Does Stefan even love Caroline?
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mrumble-704-31166 — 9 years ago(October 29, 2016 11:03 PM)
I like them together..and at first its something u never would have expected..in the pilot so Stefan said to Caroline "you and I are never gunna happen".. And yet it did.
On another note I feel they only got paired together cuz there was no one left..everyone was dating someone else so it was like why not pair Caroline and Stefan together..
But once they showed it..I liked them together. -
Allison_max_rae94 — 9 years ago(October 30, 2016 06:27 AM)
It's there is not Nina Dobrev covering up the fact that Paul Wesley is mediocre. Candice Accola isn't the world's best actress but she is better than Paul and can carry her own character more than he can. It just wasn't noticeable since Nina and Claire Holt actually took the focus away from Paul.
Writing wise, the Stefan and Caroline ship is convincing. Candice conveys chemistry really well- Paul Wesley is a brick wall and in reality, no amount of good work on one end can make up for that.
I've watched older episodes repeatedly- Nina and Claire carried Paul through those scenes. Elizabeth Blackmore did as much as she could. As an actor, he is fairly uninspiring. I think Ian's an absolute 'insert bad word' but his character's image post season six has been regressed, just to help Paul Wesley in his Stefan portrayal adventures.
His scene with Phoebe Tonkin in The Originals was cringeworthy- it didn't feel like Stefan, it felt like Paul gets paid to lie next to his girlfriend.
None of this gets helped by the fact Paul Wesley's decided to phone it in, which you can't do as a fairly average actor. He was phoning it in periodically last season as well. That's not to say the writing is perfect, actually the premiere co-written by Kevin Williamson was the weakest of all of them.
Most of the issues stem from last season should have been the final season but instead, plot points were dragged out and actor availability became a bigger issue this season and Sarah Salvatore might just be the first casualty. Definitely a CW/WB issue but let's put the fault of unconvincing scenes where they belong.
http://www.justjared.com/2014/05/19/the-vampire-diaries-ep-julie-plex-confirms-she-wants-at-least-seven-seasons/
The first rule of truly living, do the thing you're most afraid of -Rebekah Mikaelson -
forksforrests — 9 years ago(October 30, 2016 06:49 PM)
You may be right. It's not something I'd ever noticed originally, but with Paul becoming more vocally negative about the show, I've come to like Stefan less and become a bit more objective about the character. So I went back and watched a couple scenes, and you're right, It's usually the other person who is dialing up the emotion (Nina, Candice), while he's a bit dead in his delivery and eyes (this is noticeable in the season 6 fake proposal at the bar to Elena when they're trying to be "other people")
I still have to say the AU/vision proposal was much better directed (and it was directed by Wesley) than this real life Steroline proposal. The colors, the smiling/lightness of the scene..it all felt less forced.
I didn't even realize he was on the Originals, but I'll check it out.
Honestly, actors like Wesley and Robert Pattinson really piss me off. If you're so ungrateful and hateful about your current project, then just leave! Nina did it, so why can't you? If you're going to sit there and cash your checks, then at least show a little respect for your fans and pretend to like your show until it ends. It's so hypocritical to vocally look down at the show while simultaneously making money off it. Wesley obviously lost interest around season 4/5, so he really should have left in season 6 with Nina because that's around the time when the Stefan character became a chore to watch imo. You're completely right about him phoning in it and not having the acting chops to make it work.
Ian's not a great actor either, but I have to say at least the man tries? I mean he's giving at least 80-90% in his performance, while Paul is barely trying. -
forksforrests — 9 years ago(October 30, 2016 06:53 PM)
I figured I should break this downand it ended up being more of rant against Steroline.
Writing wise, the Stefan and Caroline ship is convincing.
This is something I fundamentally disagree with. The relationship might have worked in theory (best friends turned lovers trope), but it's because of the writing (and lately, Paul) that this relationship has been so botched.
a) they spent four years hitting us over the head with how Elena was Stefan's soulmate and The Only One for him. So trying to retcon the Steroline relationship and make it feel like it's been brewing since day 1 is where they initially messed up. They also make it seem like Caroline's never been this madly in love before, when her love for both Matt and Tyler were portrayed as meaningful relationships (mostly Tyler).
b) they starting confessing their feelings when Caroline's mother died and that was just AWFUL timing. Instead of mourning over Liz, it became about whether Stefan really loved Caroline and Caroline acting like a teenager again.
c) the relationship mounted when they had their humanities turned off, which almost voided the authenticity of their relationship and made it all physical but OOC physical because they were out there murdering together with their switches flipped. It was a turn-off.
d) season 7 was a
mess
. Stefan wordlessly ditching Caroline, Caroline not speaking to the man for three years, introducing Stefan's 'real' first love, Caroline getting her own familyALL of this steered heavily, heavily away from romantic Steroline. It was't even a slow burn at that point. It was rerouting. But then they reunited, and Stefan went off the rails, kidnapping and drugging Carolineyet Caroline took all of 5 seconds to forgive him and ditch Alaric. Truly awful material.
