Yahoo Lifestyle The Vampire Diaries Universe’s 25 Best Characters of All Time, Ranked
Ready to feel older than an Original? Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024 marks 15 years since The Vampire Diaries first sank its fangs into the television landscape — and we feel compelled to celebrate.
The truth is, The Vampire Diaries‘ fateful premiere on The CW marked more than just the debut of a show to which we’d all soon become hopelessly addicted. It also marked the birth of a sprawling franchise, one that would come to include three series, 17 seasons, 331 episodes and countless unforgettable characters.
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To that end, TVLine is revisiting our ranking of the 25 best characters from The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017), The Originals (2013–2018) and Legacies (2018–2022), be they vampire, werewolf, witch, hybrid, tribrid, or even (gasp!) human.
Read on to see our ranking of the franchise’s 25 best characters, then drop a comment with your own list (at least the top 10) below. And remember, this is just our opinion. It means nothing. Let’s all have a nice time celebrating these good-looking weirdos.
25. TYLER LOCKWOOD
The First Son of Mystic Falls was kind of a jerk when we met him in The Vampire Diaries‘ first season. He was arrogant, aggressive and reckless — so it actually made perfect sense when he was revealed to be a werewolf. Fortunately, Michael Trevino’s character developed a little more nuance from that point on, especially via his Romeo and Juliet romance with Caroline. (After everything that’s happened since 2013, can you believe that they were once in a love triangle with Klaus?)
24. JENNA SOMMERS
Like so many paved paradises, we didn’t fully appreciate what we had with Jenna until she was gone. Her death marked the end of Elena’s innocence — which is saying a lot, considering she was still mourning her own parents when The Vampire Diaries began. And if we’re being honest, Jenna was the ghost we were most excited to see again in the series finale. (For the record, Joseph Morgan has apologized on Klaus’ behalf for killing Jenna several times.)
23. ALARIC SALTZMAN
In hindsight, Alaric’s journey from hot history teacher to hot headmaster of a supernatural school makes perfect sense. Still, it was impossible to predict back in The Vampire Diaries’ first season just how much of an impact the man formerly known as Warner Huntington III would have on this franchise. A drinking buddy to some, a father figure to others and a literal father to a lucky pair, Alaric has truly woven himself into the fabric of this universe like few others. That said, we wouldn’t recommend dating him if you value your life.
22. JEREMY GILBERT
Elena’s little brother (er, cousin?) went through a number of different, wonderful phases during his tenure in Mystic Falls. We loved him in The Vampire Diaries’ earlier seasons as the human embodiment of all things emo (he literally dated a ghost!), and we… um… appreciated his unexpected evolution into a shirt-ripping, wood-chopping vampire hunter. Best of all, he left us with this iconic gif. #JeremySmash
21. LANDON KIRBY
Any Mystic Falls townie can sling milkshakes. But can they all sprout giant fire wings? Or help usher lost souls to their final destination? We don’t think so. Intentional or not, this emo prince has been the catalyst for many major events at the Salvatore School, ultimately playing an invaluable role in Hope’s journey to becoming a true tribrid. Plus, he looks like he could pass for Damon and Elena’s offspring — and that’s never a bad thing. We could tell he had a long future in this universe the moment he danced with Hope in The Originals’ final season.
20. MATT DONOVAN
Only one full-blooded human survived all eight seasons of The Vampire Diaries, and you’re looking at him. A paragon of mortal goodness, this blue-eyed patriot hasn’t always been on the same page as his vampire brethren, but that’s only because he didn’t want to see any more his friends and family get eaten. And we can sympathize with that!
19. CAMI O’CONNELL
The Clarice Starling to Klaus’ Hannibal Lecter, this brave bartender was able to tap into the show’s darkest, most complicated character’s psyche in ways that no one named Mikaelson (or even Forbes) ever could. She helped him conquer a number of his demons in the few short years they spent together on The Originals, and like most people who play a significant role in Klaus’ life, she suffered the consequences. (Side note: Are we the only ones who really dug Cami as a vampire? Justice for that short-lived story arc!)
