Vampire Diaries Biggest Mistake? Abandoning Any Pretense of Horror Left After Season 5

When The Vampire Diaries first premiered in 2009, it was considered a fresh and exciting take on the vampire genre.

With its captivating blend of horror, romance, and drama, the show quickly gained a devoted following. However, as the series progressed, it began to shift away from its darker roots.

And while this move may have delighted some fans, it left a lot of others feeling disappointed. In fact, many argue that the show's biggest mistake was abandoning any pretense of horror that was left after season 5.

Remember when TVD was genuinely scary? We had Klaus, the charming yet powerful villain who could control everyone around him and was on a mission to build an army of hybrids.

Then, there was Mikael, a terrifying Original Vampire (and a vampire hunter) who was discovered chained up in a tomb. And who could forget Stefan's ripper days?

Those early seasons were packed with spine-tingling moments that set the tone for the entire show. They were spooky and filled with danger, and that was a huge part of what drew viewers in initially.

However, there came a point when the show's main focus shifted to romantic entanglements and humanity instead. The supernatural creatures that were once so threatening were now little more than love interests and misunderstood souls in need of redemption.

This change was not only disappointing for fans but also detrimental to the show's overall quality. The series became more predictable and mellow, and the characters became one-dimensional and not as compelling as they used to be.

And what's even worse is that the once-terrifying vampires became so easy to target that viewers were left scratching their heads, wondering how they couldn't manage to prevent most of the attacks with all the supernatural powers and reflexes they possessed.

Some fans have their own speculations about the culprit behind this change of direction. They theorize it was after show co-creator Kevin Williamson left and Julie Plec became the main showrunner when the decline really started.

Regardless, TVD remained a popular show throughout its run. But it's impossible to deny that its abandonment of horror left a notable impact on its legacy. By focusing mainly on romance and drama, the show lost what made it so unique and captivating in the first place. And while the series will always have its fans, it's hard not to wonder what could've been if it had stayed true to its roots.