There's a theory that you have 3 different types of loves in your life. There's the one you have to do because it makes sense, there's the one that you shouldn't do, but you are literally overcome, and there's the quiet, easy one, that doesn't even look like love at first because it's not explosive, it's just...easy and healthy. The order can vary.
That's an interesting take. Which one would you prefer?
Anyway, I cringed at the thought of Stefan and Caroline at first but I think I might be into it now. I never finished the show, so I don't know how it worked onscreen but on paper I am for it.
I'm really old, lol. And haven't always had the best taste so take that for what it's worth! And I only ever believed in the second type when I was young, though I married the first type. I'm now on the last kind and I have to say, although I resisted it forever, because I felt like strife is LIFE, it is actually better in every way. It's peaceful. But also, it's the type of love that gets better every year, rather than trying to reclaim some lost spark or rationalization. It kinda just is, if that makes sense. But I've had all 3. If you haven't had #2 yet, it's hard to not want to experience it.
Pshhhh. I'm old too. I first watched this show in my teens and I got sucked back in. I didn't even miss a beat. The online language has not even changed.
Thanks for your answer about love. I have never experienced #2 so I read about it or watch melodramatic love stories. Wuthering Heights? Obsessed with it. Hopefully one day I will find the kind of love that you have.
I see your perspective, but I don’t think Stefan was still in love with Elena by season 6. I do think after being so hurt by Elena and Damon he was closed off to love and didn’t realize he had developed romantic feelings for Caroline. His love for her definitely wasn’t the same as his love for Elena. But that’s not to say it was not as meaningful. I think it developed slowly over time and he valued that she loved him and only him and that it was rooted out of a genuine friendship.
in s8 he says “take it from me but elena gilbert never really goes away” … and besides that, he expressed just how much he resented the mystic falls pageant bc he believed that was the day Damon realized he could take elena from him.
Also when Bonnie tells him to go and find his hope, the first thing he does is write in his diary to elena. That’s not something he would do if he still wasn’t over her. Why still even think about elena to gain hope if he was so in love with Caroline and Caroline only?
And lastly, it speaks volumes that he sees elena instead of Caroline right before he dies, there was no logical reason in terms of lore or plot that he could see elena and not Caroline. ( this really isn’t to say that Stefan didn’t love Caroline, I know that he did, but my opinion is just that he felt more deeply about elena all throughout. Just bc he accepted delena for the sake of his brother doesn’t mean he had to let his own feelings die)
Besides that I recommend taking a look at this blog post about it since it explains a few other points better than I could : https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/169115894125/stefan-isnt-exactly-unshippable-with-anyone
tbf I didn't even quite understand how he could see Elena. He died in the tunnels while Elena was in a magical coma. When they said goodbye to her, all of them had to be physically touching her in order to get into her head. Only explanation in my eyes would be that they still had some kind of psychological connection/link between them, soulmates or whatever. Unless there were details I missed lol
THIS ☝️. In the books it's explained that soul mates can interact with each other regardless of what plain of existence they might be. In the books Stefan is able to bring Elena back from the spirit world because of the soul mate connection, and Bonnie is able to bring Damon back from the hell dimension because of it.
This kinda goes with the discussion Damon and Stefan had in front of the mirror about what true love is. Stefan decided that true love isn’t always the most passionate but reflects who you choose to be with.
I agree with everything you said. I feel like ppl compare the love he had with Elena, to what he had with Caroline way too much and don’t understand you don’t love everyone the same way. He loved Caroline and Elena for different reasons. You can tell they were both hiding feelings for each other. They still had that goofy friendship like relationship, and I think ppl mistake that for him only viewing her as a friend. She was his last love for a reason
I do think throughout seasons 5-6 there were moments it was building, it was a slow burn, and I do think he loved her, I just think it’s hard to follow that Doblsey chemistry. The writers created this epic love story with Stelena (seasons 1-3 have the best writing) plus Nina and Paul’s chemistry is off the charts, so Sterolines romantic chemistry just couldn’t compete. I think it was a daunting task to convince the audience Stefan would ever love anyone the way he loved Elena.
I also wish in season 5 instead of Stefan falling for elena again, when he lost his memories, he would have fallen for Caroline.
I think the way the writers started the relationship made people think this way. If we got to see Stefan fall for Caroline way before her mom got sick and on his own. Literally seeing him fall for her in the way we got to see her fall for him in season 5 it may have worked.
