Summary
The pairing of Stefan and Caroline inThe Vampire Diaries, affectionately known as"Steroline,“was met with skepticism by many viewers who loveThe Vampire Diariescast and characters, myself included. Despite initial doubts, the cast seemed supportive of the pairing at the time. However, Paul Wesley, who plays Stefan Salvatore, has recently revealed a different perspective. In comments made at a convention,he expressed his true feelingsabout the evolution of their relationship in the later seasons, acknowledging the logistical pressures that contributed to its development.
Wesley’s sigh at the beginning of his statement says it all to me – the pairing was unnecessary and seems like pairing off for pairing’s sake. While Steroline’s romance is undeniably heartwarming,its trajectory has been debated among viewersand doesn’t rivalDamon and Elena asThe Vampire Diaries' best relationship. Many argue that how their relationship unfolds does not fully capture the essence of either character. As a result, Steroline’s romance is rushed and lacks the depth and complexity that both characters deserve.
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The Vampire Diaries' Steroline Only Happened Because Of Nina Dobrev’s Exit
Perhaps one of the strangest reasons for writing an actor out was putting a sleeping curse on Elena for two seasons. In the season 6 finale, Kai magically connected Elena’s life to Bonnie’s, forcing Elena into a deep sleep until Bonnie’s death. Elena spent this time in the Salvatore tomb, then moved to a Brooklyn warehouse in season 7, and finally returned to Mystic Falls. At a recent convention in France,Paul Wesley revealed when asked for his opinion on the Stefan / Caroline pairingthat Elena’s exit was the reason for forcing Stefan and Caroline together:
“Oh… You want me to be honest? I thought it was a little forced. Because — I know, I’m sorry. Because Elena and Stefan broke up, or she died, I don’t know what the hell happened […] he wanted to find a love interest. It was okay, but I really liked them as friends, you know? […] It’s okay, but I think I prefer the original storylines from seasons 1 and 2.”
viaFMFFM3 in Paris
Elena’s exit caused a lot of problems and stemmed fromNina Dobrev only ever agreeing to six seasons. I think the show would have been better quality if it only had 6 seasons. Having started the show at such a young age, it’s natural thatDobrev, who recently gave a health update after a major accident, would want to explore other projects after her contractual obligation was over – the core of a love/hate relationship with the show is that it revolves around Elena, so it would have been neater for the storyline to wrap up at the season 6 mark, too, whether all the characters were partnered or not.
Klaus Leaving The Vampire Diaries Also Contributed To Steroline
WhileKlaroline was a fan favorite, Klaus' departure forThe Originalsultimately hindered their development. Their dynamic, characterized by Klaus' appreciation for Caroline and their shared experiences, suggested a more interesting romantic partnership. Instead, Caroline is paired with Stefan in the end, and to me it translates as him being the only viable partner left for her, rather than a relationship that always made sense. A couple of years back, Candice King defended the decision not to bring Caroline and Klaus together long-term:
“I never understood Caroline and Klaus […] I loved the passion of the fandom for those characters, I loved working with Joseph Morgan, what a delight he is […] but I never understood their dynamic […] I liked that they didn’t end up together.”
viaReddit
While I can see King’s point, I think their offbeat dynamic is where the magic lies. Admittedly, this pairing stemmed from fan reactions to the characters based on a non-romantic interaction and the showrunners grew it from there – however, in their case, it works really well. One of thebest quotes from Klaus to Caroline inThe Vampire Diariesis,“You’re beautiful, you’re strong, you’re full of light. I enjoy you.”In contrast, Klaus is a hybrid outsider, is weakened by rage, and alienates people with his vengeful darkness.Caroline brings out his better traitslike Elena does for Damon.
Stefan and Caroline’s slow-burn romance provided a refreshingcontrast to the show’s typical enemies-to-loverstrope, emphasizing the significance of trust in a healthy relationship. Despite facing numerous hurdles,The Vampire Diaries' Stefan and Caroline timelineculminated in a bittersweet wedding, symbolizing their unwavering commitment to each other. From the beginning ofThe Vampire DiariesStefan doesn’t love Caroline, and they have a great platonic dynamic. Their romantic pairing has them look at their friendship in a different way after many years. This unexpected development followed a period of will-they-or-won’t-they tension, which was likely used to gauge fan reactions and potentially influence future storylines.
A common criticism of Steroline is their perceived lack of chemistry.
Stefan consistently expresses his lack of romantic interest in Caroline, suggestingStefan and Caroline aren’t soulmates inThe Vampire Diaries. His behavior reinforces this, and heopenly admits to Damon that he doesn’t see her in that way. Considering Caroline’s resemblance to his late best friend, Lexi, Stefan’s feelings are unsurprising. A common criticism of Steroline is their perceived lack of chemistry. Their interactions often seem flat and uninspiring, and even Stefan’s proposal feels underwhelming, asking her,“Do I really need to say it?” –surely a deflating proposal for a character as flamboyant as Caroline. Their pairing is sweet, but not“epic”asThe Vampire Diariesotherwise prioritizes.
