Some of the most impactful characters on television aren’t the heroes or the chosen ones. They’re the ones who break your heart because they don’t know how to love themselves, no matter how deeply they’re loved by others.
Watching Fiona Gallagher in “Shameless,” Dean Winchester in “Supernatural,” and Damon Salvatore in “The Vampire Diaries” taught me a lot about what it really means to love someone who doesn’t believe they’re worthy of it.
Fiona was always taking care of everyone else. She stepped up when no one else would, sacrificed her childhood and dreams, and raised the Gallagher children on her own. But for all her strength and sacrifice, she never gave herself enough credit. She felt love had to be earned. And when it came to taking care of herself, she could never manage to get that right. Loving someone like Fiona means realizing they might never put themselves first, even when they really need to.
Dean Winchester played the tough guy. He was brave, loyal, and selfless. But underneath that was a man who felt like he was never enough. He carried guilt around like it was a part of him and avoided the conversations of feelings like the plague. Loving someone like Dean means understanding that silence isn’t strength. And that no amount of love will fix what someone refuses to see.
Then there’s Damon. The sarcastic, reckless vampire who did everything he could to push people away. He didn’t believe he could be good. He’s well known for his saying, “Because when people see good, they expect good. And I don’t wanna have to live up to anyone’s expectations.” He used his pain as a way to protect himself, but he wanted to be loved more than anything. Loving someone like Damon is chaotic. They’ll push and test you over and over while hoping you don’t give up on them.
These characters taught me that love alone isn’t always enough. Because loving someone is one thing. But helping them learn to love themselves? That’s a journey they have to take on their own.