18. MILTON ‘MG’ GREASLEY
MG has one of the purest hearts (albeit one that isn’t beating) to ever pass through Mystic Falls. Loyal, sensitive and unabashedly himself, MG changed what it meant to be a vampire in this universe. But don’t misread his kindness for weakness — he’s still a handy guy to have in your arsenal. Plus, he’s the only person in the TVDU who can say they went up against Gorilla Grodd and lived to tell the tale!
17. VINCENT GRIFFITH
Thanks to the magic of body swapping, the Mikaelson siblings have inhabited multiple physical vessels throughout the years, but none have remained in the family’s orbit quite like ol’ Vincent. Powerful, thoughtful and downright Shakespearean in his delivery (Yusuf Gatewood, ladies and gentlemen!), Vincent always has the greater good in mind. And as we learned in The Originals’ series finale, he helped Freya and Keelan pass that good along to the next generation.
16. KAI PARKER
The fact that this remorseless, pork rind-loving psychopath ranks so high on our list speaks volumes about actor Chris Wood, who brought a refreshingly sassy vibe to The Vampire Diaries’ sixth season. The guy was so likable, fans were even ‘shipping him with Bonnie… as if that poor girl hadn’t been through enough already! You also have to give Kai points for longevity — even after his head got knocked off, he managed to make two encore appearances on TVD (Season 8) and Legacies (Season 2).
15. LIZZIE SALTZMAN
One of Legacies‘ more inspiring success stories, Lizzie spent four years confronting her mental health issues, ultimately coming to the conclusion that “complicated doesn’t mean broken.” (Thanks, Aurora!) Her transformation from a classic mean girl to a devoted friend may have been gradual, but nothing worth having — especially in relation to one’s personal growth — comes easily. That said, do we want her to become a total nice girl? Not if it means losing those snarky one-liners!
14. MARCEL GERARD
While it’s easy to get swept up in Marcel’s charm and swagger (we were robbed of a second karaoke number, by the way!), it’s important to remember just how far back his time with the Mikaelson family goes. When you consider that Klaus literally freed Marcel from slavery and raised him to lead New Orleans as his right-hand vampire, it adds a whole other layer of tension to their passionate power struggle. Though he’s treated like an unofficial Mikaelson sibling, Marcel often feels like more of a Mikaelson than Kol — and definitely more than Finn.
13. JOSIE SALTZMAN
Were we tempted to count Josie and “Dark Josie” as two separate entities? Maybe. But the truth is, they’re eternally one and the same — which actually makes Josie an even more interesting character. Full of surprises (remember when she suddenly started speaking Japanese?), this proud pansexual deserves the world. And she’s finally getting it… far away from toxic Mystic Falls.
12. FREYA MIKAELSON
The long-lost sixth Mikaelson sibling was a little rough around the edges when we first encountered her on The Originals, but the poor woman was in the midst of escaping a centuries-long imprisonment, so we cut her a little slack. And we’re glad we did, because Freya has since become one of the strongest, most inspiring and all-around likable characters in the Vampire Diaries canon. #FreelinForever
11. HAYLEY MARSHALL
We can’t even think about this fierce, fearless mama wolf without shedding a single tear. Hayley’s story was basically one long tragedy, from her complicated marriage with Jackson to her tumultuous relationship with Elijah. And then there was her untimely demise in The Originals’ final season, which… actually, let’s not talk about that. From the moment she gave birth, Hayley’s heart belonged to Hope, and it was in her most extreme maternal moments that Hayley’s true strength was on display. That’s how we’ll remember her.
10. HOPE MIKAELSON
We feel like we’ve watched Hope grow up before our eyes… because we have! Given the epic circumstances surrounding her arrival into this world, an adult version of this character had a lot of hype to live up to, and Danielle Rose Russell has proven herself more than up to the challenge. Imbued with her parents’ best qualities, Hope’s power and passion make her both a formidable foe and an invaluable ally.
