Elijah Mikaelson is one of the most popular characters from The Vampire Diaries universe. As an Original vampire and member of the Mikaelson family, Elijah played a pivotal role throughout The Vampire Diaries and its spinoff The Originals. Now that The Originals has ended and the latest TVD spinoff Legacies has begun, many fans are wondering if Elijah will make an appearance in the new series.
Who is Elijah Mikaelson?
For those who need a refresher, here’s a quick overview of who Elijah is:
– He is an Original vampire and the second eldest sibling of the Mikaelson family after Finn Mikaelson.
– Elijah and his siblings were turned into the first vampires in the world over 1000 years ago.
– As an Original vampire, Elijah is extremely powerful and immortal. He possesses enhanced strength, speed, senses, healing ability, and compulsion over humans.
– Elijah first appeared in Season 2 of The Vampire Diaries as an antagonist along with his brother Klaus.
– Over time, he evolved into more of an anti-hero character as his complex motivations and moral code were revealed.
– Elijah valued family above all else and was defined by his desire to save his siblings, particularly Klaus and Rebekah, despite their frequently dysfunctional relationship.
– In The Originals, Elijah was a main character and part of the central Mikaelson family dynamic.
– Some of Elijah’s key relationships were with Klaus, Rebekah, Hayley Marshall, and Antoinette.
– His character arc involved a constant internal struggle between his morals and values and his familial loyalty.
Elijah’s Storyline on The Originals
To understand Elijah’s potential role in Legacies, it’s important to recap his storyline from The Originals:
– In the early seasons, much of Elijah’s storyline centered around his complex relationship with Klaus and their family dynamics.
– A major conflict arose when the Mikaelsons’ long lost biological father, Ansel, was resurrected and hoped to bond with Klaus. Elijah feared this would threaten the family unity he valued most.
– Elijah also clashed frequently with Klaus over Hayley and her pregnancy with Hope, Klaus’ daughter. Elijah swore to protect Hayley and the baby.
– Throughout the show, Elijah was involved in various romantic relationships, most significantly with Hayley and Antoinette. His relationships often conflicted with his family duties.
– In later seasons, Elijah became increasingly tormented by his mother Esther’s repeated resurrections and manipulations against her children. This caused Elijah’s mental state to unravel at times.
– Elijah’s morality was tested when he and his siblings took vampire children hostage. He struggled to reconcile his principles and family.
– In the final season, Elijah sacrificed his memories and identity to protect Hope from the Hollow’s curse. This led to a poignant ending for his character.
Does Elijah Appear in Legacies?
So does Elijah actually appear in Legacies, the latest Vampire Diaries spinoff focusing on Hope Mikaelson’s story?
No, Elijah Mikaelson does not directly appear in Legacies as of the current episodes.
In the first two seasons of Legacies, Elijah has not shown up on screen. Many fans were hoping the character would make a surprise cameo or guest appearance, but he has yet to be part of the show.
There are several likely reasons Elijah has not yet appeared in Legacies:
– His memory loss ending on The Originals makes it difficult for him to just reappear. The sacrifice of his memories was such a pivotal character moment.
– The focus of Legacies is on Hope and the students at the Salvatore School. The show does not heavily feature many Original family members.
– The actors’ scheduling and availability may not have aligned for guest appearances.
– Showrunners may be waiting for the right story before bringing back Elijah. They may not want to undermine his emotional Originals ending.
So unfortunately for fans, Elijah has yet to actually be part of the Legacies storyline or make an on-screen appearance. His presence has only been felt through occasional references by other characters.
Is Elijah Completely Gone from the TVD Universe?
While Elijah hasn’t appeared in Legacies yet, that doesn’t necessarily mean he is completely gone from The Vampire Diaries universe forever. Here are some possibilities that could potentially bring him back someday:
– Flashback scenes – Legacies could feature flashbacks to earlier time periods involving Elijah. This would allow the show to include him without compromising his memory-wiped state.
– Regaining memories – There could be a storyline where Elijah somehow regains his lost memories and reverts to his original identity. This would enable him to appear in present-day scenes again.
– Hallucinations/Dreams – Other characters like Hope could have hallucinations or dreams that feature Elijah without him physically returning. This would allow the show to pay tribute to him.
– Afterlife resurrection – As a vampire show where supernatural resurrections happen, Elijah could potentially come back through some afterlife or other resurrection plotline.
– Series finale appearance – Elijah could be saved for the very final scene or episode of the entire Vampire Diaries franchise as one last surprise.
So there remain possibilities for Elijah to be incorporated into Legacies somehow in the future. Fans will have to continue watching to see if any of these options end up happening!
Evidence Elijah Still Exists in the Legacies Universe
While he hasn’t directly appeared on-screen through the first two Legacies seasons, there have been a few subtle hints that Elijah still exists within the show’s universe:
– Hayley’s death reference – When discussing Hayley’s death, Hope mentioned that it impacted both Klaus and Elijah. This implies Elijah is still around and mourning Hayley off-screen.
– Freya’s mentions – Freya made several references to her brother Elijah when she guest starred. She conveyed that family still means everything to Elijah.
– Klaus’ letter – When Klaus appeared to Hope, his letter mentioned that Elijah still needs Hope’s help. This suggests Elijah is out there needing guidance without his memories.
– Rebekah’s cameo – In her guest appearance, Rebekah asked about Elijah’s whereabouts and seemed to believe he could come back.
– Family portrait – The Mikaelson family portrait including Elijah remains in place at the Salvatore School, reminding viewers he still exists.
While subtle, these references confirm that Elijah is still a part of the TVD universe and hasn’t been completely erased. The door remains open for him to return someday.
Elijah’s Legacy and Influence on Legacies
Even without directly appearing, Elijah Mikaelson has an important legacy that influences Legacies in meaningful ways:
– Hope’s father – As Klaus’ brother, Elijah shaped the man Klaus became. This impacts Hope’s view of her father.
– Mikaelson family – Elijah was a key part of the Mikaelson family dynamic that defines Hope’s immortal family legacy.
– The Salvatore School – Elijah’s desire to protect his niece Hope contributed to the origins of the Salvatore School where Legacies is set.
– Alaric’s character – Alaric now leads the school and serves as Hope’s father figure, a role he inherited from Elijah in some ways.
– Moral compass – Elijah often represented fierce family loyalty conflicting with morality. These themes impact Hope’s character journey.
– Always and Forever – The Mikaelson vow Elijah valued so deeply helps motivate Hope to stand by her friends who are her found family.
So although off-screen, Elijah has shaped Legacies in profound ways through his lasting influence on other characters and the show’s central themes. His presence is firmly embedded in the TVD universe and mythology.
Conclusion
In summary, despite not directly appearing on Legacies yet, Elijah Mikaelson remains a key part of The Vampire Diaries universe. He has not been forgotten. With subtle references and his lasting impact, the character’s presence is still felt on the show. The door remains open for him to potentially return someday. And even if he remains off-screen, Elijah’s legacy will continue to be an important part of Legacies. The complex Original vampire still has a strong connection to Hope and the themes at the heart of the new series set in the world he helped shaped.