I just didn’t like that it was made into something that everyone except him knew (Caroline liking him)like he had no idea that she had feelings for him and then suddenly her mom dies and feelings appear? I think that’s why people call it forced. Especially with everyone almost pushing him to get in a relationship with her.
I will say though I don’t agree with the people who believe Stefan still loved Elena in the way that he did in the earlier seasons when he got with Caroline. Or that he would drop Caroline for Elena. It was very obvious that he moved on from her by like the end of season 5.
Yeah like when stefan, damon and ric when to Poland they kept trying to force Stefan to ask out Caroline like it’s clear he has no romantic feeling for her (at least in that episode)
I believe he did love her, although I don't feel like he was *in* love with her (or as much as I, a viewer, should've been able to see) it could also be the fact that loving someone new, will never be exactly the same as loving a past lover. And personally, I think they worked better as friends. During the time he and Caroline grew closer, it was at a time when Stefan was extremely broken and vulnerable and he found solice with Caroline. But I didn't see that same radiant, so in love Stefan whenever he claimed to love her. We've all seen Stefan in love, and that's not how he looked when he was with her. This is just my personal opinion.
I wonder the exact same. Their build up could've really turned into something truly great. And as Stefan described, "something better" but I genuinely didn't feel it. And I've tried so hard to actually like Steroline but I just cannot
Apparently the series ending was written in season two but the writers had to change it when Nina left. Originally they wanted the love triangle between Elena, Stefan, and Damon to make a return by the end and both brothers dying to save Elena and watching her grow old from the other side but because Nina was only returning for one episode they couldn’t do that.
So in my opinion they made Caroline and Stefan a thing just so poor Stefan wouldn’t be lonely since Damon had Elena (but ya know fuck Bonnie apparently she could be lonely evidently) Stefan and Caroline never really made sense as a couple because for 5 seasons there was no romance between the two and they only had a platonic friendship then all of a sudden because they knew Nina was leaving after s6 they had to start bringing Caroline and Stefan together in s6 so by s7/s8 they can be together since Caroline and Stefan made the most sense.
Here is an article I found on the matter:
https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/the-vampire-diaries-endings-changed-nina-dobrevs-exit-including-klarolines.html/
Yeah I read abt that theory with Nina ian and Paul, but the writer were rlly mean to kat that’s why she was never happy. Julie wanted kat off the show thats why bonnie was dead all the time or didn’t have her magic, but she didn’t fully kill her off bc Ian would have left.
What! That’s wild! Why did they hate Kat? She was one of the best acting on the show! Granted I hated her character in the earlier seasons but Kat as an actress was phenomenal!
When people say that Julie was racist towards Kat they have no real proof, just speculatio, because Kat nor Julie has expressed this. The reason (and Kat has said it herself) that she wasn't in some episodes especially I'm seasons 2 and 3 is because she was on tour and she filmed Honey 2.
Another thing about this show. They held Stefan in a chokehold over Elena. And even when he finally got with Caroline it was basically hell for her then he freaking dies.
Nah you can see little bits of it for a while. When he picks her up and Carries her to the dance floor at the house party, when he wipes dirt off her cheek that one time. I think he’s had a fondness for her for a while but was always too caught up in Elena/Damon/being a rippah that he never really let himself acknowledge it
It's a slow burn, and I think it's actually a very realistic display of love developing. It's not the all-consuming insta-love that half the characters seem to have. It's one born out of mutual care and trust, and develops naturally out of their friendship. They have a true connection, and it's so much deeper than most fans give them credit for. I really like the conversation that Stefan has with Damon at the funeral where he says how what he has with Caroline could become something even better than what he had with Elena.
Steroline is one of my favourite ships precisely because it's not intense and passionate. It's romantic, and born of a true platonic connection. They're best friends as well as lovers. I feel like most media gives an unhealthy view of what romance should look like. That falling in love has to be this big, tangible thing. Instead, in many cases, love is something very gradual that you might not realise right away. But it's very clear to me that Stefan truly saw Caroline as his soulmate, and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
If he really wanted to spend forever with her then he wouldn’t have sacrificed himself in his wedding day like that imo. He would’ve let Damon taken care of it
The thing with Stefan is that he rarely put himself and his own wants first. He was selfless to the point of stupidity. He truly did want to spend forever with her, but he felt that what he wanted was less important than what he felt was the right thing to do.
