Who Plays Elijah Mikaelson In The Vampire Diaries And Originals?

I've been binging the whole vampire-werewolf-witch saga more times than I'd admit, and Hope Mikaelson is one of those characters I always root for. The actress who most people associate with Hope is Danielle Rose Russell — she took on the role as the central, older Hope for the spinoff series 'Legacies'. Before 'Legacies' began, Hope did appear as a baby and young child on 'The Originals', where the character was portrayed by a handful of child actresses in those early seasons. When the CW decided to build a new show around the next generation, they needed someone who could carry the lead and grow the character across episodes. How she landed it is the kind of casting story that feels familiar if you've followed TV casting news: Danielle auditioned and went through the usual rounds — tape, callbacks, and chemistry reads with the producers and other core cast members. The showrunner wanted someone who could handle Hope's emotional weight: the fierce Mikaelson spirit, the vulnerability of a kid raised by monsters and the responsibility of being a tribrid. Danielle brought a mix of toughness and heart that convinced the creators she could be the face of the new series. I loved watching how she evolved Hope across 'Legacies' — she balanced teenage angst, raw power, and moments of real tenderness. If you want a quick rewatch pick, start with the pilot and then jump to episodes where Hope faces her family legacy; you can see why the casting team chose Danielle in the first place.

Man, talking about Elijah's redemption arc always gets me a little sentimental — he's the sort of character who quietly eats his feelings and then does something noble at 2 a.m. while everyone else sleeps. If you want the emotional spine of his redemption, the best way to watch it is as a thread that runs from his late appearances in 'The Vampire Diaries' into almost every major beat of 'The Originals'. Start with the episodes that introduce the Originals in 'The Vampire Diaries' late in Season 2 and the crossover episodes in Season 3 where Elijah's code and restraint are first contrasted against Klaus's chaos. Those episodes don't just show the family; they set up Elijah's baseline: honor, restraint, and guilt. From there, the meat of his redemption is across 'The Originals' through Seasons 1–5. The pilot of 'The Originals' (S1E01) gives you the immediate moral stakes — Elijah protecting the family while trying to follow a stricter personal code. Pay attention to the early and mid-season episodes where he negotiates with Marcel and the city (several pivotal moments through S1 and S2) because those are where he repeatedly chooses restraint and loyalty over easier brutality. Big turning points are in the season finales and premieres — the show uses those episodes to force Elijah into impossible choices (sacrifices, bargains, and protecting Hope indirectly) and that's where the redemption feeling really accrues. In later seasons (S3–S5), you see him question his methods, seek forgiveness, and ultimately make the kind of final choices that feel like earning a moral reset. The series finale episodes that close the family story give the emotional payoff: it's not a clean redemption, but a weathered, earned one. If you want a tighter watchlist: focus on the Originals-introduction block in late 'The Vampire Diaries', the 'The Originals' pilot, the mid- and end-season episodes of S1 and S2 where Elijah negotiates peace vs. war, and then the big confrontation/closure episodes in S3–S5 (especially the final season beats). Watching those in sequence shows how his quiet honor softens him, then hardens again into sacrifice. My couch-viewing tip: sip something warm and let the quieter scenes (the ones with Elijah in suits, talking softly) breathe — that's where the redemption lives.

I get excited every time someone asks about Elijah Mikaelson merch — he’s such a classy character, and it shows in the kinds of gear people make for him. If you want officially licensed stuff, your best bets are the big, reputable retailers: the CW shop often carries 'The Originals' and 'The Vampire Diaries' items, and sites like Hot Topic, BoxLunch, and Fanatics will sometimes stock tees, hoodies, and accessories tied to the shows. Entertainment Earth and Merchoid are also good places to check for higher-quality or limited-edition items. For fan-made or indie pieces, Etsy, Redbubble, Society6, and TeePublic are goldmines. I’ve bought enamel pins and art prints of Elijah from small Etsy shops — the variety is awesome, and artists will often customize prints or sizes for you. If you’re hunting for collectibles like pops or figures, check Funko’s official store, Entertainment Earth, and eBay for rare listings, but be cautious about authenticity. Displate is my go-to for metal posters if you want a slick Elijah portrait, and for cosplay pieces — rings, pocket watches, tailored coats — Etsy and specialty cosplay stores tend to have the best craftsmanship. A few practical tips: always read seller reviews and look closely at photos (zoom in on seams, print edges, and packaging if possible). Search variations like 'Elijah Mikaelson shirt', 'Elijah Mikaelson poster', or 'Mikaelson ring' to catch more listings. Watch international shipping costs and return policies — I’ve been burned by an overseas seller with a strict no-returns policy once! Lastly, join fandom groups on Facebook or Reddit; people often trade, sell, or post code drops and limited-run merch there, which is how I snagged a signed print last year.

I binge-watched 'The Originals' twice, and Kol Mikaelson's romance is one of the most underrated arcs. While he's known as the wild, rebellious vampire, his relationship with Davina Claire adds layers to his character. Their bond starts as mentor-mentee but evolves into something deeper, blending tragedy and passion. Kol's centuries-old cynicism clashes with Davina's idealism, creating electric chemistry. The show doesn't spoon-feed romance—it's messy, with betrayals and resurrections complicating things. Their love survives death (literally), proving even an 'original' vampire can change. For those craving supernatural romance with bite, this subplot delivers emotional stakes alongside the supernatural ones.

