The Vampire Diaries cast have garnered significant attention and debate among fans. While their eventual romantic relationship has been a subject of controversy, hints at their connection were laid early in the series.

I particularly enjoy a pivotal episode from season 2, "Bad Moon Rising", which showcases the developing chemistry between Stefan and Caroline. I may not necessarily favor the pairing, but there’s no denying that their interactions foreshadow their future relationship and highlight the strengths of their dynamic. However, one harsh reality of watching The Vampire Diaries' early seasons is that the showrunners are testing a lot of things out on audiences, leading to continuity issues later.

The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Teases Stefan & Caroline's Endgame With 1 Great Scene

Stefan And Caroline Go Hunting Together

The Vampire Diaries season 2, episode 3 “Bad Moon Rising” jumps between the Mystic Falls setting in Virginia and Duke University in North Carolina. In Mystic Falls, Stefan teaches Caroline how to hunt while she adjusts to her new life as a vampire. This scene has them sharing banter, with Stefan educating Caroline on aspects of the human-to-vampire transformation. Caroline is overwhelmed because she is missing out on a daytime party where she could be spending time with Matt. Both of them have concerns about their respective romantic partners during the episode.

(Stefan and Caroline's) shared humor gives the pair great chemistry...

Caroline’s dialogue becomes increasingly frantic and Stefan points out that her natural characteristics become amplified as a vampire. She replies that she is an “insecure neurotic control freak on crack,” to which he replies, “Well, I wasn’t going to say it like that, but…” Caroline later mirrors this line when discussing his “serious vampire look” which is the same as his “worried” or “hey, it’s Tuesday” look and when Stefan asks if she thinks he is too serious, she has the same comeback. Their shared humor gives the pair great chemistry, with them poking light fun at each other.

Elena Being Away With Damon Further Sets Up The Series' Ending In This Season 2 Episode

Elena And Damon Are Forced Together On A Research Trip

I find "Bad Moon Rising" to be an incredibly enjoyable episode, not just because of its Caroline/Stefan tease, but because it helps set up other aspects of the series – such as werewolf lore. It comes at a point in the series when anything is not necessarily possible. I think the latter The Vampire Diaries seasons were full of plotholes and increasingly haywire, but the early seasons were tight and well-written. That the Salvatore brothers do not know about the existence of werewolves adds greatly to the tension – this is what the episode explores, with Elena, Alaric, and Damon going on a road trip to learn more.

The episode also marks the first time Elena is around Damon without Stefan for a long period. Elena and Stefan being separated for the episode means their dynamics with other characters independent of each other can be explored. Elena and Damon’s dynamic is a major feature – a big ambiguity and tension between them is whether Damon truly saw Jeremy’s ring before he snapped his neck and therefore knew he would come back to life. Having time to interact without Stefan begins to establish the groundwork for the Delena relationship in The Vampire Diaries, starting with Elena needing Damon’s honesty.

The Vampire Diaries Needed More Stefan & Caroline Scenes Like This To Make Them Work

More Foundational Scenes Would Make The Pairing More Natural

I think “Bad Moon Rising” works so well for Stefan and Caroline because, in her vulnerable fledgling state, Caroline is finding it difficult to deal with her own personality. Not only does Stefan tolerate it, he can poke a little fun at it without antagonizing the insecure Caroline. This sets up a strong platonic bond, which is ultimately the foundation of their romantic relationship. However, their pairing later in the show reads as “a little forced,” according to Stefan actor Paul Wesley. He shared this The Vampire Diaries reveal about the pairing at a recent convention in .

One of the most unusual reasons an actor was written off The Vampire Diaries was to put Elena, under a sleeping curse for two seasons. Paul Wesley revealed that Elena's departure was a key factor in pushing Steroline together. Another thing that sometimes hinders romantic pacing is placing a lot of weight on fan reactions. This means that early scenes between characters often test out different pairings. Their later romantic journey isn’t always a logical trajectory. Had Stefan and Caroline shared more scenes like in “Bad Moon Rising”, I don’t think they would seem so forced together by the end.