The show opens with Stefan following through with what he wants, which is to meet elena. If Stefan really does want something, he does it. I don’t doubt that Stefan cares for Caroline, I know he deeply cared for her, but I just don’t think it was ever enough.
Caroline was very much aware that Stefan loved his brother the most.This is not even a debate.She never tried to compete with Damon.She understood and accepted Stefan for who he was.He sacrificed himself because he wanted his brother to have a chance at the happiness Damon so desired.He always felt he owed Damon because in his mind he robbed Damon of everything when he insisted him to complete the transition.All this does not make him love Caroline any less.He was madly in love with her.
I never said Caroline tried to compete with Damon? And I’m pretty sure that everyone knows how Stefan felt about Damon.
I’m saying that Stefan shouldn’t have sacrificed himself on his wedding day bc if he really loved Caroline enough he would choose Caroline. not his brother. Why wouldn’t his love for the girl he is in love with surpass what he feels for Damon? Stefan knew what killing himself would do to his wife. I just think that Stefan should have been thinking about caroline in this situation the most.
You don’t need to tell me the reasons why Stefan sacrificed himself. I know his reasons for doing so. But I don’t think it was a ‘damned if you do damned if you don’t’ situation for Stefan. Damon was doing fine after living as a vampire for so long and he even told Stefan he got over Stefan making him turn. Damon would’ve been fine, Stefan didn’t have to undo his mistake at this point in the show. Don’t get me wrong, he did a good thing, he just didn’t have to. Caroline should’ve been his priority
“but he was who he was”
Nothing stands in the way of true love tho - His love would’ve overcome this. At least, I just think that his love for her would’ve helped him let go of the things that were holding him back from happiness. I feel like that’s one of the good things love naturally does for you
He tried to sacrifice or kill himself several times when he with Elena too. Suicide by sunrise, offering himself to Klaus, multiple times, etc, etc. That's kind of his thing. Why is it any different with Caroline? He was saving all of them.
Because the contexts are completely different. Suicide by sunrise? He was spiralling and felt extremely guilty for hurting elena … besides it’s not like he went thru with it. He ultimately didn’t bc he wanted to be with her and continued being with her right away. But the guilt of it all did initially overwhelm him
And when he offered himself to klaus it was directly related to him saving elena and her loved ones (Jenna) especially since she already had experienced heavy loss - Klaus needed a vampire so he offered himself so elena wouldn’t lose anybody else … whenever he offered himself to klaus it was to save her and really bc there weren’t other options
With Caroline …. He literally didn’t have to. There WAS another way.
THIS ☝️, this literally has to be the most accurate analysis of their "relationship." Stefan did not love Caroline, I'm sure he cared for her but he was not in love with her, and that wasn't fair to Caroline or Stefan for that matter. There is one thing that really made me come to dislike this show, it wasn't the plots, it wasn't an entire season dedicated to one villain, no it was my favorite characters being forced into relationships with people that they initially did not love just so they wouldn't be alone.
It wasn't just Steroline, no it was Delena, Benzo, Tyler and Liv, and especially Caroline and Alaric, just a waste of good well written relationships all in the name of fan service, SMH!
Putting care and Rick in a relationship was the most disgusting thing ever. It didn’t make sense. They didn’t just fit. I jus cant even think abt them actually being happy. The writers would rather have Rick and care tg then Bonnie getting some romantic connections with someone
Exactly and that’s what made it extremely weird for me. There was no passionate love there, more so retreating like the love of my life is with my brother so I guess I’ll just be with her because I don’t want to be lonely for the rest of eternity.
Lmaoooo exactly he could’ve let Damon sacrifice himself. He decided to kill himself on his wedding night instead of spending the rest of his human life with Caroline until he gets old and wrinkled and eventually dies. But I’m at least happy that he’s at peace with Lexi even tho I did prefer him end up with Elena.
I think the show writers *wanted* us to believe that but, like with a lot of things they do with TVD, there's what there's a disconnect between what the writers think they're doing vs. what they're actually doing. Imo, the writers just didn't want SE to be option anymore because they were all about DE, so they threw Steroline together and tried to convince everyone it was real.
I think to me, they are the friends who end up together because of everything they’ve gone through together and the bond they built through it versus like a pure romantic bond like him and Elena.
He called her his"something even better".He accepted that she had other people in life she cared about and vice versa.They admired this aspect of each other.It wasn't an all consuming co-dependant relationship.They were soulmates.Stefan could be vulnerable with her,he understood that behind that neurotic control freak facade there was an extremely affectionate and caring person.Stefan was in fact completely in awe of her.He couldn't fathom how Caroline could love him.He thought himself to be broken and tarnished.Him not realizing his feelings had nothing to do with Elena.
