"Elena is dating a vampire. You are a witch. My sister is a ghost, And I'm just a guy who's wondering how his life got so screwed up" - these were the exact words Matt told Bonnie when he described his role in all the chaos (and, to be honest, not many fans would argue against it either). He was one of the least exciting characters in The Vampire Diaries who was always out of place.
The Vampire Diaries is timeless in fan memories, and while Matt is not the most legendary character in the show, he is part of every main character's life. It is impossible to discuss the rest of the Mystic Gang without mentioning him. He didn't talk much as he spent most of his time worrying about everyone else, but when he spoke, his few words expressed his true personality.
"Turns Out, Vicki Is Just Like Our Mother. I Can't Count On Either Of Them."
162 Candles (Season 1, Episode 8)
Matt hated vampires, hybrids, and all the supernatural beings that came to Mystic Falls as he blamed them for his many problems. However, in reality, Matt's problems likely started the day their dad left him, and he felt like he had to take care of his mother and sister (and couldn't rely on anyone else).
This, in turn, explains Matt's more serious and reserved personality, as it seemed like he had to grow up quicker than his friends (which partly led to his distance from the rest of the gang). He never seemed to have time for fun and was always left behind by major events in the town.
"Since When Am I The One Who Can Express Himself, And You At A Loss For Words."
The House Guest (s02e16)
Matt was a quiet person that found it hard to express himself to people. It is largely the reason why most of his relationships failed.
He had lots of good intentions for all of his friends, but he was better at doing good than he was at putting it in words. With the events in Mystic Falls forcing everyone to the limits of their emotional stability, Matt found himself getting ignored because no one saw him as the shoulder to cry on.
"When you broke up with me, it was because you needed sometime alone. You don't look so alone to me."
Pilot (Season 1, Episode 1)
Although Matt proved to be a good guy, there were often times when he showed that he had a terrible jealousy streak and could be extremely immature if his feelings were hurt (as evidenced before Elena even started dating either Stefan).
While it wasn't exactly his most defining trait, there's no doubt that this was one of his flaws as he would lash out and not care about whose feelings he hurt. While he did eventually apologize for his actions afterward, it was something fans hardly forgot.
"I heard your mom in the morning, and I didn't want to get you in trouble. So, I went out the window."
History repeating (Season 1, Episode 9)
Matt was law-abiding even before he became a sheriff's deputy, which is why he didn't want to meet Caroline's mother at the door after spending the night. He took his caution too far though, which is partly the reason why his relationships failed.
Still, his modesty and respectful attitude are what made him such a reliable friend, so it wasn't surprising that many people were drawn to him and wanted to protect him from harm. It's just a shame he got worse after that.
"Honestly...I'm kind of lucky, the only thing that I have to worry about for tomorrow, is showing up for my shift at the grill."
Dangerous Liaisons (s03e14)
Of the Mystic Gang, Matt is the only one who took the jobs he got seriously because he actually needed the money. Life was hard for him, having been abandoned by both parents and being forced to become a father figure to his sister at such a young age.
10 Worst Decisions Elena Made On The Vampire Diaries
The focus helped him succeed in his career as a sheriff's deputy, and later as the sheriff. Maturing early hurt his social life though, as he was always out of place among his peers. He was always the adult in the room, which turned him into a father figure for Tyler and Jeremy rather than a friend.
"You Can't Possibly Hate Me More Than I Hate Myself."
Growing Pains (Season 4, Episode 1)
"Yes, I can," Damon replied with dark humor. Damon's shady reply was laughable, but it wasn't helping Matt who obviously needed a shoulder to cry on. Matt hated himself for many things, most of which were not his fault. He rarely had anything to smile about, and with both Elena and Caroline breaking up with him, he became a loner.
He had to deal with his loss alone, including his sister's death which he actually blamed himself for. Hating himself and the world left him angry and grumpy, which made him a dull character.
"Sometimes It Pays To Be The Only Normal One In A Town Of Vampires."
1912 (s02e12)
"I'm practically invisible," he continued lamenting. Matt was actually predicting how his entire time on the show would be. He was the least visible of the Mystic Falls Gang because he didn't have any powers. He also didn't associate himself with vampires, originals, and the other supernaturals for long enough to have any real impact apart from the time he expelled all vampires from Mystic Falls.
His invisibility saved him from trouble most of the time because he could easily have ended up the same way as Tyler and Jeremy. Being normal also helped reduce the intensity of the action in the town, as he was the best example of what a normal person's life in Mystic Falls looked like. He became the human face of the show.
"I'm An Expert In Dealing With Loss You Know? I Started At A Young Age."
Coming Home Was A Mistake (s08e05)
Matt had been through so much by season 8 that he became impervious to pain. Having been abandoned by his father at a young age, lost most of his family, and several of his friends, Matt felt like his life in Mystic Falls had been a wreck.
However, he grew up quickly and learned to fight through pain and loss, taking most of it in without talking to people. Losing both Vicki and his mother hurt him the most. When he talked to their ghosts convincing them not to join the dark forces, he expressed the deep love and care he felt for the family that he couldn't tell them when they were alive.
"Do You Know How Many Times I've Died, Or Nearly Died?..."
I Never Could Love Like That (s06e18)
"Most of those times were at the hands of people I thought were my friends. Sorry, not people, vampires," Matt continued. He had a bad habit of looking at his own problems as bigger than what his friends had gone through (failing to see that they mainly did those things to protect him as well).
Unfortunately, fans can certainly understand why he did eventually become frustrated since he did end up facing several near-death experiences or died at the hands of several powerful enemies. If it hadn't been for the Gilbert ring, he likely would have died.
"I Guess I Lost My Soft Side."
Things We Lost In The Fire (Season 7, Episode 11)
Matt was one of the characters that changed the most in the show. While he lost Vicki and his mother, Matt also lost a part of himself somewhere in the show. When he came back from Europe, he was detached from everyone and became a lot less helpful to his friends.
He had lost the side of him that cared more, using his hatred for vampires as the excuse for hurting everyone. In the end, he seemed to be jealous of the rest of the Gang because they actually had a life and attention that he never got.