Every Major Couple In Vampire Diaries Ranked

Most fans of "The Vampire Diaries" find themselves rooting for many different couples over the course of the show's eight seasons. For some, it's all about whether Elena Gilbert will choose sweet, sensitive Stefan Salvatore or his brother, bad boy Damon Salvatore. Others are fascinated by the love lives of fretful Caroline, powerful Bonnie, or troubled Jeremy. Some care most about adult characters like Jenna, Alaric, and Jo. One thing unites them all, however: They're invested in the romance that lies at the heart of "The Vampire Diaries."

Some of the series' relationships are more developed than others. Moreover, certain characters go through several relationships before they find the person they're truly supposed to be with. Betrayals, sacrifices, grand gestures, dreamy weddings, and eternal vows are thick on the ground. No matter what sort of romance you prefer, "The Vampire Diaries" is sure to have a couple you can root for — and a couple you can hate. But how do these pairings stack up against each other? We're here to find out. This is every major couple in "The Vampire Diaries," ranked.

Matt and Caroline become friends when they're both struggling with a lack of family, friends, and fulfilling relationships. This roots their romantic relationship in the belief that they get each other where others don't. But this dynamic changes quickly after Caroline becomes a vampire and gains security and self-confidence. Matt notices this change and feels something suspicious is happening. She compels him to forget, and they break up because Matt thinks she's too jealous. They get back together later on, but ultimately break up a second time when Matt can't handle her vampire identity.

Matt's reluctance to date a vampire is valid — his sister was killed by vampires, after all. However, their entire relationship is mostly based on desperation born from not having anyone else. Matt really wants to be with Elena, and Caroline just wants to be loved. They think their relationship will work based on a lack of other options, which is never a great starting point for a couple. Moreover, the personality changes Matt so dislikes in Caroline are all positive. Matt seems to prefer Caroline as a meek, chill girl who is slightly annoying, rather than a more mature and evolved person. They're toxic, mismatched, and just plain bad for each other.

Katherine is a selfish and twisted character who constantly uses others for her own personal gain. No one suffers more at her hands than Damon. Katherine, whose life spans the entirety of the "Vampire Diaries" universe's timeline, meets Stefan and Damon in 1864 when she's living at their estate. Damon, who's serving in the army, tells Katherine he's in love with her. What he doesn't know is that Katherine is also seeing Stefan, and has deeper and more intense feelings for him than she's ever had for Damon. Damon spends his entire vampiric life trying to bring Katherine back, believing she died in the town's eradication of vampires. But once Katherine re-enters their lives, she starts manipulating Damon once more.

Katherine's behavior changes Damon's outlook on love and relationships forever. Her nasty habit of pitting Damon against his brother in order to take the onus of responsibility off herself has similarly far-reaching effects. It causes a huge rift between the two brothers, who were once best friends. Damon deserves better than manipulative Katherine.

Jeremy and Bonnie know each other through Elena, as Jeremy is Elena's little brother and Bonnie is Elena's best friend. When they start dating, things initially seem good. Bonnie needs someone to be her support system, and Jeremy needs someone to support. However, Jeremy cheating on Bonnie with the ghostly Anna causes a huge rift in their relationship. They pick back up again after Bonnie becomes the anchor to the Other Side, but they're once again interrupted when the Other Side is destroyed and Bonnie and Damon are sent to Hell. Jeremy and Bonnie are never able to get back to how things were and end up amicably parting.

When Bonnie and Jeremy are in a good place, their love is clear. But ultimately, they're just not right for each other. Jeremy spends a long time trying to convince Bonnie that a relationship between them makes sense ... only to turn around and cheat on her with his dead ex-girlfriend. Though Bonnie takes him back, this sad fact puts their relationship lower on the list.

Caroline and Stefan are a pleasant surprise. They start out as friends who respect and care for each other – Stefan even helps Caroline with her transition into vampirehood. After Caroline's mom dies of cancer, Stefan realizes he's developing feelings for his friend. Once they battle the heretics, they finally consummate their relationship. They get engaged in Season 7 and married in Season 8. Sadly, their relationship ends when Stefan sacrifices his life to kill Katherine and save Mystic Falls.

Caroline and Stefan might not be everyone's favorite relationship, but it's hard not to admit that they're pretty perfect for each other. Both of them mature over the course of the show, eventually becoming the most responsible members of their group. Just as they support their loved ones, they're always there for each other, humanity or no humanity. The fact that they don't end up together is very sad, but the time audiences do get to spend enjoying Stefan and Caroline's committed relationship is worth it.

Coming in at number five are Alaric and Jenna, the couple that deserves more time than they get. Their relationship happens very suddenly in Season 1, and endures through most of Season 2. But Alaric's failure to communicate why he's really in Mystic Falls — to hunt vampires and find his first wife, Isobel — drives a wedge between them. After learning Isobel is still alive, Jenna breaks up with Alaric. But once she learns the truth of the whole situation, including that Isobel is Elena's biological mother, she forgives Alaric, and they resume their relationship. Sadly, their romance is cut short when Klaus uses Jenna as the vampire sacrifice in his hybrid ritual. Alaric is heartbroken.

Alaric and Jenna automatically become Elena and Jeremy's guardians after their parents die, and fulfill their responsibilities well. They're both cautious and carefree, very funny, and full of love for each other and the kids. The four of them really could have been a happy family, if it weren't for Klaus' sacrifice.

Caroline and Klaus never actually date, but they're so beloved by so many fans, it seems only appropriate to put them in third place. Admittedly, Klaus struggles to make choices that don't end in people dying or the fulfillment of his own desires. Moreover, Caroline is married to Stefan. But Klaus is her true soulmate. The two start out hating each other, but after Klaus cures Caroline's werewolf bite, he becomes taken with her. He shows her the sort of empathy and kindness he refuses to extend to every other person in his life, even his own siblings.

Klaus offers to take Caroline away from Mystic Falls and show her every inch of the world. Caroline is certainly tempted, and the two even sleep together, but she continuously rejects Klaus because of his behavior toward Tyler. Sadly, by the time Caroline is open to seeing someone after she and Tyler end, Klaus is busy dealing with Hayley and the baby. This lack of official status does nothing to deter fans from supporting the couple, even though they're a questionable pair. As co-creator Julie Plec told Entertainment Weekly, "That little romantic relationship would never get through a writers' room today ... but boy was it good."

The top spot goes to Bonnie and Enzo. These two are the most unexpectedly delightful couple in the whole show. Bonnie spends the entire run of "The Vampire Diaries" taking care of everyone else. She sacrifices her family, her health, and even her life to save her friends, yet no one stops to take care of her — until Enzo. Enzo is the first person to truly recognize how selfless and inspiring Bonnie is. Moreover, Bonnie is the rare person Enzo lets himself trust. He promptly falls deeply in love with her. 

These two appreciate each other for their strengths and flaws, which allows them to finally heal. There's not a single couple on the show with more maturity, grace, respect, and love than Bonnie and Enzo. They also have plenty of chemistry, which makes it clear from the moment they meet that they're meant to be together. Even though Bonnie loses Enzo in the end, she's still grateful for the confidence, love, and passion he shows her. It's enough to carry her through the rest of her life.