In The Vampire Diaries, Klaus arrives in Mystic Falls as a powerful antagonist intent on breaking a curse that limits his hybrid nature. His presence ignites conflicts with the Salvatore brothers, Elena Gilbert, and the broader supernatural community. Despite his violent tendencies, he forms intricate relationships with key characters, including Caroline Forbes, whose bond with him suggests a softer side beneath his brutality. His popularity among viewers contributed to his evolution from villain to a central figure in the franchise.
The character's development continued in The Originals, where Klaus relocates to New Orleans and becomes embroiled in conflicts over family loyalty, political power, and personal redemption. The series follows his relationships with siblings, Elijah and Rebekah, as well as his role as Hope Mikaelson’s father, redefining him as a complex antihero.
Klaus is the first hybrid of a vampire and werewolf, making him one of the most powerful supernatural beings in the franchise. His narrative arc explores themes of power, family loyalty, redemption, and immortality, serving as a central element of his storyline.[1]
Character background
History
Niklaus Mikaelson was born in the 10th century in a small settlement that would later become Mystic Falls. Viking raiders had captured his mother, Esther, a witch originally from Norway, along with her sister, Dahlia.[2][3] Niklaus was conceived during Esther’s affair with Ansel, a member of a nearby werewolf community,[4] though he was raised to believe that her husband, Mikael, was his biological father. Mikael, a strict Viking warrior and landowner, relocated his family to the New World after a plague ravaged their homeland. Mikael fathered six half-siblings, with the exception of the eldest, Freya, whom Dahlia took as part of a fertility bargain. Mikael, however, assumed she had died during the plague.[5]
Niklaus grew up in a household marked by Mikael’s grief and harshness. Unlike his siblings, he faced the worst of Mikael’s cruelty, enduring severe punishments and beatings framed as lessons in strength, yet leaving him longing for approval that never came.[6] Elijah later recalled that, as a human, Klaus was loving and starved for love and attention. As an Original hybrid, all this pain and anger made him a ruthless murderer.[7] There were moments of love for the family despite Mikael's brutality. Klaus shielded Rebekah from thunderstorms, presenting her with a hand-carved wooden knight to protect her, and he played in the woods with his brothers, being encouraged by Elijah.[8] Esther also attempted to protect her son by giving him a magical necklace that suppressed both his anger and lycanthropy, therefore concealing her adultery from Mikael.[9]
Tragedy also struck when Klaus's younger brother, Henrik, was killed while witnessing his brother's transformation into a werewolf.[10] In his grief, Mikael pressured Esther to perform magic to safeguard their remaining children. Her ritual transformed them, along with Mikael himself, into the original vampires. Klaus's first vampire kill activated his dormant werewolf gene, thereby exposing Esther's secret affair. To conceal this, Esther and Mikael cursed his werewolf side, leaving him isolated and resentful.[11]
Outraged by his betrayal, Klaus killed Esther and blamed Mikael for the crime, igniting centuries of family conflict. In retaliation, Mikael murdered Ansel and his family, establishing an everlasting feud between werewolves and vampires. Despite the betrayal, bloodshed, and tragedy, Klaus and his living siblings—most notably Rebekah and Elijah—held fast to their vow to stay together, "always and forever."[12]
Klaus is first introduced in season two as a threat to Elena Gilbert and her friends. His physical debut occurs in the episode "Klaus," where he initially inhabits Alaric Saltzman’s body before eventually revealing his true form. Klaus aims to break the "sun and moon curse," which suppresses his werewolf side, by performing a ritual that requires the sacrifice of a vampire, a werewolf, and the doppelgänger, Elena. He succeeds in breaking the curse, becoming the first hybrid of vampire and werewolf. However, his werewolf powers are bound to the moonstone by a coven of witches, including his mother. To unleash these powers, a ritual involving the sacrifice of a werewolf, a vampire, and a Petrova doppelgänger must be conducted.[13]
Centuries after his transformation, Klaus returns to Mystic Falls and discovers Katerina Petrova and her doppelgänger, Elena Gilbert. With Isobel Flemming's help, he finds Elena and prepares to break the curse, suppressing his werewolf side.[14] Klaus captures and tortures Katerina, secures the moonstone, and gathers the required sacrificial victims: a doppelgänger, a werewolf, and a vampire, turning Jenna Sommers into a vampire to complete the ritual. Successfully breaking the curse, Klaus unlocks his werewolf nature, becoming the first true hybrid.[15]
Later, Klaus manipulates Stefan Salvatore into aiding him in his plan to build an army of hybrids. Believing that he will be consoled by creating friends, Klaus compels Stefan to embrace his darker impulses, resurrecting his bloodlust. It is revealed that the dynamic between them has deeper roots, as Stefan and Klaus were companions in the 1920s.[16]
