Although Legacies was filled with developed and fleshed-out characters, not all of them received the growth, screen time, or storyline to help keep them as vital to the plot as others. Hope, Josie, and Lizzie were always at the heart of the show. With so much of their story and background fleshed out within the history of The Vampire Diaries Universe, it was going to be hard to compete with the origins of these three characters. However, Legacies still rounded out an essential supporting team. Unfortunately, not everyone got the same treatment, leaving some main or supporting characters with more repetitive storylines or ignoring them altogether.
While Legacies made sure to develop MG as a vampire even without diving into his Ripper side, grew Kaleb without explaining his entire backstory, gave massive development to Jed, and explained Cleo’s complex and fleshed-out backstory; others were never quite as lucky. Ethan’s time on Legacies was sporadic at best during his initial introduction. While Landon was given a developed backstory, his present-day life lacked the same luster. Rafael never got the chance to grow, being pushed to the background far too often. Meanwhile, Finch, who could have grown into an interesting supporting character, never quite managed to gain an intriguing enough storyline or a decent amount of screen time.
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4 Ethan
Warner Brothers Television Distribution
At first, Ethan and his sister Maya came on the scene as Mystic Falls High School students Hope befriended when she returned from Malivore. Ethan also was used as a plot device to show Josie slowly being manipulated to use dark magic when she broke Ethan’s arm. But, when Hope returned to the Salvatore School, Ethan was no longer directly connected to a central character. His use in the plot dwindled, appearing every once in a while without a strong presence. Things changed when MG temporarily transferred to Mystic Falls High. MG befriending Ethan created a dynamic duo of superhero wannabes after MG let Ethan keep his memories of the supernatural.
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When Ethan later joined the Salvatore School, having kept powers from Malivore’s possession and entered a love triangle with Lizzie and MG, his potential grew. Sadly, it was also stunted. Although Ethan and MG continue to work on their friendship, which is Ethan’s most robust storyline, his part of the love triangle with Lizzie never holds a strong emotional point. That is somewhat due to Lizzie being focused on the events following Hope’s transition into a fully activated Tribrid, resulting in her desire for revenge and eventual transition into a Heretic. While noble and tragic, Ethan’s sacrificial death is never quite able to come from a sense of character development. However, his death results in his arrival in Peace and a chance to get one last message from Klaus to Hope.
3 Landon
Given how much Legacies wanted Landon to be vital to the plot, it is disappointing how little he meant to it. Even though he is revealed to be a Phoenix, Landon’s powers are barely explored, and he constantly needs to be saved. His storylines outside of his connections to Malivore and Hope are barely there until season four. Season four uses Landon, but only in a side Limbo plot that continues the entire season. While it plays an integral role in the show’s final episodes, Landon himself feels more like a plot device than a person. No matter how hard Legacies tried to make Landon a big deal, he was never quite able to reach what the show wanted him to be, and at times, it seemed like the series had no idea what to do with him.
2 Rafael
Given Legacies begins with Rafael’s transformation into a werewolf, it seems that he should have had more to do with the plot. But, as it happened, Rafael seemed to be more of a way to get to Landon than to explore Rafael’s changing worldview after discovering the supernatural is real. Other than wishing to be Alpha to fight for Landon to attend the Salvatore School, Rafael does not show that much interest in being Alpha, being willing to leave the Pack behind at various times.
Throughout season two, Rafael is missing for extended periods and barely receives any character growth when he returns. The plot twists revealing that Rafael had died and been resurrected by the Necromancer could have been an exciting storyline, but it is also an excuse when the series needs to write him off. Sadly, this happens right after showing that Rafael is the descendant of King Arthur. Rafael is given a goodbye when he believes he is about to die, but rather than kill him; his friends send him into a Prison World to live with his estranged parents.
1 Finch
At first, Finch is presented as an ordinary girl, showing her potential as a love interest for Josie, who desperately wants to move on after her dark magic possession. Dating an average girl could help Josie focus on things other than magic. Unfortunately, that did not last long after learning Finch was a werewolf. Finch joining the Salvatore School brought Josie back too, but Finch’s role severely diminished soon after.
Besides her relationship with Josie and friendship with Jed, Finch is cut off from the rest of the Super Squad, never quite invited or involved in group activities, especially after Josie left. Afterward, Legacies seemed to have no idea what to do with Finch, even though they had set up the arc of her finding a home in the werewolf Pack, which never gets enough attention. Although Jed and Finch’s friendship set up his willingness to have Finch step up as Alpha in his place, it would have been more satisfying had time been devoted to showing Finch’s bond with the Pack.
