From Forgotten to Fan Favorite: The Surprising Evolution of Matt Donovan in The Vampire Diaries

Summary

Matt's character in The Vampire Diaries was often perceived as boring and bland, lacking excitement and direction.

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Matt's hypocritical actions of utilizing vampires to his advantage, despite preaching about his hatred towards them, and his involvement in a romantic relationship with one, contradicted his beliefs. Additionally, his perpetual complaining, negativity, and unkind treatment of those who genuinely cared about him made it difficult to find his character likable.

Matt Donovan was a constant presence throughout The Vampire Diaries, but his character had its fair share of flaws that left audiences disenchanted. Among the supporting characters in the show, Matt ranked high on the list of disliked figures, trailing just behind the notorious Elena Gilbert. However, it is important to acknowledge that Matt did possess some redeeming qualities. His loyalty, kindness, and genuine attempts at friendship endeared him to the other characters, prompting them to frequently come to his rescue.

Unlike his fellow main characters in The Vampire Diaries, Matt remained human until the show's conclusion in its eighth season. This aspect, combined with his deep affection for the residents of Mystic Falls, made him relatable to viewers. Yet, alongside these admirable traits, Matt also exhibited characteristics that incited animosity towards him. His propensity for judgement, prejudice, and overall vulnerability rendered him the weakest link among the group. Despite his long-standing presence in the show's universe, Matt's lack of direction caused his role to become inconsequential. As The Vampire Diaries progressed, Matt's initially likable persona gradually transformed into a ruthless disposition, further exacerbating his unlikeability.

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10 Matt Had A Boring And Bland Personality

In the earlier seasons of The Vampire Diaries, Matt portrayed the stereotypical high school jock who falls for a cheerleader. This common teen drama character archetype may have been his downfall. Throughout the show, there was nothing captivating about him. He often came across as dull and uninteresting, which made it difficult to connect with his character. Furthermore, Matt was introverted and rarely expressed his emotions. Ultimately, he was simply a presence in The Vampire Diaries, lacking any excitement or intrigue.

9 Matt Was A Hypocrite

Throughout all eight seasons of The Vampire Diaries, Matt openly expressed his disdain for vampires, presenting himself as the sole moral compass in Mystic Falls. Despite his continuous condemnation of these supernatural beings, Matt didn't hesitate to exploit them for his own benefit. In moments of near-death, he relied on vampire blood for survival multiple times and even embarked on a journey to Europe alongside Rebekah. Criticizing Elena for her relationship with Stefan didn't deter Matt from engaging in a short-lived romance with Rebekah.

8 Matt Hated Vampires

Matt Donovan's strong aversion towards vampires has been widely criticized. This animosity stems from Damon's transformation of his sister Vicki into a vampire, followed by Stefan killing her. While his initial resentment is understandable, Matt's ingrained hostility towards vampires seems irrational, particularly considering that these very beings he despises have often come to his aid in times of crisis. Surprisingly, even after discovering Caroline's true nature as a vampire, Matt chose to end their relationship, disregarding the fact that she was one of the few individuals in Mystic Falls who genuinely cared about him.

Matt's perception of vampires as monsters and his belief in his own goodness as a human led him to harbor an unjustifiable hatred toward them. Although it is true that the vampires in Mystic Falls were not completely innocent, Matt's prejudice transformed him into a merciless individual. He took pleasure in tormenting Stefan and Damon, despite their crucial role in preserving his life. Matt, unfairly, attributed all the misfortunes in his life to vampires. Throughout season 7, he relentlessly pursued Stefan, falsely accusing him of causing his fiancee's death, even though it was Matt himself who ended her life.

7 Matt Had A Savior Complex

In contrast to the majority of The Vampire Diaries characters, Matt lacked any supernatural abilities. Nonetheless, this did not deter him from attempting to be the hero. Regrettably, his valiant endeavors only exacerbated matters and endangered those around him. Admirably, he did assume the position of town sheriff, driven by his desire to assist others. The show's writers could have explored his determination to save everyone further by transforming him into a vampire hunter like Jeremy, or even by aligning him with the villains so that he could pursue and eliminate vampires.

6 Matt Always Needed To Be Saved

5 Matt Was A Cry Baby

No one in The Vampire Diaries needed salvation as urgently as Matt Donovan. Despite lacking supernatural abilities, he fearlessly challenged individuals far more powerful than him. Bonnie, Elena, Stefan, and even Damon often came to his rescue, although Damon would have preferred to eliminate him. Matt managed to survive for an extended period because there was always someone to protect him whenever he became entangled in matters that were none of his concern.

At first, it appeared that Elena Gilbert was the one who always shed tears on The Vampire Diaries. However, it turns out that Matt surpasses her as the show's biggest crybaby. This is not to undermine the validity of his reasons for crying, as he did have genuine hardships. Nevertheless, his incessant weeping whenever something went wrong painted him as immature and unappealing. While everyone in Mystic Falls experienced their fair share of adversity, not everyone (except for Elena, perhaps) resorted to tears at the slightest provocation. The show's creators may have intended to humanize Matt by portraying him as a crybaby, but it ironically had the opposite effect.

4 Matt Had No Direction In The Show

3 Matt Was Mean To The People Who Cared About Him

In the first season of The Vampire Diaries, Matt was one of the primary characters who remained unaware of the existence of supernatural beings in his beloved town. This lack of knowledge added intrigue to his character, as he struggled to define himself within the show. Initially, it seemed as though Matt's inclusion stemmed solely from his status as the sole human main character. However, it wasn't until the seventh season that he found a sense of purpose by joining forces with Rayna Cruz to track down and eliminate Stefan and the vampires residing in Mystic Falls. Unfortunately, by this point, Matt's relevance had already diminished significantly.

After discovering his friends' true identities as vampires, Matt made the conscious choice to distance himself from them. Despite Elena's sacrifice to ensure his survival, he consistently treated Caroline, Rebekah, Stefan, and even Elena herself with unkindness. This prejudiced attitude prevented him from recognizing the genuine care and concern his friends had for him. Constantly passing judgment and snubbing those who had repeatedly risked their lives to protect him made it difficult to develop any positive feelings towards him.

2 Matt Was Constantly Complaining

1 Matt Survived Despite Having No Powers

: Matt's constant complaints and tendency to blame vampires for everything that went wrong in Mystic Falls were infuriating. It became exhausting to hear him constantly lament about his circumstances, to the point where it was baffling that he chose to remain in Mystic Falls if he despised it so much. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, Matt possessed talents that could have been better utilized elsewhere. He consistently saw himself as the victim, but failed to recognize the hurt he caused to those who genuinely cared about him.

In The Vampire Diaries, characters like Lexi, Kol, and Bonnie, who had more interesting storylines and served a greater purpose, met their demise while Matt inexplicably managed to survive throughout the show's eight seasons. Despite his lack of any notable qualities, it was largely thanks to Elena and the Gilbert ring that he managed to stay alive for so long. Had it not been for Elena's determination to protect him, Damon would not have bothered to ensure his safety. Most likely, Matt would have met his end in season 3.