This month marks the 10th anniversary of The Vampire Diaries. Yes, ten years (now thirteen) have passed since we first met the beloved supernatural characters of Mystic Falls. While the series had its ups and downs throughout its impressive eight-season run, it was always must-watch television. In celebration, I thought it would be fun to revisit the most important part of the paranormal romance show: The Vampire Diaries couples.
Part of the enjoyment of watching week to week was “shipping” different characters together. However, the love triangle between Damon, Elena, and Stefan hooked fans from the start. Still, other romantic TVD ships became integral to the show as well – some TVD couples more successful than others.
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So, let’s discuss the best couples.
THE BEST VAMPIRE DIARIES COUPLES, RANKED
25. TYLER AND VICKI
It’s hard to root for this romantic relationship because Tyler was the epitome of the bad boyfriend. And in the #metoo era, they’re hard to swallow as a couple, especially with the inappropriate scene in the pilot.
Still, both Tyler and Vicki are fabulous characters – just separately!
24. MATT AND ELENA
Ah, young love. Matt and Elena have an innocent-like teenage relationship. But as Elena points out, she just didn’t feel passionate about him.
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So, it’s no surprise she breaks up with Matt and then falls in love with the new mysterious high school student, Stefan. Matt and Elena had a cute relationship, but nothing that could ever progress past high school. Poor Matt!
23. JEREMY AND VICKI
Jeremy treated Vicki with much more respect in the first season than Tyler, but these two didn’t fit together. Still, Jeremy’s puppy-like love for Vicki was a little bit sweet.
22. ALARIC AND CAROLINE
While this duo led to the fun new spinoff, Legacies, Alaric (previously a vampire hunter), and Caroline were never a believable couple. But it’s fun they got their own show out of it – even if Caroline appeared almost entirely offscreen!
21. BONNIE AND JEREMY
This pairing lasted for much longer than it should have. While Bonnie and Jeremy were cute together initially, there was never any real tension, chemistry, or authenticity.
So while they were a good couple, they weren’t the best either.
20. TYLER AND LIV
Tyler and Liv had a definite onscreen spark. However, as a couple, they’re not the most memorable.
19. ROSE AND DAMON
Maybe it’s my love for everything Dickens, but I’m a sucker for unrequited love stories – even if they never lead to a happy ending. And something is interesting and profound about Rose.
So, while these two only briefly hook up, Rose quickly becomes one of the only people Damon’s ever cared about in the TV series.
18. NORA AND MARY LOUISE
Vampires Nora and Mary Louise struggled with narcissism and psychotic behavior, traits leading to trouble in their relationship! Still, their bond was unbreakable.
17. ALARIC AND MEREDITH
In the books, Meredith and Alaric are a devoted couple. In the series, these two are only briefly together.
But it was a nice nod to L.J. Smith’s original books, and the two actors had chemistry. It’s too bad the potential pairing never went anywhere.
16. STEFAN AND VALERIE
Valerie is Stefan’s first love, the two separated by misfortune. And while they didn’t work out, Valerie was an intriguing character.
15. DAMON AND KATHERINE
Although Katherine and Damon didn’t bring out the best in each other and had a tumultuous relationship, the two scored high on the entertainment scale with great scenes together as a pair of naughty vampiric schemers.
14. CAROLINE AND MATT
They made a strong TV couple at first. But once Caroline became a vampire, Matt could never accept her for who she was. That would be the end of any serious relationship.
13. ALARIC AND JENNA
This likable duo could have been great if not for Jenna’s unfortunate and untimely passing. They were the cutest couple while they lasted, though.
12. CAROLINE AND TYLER
Their star-crossed romance was full of potential until jealousy, anger, and bad choices ended their relationship. Tyler and Caroline had a great romance that could have been the end game if the writers hadn’t decided to take them in a different direction.
11. JEREMY AND ANNA
These two were an adorable couple impossible not to like. It’s too bad Anna became a ghost, only to pass on to the other side.
10. STEFAN AND CAROLINE
It took me time to warm up to this pairing, but they eventually grew on me. Besides, best friends do make ideal romantic couples.
Unfortunately, tragic endings are par for the course for these two.
9. REBEKAH AND MATT
Matt was a fantastic choice for the fiery, explosive Rebekah. She wanted to be an ordinary teenage girl, and Matt liked her spontaneity. Still, Matt couldn’t handle being in a supernatural relationship.
8. STEFAN AND LEXI
While they were never more than best friends, you could argue Lexi was in love with him. Lexi was always there when Stefan needed her, not to mention the sizzling onscreen chemistry between the actors.
Oh, what could have been.
7. CAROLINE AND KLAUS
I’m a huge fan of dark Byronic Heroes, so I loved them at first. However, they both moved on to more epic loves—Klaus with Camille on The Originals and Caroline with Stefan.
Still, Caroline and Klaus remain among the most popular Vampire Diaries relationships.
6. ALARIC AND JO
Sadly, their story ended in tragedy. But the two were the perfect Vampire Diaries couple while they lasted. Their twins, Josie and Lizzie, became two of the main characters over on Legacies, keeping this epic love story alive.
5. STEFAN AND KATHERINE
Bad-girl Katherine made it tough for the Salvatore brothers. But it was Stefan who was her true love. While Katherine was too selfish to make a romance work, this couple was still fabulous.
4. BONNIE AND DAMON
On re-watching the series, it’s hard to deny the underlying and unspoken romantic love brewing beneath the surface between Bonnie and Damon – especially once they went to the prison world together.
