The Vampire Diaries Character Fans Can't Help But Love
Vampires, witches, and doppelgängers: The CW's "The Vampire Diaries" certainly made a name for itself in the 2010s. Based on the L.J. Smith book series of the same name, "The Vampire Diaries" follows Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) as she tries to choose between two vampire brothers: Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder). Though the CW show decisively distances itself from the storylines of the books (per The Hollywood Reporter), that didn't lessen its popularity. Fans fought over who Elena should end up with until the series finale in Season 8.
The epic love triangle wasn't the only thing to tune in for. With a wide cast of varying creatures, the supporting cast garnered their share of time in the sun. Caroline Forbes (Candice King neé Accola) demonstrates one of the best character development arcs in the series after she is turned into a vampire, and the town of Mystic Falls would be nowhere without Bonnie Bennett (Kat Graham) who saves the day every time without fail. But with a vast array of characters to choose from, the one that fans really clamor for is a bit of a surprise.
The most bloody character is also the favorite
From his first entrance onscreen, Klaus Mikaelson (Joseph Morgan) is the ultimate villain. The werewolf-vampire hybrid is unfeeling and uncompromising, desperate to reach his goals by any means necessary. After arriving in Mystic Falls, Klaus sets his sights on Elena. Her doppelgänger blood is the only thing that can break his curse and allow him to access his werewolf genes. Unfortunately, this would mean killing her in a ritual sacrifice. While this does not endear him to the characters on "The Vampire Diaries," the fans were another story. "This man could slaughter a whole village and in my eyes, he had his reasons to do so," noted one passionate Redditor.
Another fan on Twitter went into detail about what makes Klaus so compelling. "This man acted every one of his vampire diaries scenes like he was performing for Shakespeare himself," wrote @quakerraina. "He conjured tears from nothing. He knew he was never going to win a prestige award he was doing it for the ART. Inspiring." Despite his wanton murder, Klaus displays so much charisma that his scenes are a joy to watch. Joseph Morgan's superb acting and ability to access Klaus' emotions made him a fan favorite.
Klaus became a better person after the birth of his daughter
Klaus committed some of the worst atrocities in "The Vampire Diaries" history. Among many acts, he has locked his siblings in boxes for decades, taken away Tyler's (Michael Trevino) free will, and killed Elena's aunt Jenna (Sara Canning). But he became so popular that after tormenting Mystic Falls for seasons, he was given his own spin-off entitled "The Originals." After taking his leave of Virginia, Klaus makes his way to New Orleans in order to reclaim his family home.
Joseph Morgan's acting translates well to "The Originals." For the five seasons of the show, Klaus goes from an unrepentant monster to a caring father. A one-night stand with werewolf Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) results in their daughter Hope (Danielle Rose Russell) who is one of the only things that Klaus cares for. Though still certainly flawed, she causes him to reexamine his selfishness.
After the conclusion of the show, Morgan spoke to CinemaBlend about how far Klaus has come. "Him dying, sacrificing himself to save his daughter to me was a fitting kind of him finally learning the greatest lesson and doing an ultimately selfless act." For a character that started out hunting the same woman for 500 years and forcing Stefan to become a ripper, no one could ask to play a more layered and fulfilling character.
Klaus and Caroline struck a chord with shippers
For many fans of "The Vampire Diaries" universe, love is all you need. Rooting for relationships is a big part of the romantic drama and there are almost too many to count. One of the most significant aspects of Klaus's character is his relationship with Caroline. Since Klaus first fed Caroline his blood after Tyler bit her, fans never stopped rooting for them. "[K]laroline will always be ["The Vampire Diaries'"] most iconic creation. the only love story to expand through all three shows, even in different universes. they are untouchable, gorgeous and I'm glad to have been with them through their once in a lifetime journey," wrote Twitter user @hslatenightalks.
Though the couple doesn't end up together, many fans chose denial as a coping mechanism. "[K]laroline flew into the sun together, I will not be told otherwise," @gendrysaryas proclaimed.
The phenomenon was so large that Joseph Morgan himself had something to say when talking to TV Guide. "That's the thing about the Klaus and Caroline fans, they're just not vocal about it," he said, poking fun at the outspoken fanbase. "Occasionally, I hear these kind of whispers and I go, 'Really? People are into that?' I wish someone had said something — for the last seven years." Caroline is another window into Klaus' soft side, and she allowed viewers a chance to see his humanity which provided more insight to Klaus' fascinating character.