5 Surprising Traits That Redeem The Vampire Diaries' Damon

At the start of The Vampire Diaries, Damon Salvatore came across as an edgy character, a selfish and manipulative vampire who appeared to be in stark contrast to his older brother, the compassionate and kind-hearted Stefan Salvatore.

Later in the series, however, the situation changed to the exact opposite, as Stefan began to take on more of an antagonistic role (though he never was a true villain) and Damon proved himself as a vampire with good intentions.

Six years after the cult teen series came to an end, many fans actually view Damon as a nice, likable character who had several qualities that really redeemed his past behaviors.

5. He is resourceful

One of Damon's main characteristics, which sets him aside from all the other characters, is that he always managed to come up with the right plan and realize it. Every plan he and his associates were involved in was executed under his watch.

4. He is pragmatic

Damon had a simple and straightforward view of the supernatural world and his own life. He had always seen vampirism as evil and felt it was important to fight it. Damon was also determined to accept the cure, become human, and live the rest of his life with Elena.

3. He is honest

Damon was often brutally honest and said whatever was on his mind. For instance, he poked fun at Elena for her lack of humor, talked openly about his carnal desires, and admitted he wasn't the nicest guy in the world — and fans loved Damon for that.

2. He is a deeply caring person (yet over-protective)

Stefen's brother proved to be an incredibly loyal vampire (and then human) to his loved ones and friends. Take his love for Katherine, which lasted 145 years after she was supposedly entombed! However, this strong attachment to the people he loved sometimes blinded Damon and led to self-destruction.

1. He has a good sense of humor!

We loved Stefan's jokes, but they are nothing compared to Damon's sense of humor. He was constantly making fun of himself and Stefan, treating things sarcastically, and regularly making references to pop culture. For many fans, this aspect of Damon's personality gives him ultimate redemption!