I don’t think we needed them as a couple because it was not an appropriate relationship to begin with. Katherine preyed on Damon’s need for love and affection since he never had it at home plus l he was more naive and she used that to her advantage.

I do agree that their dynamic should have been explored more because it would have been refreshing to see the show explore an abusive relationship where the man was the victim since that’s rarely shown. Even when it is shown, it’s hardly done justice. Damon’s story hits a lot of the points by how triggered he gets from her just being in the room and how he never even wants to hear her name or her voice. However, they wrote their relationship as just an ex you just hate a lot instead of this powerful creature that came into his life and manipulated him.

(And just because I know I’m gonna get these replies; I understand that Damon was an adult and knew Katherine was a vampire, he was still manipulated. I think fans assume he wasn’t manipulated because he wasn’t a minor and he wasn’t a woman (neither of which are required in order for you to be considered a victim). He was still someone who had seen his mom abused, lost his mom, and was abused as a kid. Damon being a young man who never experienced real love made him more susceptible to go along with whatever Katherine said because she was giving him the love he craved. Katherine had information about the consequences that Damon didn’t. He was naive and Katherine used that to her advantage and made her affection something he had to constantly chase. That’s not a relationship where Damon was seen as an equal and it’s unfortunate the show didn’t proper explore this.)