky, sneaky, smart and sexy. And cunning and deceitful, and it worked for her character especially considering everything she had gone through in her lifetime. At the end of the day, she really was just scared and willing to do anything to stay alive.

With Rebekah, I felt like as powerful as she was she didn’t need to use this. And I don’t think she’d go out her methods by withholding information to get what she needed. I see her more as a female Klaus/Elijah. It would’ve made way more sense if she just ripped someone’s heart out and then had them do what she wanted regardless.

It seemed like whoever would write those scenes was the same set of writers each time and they honestly had no idea how to create different personalities when it came to villains.

Next it was the plot for me.

Season 1-3? Chef’s kiss! It captured the mysteriousness and allure of the show with elements of horror, romance and danger but also friendship/brotherhood. Around the time Matt found out about Caroline being a vampire, I felt that was the peak of the show.

Quickly though, I noticed the overuse of bringing people back to life. Certain characters I love and I’m glad they came back (Bonnie, you queen) but with other characters (for example: when Alaric died and became a vampire and dies again) I felt it lost its potency. Some deaths I think are meant to be final and symbolic of heroic endings and when they just keep coming back it feels played out. I’m no longer sitting on the edge of my seat, shocked as the next episode loads. Instead, I’m eating another handful of Cheez-Itz saying “they’ll be back.”

And following on about the overuse, let’s talk about what felt like filler episodes when a vampire would turn off their humanity. With Stefan, it made sense and fit the plot for what it was. And the fight to get him back to him for me showcased Elena’s love for him. When Elena turned off her emotions, I did understand why and it was nice to see that side of her. I think back to Elijah's quote “Compassion is your greatest gift, Elena,” and how true it was to her personality. Vampire Elena gets a lot of hate, but frankly, considering everything that had happened in that short period of time in life it makes sense, and maybe that break was needed for her. Caroline’s turning off her humanity didn't make sense to me. And I think if they would’ve just given her a year she would’ve been fine and came back to herself. Frankly I hated those episodes of Caroline.

Secondly, two major plot issues I had and am still waiting for an answer are in regards to how characters can be over thousands of years old and still mad about things. Klaus being hot headed and angry in regards to his father to me didn't make sense. I’ve pondered if when a vampire changes and they’re stuck at that age forever if they're also stuck mentally at the age of changing- which then I could understand Klaus’ emotional dysregulation- but also in a thousand years you haven’t tried to heal? Like not once?

And same with Questiah being still hung up on Silas. Being cheated on sucks, and I can’t imagine being left at the altar, but like ma’am you’ve had plenty of time to heal from this. It’s not that deep. Like to hold on to that for as long as she did? Didn’t make sense.

Lastly, and probably my most controversial opinions about this show, the relationships in this show. I firmly stand that Klaus and Caroline should’ve ended up together. I think he saw her for who she would become- and I saw the vision too. I saw Caroline working somewhere like NYC running a company like Sandra Bullock in The Proposal. So for her to end up working as the owner and a teacher at a boarding school felt a bit anticlimactic for me. Wanting to help young gifted kids, is beautiful and I can see that side of her. There was something poetic about her bringing the soft side to Klaus in a way that seemed healing for him. The energy the two had together all TVD fans felt and I wish they ended up together and not just some random forest hook up.

Next and here is where the heat comes in. Damon was meant to be with Bonnie. In the show it didn’t show it as much as the books did. When they were stuck in Kai’s prison, I was convinced they’d fall in love or eventually afterwards. I don’t think Elena would’ve gotten with her boyfriend’s brother. When Damon would show up in her bed randomly, I think the character Elena would’ve made him leave. She’s fiercely loyal to her friends and I think she would’ve been with Stefan as well. I figured once vampire Elena found her compassion and Stefan stopped being so ashamed of the things Klaus made him do, they would’ve worked perfectly.

I’m still going to watch the show again and again, regardless of these reasons, but I think the show could’ve been so much better if romances, and certain plots, and dialogue was changed a bit. To this day, there is no show that has the mysticism, beautiful and talented cast, and perfect setting that The Vampire Diaries has. There’s something about the high school in a small town with witches, vampires, and werewolves that even in my young adult years I still feel drawn to, the way high school me did when I’d fantasize about the what if’s of a vampire boyfriend (lol) when I was supposed to be paying attention in class. I love this show and have quite literally grown up with it. Staying up and watching it before theater auditions to watch it as I wrote my college admission essays. It’s rare for shows like this that are so impactful and monumental which makes it special. And to Paul, that time I met you at a restaurant and my eyes got really wide and I ran and screamed- so sorry.