Not every relationship in The Vampire Diaries was a popular one. Regardless of whether they were meant to be or not, fans found themselves disliking multiple different pairings. Because the series has such a strong ensemble, it made sense to explore as many dynamics as possible, but not every dynamic was a winner.
It can be hard to tell if characters have romantic chemistry unless they're given the chance to act on it, and not every couple ended up being a good fit. While some ships were bad from the start, others worsened over time. There are a handful of pairings that fans just never took a liking to.
Rebekah And Damon
Rebekah had much more chemistry with the younger Salvatore than his older brother. In fact, she had the potential to be one of Stefan's best love interests in The Vampire Diaries.
Not only did Rebekah and Damon feel out of place, but it was disheartening to see them together when fans were rooting for Delena. However, it was clear that there wasn't supposed to be a long-term romance between them, and Elena's jealousy confirmed that she had feelings for Damon.
Klaus And Hayley
Klaus and Hayley did become more popular after everything they went through together in The Originals, but their relationship was more familial than anything else. Fans weren't happy about their hook-up in The Vampire Diaries, as Klaus had spent the last couple of seasons pining for Caroline.
There were no genuine feelings between them at the time, and they slept together because neither of them could be with who they really wanted. Klaus and Hayley's sex scene was simply a way to conceive Hope and set up the plot of the spinoff.
Damon And Sybil
Damon and Sybil were never written to be an epic romance, but seeing them together was still frustrating. A large majority of fans believe that Damon and Elena are soulmates in The Vampire Diaries, and Nina Dobrev's departure was heartbreaking for Delena fans.
There was comfort in knowing that Damon would continue to love Elena while they were apart, but even that was thrown into question. Sybil used mind control to make him forget Elena, and their entire relationship was built on Damon's altered memories.
Elena And Liam
Elena and Liam were one of many roadblocks in Damon and Elena's love story. In a way, Liam was Elena's version of Sybil, and their relationship was a result of Elena's altered memories. After Damon's death, Alaric compelled away her love for Damon as a way to help Elena move on with her life.
Without grief dragging her down, it's unsurprising that she was open to a new relationship. But if Elena was going to be with someone else, there are a good amount of viewers who wanted Stelena back together in The Vampire Diaries.
Caroline And Tyler
Caroline and Tyler were a relatively popular romance during the early seasons. Yet, the moment Klaus entered the picture, viewers switched allegiances. Not only did Klaroline become a fan-favorite ship, but Forwood faced major challenges.
Their relationship went downhill, and there are even reasons why Tyler could be considered Caroline's worst love interest in The Vampire Diaries. It was heartbreaking to see Caroline give Tyler her all and receive nothing in return, and he made it clear that she was no longer his priority.
Stefan And Valerie
Valerie was difficult to like when she was first introduced to the series, but her backstory made it easier to sympathize with her. It was clear that she loved Stefan and would do anything for him, and the two didn't have horrible chemistry.
No matter their potential, Stefan and Valerie were doomed from the start in The Vampire Diaries. Without Elena to continue the love triangle, Steroline took over as the main romance. Viewers were rooting for them to get back together, and Stefan's relationship with Valerie caused complications.
Katherine And Damon
Katherine and Damon had a horrible relationship regardless of the time period. When Damon loves, he loves hard, and he spent over a century of his life loving a woman who wanted nothing to do with him. Katherine does admit that she loved Damon at one point, although it was clearly nothing compared to her feelings for Stefan.
Because the same actress plays Katherine and Elena, it's shocking that Damon only has chemistry with one of the characters. Yet, it's a testament to how good Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder are at their craft.
Caroline And Alaric
Caroline and Alaric's relationship was awkward for a multitude of reasons. Alaric genuinely loved Caroline, but she only agreed to marry him because they were co-parenting the twins. The two slept in separate rooms and were never seen being affectionate with one another.
It was especially difficult to take their engagement seriously because of their previous dynamic. Alaric was Caroline's high-school history teacher, as well as her best friend's guardian. Several of the romances include age differences due to the characters' immortality, but it wasn't the case for Caroline and Alaric.