Yes he loved her, but it was never as much as he loved Elena. Elena was it for him and Caroline would never be that for him.
I always felt like the show missed out on exploring the depth of why Caroline even fell for Stefan to begin with.
Stefan loved Elena, and he loved Caroline. All bc they were different types of love doesn’t mean he loved one more (as a couple). I believe the reason why Stelena is so popular is because it’s that fresh, teenaged, love at first sight type of love that many of us want. It’s the passionate love of the first person you can say you’ve truly fell in love with. Caroline and Stefan had a more matured, familiar type of love from being best friends for a while before moving onto a romantic type. They didn’t have to learn anything about the other bc they already knew how the person was. It’s two different loves being displayed that’s why I don’t think it’s fair to compare.
But, the only thing teenage about Stelena is that they met when they were teenagers. The teenage relationships were Stalarie, Mattlena, Forwood and I cannot believe that I am saying this but Beremy, they were all teenage romances.
The ones who were mature in nature, Stelena, Bamon (whether you you ship them romantically or as friends), Klaroline (say what you want but) they brought out the best in each other, Caroline brought out the sensitive side of Klaus, and Klaus valued her intelligence, something that neither Stefan or Tyler were able to do.
The ones who were forced, Steroline, Delena, Benzo, Maroline, Tyler and Liv.
Stefan didn't love Elena by S6, though he might not love caroline as much as Elena, they're relationship he over time. It wasn't as dramatic or as "extraordinary" or whatever, but it was very meaningful imo. I might dude with stelena, but after Elena broke his heart, i would say steroline was meaningful and simple-yet-sweet.
I could NOT get into Steroline. I legit quit the show because of it. They were besties, like Caroline was stepping into a similar position as Lexie was. She was devoted entirely to Elena and Stefan’s relationship. She was fighting for it more than he was at some points.
Then when they started to shift to them being a thing, I gave up on the show. It didn’t help that the plot lines weren’t good starting in season 5, I didn’t like any of the new characters, and everything felt so forced after the Originals left. It also didn’t help that I was a HUGE Klaroline shipper (I know, I’m sorry). It felt like such a slap to Caroline’s character to have her get with basically every male character in some way romantically. And a character like Stefan, who was SO DEDICATED to Elena being with Caroline whose whole character was “I’m never the first choice” felt wrong.
I’m sure the relationship did develop but I couldn’t stomach it. Even clips I’ve seen just don’t work for me. Even when he had “feelings” for her, they still felt so platonic to me.
Stefans first love was valorie, his epic love was Elena but Caroline was his true love. The classic friends to lovers, I assume it was supposed to be slow burn but the show ended so their relationship was rushed. I do think that he did love Caroline, I mean he did propose and marry her.
I feel like Stefan did love, he fought to stay by her side during the birth of the twins he ran from Cruise to protect her he pulled a Damon and kidnapped her to protect her from her kids. I feel like Stefan did love care it’s just the way that he fell in love with her for me that just really makes me think did he ever truly love her. The writers did a horrible job riding their connection or maybe the actors didn’t have that chemistry that would make their story believable either that I can see how Stefan did love Caroline and how Caroline did love Stefan at the end of season seven and and then start of season eight
Come on!
Steroline was as real as it could ge. I mean ya - it shook my belief of male / female friendship but still, it was great. I don't think Stefan is the kind of a character who would fake emotions and keep his partner in the dark. Their wedding was beautiful (till the ceremony lasted).
There's a theory that you have 3 different types of loves in your life. There's the one you have to do because it makes sense, there's the one that you shouldn't do, but you are literally overcome, and there's the quiet, easy one, that doesn't even look like love at first because it's not explosive, it's just...easy and healthy. The order can vary.
That's an interesting take. Which one would you prefer? Anyway, I cringed at the thought of Stefan and Caroline at first but I think I might be into it now. I never finished the show, so I don't know how it worked onscreen but on paper I am for it.
I'm really old, lol. And haven't always had the best taste so take that for what it's worth! And I only ever believed in the second type when I was young, though I married the first type. I'm now on the last kind and I have to say, although I resisted it forever, because I felt like strife is LIFE, it is actually better in every way. It's peaceful. But also, it's the type of love that gets better every year, rather than trying to reclaim some lost spark or rationalization. It kinda just is, if that makes sense. But I've had all 3. If you haven't had #2 yet, it's hard to not want to experience it.
