Like many fantasy shows on the CW, The Vampire Diaries had a sprawling cast over its eight seasons. It had countless characters, and naturally, the main characters got all the focus. However, there were many players in Mystic Falls who did not get the attention they deserved, or they were underestimated greatly during their time on TVD.

From side characters like Rose to bigger ones like Bonnie, these characters could have added great value to the show if they were written better. Even with great plotlines, many fans ignore their contributions to the storyline, which have been great. These underrated TVD characters deserve a lot more spotlight, both during the show and by fans overall.

10

Mikael Mikaelson Was a Formidable Villain

Mikael barely appeared on The Vampire Diaries, and that made little sense. He was the father of all the Originals, who had fashioned himself into an Original Hunter. He chased them down to the ends of the Earth and was yet given very limited screen time.

Played by Sebastian Roche, Mikael’s character was formidable and full of a different kind of charisma. The Vampire Diaries could have used a lot more of his evil energy, and his defeat seemed premature when he was done away with. Mikael was the only creature who could keep the Originals in check, which meant that he was an unforgettable character.

9

Jenna Sommers Deserved to Live

Many fans agree that The Vampire Diaries failed Jenna as a character because she was never really involved in the supernatural way that she should have. While she was Elena’s guardian, she was young and could have helped her out with her vampire problems. Moreover, if she had knowledge of the supernatural, she could have survived.

The way she was killed off was brutal, as Klaus only turned her into a vampire to sacrifice her. Jenna was full of spark, and extinguishing her light in this sudden manner was unfair. Lots of characters even returned from the dead, but Jenna was never offered that chance on the show.

8

Mason Lockwood Was One Of the Best Werewolves

Mason came to Mystic Falls on Katherine’s orders so that he could retrieve the moonstone. He was a werewolf, like several other Lockwoods, but his personality was extremely pleasant, peaceful, and likable. He did not believe in unnecessary vampire-werewolf rivalries and even made his intent clear when he met Damon.

Sadly, Damon managed to pull him into petty revenge tactics, and eventually captured and tortured him to death. Mason was Tyler’s uncle, and he could have been a valuable support system to his nephew, who also then turned into a werewolf. His death was pointless, and he could have become an important figure in Mystic Falls and a good foil to the vampires, too.

7

Meredith Fell Was a Morally Grey But Intriguing Character

While Meredith was not killed off like other characters, she just disappeared suddenly, which was even more confusing. She seemed like an antagonist at first, but the doctor was only harvesting vampire blood where she could to save her patients. She was incredibly useful to the gang, as she took care of many of them and other patients by healing them quietly.

She was instrumental in many big plot developments in The Vampire Diaries. Her actions led to Elena turning into a vampire, but she never maliciously intended for that to happen. She was also dating Alaric, which made her an important character, but she was randomly phased off the show without any explanation.

6

Lexi Branson Was Full Of Life

Another character whom writers did not realize would be so beloved was Lexi Branson. Stefan’s best friend was a vivacious, powerful, and fun vampire who had led him down a path of redemption and joy, which he could not do while he was a Ripper. She was introduced and killed off in the same episode, which was uncalled for.

Lexi shared a sweet friendship with Elena instantly, and also convinced her and Stefan to be together. She could have been a great part of the Mystic Falls gang and guided them as an older, more experienced vampire. Instead, she was shockingly killed by Damon, and appeared sporadically from the Other Side, which diminished the importance of her character greatly.

5

Annabelle Zhu Had More Plot Potential

Annabelle, or Anna, was Pearl’s daughter who had waited for centuries for her mother to be freed from the tombs. She got close to Jeremy to be able to do so but quickly developed a love for the younger Gilbert. Anna was an intense character, but her youth and energy was welcome as she was a younger vampire.

She and Jeremy shared a great relationship, and they could not stay away from each other — Jeremy nearly turned into a vampire himself. Sadly, Anna was staked by John Gilbert, and her ghostly reappearances only left audiences wanting more. She could have been given more visibility on the show but was taken out too soon.

4

Caroline Forbes Was More Than Just a Whiny Girl

While Caroline was human, she was disregarded as Elena’s jealous and insecure friend. Other characters like Stefan would not take her seriously, and Damon even abused her. When she became a vampire, she had to battle her own parents and be accepted, and then work with Stefan to become a good vampire.

Caroline was underestimated greatly as a sidekick, but she was one of the most powerful vampires on the show. Her self-control was amazing, and she could take on vampires and witches with ease. Caroline also outlived all the other vampires on the show, which proved how seriously underrated she was.

3

Bonnie Bennett Was Not Served Well On the Show

Few other characters got the deal that Bonnie did on the show, which was a bad one. As the most powerful Bennett witch on the planet, her entire character was reduced to serve other main characters on the show. Her family members and she herself was killed so that others could survive.

Bonnie barely got any good romantic arcs, and her one great relationship was also not allowed to reach fruition — Enzo was killed off unceremoniously by Stefan. She was the reason why everything happened in Mystic Falls and why all the villains were defeated. This was why the gross underestimation of Bonnie still makes no sense.

2

Tyler Lockwood Had Immense Potential

Tyler was, without a doubt, one of the main characters in The Vampire Diaries. He had a fantastic arc where he went from being an angry young man to becoming a werewolf and, subsequently, a more empathetic character. Tyler and Caroline’s relationship was also one of the best on the show.

Sadly, his importance slowly faded when he was banished from Mystic Falls by Klaus, and his relationship with Caroline was replaced by his sense of revenge on the Original hybrid. He disappeared for a long time and, when he returned, was handed an unceremonious death at the hands of Damon. He was too important of a character to be discarded that way.

1

Rose Marie Had Main Character Potential

Rose entered in the second season of the show, where she first appeared to want to kidnap and hurt Elena. She wanted to give her over to Elijah so that she and Trevor could finally stop running, but she flipped sides very quickly once she heard Elena and Damon out. She then committed to helping them and developed a romantic relationship with Damon.

Rose was one of the wisest yet most interesting vampires in the entire show. She understood Damon’s love for Elena, but that did not stop her from accepting him as he was. Her werewolf bite was unfortunate and took her away too soon, as she had the potential to become a valuable part of Mystic Falls.