Out of all the teen dramas that aired during the time period, The Vampire Diaries managed to have some of the most intense romances. The supernatural element adds an extra level of magnitude to the series, and there's a good chance that, when someone walks out the door, they won't come back.
Whether they're forced to separate, or they finally reunite, the couples have epic makeout scenes that are difficult to compete with. However, there are several instances in which characters almost lock lips that are just as emotionally charged as if they had.
Damon And Elena Let Stefan Go
The Damon/Elena/Stefan love triangle became especially complicated in The Vampire Diaries season 3. While Stefan had seemingly become their enemy, he was only under Klaus's control because he traded his loyalty for his brother's life.
As long as there was a way to save Stefan's humanity, Damon and Elena acting on their feelings felt like a betrayal. They eventually came to the realization that they may never get him back and chose to let him go for their own sanity. Damon and Elena were finally allowed to move forward, but Damon's cellphone interrupted the moment.
Bonnie Fights Her Feelings For Jeremy
Considering everything Bonnie and Jeremy went through together, the issues they faced early on appear petty in comparison. Because he was Elena's little brother, Bonnie felt like being with Jeremy was breaking the girl code.
She tries to undermine their connection by acting like Jeremy is a kid with a crush, when, in reality, there was probably less than a year age difference between them. Although it's clear she wants to kiss him, Bonnie pulls away and shuts him down.
Katherine Locks Herself In The Coffin With Stefan
Risking her life to help Stefan is one of Katherine's most romantic gestures in The Vampire Diaries. All of her relationships in the 21st century need to be taken with a grain of salt, as Katherine cared about herself more than who she was with.
Stefan was an exception to this rule, which is what made his moment with Katherine in the coffin so impactful. Katherine had been in love with Stefan since 1864, and she was finally becoming someone who was worthy of his affection. The spell was broken when Caroline opened the lid, but it didn't affect the intensity of the moment.
Katherine Attempts To Seduce Damon
After spending most of his immortal life searching for the woman who wanted nothing to do with him, Damon wasn't going to waste any more time on her. Katherine did admit that she loved Damon at one point, but it's obvious that it didn't compare to what she felt for Stefan.
Yet, Katherine still loved to have fun, and she jumped at the opportunity to seduce Damon when she was staying at the boarding house. By pushing Katherine away seconds before they kissed, Damon showcased his character development.
Rebekah Reminds Stefan Of Their History
Although time and memory loss complicated matters, Rebekah was one of Stefan's best love interests in The Vampire Diaries. Their relationship in the 20s was revealed through flashbacks, and, from what viewers could gather, they had genuine feelings for each other.
Stefan was still distraught over losing Elena to his brother, and Rebekah advised that he simply stop caring. But, in actuality, Rebekah cares more deeply than most of the other characters, and her attempt to kiss Stefan wasn't as nonchalant as she made it out to be.
Damon Tempts Elena
Damon and Elena had recently called things quits, and, despite their remarkable chemistry, it was the right move. Although she once had the strongest moral compass of everyone, Elena couldn't stop loving Damon, regardless of the horrible things he did.
There were a lot of mixed signals during their breakup, and they slept together immediately after it happened. Things became more confusing the next day, as ending their relationship only increased the amount of sexual tension. Elena fought the temptation to kiss Damon in the school hallway, and the lingering looks they shared were full of sparks.
Caroline Tells Klaus That She Went Looking For Him
While this took place in The Originals, Klaus and Caroline's storyline in the fifth season was a continuation of the relationship that formed during the original series. Klaus had always been in love with Caroline, but it seemed possible that she'd never return his affection. Klaus is forced to reevaluate everything when Caroline makes an admission that contradicts his prior beliefs.
In The Vampire Diaries season 7, Caroline was scared and alone, so she put her daughters in the car and starting driving. She ended up in New Orleans looking for Klaus, trusting that he'd keep them safe. Caroline felt more for Klaus than he had realized, and the two of them pressing their foreheads together was more impactful than a kiss.
Elena Tries To Help Stefan Get His Memories Back
Given that witches, vampires, werewolves, and hybrids all exist in TVD's universe, true love's kiss would've been worth a shot. Elena was determined to help Stefan get back the memories he lost, and she took him on a trip down memory lane.
Words can't do Stefan and Elena's love story in The Vampire Diaries justice, and watching them recreate the early days of their relationship was nostalgic. Elena almost kissing her ex raised a lot of questions, as she let things go on for far longer than she should have. While she might have been with Damon, this scene implied that Elena still had lingering feelings for his brother.