The Vampire Diaries is one of my absolute favorite television shows of all time. The supernatural show focuses on the relationships between vampires and humans, and the adversities they face together against other supernatural powers. Although the drama and love in this show always makes me nervous, The Vampire Diaries gives me an escape from school and family, and allows me to release my stress and take a mental break.

My road to The Vampire Diaries was unique. I skipped the first three seasons of the show because I did not agree with the female protagonist, Elena’s, choice of love. Elena was in a relationship with Stephen, the good Salvatore brother.

I personally preferred the bad Salvatore brother, Damon, because he has more to offer to the show than Stephen does. For example, Damon is far more genuine and transparent about his behavior and past mistakes. Stephen, on the other hand, tries to keep his past hidden, even though it is always revealed. Damon always seems to do terrible things and make selfish mistakes, while Stephen tries to clean up Damon’s messes without complaining. Stephen is driven by his guilt for turning Damon into a vampire hundreds of years ago.

These two brothers take an interest in Elena because she is the doppelgänger of a woman they both loved hundreds of years ago. Shockingly, this woman haunts both the brothers and Elena multiple times throughout the seasons.

I started watching the show in season four, when Damon and Elena begin to fall in love with each other, while she and Stephen are still together (the storylines of all the characters include suffering and a lot of love!). Eventually, Elena and Damon are able to pursue their relationship, despite still battling supernatural creatures. Their relationship goes through rejection and pain, since many of Elena’s friends warned her not to get involved with Damon.

However, they are able to get through the challenges that they face, season after season, because of their enduring love for each other. Damon and Elena’s relationship survives quite a bit of turmoil, including having to live without the other due to external supernatural forces. We are all “vampires” in our own lives because we have control over certain situations, such as love.

Even though we cannot control who we love, we can control what we do with the people we love, and fans of The Vampire Diaries (including myself) learn that love is essential in life. If you are going through adversities, having someone you love there with you will help you overcome your adversity easily. In the words of Elena, “It’s okay to love two people at the same time.” Love can complicate things, but it should not be denied.