Klaus’s family history gradually unfolds: he was responsible for killing his mother, Esther, after she suppressed his werewolf side, and he has been hunted for centuries by his stepfather, Mikael.[17]Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder) later removes the dagger from Elijah, triggering a series of events that lead to the revival of the other Original siblings. This ultimately reunites Klaus with his family, although their relationships remain volatile and fractured.[18][19]
While he continues to rule in Mystic Falls, Klaus forges an intriguing friendship with Caroline Forbes (Candice King). After saving her from a werewolf's bite,[20] he begins to woo her by inviting her to the Mikaelsons' ball and dancing with her. Although she rejects him. Klaus is then incapacitated by a desiccation spell cast by Bonnie Bennett and is seemingly killed by Alaric Saltzman. However, a spell cast by Bonnie allows Klaus’s spirit to inhabit Tyler’s body until he is restored to his original form.[21]
In later seasons, Klaus pursues the Cure to regain the ability to create hybrids and eventually departs Mystic Falls for New Orleans, where he intends to reclaim power from Marcel Gerard.[22] He briefly returns for Caroline’s high school graduation, saving her, Elena, and Stefan from a group of vengeful witches. As a parting gift, he permits Tyler to return to Mystic Falls, acknowledging Caroline’s love for him while hinting that he intends to be her final love.[23]
Klaus makes a brief return in the series’ 100th episode,[24][25] where he and Caroline share a passionate yet final encounter.[26] He is later referenced during flash-forwards in season seven, with characters noting his absence from New Orleans for three years. In a crossover storyline, Stefan seeks Klaus’s assistance against Rayna Cruz, during which Klaus offers both practical support and personal comfort to Caroline following her mother’s death. Their bond is reaffirmed, though Klaus’s journey ultimately leads him back to his family in New Orleans.[27]
In the series finale, Klaus does not appear in person but sends a generous donation to Caroline to support her school for supernatural children, symbolizing his enduring respect and affection for her.[28]
In the first season of The Originals, Klaus Mikaelson is summoned back to the French Quarter of New Orleans after being drawn in by a rumor of a conspiracy against him. What he uncovers is that his former protégé, Marcel Gerard, has seized control of the city and the supernatural community. Klaus also learns that Hayley Marshall, with whom he had a brief relationship, is pregnant with his child, a first-ever werewolf–vampire hybrid offspring.[29] Despite Klaus's initial objections, he soon views the pregnancy as an opportunity for redemption and legacy. Much of the season revolves around Klaus's struggle to maintain control in New Orleans while protecting his family from witches, vampires, and humans who wish to harm them, as well as dealing with his siblings, Elijah and Rebekah, regarding loyalty.[30][31][32]
Klaus faces new challenges from his parents in season two. His mother, Esther, returns in a different form and attempts to rid his children of their vampirism, while his father, Mikael, long believed to be dead, is resurrected. Klaus also encounters his controlling aunt Dahlia, who seeks to take custody of his daughter Hope.[33] Throughout the season, Klaus struggles to keep Hope safe from Dahlia's grasp, and his interactions with Elijah, Rebekah, and Hayley create tension. His paranoia and manipulation fuel family drama, all while he strives to fulfill his role as Hope's protector.[34]
In the third season, Klaus grapples with a Mikaelson family prophecy predicting his death at the hands of friends, foes, or relatives. This prophecy pits him against friends and further alienates him from his siblings.[35] “The return of Klaus's first sired vampires—Elijah, Rebekah, Tristan, Aurora, and Lucien—brings new conflicts arising from the prophecy.”.[36] During this time, Klaus's storyline with Cami O'Connell reveals a gentler side of his personality, but her eventual demise plunges him into deeper violence and despair.[37]
In season four, Klaus is imprisoned for five years due to the events of the previous season.[38] Upon his release, he must confront the emergence of the Hollow, a dark entity with intentions toward his daughter.[39] Klaus teams up with his siblings to safeguard Hope, but the family discovers that the only way to defeat the Hollow is to harness its dark energy and then separate.[40] Klaus makes the greatest sacrifice, opting to sever his bond with Hope by leaving New Orleans.[41]
"As much as I've savored the joy of tormenting you through the years, I must confess, you all mean everything to me. Your loyalty and your counsel, and your love, it's probably the only reason I've survived as long as I have. Which is why I know that long after I'm gone, you will all come together, time and time again, to take care of each other; and that is why I am not afraid for your future."