Sorry, had to get that off my chest.
A rose is just a rose. -
christinaparker-60256 — 9 years ago(October 30, 2016 07:49 PM)
So much everything you said! I always found Paul to be average, but there were moments that blew me away. You are absolutely right though, on average, he was always favorably overshadowed by his costars. It's become really apparent that he is phoning it in.
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Shadowfax15 — 9 years ago(October 30, 2016 07:52 AM)
I don't know why after all this time, they are still trying to force this relationship. It's so hard to sit through their scenes together. The character of Stefan was always a bit dull to me, but what others have said are correct - it's the women who have made his scenes more interesting.
Sticking him with Caroline feels like they are both "settling". He didn't get Elena, she didn't get Tyler or Klaus.
That proposal scene was awful. I just hope they have a master plan and are trying to make their scenes bad on purpose so they can end up with someone they are more passionate about like anyone but each other.
Even that scene with Bonnie and Enzo was amazing, where he grabbed her and kissed her at the last minute! The first time I saw them kiss last season, I didn't buy it. But you can tell both actors really worked hard on their scenes, and they have as much passion as Damon / Elena had now. -
bluesysax — 9 years ago(October 30, 2016 11:00 AM)
The character of Stefan was always a bit dull to me, but what others have said are correct - it's the women who have made his scenes more interesting.
True, and inevitably the characters that are paired with him suffer for it. The prime example was Katherine, but it happened with other characters too.Never argue with stupid people,they will drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.
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lulu_san — 9 years ago(November 05, 2016 07:02 AM)
The proposal was absolutely pathetic and boring. I couldnt believe my eyes and ears. Just sad. How could they destroy Stefan's character like that? Its supposed to be an incredible moment but it felt empty, tired,
void of passion. It almost looked as if he was bored, dreading the moment. It
didn't feel genuine. I aso don't think Paul likes this. His acting is always off with Caroline. Painful to watch. -
ldddhunter — 9 years ago(November 05, 2016 08:29 AM)
I disagree I think Steroline is STILL in love its just Paul Wesley's himself the actor is bored w/the show. He as Stefan adores Caroline otherwise he wouldn't have been so miserable when she was playing house w/Alaric. I think its the writing and plus Stefan is brooding b/c his brother Damon is under some serious spell that Stefan feels helpless about and can't do anything about it. He does love Caroline, I think Paul/Candice have extremely off the charts chemistry on screen. I was a fan of Stefan/Elena in the beginning of their relationship but after Elena connected w/Damon it was all bets off you could see that Elena/Damon belonged together. Right now its the writing, Paul probably bored w/it but he loves working w/Candice and has said so himself in interviews. The are truly best friends in real life and they belong w/each other as Steroline. Stefan is feeling so down and Caroline understands that b/c she knows how much Stefan loves his brother; yeah the proposal could've been more "romantic", but I blame that on the director he could've told Paul to play his character Stefan in such a way sometimes its NOT the actors/actresses, they have to play it the way the director sees/wants it in all the scenes. So yes yes Stefan INDEED is IN love w/Caroline, I love how their relationship began as friends, then best friends, then fell in love gradually - it was built up and not rushed which I like much better anyway.
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Expat-in-America — 9 years ago(November 18, 2016 04:57 AM)
I don't think they have great chemistry, honestly and i'm not sure why it doesn't work. Candice has AMAZING chemistry with other actors she worked with (her and Klaus HOT!!!!) and so has Paul so something just doesn't work there for some reason.
When I watch them together, I feel like they look at each other like they're each other's consolation prize. Not their top choice.
Hot guys + dark subject matter + plenty of violence = watchable television. -
Nolesforlife — 9 years ago(November 18, 2016 11:19 PM)
I agree. I think that he is still hooked on Elena even when she isn't there anymore. He still loves her and the love for Caroline isn't there. I thought it was too soon anyways for Stefan to go after somebody. I actually enjoyed Caroline and Stefan in season five and called them hooking up. But I'm disappointed with how it turned out.