The Originals - Characters & Cast

Initially, Klaus is motivated by a desire for absolute power and control, believing it will protect him from his enemies and fill the void of his traumatic past. He wants to be king of New Orleans because it's his creation. This motivation shifts entirely to the protection and love of his daughter, Hope. His every major decision in the later seasons is driven by the need to ensure her safety and happiness, a goal that ultimately eclipses his own desire for survival.

Klaus begins as the villainous Original Hybrid, defined by paranoia, rage, and a lust for power stemming from a millennium of being hunted by his father and rejected for his werewolf heritage. His arc across the five seasons is a slow, arduous journey toward redemption. The catalyst for his change is the impending birth of his daughter, Hope. Initially seeing her as a means to power, he gradually develops a deep, unconditional love for her. This love forces him to confront his demons, make alliances, and learn to trust. He evolves from a tyrant who daggered his siblings to a leader who unites them. His final act is the ultimate sacrifice: absorbing a dark entity to save Hope and dying to protect his family, completing his transformation from villain to martyr.

Elijah's primary motivation is the redemption of his brother, Niklaus, and the preservation of the Mikaelson family unit. He believes that if he can save Klaus, he can save them all and atone for their centuries of monstrosity. This singular focus defines his actions, leading him to make both honorable and terrible choices in the name of family loyalty. His purpose is so intertwined with Klaus's that when Klaus's journey ends, so does his.

Elijah starts as the impeccably dressed, noble, and diplomatic brother, whose entire existence is dedicated to finding redemption for Klaus. He believes in the sanctity of their "Always and Forever" vow above all else. His arc is one of disillusionment and redefinition. He learns that his nobility is often a facade for his own monstrous nature and that his unwavering devotion to Klaus has enabled much of his brother's cruelty. The trauma of his past, particularly his role in creating the vampire race, weighs heavily on him. In the end, with Klaus having finally achieved redemption by choosing to sacrifice himself for Hope, Elijah sees his own life's purpose as complete and chooses to die by his brother's side, finding peace not in his own morality, but in the completion of their shared journey.

Hayley's initial motivation is to find her roots and learn about her werewolf lineage. This quickly evolves into an unwavering, fierce maternal instinct to protect her daughter, Hope, from the countless threats she faces. She is also driven by a deep desire to secure a safe and respected place for her werewolf pack in the city, fighting for them to be treated as equals rather than a subjugated faction.

Hayley is introduced in "The Vampire Diaries" as a tough, lone werewolf searching for her biological family. Her arc in "The Originals" is one of finding and building a family of her own. Initially a pawn in the witches' plans, her pregnancy with Klaus's child places her at the center of New Orleans' supernatural politics. She grows from a fiercely independent outsider into the powerful Alpha of the Crescent wolf pack and a formidable hybrid. Her development is defined by her role as Hope's mother; she transforms into a relentless protector, willing to do anything to keep her daughter safe. She bridges the gap between the werewolves and the Mikaelsons, finding her place as both a Labonair alpha and an honorary Mikaelson before ultimately sacrificing her life to save Hope in the final season.

Marcel's core motivation is the protection of his city and his chosen family of vampires, particularly the young witch Davina, whom he adopted. Having built a community with its own rules, his primary goal is to maintain that order and keep his people safe from outside threats, including the Mikaelsons. His actions are driven by a deep-seated love for New Orleans and a belief that he can rule it more justly than Klaus ever could.

Marcel is introduced as the charismatic but ruthless king of New Orleans, Klaus's former protégé and rival. Born a slave in the 1800s, he was adopted and raised by Klaus, which created a complex father-son dynamic of love, resentment, and betrayal. His arc is about forging his own identity and legacy separate from the Mikaelsons. He transitions from the primary antagonist of Season 1 to a complicated ally. He builds his own family of vampires, demonstrating that loyalty can be chosen, not just inherited by blood. His journey culminates in him becoming an Upgraded Original Vampire, powerful enough to defeat the Mikaelsons, yet he ultimately chooses coexistence over annihilation, eventually finding his own version of 'happily ever after' with Rebekah.