For those of us who are long-time “Vampire Diaries” fans, it was a bittersweet week. It was almost like having to say goodbye to that series all over again, as one of its spin-off series, “Legacies”, came to an end recently. While “Legacies” wasn’t a perfect series and definitely had its cheesy moments (think Buffy the Vampire Slayer in its early years), there was something about the next class of Vampires, Werewolves and Witches that just seemed to pull us all in. Of course having the ever-present Alaric Saltzman, played by Matthew Davis, as a permanent part of the cast on the show was a good idea because he was always a fan favorite, and became the bridge between the two series. The show centered around Klaus Mikaelson’s hybrid daughter, Hope, who eventually became the one and only tri-brid (werewolf, vampire and witch all in one), and her attempts to figure out her destiny and whom she was supposed to become. But along the way the series also evolved several other main characters. Alaric’s twin daughters, the gemini twins, Lizzie and Josie, who were birthed by Caroline from the Vampire Diaries. Although not their original mother she did carry the babies and raise them with Alaric after he lost their mother and she lost Stephan in the finale of the Vampire Diaries.
Although Caroline was talked about and referred to quite a bit throughout the entire series, she never once made an on-screen appearance. That is, not until the finale episode! And although I wish she had had more small appearances throughout the entire series, it was great to see her in the end. There is also a post-humous appearance by the infamous Klaus Mikaelson as well, played by Joseph Morgan. And again, similar to Caroline’s character I wish we had seen him more throughout the series, but he was dead so that was problematic. The way they brought him around in the finale really seemed fitting and a perfect way for Hope Mikaelson (his daughter) to get some closure on their relationship and be able to move forward.
As much as I was sad for this series to come to an end, it was time, as the story arc had been going nowhere for a while. I started out loving the show and the characters and their development. But along the way the plot lines just stopped matching up. And once Hope became the tri-brid and had to kill the love of her life, the show just felt kind of empty to me. Like it was grasping at straws. I did like that they finally had a storyline with her as a fierce Vampire with her humanity turned off—very reminiscent of her father Klaus and of course the famous Salvatore brothers. And then it was kind of cool that the show went on to bring in a new genre of mythical creatures by introducing the “gods”. Only they tried to balance that storyline along with Landon (Hope’s love) storyline of being lost in limbo and trying to get to peace and it was all just too much. Too many angles and not of it felt sincere or seemed to go together at all.
Suddenly everything felt like it was unraveling and just too desperate to be clever or have good writing. So it was a good call to end it now before it went completely off the rails, and we lost the excitement of the early episodes. Even with its lackluster last season, I will miss watching the teens of “The Salvatore School”. In many ways it was both nostalgia for Vampire Diary fans but also hinted at allusions to The Xavier School for Gifted Youth, and Hogwarts—granted with a lot more relationship drama than either of those! But the idea that there is a special school out there for mythological creatures will always entice us to want to follow along on their coming of age stories. So we bid a fond Farewell to “Legacies” and wait to see what new teenage fantasy dramas the CW will introduce. They are already well underway with the introduction of Naomi and Tom Swift, but will there be anymore Vanpire spin-offs headed our way?? Only time will tell….