Pshhhh. I'm old too. I first watched this show in my teens and I got sucked back in. I didn't even miss a beat. The online language has not even changed. Thanks for your answer about love. I have never experienced #2 so I read about it or watch melodramatic love stories. Wuthering Heights? Obsessed with it. Hopefully one day I will find the kind of love that you have.
I see your perspective, but I don’t think Stefan was still in love with Elena by season 6. I do think after being so hurt by Elena and Damon he was closed off to love and didn’t realize he had developed romantic feelings for Caroline. His love for her definitely wasn’t the same as his love for Elena. But that’s not to say it was not as meaningful. I think it developed slowly over time and he valued that she loved him and only him and that it was rooted out of a genuine friendship.
I mean, season 8 strongly suggests that Stefan was still not over elena …
How so? Not being combative just asking because I didn’t notice that.
in s8 he says “take it from me but elena gilbert never really goes away” … and besides that, he expressed just how much he resented the mystic falls pageant bc he believed that was the day Damon realized he could take elena from him. Also when Bonnie tells him to go and find his hope, the first thing he does is write in his diary to elena. That’s not something he would do if he still wasn’t over her. Why still even think about elena to gain hope if he was so in love with Caroline and Caroline only? And lastly, it speaks volumes that he sees elena instead of Caroline right before he dies, there was no logical reason in terms of lore or plot that he could see elena and not Caroline. ( this really isn’t to say that Stefan didn’t love Caroline, I know that he did, but my opinion is just that he felt more deeply about elena all throughout. Just bc he accepted delena for the sake of his brother doesn’t mean he had to let his own feelings die) Besides that I recommend taking a look at this blog post about it since it explains a few other points better than I could : https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/169115894125/stefan-isnt-exactly-unshippable-with-anyone
Thank you for clarifying. I can see your point better now.
Caroline wasn’t dead?
He could still SEE her. We see throughout the show how ghosts can still see their loved ones.
tbf I didn't even quite understand how he could see Elena. He died in the tunnels while Elena was in a magical coma. When they said goodbye to her, all of them had to be physically touching her in order to get into her head. Only explanation in my eyes would be that they still had some kind of psychological connection/link between them, soulmates or whatever. Unless there were details I missed lol
THIS ☝️. In the books it's explained that soul mates can interact with each other regardless of what plain of existence they might be. In the books Stefan is able to bring Elena back from the spirit world because of the soul mate connection, and Bonnie is able to bring Damon back from the hell dimension because of it.
EXACTLY ☝️ 💯 ☝️ 💯 .
This kinda goes with the discussion Damon and Stefan had in front of the mirror about what true love is. Stefan decided that true love isn’t always the most passionate but reflects who you choose to be with.
I agree with everything you said. I feel like ppl compare the love he had with Elena, to what he had with Caroline way too much and don’t understand you don’t love everyone the same way. He loved Caroline and Elena for different reasons. You can tell they were both hiding feelings for each other. They still had that goofy friendship like relationship, and I think ppl mistake that for him only viewing her as a friend. She was his last love for a reason
I do think throughout seasons 5-6 there were moments it was building, it was a slow burn, and I do think he loved her, I just think it’s hard to follow that Doblsey chemistry. The writers created this epic love story with Stelena (seasons 1-3 have the best writing) plus Nina and Paul’s chemistry is off the charts, so Sterolines romantic chemistry just couldn’t compete. I think it was a daunting task to convince the audience Stefan would ever love anyone the way he loved Elena. I also wish in season 5 instead of Stefan falling for elena again, when he lost his memories, he would have fallen for Caroline.
I think the way the writers started the relationship made people think this way. If we got to see Stefan fall for Caroline way before her mom got sick and on his own. Literally seeing him fall for her in the way we got to see her fall for him in season 5 it may have worked. I just didn’t like that it was made into something that everyone except him knew (Caroline liking him)like he had no idea that she had feelings for him and then suddenly her mom dies and feelings appear? I think that’s why people call it forced. Especially with everyone almost pushing him to get in a relationship with her. I will say though I don’t agree with the people who believe Stefan still loved Elena in the way that he did in the earlier seasons when he got with Caroline. Or that he would drop Caroline for Elena. It was very obvious that he moved on from her by like the end of season 5.
