To keep the drama alive, the main relationships of The Vampire Diaries undergo breakups and makeups on several occasions. Romance has always been at the front and center of the show, and the characters have to overcome obstacles to be with the people they love.
Couples are stronger when they have one another to lean on, and there is a slew of horrible reasons why relationships ended in The Vampire Diaries. Despite how in love they were, Stefan and Elena were forced to break up to keep Katherine from hurting their friends and family. However, there are also instances when moving on was the right choice for the characters.
Anna Let Go Of Jeremy To Find Peace
Most viewers can agree that Jeremy should have ended up with Anna in The Vampire Diaries. Their chemistry was incredible and their romance made a lasting impression. As heartbreaking as it is to accept, Jeremy and Anna's love story ended with her death.
When Anna returned as a ghost, Jeremy was ruining his future by clinging to the past. Additionally, Anna would be stuck in limbo as long as she was holding on to him. They had to let go of each other, in order for them both to move forward.
Elena Wasn't In Love With Matt
Other than a few brief flashbacks, all the information viewers got about Matt and Elena's relationship was through word of mouth. Elena didn't have romantic feelings for Matt, and she confessed to Stefan that she only dated her childhood friend because she felt like they owed it to one another to see if they could be more.
Matt was hopelessly in love with Elena, and every day she stayed with him he would only become more certain of their future together. Although it broke his heart, Elena made the right choice by choosing not to lead him on.
Vicki Was Being Mistreated By Tyler
Tyler and Vicki had one of the most toxic relationships in The Vampire Diaries. Not only did he try to assault her while he was drunk, but Tyler never seemed to care much about Vicki's physical or emotional well-being.
Tyler was embarrassed to introduce her as his date to his parents, and his superiority complex was just one of several things that made him a horrible boyfriend. It took a few episodes, but Vicki eventually realized she deserved to be treated with respect.
Stefan Realized Elena Had Feelings For Damon
There are ways that Elena and Stefan are the most relatable couple in The Vampire Diaries, as they respect each other's choices. No matter how much Stefan loved her, he couldn't be in a relationship with Elena as long as she had feelings for his brother.
It was a heartbreaking moment for Stelena shippers, but breaking up was the right decision on Stefan's part. Elena can't control who she loves and Stefan deserved better than being with someone who wants to be with someone else.
Elijah Couldn't Trust Katherine
Trust is an essential part of any relationship, but it's a value that Elijah holds especially close to his heart. He gave Katherine a second chance when no one else had, and their romance was built upon Katherine being a changed woman.
However, after discovering that she killed Elena's brother, Elijah realized that his Katerina might be gone for good. Choosing to end things between them was as noble as it was difficult. It is worth mentioning that Katherine gave Elijah the cure, indicating that her love for him was real.
Jeremy Let Bonnie Go In Order To Move Forward
Given how much Jeremy loved Bonnie, this breakup was hard to buy into at first. Jeremy believed Bonnie was dead for months before finding out that she was trapped in the prison world. He chose to leave town before they got Bonnie back, and while this was ultimately due to the actor's decision to leave the show, it was the right move for Jeremy.
Jeremy's life had been put on hold for too long, and he was never going to move forwards if he stayed in Mystic Falls. For all he knew, they may never get Bonnie back, and Jeremy had learned the hard way that he can't spend his life loving a ghost. Thankfully, it worked out in the grand scheme of things. Bonnie fell in love with Enzo, who became her best love interest in The Vampire Diaries.
Caroline Was Only Engaged To Alaric For Their Kids
There were an endless amount of reasons why Caroline and Alaric never should have been in a relationship, such as him being her high school history teacher. Putting their background aside, the main issue at hand was that Caroline was never in love with Alaric.
While Alaric may have fallen for her, Caroline accepted his proposal due to matters of convenience. She only agreed to marry him because they were raising the twins together, but the best thing Caroline could do for her daughters was to be happy herself. She had never stopped loving Stefan, which even Alaric was aware of.
Damon And Elena Were In A Toxic Relationship
Due to the supernatural element of the show, it's difficult to find a single relationship that isn't problematic in some way. However, there are reasons that Damon and Elena were objectively the most toxic couple in The Vampire Diaries. Elena loved Damon so much that she abandoned all of her morals to defend the horrible things he did.
Additionally, Damon's obsession with Elena was a danger to the people she cared about. After Katherine broke up with Damon in Elena's body, he killed her friend and helped Enzo hold Jeremy captive. Ending things was the right call, even if they did get back together merely a few episodes later.