3. STEFAN AND ELENA
Without the epic Stefan and Elena relationship, this series would have never worked. They had one of the most epic romances of the series and were a favorite couple amongst Vampire Diaries fans.
2. BONNIE AND ENZO
Every vampire with the last name St. John is automatic romantic vampire gold! The chemistry, the emotion, the romance, this is the love story Bonnie deserved.
1. DAMON AND ELENA
Seductive and passionate, the soul connection between Damon and Elena is indisputable. They’re an example of how to do a Byronic vampire romance story right.
The actors had real chemistry, Elena helped Damon become a better man, and eventually, they could lead a normal life together after a necessary transformation.
Now, it’s your turn. What are your favorite Vampire Diaries couples? Sound off in the comments below!
Featured image: Photo: Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder) and Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev). Credit: CBS Television Distribution/Warner Bros. Television.
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Tyler & Caroline forever. Screw this list
We prefer positive discussion on this site. I would have personally been happy to have Tyler and Caroline end up together but the writers went a different way.
I’ve personally always been a fan of Stefan and human Elena circa seasons 2 and 3, particularly because I love how honorable Stefan is and how he listens to and respects Elena’s wishes, wants, and needs, which is something Damon doesn’t really do in my opinion, so Stefan and Elena are always number one for me. And though I love Damon as a character, I never quite got over how he manipulated and abused Caroline in season one, so it was hard for me to root for him (especially because Caroline is one of my absolute faves). But one of my best friends loves Damon and Elena, and I can totally see why people love them so much — especially after Elena became a vampire, because Damon constantly had her back as her entire world was changing. A great show, great characters, and great couples. I can’t believe it’s been ten years already.
Yeah, Stefan and Elena were great when she was human. I loved them too! I’m one of the few who enjoys both Stefan and Elena and Damon and Elena. Personally, I tend to forgive Byronic Heroes for doing horrible things. In some ways, The Vampire Diaries is really about villains from their perspective. But yeah, I can’t believe it’s been ten years already. It’s crazy. 🙂
yea i agree i love stelena but i also love delena any one tell me some good ships of this show
Lovely walk down memory lane. I loved the pintrest collage at the bottom.
Thanks, Rhea!
Stefan and Elena
STELENA FOREVER ❤
“There will always be a hole in my heart where STELENA is supposed to be”
I started watching the show last year in August, and I’m finally starting the last season! At first I honestly got confused and had no clue who Enzo was around season 5 or whenever he starts appearing often honestly idk anymore (I stopped watching for a while and jumped back in mid-season somewhere). Now I am on season 8 and I love Bonnie and Enzo more than any couple on the show maybe except for Damon and Elena (they might be equal). I also loved Caroline and Tyler or Caroline and Klaus. I honestly didn’t mind most of the couples, but I still don’t love Caroline and Stefan (even though it kinda makes sense) and I never liked her with Alaric. I think I love this show lol I’ve never cried over a show except this one when certain main characters died! I’m invested
Hi, Anna! Thanks for sharing. Yeah, most of the couples were pretty good on The Vampire Diaries. But Damon and Elena and Enzo and Bonnie are my two favorites as well.
i think caroline and klaus were perfect. caroline somehow managed to suppress her emotions for klaus because it wouldn’t have seemed right at that moment. they both kinda knew about it.. the fun part between them was the chasing.. their personalities were so fun they could’ve ended up exploring so much if they were together. the almighty klaus with the most pretty and genuine caroline. they would’ve been absolute endgame.
Caroline and Klaus were a great pairing, for sure! The writers did end up going in a different direction, but if the writers had kept Klaus on The Vampire Diaries, I think they would have been endgame and it would have been very interesting to see.
im srry but i dont like klaus did u see how he acts and they dont really make a cute couple
Klaus is a villainous character, but interesting in a villainous Heathcliff way. I don’t think any of the characters in the show are particularly moral – besides a couple of characters. We’re just seeing the story from the villains’ perspectives. Honestly, I’m happy they went the Klaus/Cami route when he switched shows. But he is a villain, no doubt about it! But so is Caroline, although not as bad.
I agree with pretty much everything… (i’m sorry but we all see the ‘except’ coming) EXCEPT Bonnie + Damon and Stefan + Lexi. Best friends are just best friends. I guess with Stefan and Lexi it COULD have gone there (though i’m happy it didn’t), but Bonnie and Damon would NEVER.
I agree with everything on this list, except for one thing… Elena and Stefan were END GAME! THEY SHOULDVE ENDED TOGETHER! Damon is just trash I’m rewatching the series and I never realized how toxic and just…he ain’t it. Also the best couple in my opinion is Bonnie and Enzo. That’s the person she deserves, that should’ve been her end game. That relationship is the one that ACTUALLY made cry and devastated (cause of the end..if you know what I’m talking about). Bonnie carried this show and didn’t get a happy ending.
I honestly liked the Stefan-Caroline dynamic. I am happy Elena and Stefan didn’t end up together. Stefan and Caroline, Damon and Elena; it was just more…practical
Stelena should have been the couple at the end. I LOVE THEM!
I liked the Stefan-Caroline dynamic. I’m glad Stefan and Elena didn’t end up together. Stefan and Caroline, Damon and Elena; that was more…practical.
i think that the most epic couple was stelena. the way stefan looked at her is just fabulous. they were so cute and he did everything to protect her. i love them so much and think that they are way better then delena.
Thank you so much! I agree with you! their love was so fabulous!
STEFAN AND ELENA FOREVER!!! I AM NOT SORRY FOR DISAGREEING WITH YOU!