Caroline/Damon Relationship Was the Worst Thing About Vampire Diaries

The Vampire Diaries was an incredibly popular fantasy drama that ran between 2009 and 2017. Based on a series of books by L. J. Smith, the story is set in Mystic Falls, a picturesque town with a rich history of vampires, witches, and other supernatural creatures that affect the residents' present lives.

But despite the show's global success and compelling concept, it wasn't without its flaws. And one of the most controversial - or dare we say the worst - aspects of the series was the relationship between Caroline Forbes and Damon Salvatore.

Damon Salvatore, portrayed by Ian Somerhalder, was a charismatic and often dangerous vampire who struggled with his own demons. He was frequently at odds with his brother Stefan, and his relationship with Elena Gilbert was a major focus of the series. Caroline Forbes, played by actress Candice King, was initially introduced as a rather superficial and self-centered character who was obsessed with popularity.

However, over time, she underwent a significant change and became one of the show's most beloved characters.

Over the course of the series, the two gradually became allies. However, many people seem to forget that wasn't always the case. In fact, Caroline couldn't stand Damon in the show's early days, and that's because of the relationship (if we can even call it that) they had initially.

When Caroline encountered the mysterious and handsome Damon, and with a few smiles exchanged, she felt a spark of excitement. Days later, Damon suddenly reappeared, and they ended up spending the night together. Caroline didn't realize she was dealing with a dangerous vampire until he transformed while they were making out.

The following day, she woke up with a mixture of fear and confusion and realized that Damon had bitten her. Horrified at the thought of what could happen to her, she tried to get away, but Damon stopped her and attacked her once again.

Now, here's why this whole thing is very problematic. Everything that took place after Damon first transformed should be classified as assault because he took away her ability to give informed consent by removing her fear of him.

And while some fans may doubt that the assault was sexual, it's worth noting that we see him transform while they're making out, and the following morning she is seen wearing completely different lingerie. Therefore, it's clear that something sexual took place after he initially attacked her.

What's more, there's a scene where she's telling him to keep away, which makes it evident that she withdrew her consent from that point onwards, regardless of whether she was initially attracted to him or not. However, he ignored it and kept compelling and using her - and let's not forget that the moment he compelled her, her consent was revoked.

It's clear that it was a misstep on the showrunners' part to include this storyline, as it ultimately proved to be the worst thing about the entire series for many people. That said, thanks to the strength of the show's plot and character arcs, the show remained popular despite this major flaw - though it's unlikely that it would be well-received nowadays.