I loved the way TVD explored this trope in season five, because of the way it both subverted and played it straight with one of my faves: Katherine Pierce. There is both redemption and utter selfishness in her interactions with Nadia Petrova, who we eventually discover is her long-lost daughter. Katherine’s number one has always been herself, but we discover she’s capable of maternal feelings when she makes some dastardly –and also unexpectedly compassionate-- choices in order to protect her daughter.( Read more... )