Legacies
"Heroes. Villains. Whatever."
Overview
Legacies serves as the third chapter in The Vampire Diaries universe, centering on the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted in Mystic Falls. The series follows Hope Mikaelson, the world's only "Tribrid" (vampire-werewolf-witch), as she navigates the complexities of adolescence alongside other supernatural students. Unlike its predecessors, which focused on internal political struggles of vampires, Legacies introduces a "Monster of the Week" format driven by the emergence of Malivore, an ancient entity that consumes and erases supernatural creatures from collective memory.
Across its four seasons, the story evolves from a campy, monster-hunting adventure into a high-stakes battle for survival. The students, often referred to as the "Super Squad," must learn to control their volatile powers while grappling with dark destinies, such as the Gemini Coven's Merge or the weight of a villainous family tree. The narrative arc eventually shifts from the mystery of Malivore to more cosmic threats, including the return of ancient gods, forcing the characters to decide if they will become the heroes they aspire to be or the monsters the world expects.
Core Meaning
The core meaning of Legacies is the internal struggle to define one's own identity against the crushing weight of a pre-determined heritage. The creators aimed to explore whether the sins of the father must inevitably be inherited by the child. Through Hope Mikaelson and the Saltzman twins, the series argues that while lineage provides the starting point, choice and found family are the true architects of destiny. It is a story about the transition from being a product of one's past to becoming a protector of the future, emphasizing that even the most "monstrous" origins can be forged into a force for good.
Thematic DNA
Identity and Free Will
Throughout the series, characters struggle with the labels assigned to them by birth. Hope fears her Mikaelson blood will turn her into a villain like her father, while Lizzie and Josie face the "Merge," a curse that dictates their lives must eventually end or change through fratricide. The show repeatedly highlights that their actions, rather than their nature, define their morality.
The Burden of Heritage
The legacy of The Vampire Diaries and The Originals hangs heavy over the narrative. Characters are constantly reminded of the trauma and glory of their ancestors. This theme is explored through relics, memorials, and the reappearance of past villains (like Kai Parker), forcing the next generation to reconcile their history with their personal goals.
Found Family as a Sanctuary
The Salvatore School serves as a literal and metaphorical refuge. In the absence of biological parents, the bonds between the "Super Squad" become their primary source of strength. This theme develops as rivalries (like the one between Hope and the Saltzmans) transform into deep, sisterly loyalty, proving that shared trauma can create an unbreakable community.
Sacrifice and Heroism
The series often poses the question of what one is willing to lose to save others. From Hope jumping into the Malivore pit to erase herself from memory, to Landon accepting his fate in Limbo, heroism is depicted as a series of painful choices that require giving up personal happiness for the survival of the group.
Character Analysis
Hope Mikaelson
Danielle Rose Russell
Motivation
Initially driven by the need to protect those she loves (specifically Landon), her motivation evolves into protecting the school and honoring her family's name by being a hero rather than a monster.
Character Arc
Hope begins the series as a guarded loner, terrified of her own power and family history. Her arc follows her journey from a student seeking protection to a leader who eventually embraces her full Tribrid nature. After losing her humanity in Season 4, she must find her way back to her friends and finally find peace with her father's memory.
Landon Kirby
Aria Shahghasemi
Motivation
A deep desire for belonging and an obsession with proving his worth despite his lack of traditional combat abilities.
Character Arc
Landon starts as a human outsider but is revealed to be a Phoenix and the son of Malivore. His arc is defined by constant cycles of death and resurrection as he searches for a permanent place in the world. He eventually finds his true purpose not as a warrior, but as the Ferryman in Limbo, helping souls find peace.
Lizzie Saltzman
Jenny Boyd
Motivation
Driven by a desire for validation and a desperate need to avoid the tragic fate of the Gemini Coven.
Character Arc
Lizzie evolves from a self-absorbed, volatile teenager struggling with mental health (and a fear of the Merge) into a selfless protector. Her transformation is completed in Season 4 when she becomes a Heretic (vampire-witch), finally finding stability in her new nature and reconciling with her sister and Hope.
Alaric Saltzman
Matthew Davis
Motivation
Ensuring his daughters' survival and providing the supernatural community with the guidance he lacked in his youth.
Character Arc
As the headmaster, Alaric struggles to balance his role as a protector of children with his history as a vampire hunter. His arc across the series involves learning to trust his students to fight their own battles and ultimately stepping down to let a new generation lead.
Josie Saltzman
Kaylee Bryant
Motivation
Finding her own power without losing her kindness, and protecting those she loves at any cost—even her own soul.
Character Arc
Josie spends much of the series living in her sister's shadow before succumbing to Dark Magic in Season 2. Her journey involves learning to set boundaries and find her own path, which eventually leads her to leave the Salvatore School to discover herself away from the pressures of her family legacy.
Symbols & Motifs
The Malivore Pit
It symbolizes oblivion and the erasure of identity. Being consumed by Malivore is a metaphor for being forgotten by history and loved ones.
Initially appearing as a puddle of black goo, it serves as the primary source of the show's antagonists and a recurring plot device that resets character relationships by erasing memories of those who fall in.
The Ascendant
Represents the past's hold on the present and the danger of legacy. It is a key that can unlock trauma or unleash ancient evil.
A mechanical device used throughout the series to access Prison Worlds, most notably to trap or release the villain Kai Parker.
The Tribrid Blood
Symbolizes balance and isolation. Hope's unique biology makes her the only solution to many problems, but also ensures she is forever different from her peers.
Used as a literal weapon against Malivore and a plot catalyst for Hope's transition into a full vampire in Season 4.
The Salvatore School Crest
Symbolizes redemption and hope. It represents Alaric's dream of a world where supernatural children are not hunted, but nurtured.
