*Spoiler Alert*
In 2009, the world was introduced to Mystic Falls and the supernatural mysteries that surrounded this Virginia town. “The Vampire Diaries” focused on Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev), a 17 year old teenager that found herself between two vampire brothers, Damon and Stefan Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, respectively). This concept was based on the book series by L.J. Smith.
In 2013, the mysteries expanded to New Orleans where there was a faction of supernatural entities that had their own rules and battles of their own. “The Originals” focused on Klaus Mikaelson (Joseph Morgan), a millennium old vampire-werewolf hybrid that tormented Elena before he relocated to his former home to figure out who was plotting against his immortal family and his unborn daughter.
Now, viewers return to Mystic Falls where the new generation try to figure out the balance between what is right and what their dark impulses are urging them towards. “Legacies” focuses on Hope Mikaelson (Danielle Rose Russell), Klaus’ 17-year old daughter who is the world’s only vampire-witch-werewolf hybrid, as she tries to figure out where she belongs while attending a supernaturally focused school, the Salvatore Boarding School for the Young and Gifted.
For the last nine years, the trilogy’s universe has explored its expansive histories and creations while following the last twenty years of its characters’ lives. The themes of family, friends, relationships, sacrifices, mortality and immortality have been explored with a supernatural twist. In a world of vampires, witches and werewolves, what would you do to survive?
“Legacies” premiered on Thursday October 25, 2018 with a formal introduction to the Salvatore Boarding School when foster brothers, Landon Kirby (Aria Shahghasemi) and Rafael Waithe (Peyton Alex Smith), are brought in after Rafael’s first full moon transformation as a werewolf. Landon learns from Headmaster Alaric Saltzman (Matt Davis) about the complex supernatural factions and how the boarding school provides a safe place for young supernatural students to learn and control their abilities. Rafael learns from twin witches, Josie and Lizzie Saltzman (Kaylee Bryant and Jenny Boyd, respectively), just what the school has to offer for a new werewolf like him. The series finale of “The Vampire Diaries” had introduced the Salvatore Boarding School while the final season of “The Originals” had featured the school as it followed Hope’s time as a student. The twelfth episode of the final season (5x12) resembled a backdoor pilot to “Legacies”, where Landon Kirby made his first appearance and jump-started the bond between him and Hope.
Whether you’ve followed the characters from the two previous shows or not, the premiere of “Legacies” did a great job in introducing the basics when it came to the main creatures present at the boarding school.
Vampires are immortal creatures that survive on the consumption of blood. They have increased senses as well as the ability to manipulate the human mind through compulsion. However, they do have a weakness to vervain (a special plant). Though the process of becoming a vampire hasn’t been revealed on “Legacies”, it’s a complex process that involves the consumption of vampire blood then dying while that blood is in the decease’s body. They will then reawaken and require their first feed on human blood to be made before they complete their vampire transition. The true origin story of the vampire species was explored during Season 3 of “The Vampire Diaries” when the full Mikaelson family (the Original vampires) were introduced. A new vampire student that was introduced was Milton ‘M.G.’ Greasley (Quincy Fouse), the student aid to the Headmaster.
Werewolves are humans that transform into wolves on the night of the full moon. This only occurs to humans that have a dormant gene that is activated once the carrier takes a human life (accidentally or not). They experience shifts in their behaviours (like increased aggression or rage) while gaining increased strength, immunity and speed that surpasses their previous human levels. Their weakness is found in a special plant called wolfsbane. The true origin story of the werewolf species was explored during Season 4 of “The Originals” when the truth about an entity known as the Hollow was threatening the Mikaelson family.
Then there are the witches with extensive branches of magic. A majority of witches are humans born with the ability to channel the magic found from nature. They can perform spells, cast rituals and they can sense a supernatural presence. Using too much magic at once could overload their mortal bodies. “The Vampire Diaries” explored spiritual magic, expression magic (Season 4) and traveler magic (Season 5) while “The Originals” focused more on ancestral magic. Season 8 of “The Vampire Diaries” had placed more focus on magic that stemmed from psychic connections (introducing Arcadius and the Sirens). The origin of magic had been explored on many occasions, through different situations, on both “The Vampire Diaries” and “The Originals”. The Saltzman Twins are siphon witches who are the last members of the Gemini Coven. As siphoners, their powers work differently from the average witch. The Saltzman Twins were also born during Season 7 of “The Vampire Diaries”.
It has been expressed that “Legacies” would feature a 'monster a week' format for the series which differs from its previous predecessors as their formats were more based on the major villains that were plotting against our lead characters. It will be interesting to see this shift in series format and to see what other creatures exist in this extensive universe.
IMDb: The Vampire Diaries | The Originals | Legacies
Publication Note:
This was written as a personal interest piece for this blog.