The fifth and final season sees Klaus return to New Orleans after years apart from his daughter. Teenage Hope struggles with her abilities and the dangers they present. Klaus tries to reconnect with her while battling the Hollow's persistent hold, which aims to destroy their family. Ultimately, Klaus decides to sacrifice himself to break the Hollow's grip on Hope for good, with Elijah choosing to do the same. Through this act, Klaus's life concludes as a powerful hybrid and a redeemed father who found redemption through his love for his daughter.[43]
Legacies
In the first season, during Hope’s transition into becoming the tribrid, she learns from the Necromancer that Klaus’s spirit is trapped in Limbo, unable to find peace until she completes her journey.[44]
In the episode "Everything That Can Be Lost May Also Be Found," Rebekah and Freya tell Hope that over the past three years, they have used magic to gather Klaus’s remains throughout New Orleans, preparing a proper funeral in his honor. Kol mentions that the siblings have disagreed on how to manage the ashes, discussing the best way to commemorate him. They ultimately decide to pass Klaus’s ashes to Hope.[45]
In the series finale, Hope takes the ashes and seeks Landon’s help to locate her father’s spirit for a final conversation to free him from Limbo. Ethan later reveals that Klaus has already found peace. With Landon’s assistance, however, Klaus sends a final message to Hope from beyond.[46][47] In this message, Klaus shares wisdom drawn from his centuries of life and immortality, reaffirming his love for her. He tells her she is his greatest legacy, calling her his "always and forever" and crediting her as the reason for his peace. Afterward, Hope scatters his ashes at the Salvatore School, providing the farewell his family had long intended.[48][49]
Powers and abilities
As the Original Hybrid, Klaus merges the abilities of an Original vampire with lycanthropic power from his werewolf father.[50] This heritage provides him with greater baseline strength and speed than most Originals, making him especially dangerous during a full moon when his werewolf traits peak, though the series depicts him rarely, if ever, willingly transforming into a full werewolf form.[51][52][53]
Despite his abilities, few characters have been shown to match or defeat Klaus. His stepfather, Mikael, who is introduced as an Original vampire and vampire hunter, is depicted as one of the few who can pose a significant threat to him.[54] The shows also highlight two “upgraded” Originals, Lucien Castle and later Marcel Gerard, after taking the serum, whose enhanced physiology makes them unusually resistant and dangerous to the Mikaelsons. Additionally, in The Vampire Diaries, Esther’s ritual briefly creates an “enhanced” Original, Alaric, who can briefly rival the Originals in combat.[55][56][57]
Klaus’s siblings are not without power against him. Elijah and Kol occasionally hold their own in direct combat, with the show depicting moments where Elijah gains the upper hand, including the emotional series-finale confrontation. Rebekah is less likely to engage Klaus at full strength, but the siblings’ long history of daggering and dueling demonstrates they can sometimes stalemate him through skill, numbers, or circumstance.[58]
Beyond his physical strength, Klaus is portrayed as a skilled combatant and strategist. He overcomes Marcel’s forces in early New Orleans storylines and frequently employs long-term plans, bluffs, and contingencies to maintain leverage even when outnumbered. This blend of instincts, training, and cunning is highlighted by the series’ writers and critics across both The Vampire Diaries and The Originals.[59][60]
Portrayal
Morgan at the 2011 Comic Con in San Diego
The role of Klaus Mikaelson emerged from a thorough casting search. Series co-creator Julie Plec explained that the team sought an actor who could blend menace with charisma, as Klaus had been alluded to throughout much of the second season prior to his on-screen debut.[61] Plec characterized the process as “a lengthy search to find the right actor to embody someone both menacing and magnetic.”[62]
Joseph Morgan auditioned several times before being granted a screen test in Atlanta. His performance convinced the producers that he could effectively embody Klaus’s dual nature—both charming and terrifying—securing his casting in early 2011. Morgan later described the process as “nerve-wracking,” highlighting the added pressure from the character’s buildup in dialogue leading up to his on-screen debut.[62][63]
Plec also said that she was impressed with Morgan's ability to display different sides of a character.