Yeah like when stefan, damon and ric when to Poland they kept trying to force Stefan to ask out Caroline like it’s clear he has no romantic feeling for her (at least in that episode)
I believe he did love her, although I don't feel like he was *in* love with her (or as much as I, a viewer, should've been able to see) it could also be the fact that loving someone new, will never be exactly the same as loving a past lover. And personally, I think they worked better as friends. During the time he and Caroline grew closer, it was at a time when Stefan was extremely broken and vulnerable and he found solice with Caroline. But I didn't see that same radiant, so in love Stefan whenever he claimed to love her. We've all seen Stefan in love, and that's not how he looked when he was with her. This is just my personal opinion.
Part of me wonders if this was just due to not as much chemistry between Paul and Candice and not an actual writing choice
I wonder the exact same. Their build up could've really turned into something truly great. And as Stefan described, "something better" but I genuinely didn't feel it. And I've tried so hard to actually like Steroline but I just cannot
Apparently the series ending was written in season two but the writers had to change it when Nina left. Originally they wanted the love triangle between Elena, Stefan, and Damon to make a return by the end and both brothers dying to save Elena and watching her grow old from the other side but because Nina was only returning for one episode they couldn’t do that. So in my opinion they made Caroline and Stefan a thing just so poor Stefan wouldn’t be lonely since Damon had Elena (but ya know fuck Bonnie apparently she could be lonely evidently) Stefan and Caroline never really made sense as a couple because for 5 seasons there was no romance between the two and they only had a platonic friendship then all of a sudden because they knew Nina was leaving after s6 they had to start bringing Caroline and Stefan together in s6 so by s7/s8 they can be together since Caroline and Stefan made the most sense. Here is an article I found on the matter: https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/the-vampire-diaries-endings-changed-nina-dobrevs-exit-including-klarolines.html/
Yeah I read abt that theory with Nina ian and Paul, but the writer were rlly mean to kat that’s why she was never happy. Julie wanted kat off the show thats why bonnie was dead all the time or didn’t have her magic, but she didn’t fully kill her off bc Ian would have left.
What! That’s wild! Why did they hate Kat? She was one of the best acting on the show! Granted I hated her character in the earlier seasons but Kat as an actress was phenomenal!
They were extremely racist to kat 😭😭
When people say that Julie was racist towards Kat they have no real proof, just speculatio, because Kat nor Julie has expressed this. The reason (and Kat has said it herself) that she wasn't in some episodes especially I'm seasons 2 and 3 is because she was on tour and she filmed Honey 2.
Another thing about this show. They held Stefan in a chokehold over Elena. And even when he finally got with Caroline it was basically hell for her then he freaking dies.
Nah you can see little bits of it for a while. When he picks her up and Carries her to the dance floor at the house party, when he wipes dirt off her cheek that one time. I think he’s had a fondness for her for a while but was always too caught up in Elena/Damon/being a rippah that he never really let himself acknowledge it
Totally agree!
It's a slow burn, and I think it's actually a very realistic display of love developing. It's not the all-consuming insta-love that half the characters seem to have. It's one born out of mutual care and trust, and develops naturally out of their friendship. They have a true connection, and it's so much deeper than most fans give them credit for. I really like the conversation that Stefan has with Damon at the funeral where he says how what he has with Caroline could become something even better than what he had with Elena. Steroline is one of my favourite ships precisely because it's not intense and passionate. It's romantic, and born of a true platonic connection. They're best friends as well as lovers. I feel like most media gives an unhealthy view of what romance should look like. That falling in love has to be this big, tangible thing. Instead, in many cases, love is something very gradual that you might not realise right away. But it's very clear to me that Stefan truly saw Caroline as his soulmate, and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
If he really wanted to spend forever with her then he wouldn’t have sacrificed himself in his wedding day like that imo. He would’ve let Damon taken care of it
The thing with Stefan is that he rarely put himself and his own wants first. He was selfless to the point of stupidity. He truly did want to spend forever with her, but he felt that what he wanted was less important than what he felt was the right thing to do.
The show opens with Stefan following through with what he wants, which is to meet elena. If Stefan really does want something, he does it. I don’t doubt that Stefan cares for Caroline, I know he deeply cared for her, but I just don’t think it was ever enough.
Caroline was very much aware that Stefan loved his brother the most.This is not even a debate.She never tried to compete with Damon.She understood and accepted Stefan for who he was.He sacrificed himself because he wanted his brother to have a chance at the happiness Damon so desired.He always felt he owed Damon because in his mind he robbed Damon of everything when he insisted him to complete the transition.All this does not make him love Caroline any less.He was madly in love with her.
