Did Vampire Diaries Writers Make a Mistake Breaking Up Caroline & Tyler?
Fans don't think the writers did justice to Tyler's story arc on the show.
The CW's The Vampire Diaries, one of the definitive shows of the 2010s, demonstrated a massive market for teen supernatural dramas. However, even the most die-hard fans criticise the show for its frequent underutilisation of intriguing characters. Tyler Lockwood, the first successful werewolf hybrid, stands out as the most glaring example of this.
Initially an antihero, Tyler gained a loyal fan base after Season 3, when he became the first successful hybrid in the show's universe, making him one of the most powerful characters. His relationship with Caroline Forbes captured viewers' hearts, with many considering them the most compelling couple on the show.
Despite this strong foundation, the writers failed to develop a significant storyline for Tyler, relegating him to a supporting role.
When Tyler and Caroline broke up in Season 5, fans expressed anger at the writers, a sentiment that persists today. They argue that Tyler's decision to let go of Caroline, the only close person he had in the world, was implausible and contrived by the writers to pair her with someone else.
'You can tell the exact episode the writers went from building Tyler's character to tearing him down/using him as a plot device. It's very disappointing,' one Redditor said.
While breaking up Tyler and Caroline was undoubtedly a mistake, fans find the underutilisation of Tyler's character throughout the show even more disappointing. As one of the strongest characters on The Vampire Diaries, viewers looked forward to seeing Tyler in action alongside his girlfriend. Instead, the writers seemed to forget about him.
'He's technically the most powerful non-original hybrid on the planet at that time, and that boy was hardly in the main action. I've always wanted to see him and Caroline do a whole tag-team on somebody, or a back to back ting with Damon and Stefan,' fan noted.
Moreover, Tyler's death in Season 8 solidified his status as one of the show's biggest losers, unable to fight or enjoy life with his girlfriend. Fans blame the writers for this missed opportunity to develop a compelling and beloved character.
'They should've just killed him off while he was still together with Caroline in season. I'd rather have that than the character assassination they decided to do,' Redditor lamented.