"He has a depth and an intelligence as an actor, but he's also got this great wicked grin and these dimples that make him seem both fun and naughty at the same time, even as he's being evil or very stern," she said. "So there's a playfulness about him that Kevin and I really liked, because we didn't want Klaus to be a one-note bad guy."
Morgan disclosed that his character was inspired by figures such as James Spader’s early roles, Lestat from Interview with the Vampire, Hannibal Lecter, and Robert Knepper’s T-Bag from Prison Break. He highlighted a blend of “dangerous charm” and unpredictability, stating, “He could kiss you or kill you … it would be the same thing to him.”[62]
Morgan shaped Klaus’s presence with physical stillness and assured poise, embodying an immortal being who views most threats with indifference. He enhanced this with refined traits, depicting a character who might relish opera or poetry moments before erupting into violence.[62]
Behind the scenes, Morgan revealed a long-standing fascination with characters initially perceived as antagonistic yet rich with evolving moral depth,[65] a trend he maintained in later roles, such as James Ackerson in Halo.[66]
Development
Klaus Mikaelson was introduced in the second season of The Vampire Diaries as a character shrouded in mystery and power, generating suspense for his on-screen appearance. Executive producers Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec sought a villain who would surpass others in complexity and danger, with Plec describing Klaus as the "ultimate Big Bad," intending to use him to enrich the lore of vampires and werewolves within the series' universe.[67]
Introduced in the 2011 episode "Klaus," the character swiftly became a series regular.[68] His initial villainous role transformed into a complex exploration of family, power, and redemption.[69] The showrunners noted a positive fan response, extending Klaus's appearances beyond his original storyline and utilizing him to enrich the mythology, including the introduction of hybrids and the original Mikaelson family.[70][10]
The popularity of Klaus prompted The CW to create the spin-off series The Originals, which was announced in 2013. Morgan reprised his lead role, with the series depicting Klaus's return to New Orleans to reclaim power and safeguard his family. Over five seasons, the character evolved from a villain to a tortured anti-hero, solidifying his status as a central figure in The CW's supernatural franchise.[71]
Characterization
Klaus has been characterized as one of the most intricate figures in The Vampire Diaries Universe, embodying both the essence of a merciless villain and a tragic anti-hero. As the first Original Hybrid, he is a character caught between his violent tendencies, his fear of abandonment, and his longing for family and love.[62][72][71]
His brotherly bond with his siblings, his growing affection for Caroline Forbes, and his love for his daughter Hope in The Originals are often cited as evidence of his rich characterization. Scholars analyzing The Vampire Diaries and its spin-offs have depicted Klaus as a Gothic variation of the "Byronic hero", a figure characterized by arrogance, passion, and a complicated past, and also part of the tradition of morally ambiguous antiheroes in 21st-century television drama.[73]
Relationships
Klaus's relationships with the other characters, particularly Elijah and Rebekah, evolve throughout the series.[74] Elijah serves as Klaus's moral compass, consistently striving to redeem him and uphold the "Always and Forever" vow of family loyalty.[75]
"You’ve got to find a way to say to the audience, 'You need to care about Klaus because Elijah cares about Klaus’ — because Klaus is about to do some really nasty stuff… That’s not a hero move in the first episode of a TV show.".