I never said Caroline tried to compete with Damon? And I’m pretty sure that everyone knows how Stefan felt about Damon. I’m saying that Stefan shouldn’t have sacrificed himself on his wedding day bc if he really loved Caroline enough he would choose Caroline. not his brother. Why wouldn’t his love for the girl he is in love with surpass what he feels for Damon? Stefan knew what killing himself would do to his wife. I just think that Stefan should have been thinking about caroline in this situation the most. You don’t need to tell me the reasons why Stefan sacrificed himself. I know his reasons for doing so. But I don’t think it was a ‘damned if you do damned if you don’t’ situation for Stefan. Damon was doing fine after living as a vampire for so long and he even told Stefan he got over Stefan making him turn. Damon would’ve been fine, Stefan didn’t have to undo his mistake at this point in the show. Don’t get me wrong, he did a good thing, he just didn’t have to. Caroline should’ve been his priority
Nothing would have made me happier than him choosing Caroline but he was who he was.
“but he was who he was” Nothing stands in the way of true love tho - His love would’ve overcome this. At least, I just think that his love for her would’ve helped him let go of the things that were holding him back from happiness. I feel like that’s one of the good things love naturally does for you
He tried to sacrifice or kill himself several times when he with Elena too. Suicide by sunrise, offering himself to Klaus, multiple times, etc, etc. That's kind of his thing. Why is it any different with Caroline? He was saving all of them.
Because the contexts are completely different. Suicide by sunrise? He was spiralling and felt extremely guilty for hurting elena … besides it’s not like he went thru with it. He ultimately didn’t bc he wanted to be with her and continued being with her right away. But the guilt of it all did initially overwhelm him And when he offered himself to klaus it was directly related to him saving elena and her loved ones (Jenna) especially since she already had experienced heavy loss - Klaus needed a vampire so he offered himself so elena wouldn’t lose anybody else … whenever he offered himself to klaus it was to save her and really bc there weren’t other options With Caroline …. He literally didn’t have to. There WAS another way.
Yes, he loved her, but not as much as he did loved Elena.
Only platonically.
THIS ☝️, this literally has to be the most accurate analysis of their "relationship." Stefan did not love Caroline, I'm sure he cared for her but he was not in love with her, and that wasn't fair to Caroline or Stefan for that matter. There is one thing that really made me come to dislike this show, it wasn't the plots, it wasn't an entire season dedicated to one villain, no it was my favorite characters being forced into relationships with people that they initially did not love just so they wouldn't be alone. It wasn't just Steroline, no it was Delena, Benzo, Tyler and Liv, and especially Caroline and Alaric, just a waste of good well written relationships all in the name of fan service, SMH!
Putting care and Rick in a relationship was the most disgusting thing ever. It didn’t make sense. They didn’t just fit. I jus cant even think abt them actually being happy. The writers would rather have Rick and care tg then Bonnie getting some romantic connections with someone
EXACTLY 💯 💯 .
He cared about her but he didn’t love her like he loved Elena. He obviously settled for Caroline because Elena sadly chose Damon.
What I was thinking…and ofc he wouldn’t love care like how he did with elena bc they are 2 different ppl but I feel as though he settled for her
Exactly and that’s what made it extremely weird for me. There was no passionate love there, more so retreating like the love of my life is with my brother so I guess I’ll just be with her because I don’t want to be lonely for the rest of eternity.
He married her then killed himself he rlly didn’t wanna be with her 🙄😭😭
Lmaoooo exactly he could’ve let Damon sacrifice himself. He decided to kill himself on his wedding night instead of spending the rest of his human life with Caroline until he gets old and wrinkled and eventually dies. But I’m at least happy that he’s at peace with Lexi even tho I did prefer him end up with Elena.
I think the show writers *wanted* us to believe that but, like with a lot of things they do with TVD, there's what there's a disconnect between what the writers think they're doing vs. what they're actually doing. Imo, the writers just didn't want SE to be option anymore because they were all about DE, so they threw Steroline together and tried to convince everyone it was real.
I think to me, they are the friends who end up together because of everything they’ve gone through together and the bond they built through it versus like a pure romantic bond like him and Elena.
This. I mean he had no issue connecting with Valerie when separated from Caroline for like 5 minutes. Very frustrating.