The novel 'Elijah of Buxton' isn't a true story in the strictest sense, but it's deeply rooted in real history. Christopher Paul Curtis crafted a fictional tale set in Buxton, Ontario—a real settlement founded by escaped slaves in the 1840s. Elijah, the protagonist, is an imaginative creation, but the community's resilience, the Underground Railroad's legacy, and the harsh realities of slavery are painstakingly accurate. Curtis blends folklore with historical details, like the Liberty Bell and the settlement's schoolhouse, to ground the story in truth. The emotional weight of Elijah's journey—his innocence colliding with the horrors of slavery—feels authentic because it mirrors countless untold stories of that era. It's historical fiction at its finest: a lie that tells the truth. What makes it compelling is how Curtis uses Elijah's eyes to show Buxton as both a sanctuary and a place where trauma lingers. The novel doesn't shy from brutality—the scene where Elijah witnesses a slave's suffering is ripped from historical accounts—but it also celebrates Black joy and community. The blend of humor and heartbreak feels real because it reflects how life persists even in darkness. While Elijah himself never existed, his story honors those who did.

Freya Mikaelson is an absolute powerhouse of witchcraft, and I love how the shows treat her magic as both ancient ritual and a boiling, emotional force. From her introduction in 'The Originals' to her ties in 'The Vampire Diaries', she’s presented as one of the most versatile and capable witches in that universe. Her abilities aren't just flashy — they’re deliberate, rune-based, ceremonial, and always feel tied to her identity as an Original. That combo of raw power and careful craft is what makes her so compelling to watch: she can throw down with the best of them, but she also thinks in circles, sigils, and family oaths when it matters most. On a practical level, Freya demonstrates a huge toolkit. She’s expert at protection and warding magic — building shields around people, houses, and even whole rooms that block other witches, vampires, and supernatural threats. She’s also elite at binding and banishment spells, locking enemies away or reversing curses. Another big thread is her runic and ritual work: Freya often draws on old Norse symbols and complex incantations to channel very specific outcomes, which makes her rituals feel weighty and consequential. She’s shown strong scrying and locating abilities too, able to track people and objects across distances. In combat she can hurl energy, perform telekinetic pushes, and deliver precise hexes that incapacitate or control foes instead of just blowing them up — which suits her strategic brain. Freya’s also comfortable with darker corners of magic when the story calls for it: blood magic, spirit-binding, and manipulating the supernatural fabric that ties the Mikaelsons together. She heals and mends — repairing magical damage and undoing malevolent enchantments — and she can perform larger-scale rites like resurrecting certain magics or countering ancient spells. Importantly, she’s not invincible; massive rituals need prep, components, or favorable conditions, and draining battles can leave her depleted. There are times when relics, other witches, or emotional trauma blunt her power. Her magic is tied to family and history, which is both a source of strength and a vulnerability — it fuels her best spells but can complicate her judgment when loved ones are at risk. What I really adore is how Freya’s powers are woven into her personality. She’s cerebral and fiercely protective, so her go-to magic often reflects craftiness and care: ornate wards around Hope, clever binds to neutralize threats, and rituals that aren’t just brute-force solutions but moral choices. Watching her balance old-world witchcraft with the messy modern world is a joy, and seeing her step up in desperate moments never fails to thrill me. She's one of those characters who makes you root for both their power and their heart, and that mix keeps me rewatching her best scenes.

I've always liked how Freya's choices in 'The Originals' feel honest and earned, and leaving New Orleans was no exception. The show gives a few overlapping reasons for her departure that add up: the city had become a nonstop battlefield, and Freya, as the Mikaelson family's resident powerhouse witch, kept getting pulled into life-or-death crises. Between the Hollow's chaos, the endless family dramas, and the constant supernatural politics, her time in New Orleans was defined by fixing urgent, traumatic problems. At some point she needed to step away not because she didn’t love her family, but because she had to protect them in a different way — by taking on responsibilities that required distance, focus, and a life that wasn’t just reactive to the next catastrophe. On a more personal level, Freya’s leaving also reads as emotional self-preservation and growth. She’d spent centuries being defined by the Mikaelson name and by other people’s fights; once things settled down enough, she wanted to choose what mattered to her rather than being defined by crisis. That meant tending to witches beyond New Orleans, rebuilding networks that had been shattered, and sometimes finding quieter, healthier rhythms for herself. The show hints that her powers and obligations pull her in other directions — there are communities and threats across the globe who need someone with Freya’s skill set. Leaving was framed less like abandonment and more like taking a different kind of guardianship: protecting the future by choosing when and how to engage, rather than being consumed by constant firefighting. Narratively, it also makes sense: the Mikaelson saga centers heavily on Klaus, Elijah, and the immediate family crises, but Freya’s arc is about reclaiming agency. By stepping away from New Orleans, she gets room to be more than “the witch who saves the family” and to explore what power and family responsibility mean when you’re not always on the frontline. That gives her space to heal, to teach, to travel, or to support other witches and allies in ways the show teases but doesn’t always fully dramatize on screen. For fans, it feels satisfying — Freya leaves with purpose rather than out of defeat, showing growth without erasing all the ties that city and family created. I love that she gets to choose a life that fits her strength and heart; it’s one of those departures that feels realistic for a character who’s been through so much, and it sits right with me.

The main antagonist in 'Kol Mikaelson The Wild Original' is Lucien Castle, a former vampire turned enhanced Original through dark alchemy. This guy isn't just powerful—he's a calculated nightmare. Lucien holds a grudge against the Mikaelsons for centuries, and his vendetta isn't just about revenge; it's about rewriting vampire hierarchy. His enhanced abilities put him on par with Kol, making their clashes brutal. Lucien's intelligence is scarier than his strength—he manipulates allies, exploits weaknesses, and plays psychological games that make Kol question his own family. What makes him terrifying is his lack of humanity; he embraces monstrosity fully, unlike the Mikaelsons, who still cling to some moral lines.