— Julie Plec on Klaus's relationship with Elijah.[76]
In contrast, Rebekah's relationship with Klaus is more tumultuous, as her yearning for independence clashes with his need for control.[77]
Klaus and Katerina Petrova’s relationship began in 15th-century England in 1492, after her family exiled her from Bulgaria for bearing a child out of wedlock. Klaus discovers that she is the Petrova doppelgänger needed to die to lift his hybrid curse. He plans to slay her as a sacrifice, but Katerina manages to save her own life by becoming a vampire, effectively making herself unfit for the ritual and thwarting his plans. In his fury, Klaus murders her entire family, forcing her into exile and a life of fear.[78][79]
Klaus and Caroline's romantic relationship began on The Vampire Diaries during season three, when Klaus saved Caroline’s life after she was bitten by a werewolf. Klaus develops a romantic interest in Caroline, admiring her for her beauty, bravery, and refusal to let the vampire lifestyle corrupt her. Caroline rejects Klaus, citing his selfishness and cruelty, but occasionally hints at the vulnerability that underlies his behavior.[80][81]
Despite her resistance, Klaus continues to pursue Caroline through gestures and attempts to persuade her to embrace immortality without fear. Throughout the show, they share moments of respect and empathy for one another, such as when Klaus supports Caroline's aspirations beyond the confines of Mystic Falls. However, Caroline's loyalty to her friends and her principles prevents her from fully reciprocating his feelings, and she often serves as a moral check on his violent tendencies. Their friendship later extends to The Originals.[82]
While in New Orleans, Klaus develops a deep bond with Camille O'Connell, a psychology student who serves as his confidante and moral compass. Their love ultimately flourishes, but always as a pathway toward Klaus's redemption. When she dies in the third season, it shatters Klaus, and her ghost lingers to play a role in his struggle for balance between the violence inherent in him and his desire for peace.[83]
Morgan’s portrayal of Klaus Mikaelson received broad acclaim from critics and viewers, with many viewing the character as one of the most engaging villains in The Vampire Diaries and The Originals. Critics highlighted Morgan’s skill in blending menace with vulnerability, crafting a complex antagonist who later developed into a tragic antihero. Collider ranked Klaus as the second-best vampire in the series, praising him as "the ultimate hybrid of a vampire-werewolf-witch and one of the strongest" in the franchise, noting the character's mysticism and strength.[84]
↑ Al Septien, Turi Meyer (writers) & Joshua Butler (director) (September 22, 2011). "The Hybrid". The Vampire Diaries. Season 3. Episode 46. 42 minutes in. The CW.
↑ Rebecca Sonnenshine (writers) & Michael Allowitz (director) (May 8, 2014). "Promised Land". The Vampire Diaries. Season 5. Episode 100. 42 minutes in. The CW.
↑ Michael Narducci (writers) & Lance Anderson (director) (October 8, 2015). "For the Next Millennium". The Originals. Season 3. Episode 1. The CW.
↑ Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson (writers) & Matt Hastings (director) (October 29, 2015). "A Walk on the Wild Side". The Originals. Season 3. Episode 4. The CW.
↑ DeMayo, Michelle Paradise (writers) & Bethany Rooney (director) (November 19, 2015). "Out of the Easy". The Originals. Season 3. Episode 7. The CW.
↑ Michael Russo, Michael Narducci (writers) & Lance Anderson (director) (March 17, 2017). "Gather Up the Killers". The Originals. Season 4. Episode 1. The CW.
↑ Beau DeMayo, Christopher Hollier (writers) & Joseph Morgan (director) (April 7, 2017). "Keepers of the House". The Originals. Season 4. Episode 4. The CW.
↑ Nicole Rubio (writer) & Beau DeMayo (director) (May 19, 2017). "Queen Death". The Originals. Season 4. Episode 9. The CW.
↑ Bethany Rooney (writer) & Michael Narducci (director) (June 23, 2017). "The Feast of All Sinners". The Originals. Season 4. Episode 13. The CW.
↑ Layne Morgan, Courtney Grace (writer) & Jason Stone (director) (April 28, 2022). "I Wouldn't Be Standing Here If It Weren't For You". Legacies. Season 4. Episode 16. The CW.
↑ Julie Plec, Brett Matthews (writers) & Michael A. Allowitz (director) (June 16, 2022). "Just Don't Be A Stranger, Okay?". Legacies. Season 4. Episode 20. The CW.
↑ Michael Narducci, Julie Plec (writer) & Chris Grismer (director) (October 3, 2013). "Always and Forever". The Originals. Season 1. Episode 1. The CW.
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