My Problem with The Vampire Diaries

I'm watching The Vampire Diaries.

I'm partway through the second season. I'm not watching it all at once. I watch an episode here, and an episode there, sparsed amongst my re-watching of other shows. I do the same with Black Mirror, never watching more than one episode in a row. With Black Mirror, it's because the stories upset me, and I've decided I can't take too much at one time. With The Vampire Diaries, it's because when I watch several episodes in a row I end up wanting to bang my head repeatedly against the wall in frustration.

I enjoy The Vampire Diaries. Clearly I do, or I wouldn't watch it. I find many of the characters likeable. I think the speed of the plots is part of what keeps the show from having real depth, but I also find it entertaining to watch. Never a dull a moment.

But the show has some serious, extremely frustrating writing flaws. And if I had to name one reason why I decided I can't watch more than an episode at a time and still enjoy the show, it would be Damon.

( Protagonist privilege at its finest )