Not only did Caroline gain control of her blood lust quickly, but her character development only got better after her transition into a vampire.
Of all the vampires in The Vampire Diaries, Caroline Forbes was the best of the bunch. Caroline’s transition is a massive plot twist in the season two premiere, and it ends up being one of the best decisions ever made. Although she was insecure and neurotic while human, becoming a vampire makes a person even more themselves, which brought out Caroline’s best qualities. She thrived after transitioning into a vampire, becoming a positive example of what a transition can look like compared to Damon’s lousy attitude and Stefan’s troubled past. Unlike the Salvatore brothers and Katherine, Caroline’s time as a vampire is primarily positive, and even the worst times of losing her humanity still have Caroline firmly in control.
Unlike Stefan, Caroline did not pine for the humanity she lost. While she did need to grieve the future she wished for, as time went on, she embraced what her life was becoming and made the best of it. When a cure for vampirism became a conversation among the group, Caroline was not nearly as excited about having it for herself. Her selflessness emerged as a vampire when she decided to help Tyler through his werewolf transition, knowing it could kill her.
10. She Learned Control Quickly
Control is not easy for a new vampire. That was made clear fairly quickly when every freshly turned vampire showed barely any restraint before jumping on the first innocent victim to walk by. In Caroline’s first moments as a new vampire, she drinks human blood from a bag and later feeds on one nurse. Given how she is in a hospital surrounded by patients and blood, it shows Caroline’s incredible ability to hold herself together. While she occasionally loses control initially, it never goes too far.
9. Was in Control Even After Turning Off Her Humanity
Stefan and Elena’s time without humanity proved the depths and lack of control that a vampire has when their humanity is off. Stefan will go total Ripper without a thought, and Elena has no issues turning against her friends when they upset her. Elena also had no trouble feeding on her peers. Meanwhile, Caroline’s time without humanity is far more controlled. She declares a year without emotions to not have to face the grief of her mother’s death. Even with her humanity off, Caroline still seems to know when not to cross the line.
8. She Held Onto Her Positive Personality
After Stefan and Damon turned, each fell into their own sadness. While Stefan lost his humanity, Damon struggled to figure out how to spend eternity. When Elena transitioned, she struggled to fully accept her new lifestyle, partly due to unexpected side effects. In Caroline’s case, she keeps her upbeat, bubbly personality. Caroline never falls into a depression and still desires to keep her friendship with Bonnie and grow a real relationship with her mother. She still spoke up against others and made it clear that she would not be pushed around, even though she did get temporarily killed and kidnapped numerous times.
7. She Embraced Vampirism
Stefan fought what made him feel like a monster. Caroline admitted that Katherine’s decision to kill her may have been the best thing that ever happened. Caroline grew into the person she always wanted to be as a vampire. With the additional strength and speed from being supernatural, Caroline played an integral role in the events occurring in Mystic Falls.
6. Looked Back on Humanity Fondly
Although Caroline embraced all that being a vampire had to offer, that does not mean she turned against humanity. Caroline still valued what it meant to be human and cherished the time she got to grow up. While Caroline never felt the urge to return to being human after becoming a vampire, she still fought for her human friends to remain mortal. She never tried to force her friends to become vampires, and respected their wishes to stay human.
5. She Helped Stefan Through His Blood Addiction
Stefan may have taught Caroline control, but she quickly surpassed him. Since Stefan could never remain in control when he drank human blood, Caroline stepped up as Stefan’s sober buddy to prevent him from giving in to his Ripper urges. Caroline filled the role Lexi had once played, keeping Stefan in check even though he was the older vampire.
4. She Figured Out Vampire Powers on Her Own
Immediately after Caroline’s transition, she feeds on a nurse, then compels the nurse into giving a different reason for the remaining marks. Learning vampire abilities had been a big deal. Katherine had taught Damon vampire tricks in 1864. Stefan and Damon had tried to teach Vicki the perks of being a vampire. Caroline did not need help to learn compulsion, writing it off as a fun new ability and walking away with a hop in her step.
3. Caroline Helped Tyler
Knowing that a werewolf bite could kill a vampire was an obvious reason for Caroline to avoid Tyler. But she had known him since they were children. Rather than keep away, Caroline knowingly risks her life by trying to help Tyler through his transformations. Not only does Caroline help Tyler prepare for the physical shift, but she also stays with him in the cellar until he fully transforms. Tyler had begged her to leave so he would not hurt her, but Caroline was determined to stick with Tyler through this, especially since she understood what it meant to undergo such a massive identity change.
2. Her Relationships with the Mikaelson Siblings
While everyone has their own unique dynamic with the Mikaelson family, Caroline’s are by far the most exciting. Caroline’s relationship with Klaus is an intricate game of attraction while knowing they stand on opposite sides of a growing war. But, she is also one of the few people to see the good in Klaus and allows him to recognize it is there.
Meanwhile, Caroline and Rebekah’s similarity to a mean-girl relationship brings out a more human side to both of them. While Caroline never gets to spend as much time with Elijah, Kol, Finn, or Freya, she never leads any attempts against their lives. Caroline’s relationship with Klaus goes beyond The Vampire Diaries, making its way into The Originals, and Easter eggs to it are even referenced in Legacies.
1. Her Character Development
As an individual, Caroline Forbes grows exponentially throughout eight seasons. Her time as a vampire helps portray her development, but is never the reason. Caroline is never trapped in a paradox, unable to grow like others. Instead, Caroline represents the most character development of anyone on the show. She fights for her friends and herself. She can forgive even when she should not have to.
Caroline sees the best in others even when no one else can. She grows into a more robust and intelligent person with each event attempting to destroy her hometown. After the time jump, a more mature Caroline is brought to the surface, and her appearances on The Originals and Legacies stay true to the person she has grown to become.