Seen on school uniforms and the gates, serving as a visual anchor for the show's setting and the characters' shared identity as "students."
Memorable Quotes
We’re the ones people write stories about. We’re the monsters.
— Hope Mikaelson
Context:
From the pilot episode, establishing the show's perspective on supernatural identity.
Meaning:
Acknowledges the legacy of the supernatural world and the fear it instills in humans, while also setting up the show's goal to subvert that expectation.
I'm trying to rise above it, so let me freaking rise.
— Lizzie Saltzman
Context:
A recurring sentiment reflecting her character development throughout the first two seasons.
Meaning:
Captures Lizzie's internal battle with her personality flaws and mental health, demanding the space to grow into a better person.
My dearest Hope, my littlest wolf, my miracle child...
— Klaus Mikaelson
Context:
The series finale (Season 4, Episode 20), delivered via a message from the afterlife.
Meaning:
A final validation of Hope's worth and a bridge to the legacy of The Originals, providing Hope the closure she needed to move forward.
Episode Highlights
This Is the Part Where You Run
The series premiere introduces the Salvatore School and the central mystery of Landon Kirby, while setting the tone for the new generation.
Establishes the "Monster of the Week" format and the primary character dynamics.
Mombie Dearest
The Saltzman twins' deceased mother, Jo, is resurrected by a monster, leading to a heartbreaking reunion and the revelation of The Merge.
Pivotal for the Saltzman family arc and introduces the high emotional stakes of Malivore's returns.
Kai Parker Screwed Us
The return of the iconic villain Kai Parker from The Vampire Diaries within a Prison World.
A major crossover event that forces the twins to confront their family's darkest history and Josie to tap into dark magic.
Salvatore: The Musical!
The students put on a play about the history of the Salvatore brothers and the founding of the school.
A meta-tribute to the franchise's history that helps the characters (and fans) process the events of previous shows.
See You on the Other Side
Hope finally completes her transition into the Tribrid to defeat Malivore, but at the cost of Landon's life.
The show's biggest turning point, ending the Malivore arc and beginning Hope's "No Humanity" era.
Just Don't Be A Stranger, Okay?
The series finale features the return of Alaric's daughters' mother (Caroline) and a final message from Klaus.
Provides closure for the entire Vampire Diaries franchise and cements the theme of peace and new beginnings.
Philosophical Questions
Can a person truly escape their biological nature?
The series explores this through Hope's constant fear that she is genetically predisposed to violence, and the twins' fear of the Merge. It ultimately suggests that nature provides the tools, but will determines the result.
What is the cost of immortality without peace?
Explored through Landon's Limbo arc and the existence of Malivore. The show posits that existing forever is a curse if one is erased from the hearts of others or unable to move on to 'Peace.'
Alternative Interpretations
Critics and fans have often interpreted Legacies as a meta-commentary on the burden of successful TV franchises. The constant struggle of the characters to escape their parents' shadows mirrors the show's struggle to escape the shadow of The Vampire Diaries. Another reading views the 'monsters' as physical manifestations of adolescent trauma—monsters that represent being forgotten (Malivore), toxic love (The Necromancer), or the fear of growing up (The Gods). Some viewers also argue that Landon Kirby is not a hero, but a 'damsel in distress' trope subversion, highlighting Hope's agency as the true protagonist.
Cultural Impact
Legacies occupies a unique space in television history as the final chapter of a 13-year supernatural saga on The CW. While it was often criticized by longtime fans for its shift toward a campier, 'Buffy-esque' tone and more juvenile monsters, it successfully modernized the franchise for Gen Z. It explored themes like mental health (Lizzie's bipolarity) and fluid sexuality more overtly than its predecessors. Its cancellation in 2022 marked the end of an era for 'vampire television,' leaving behind a legacy of dedicated fandom and a template for how long-running universes can pivot in tone while maintaining core lore.
Audience Reception
Audience reception was polarized. Season 1 was generally well-received for its fresh energy and the chemistry between Hope and Landon. However, Seasons 2 and 3 faced criticism for the repetitive nature of the Malivore plot and a perceived lack of consequences compared to the high body counts of The Originals. Season 4 saw a resurgence in critical acclaim and fan satisfaction as the show embraced darker themes, Hope became the Tribrid, and the plot finally delivered the maturity viewers had requested since the pilot. The series finale is widely regarded as a 'love letter' to the entire franchise universe.
Interesting Facts
- Paul Wesley, who played Stefan Salvatore in The Vampire Diaries, returned to the set to direct several episodes of Legacies.
- The Salvatore School set is the same location used for the Salvatore Boarding House in the original series.
- Danielle Rose Russell was the only actress considered for the role of the teenaged Hope Mikaelson after her performance in The Originals.
- The show's 'Monster of the Week' format was a deliberate creative choice by Julie Plec to differentiate it from the serialized political drama of its predecessors.
- Landon Kirby's character was first introduced in an episode of The Originals Season 5 as a local boy in Mystic Falls.
- Kaylee Bryant (Josie) is a massive fan of the franchise and reportedly kept a 'Vampire Diaries' diary long before being cast.
Easter Eggs
The Stefan Salvatore Memorial Library
A direct tribute to Stefan's sacrifice in The Vampire Diaries finale, housing his journals and daylight ring.
The mention of Stefanie Salvatore
Confirmed in Season 1, Episode 10 that Damon and Elena named their daughter after Stefan in an alternate timeline, which fans took as canon for the main world too.
The Mikaelson Crest Necklace
Hope wears the same necklace her father, Klaus, wore, symbolizing the 'Always and Forever' vow.
Caroline's 17th Century Ballgown
Lizzie wears the dress Klaus gave Caroline in The Vampire Diaries Season 3 for the Miss Mystic Falls pageant.
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