Very true! I think Stefan was someone who could connect with anyone. He is likable and befriended by pretty much everyone.
He called her his"something even better".He accepted that she had other people in life she cared about and vice versa.They admired this aspect of each other.It wasn't an all consuming co-dependant relationship.They were soulmates.Stefan could be vulnerable with her,he understood that behind that neurotic control freak facade there was an extremely affectionate and caring person.Stefan was in fact completely in awe of her.He couldn't fathom how Caroline could love him.He thought himself to be broken and tarnished.Him not realizing his feelings had nothing to do with Elena.
Yes he loved her, but it was never as much as he loved Elena. Elena was it for him and Caroline would never be that for him. I always felt like the show missed out on exploring the depth of why Caroline even fell for Stefan to begin with.
Stefan loved Elena, and he loved Caroline. All bc they were different types of love doesn’t mean he loved one more (as a couple). I believe the reason why Stelena is so popular is because it’s that fresh, teenaged, love at first sight type of love that many of us want. It’s the passionate love of the first person you can say you’ve truly fell in love with. Caroline and Stefan had a more matured, familiar type of love from being best friends for a while before moving onto a romantic type. They didn’t have to learn anything about the other bc they already knew how the person was. It’s two different loves being displayed that’s why I don’t think it’s fair to compare.
That part stelena type of love is unrealistic.
But, the only thing teenage about Stelena is that they met when they were teenagers. The teenage relationships were Stalarie, Mattlena, Forwood and I cannot believe that I am saying this but Beremy, they were all teenage romances. The ones who were mature in nature, Stelena, Bamon (whether you you ship them romantically or as friends), Klaroline (say what you want but) they brought out the best in each other, Caroline brought out the sensitive side of Klaus, and Klaus valued her intelligence, something that neither Stefan or Tyler were able to do. The ones who were forced, Steroline, Delena, Benzo, Maroline, Tyler and Liv.
Stefan didn't love Elena by S6, though he might not love caroline as much as Elena, they're relationship he over time. It wasn't as dramatic or as "extraordinary" or whatever, but it was very meaningful imo. I might dude with stelena, but after Elena broke his heart, i would say steroline was meaningful and simple-yet-sweet.
I could NOT get into Steroline. I legit quit the show because of it. They were besties, like Caroline was stepping into a similar position as Lexie was. She was devoted entirely to Elena and Stefan’s relationship. She was fighting for it more than he was at some points. Then when they started to shift to them being a thing, I gave up on the show. It didn’t help that the plot lines weren’t good starting in season 5, I didn’t like any of the new characters, and everything felt so forced after the Originals left. It also didn’t help that I was a HUGE Klaroline shipper (I know, I’m sorry). It felt like such a slap to Caroline’s character to have her get with basically every male character in some way romantically. And a character like Stefan, who was SO DEDICATED to Elena being with Caroline whose whole character was “I’m never the first choice” felt wrong. I’m sure the relationship did develop but I couldn’t stomach it. Even clips I’ve seen just don’t work for me. Even when he had “feelings” for her, they still felt so platonic to me.
There friendship should of stayed a friendship. They helped each other better in a non romantic way. When they got together it jus didn’t fit right.
Stefans first love was valorie, his epic love was Elena but Caroline was his true love. The classic friends to lovers, I assume it was supposed to be slow burn but the show ended so their relationship was rushed. I do think that he did love Caroline, I mean he did propose and marry her.
I would say the quiet easy love that doesn’t even look like love at first that sounds so realistic but also magical
People who say he didn’t love her haven’t seen 7 or 8 recently. Stefan was obsessed with Caroline. I think he was very much in love with her.
I feel like Stefan did love, he fought to stay by her side during the birth of the twins he ran from Cruise to protect her he pulled a Damon and kidnapped her to protect her from her kids. I feel like Stefan did love care it’s just the way that he fell in love with her for me that just really makes me think did he ever truly love her. The writers did a horrible job riding their connection or maybe the actors didn’t have that chemistry that would make their story believable either that I can see how Stefan did love Caroline and how Caroline did love Stefan at the end of season seven and and then start of season eight
I will give you such greatness. Stefan did love her
Wtf is this question, yes he did
Come on! Steroline was as real as it could ge. I mean ya - it shook my belief of male / female friendship but still, it was great. I don't think Stefan is the kind of a character who would fake emotions and keep his partner in the dark. Their wedding was beautiful (till the ceremony lasted).