Plus, name another TV character who was conceived on one show, born on a second and died on a third. Between that and the whole “tribrid” thing, she really is one of a kind.
9. REBEKAH MIKAELSON
Arguably the funniest (and most glamorous) member of the Mikaelson family, the woman Damon once referred to as “Barbie Klaus” never fails to tell it exactly like it is, beginning with her thoughts on then-lovebirds Stefan and Elena. (“Honestly, I don’t get you two as a couple.”) And Bex only became more layered as the years went on, from her desperate desire for humanity to her undeniable love for Marcel. Just don’t call her insane — she prefers “spontaneous.”
8. ELIJAH MIKAELSON
Suits? Pressed. Hair? Immaculate. Vocabulary? Thicc. With his smooth moves and cunning intellect, Klaus’ extremely respectful brother could do it all — well, except keep the people he loved from meeting horrific ends. (Seriously, this guy’s track record for dead lovers is right up there with Alaric’s.)
7. ELENA SALVATORE
She may not have Katherine’s chaotic flare, but Elena deserves credit for carrying much of The Vampire Diaries’ dramatic and romantic weight for six years. And for that pink hair she experimented with in Season 4. On top of that, Elena also rolled with the punches better than almost anyone. (You’re vampires? I’m a doppelgänger? Now I’m a vampire? Now I’m human again? Now I’m in a coma? Sure, let’s do this.)
6. CAROLINE FORBES
Getting smothered to death was honestly the best thing that could have happened to Caroline, who evolved from a basic, boy-crazy cheerleader into a bad-ass vampire overnight. And that was just the first phase of her franchise-long evolution into the empowered, globe-trotting mother of two she is today. She’s also responsible for all of The Vampire Diaries’ memorable musical moments, from her sweet song for Matt to her devastating performance at Sheriff Forbes’ funeral.
5. DAMON SALVATORE
Often imitated but never duplicated, Damon was the original immortal bad boy of Mystic Falls, whose road to redemption ironically began the day he met his brother’s girlfriend. (Those Salvatores always did love to share.) Watching him struggle to do the right thing, be it for the love of Elena or Stefan, was always thrilling — and not just because he always managed to do it with that signature smolder.
4. BONNIE BENNETT
Simply put, this is the witch you want in your corner when things go south. Endlessly powerful and selfless to a fault, Kat Graham’s character spent eight agonizing seasons sacrificing herself — often literally, hence her multiple deaths — in order to keep her friends and family safe. No amount of bloody noses or dead boyfriends could stop this badass from crushing her enemies.
3. STEFAN SALVATORE
Did someone say “hero hair”? Always willing to fight in the name of good — unless he’s in ripper mode, in which case, watch your necks! — Stefan is the sensitive vampire-next-door of our dreams. Plus, he’s technically responsible for the title of his show. Is he not a vampire? Were they not his diaries? Damon may have stolen fans’ hearts, but Stefan had them from the beginning.
2. KATHERINE PIERCE
Come on, when were you not excited to see this leather-clad lunatic on your screen? Deliciously twisted and infinitely more interesting than her human doppelgänger, Katherine was behind many of The Vampire Diaries’ most jaw-dropping twists, from her iconic encounter with John(’s bloody fingers) to her long-awaited return in the series finale. Honestly, putting Katherine on hell’s throne in Season 8 was merely a formality — she was always a queen.
1. KLAUS MIKAELSON
The man, the myth, the legend. To think that the monster who slaughtered poor, defenseless Aunt Jenna on The Vampire Diaries is the same person who gave it all up to save his daughter on The Originals… well, there isn’t a clap slow enough to commend that kind of growth. (Again, Joseph Morgan is very sorry about the whole Jenna thing!) By the time Klaus evaporated on the streets of New Orleans, it felt like we had explored every conceivable nook and cranny of his existence, from his traumatic childhood to his fatal romances — and we relished every second of it.
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