The Most Heartbreaking Original Character Arc in The Vampire Diaries

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Despite being labeled as a teen fantasy series, “The Vampire Diaries” has managed to last nearly a decade due to its complex and multidimensional character development. Characters like Elena, Damon, Stefan, and Klaus have captivated audiences with their rich and tragic pasts, but there is one character whose journey, though overlooked, was the most heart-wrenching: Finn Mikaelson. Typically seen as a secondary figure in “TVD” because of his limited screen time, a closer examination of Finn’s life would make Klaus and Rebekah seem almost two-dimensional by comparison.

Despite the fact that all members of the Mikaelson family had troubled pasts, Finn experienced even more hardship and was consequently mistreated by his brothers and sisters. His siblings – Klaus, Elijah, Kol, and Rebekah – were born in a town that eventually became Mystic Falls after their parents, Esther and Mikael, relocated to the New World. However, Finn was born in Norway. With his parents, he embarked on a dangerous voyage to a new country, but a choice made by his mother forever altered their lives. Tragically, Finn never got to live as an Original due to being forgotten by his siblings.

Finn Was the Oldest Original Who Never Lived His Life

In simpler terms, when Finn transformed, he was significantly older compared to the others, who were in their teenage or early twenties. This was because he had witnessed his elder sister Freya being taken away by his Aunt Dahlia, a secret that weighed heavily on him and his mother. Esther deceived Mikael, telling him that Freya had died from the plague rather than revealing the truth about her kidnapping. Finn bore a greater burden among his siblings due to this experience, which brought him closer to their mother. His maturity allowed him to understand situations better than the other Mikaelsons, making him stand out.

Regrettably, Klaus was a tyrant who craved power, using his influence to dominate his siblings. In an unimaginable act, he took a terrible turn with his eldest brother. When the Brotherhood of the Five stabbed the Originals, Klaus miraculously survived. However, instead of freeing Finn from the dagger, he allowed him to remain in that state. Finn was only able to live as an Original for a century before being locked away for nine centuries. This betrayal wasn’t just about Klaus’ actions; it also ran deep because even Rebekah, Elijah, and Kol forgot about Finn for nine centuries. Despite being daggered themselves for limited periods, they spent significantly more time out of the coffin than in it.

When Elijah, Kol, and Rebekah emerged from their coffins, they had a golden opportunity to collaborate and rescue their brother trapped within another coffin. Sadly, Finn seemed to be overlooked by his entire family, and it was heartrending to note that he was starting to stir from unconsciousness inside the coffin. Unlike Rebekah and Kol who were unconscious after being daggered, Finn had been motionless for such a prolonged period that consciousness was slowly returning to him. He experienced a torrent of feelings and emotions, but was unable to act due to the White Oak-dipped stake impaled in his chest, leaving him immobilized.

When Klaus intentionally harmed his other siblings, but unjustifiably imprisoned his eldest brother Finn inside a coffin for no discernible reason, it was utterly wicked and inhumane. It’s inconceivable that Klaus didn’t realize Finn would eventually regain consciousness, yet he continued to keep him confined against his will. For 900 years of his immortal life, Finn was trapped, unable to savor the advantages of being an Original like his other siblings. His existence was effectively erased by his own kin, which is abhorrent.

Tragedy Plagued The Mikaelsons, But He Had the Saddest Arc

Despite having tumultuous origins that led to difficult lives, the Mikaelson family endured much hardship. From being pursued by their father to losing their brother Henrik, they faced numerous trials. However, it was Finn who experienced the most turmoil due to his family’s actions. He was forced to conceal the truth about Freya’s fate and hide it from his siblings as well. Moreover, he was granted barely a century of living as an Original before Klaus decided to entomb him.

The poignancy of Finn’s journey was heightened by the fact that he’d discovered a soulmate during his century of liberation. However, due to his continued confinement for another 900 years, he couldn’t truly be with her. Sage was the first vampire Finn transformed, and their bond was profound. Yet, Esther disapproved of her. Despite this, Finn had chosen Sage as his companion, but their love story lacked a future. With Finn being impaled, they were unable to be together for nine centuries, which made their romance one of the saddest tales.

What made Klaus’ choice to leave Finn daggered so disappointing was that it wasn’t based on any substantial argument. Finn had consistently advocated for compassion and humanity, dissuading his siblings from taking lives. He wished to preserve their lives and hoped they would exhibit more mercy and kindness towards humans. However, Klaus found Finn’s perspective dull and decided unilaterally to ruin his brother’s existence. Finn endured torment within his coffin and missed out on the opportunity to be with his true love. For a series like , this was the most heartbreaking turn of events.

Finn Turned On Himself Because Of Klaus

Alone in the shadows, Finn underwent a profound transformation. Despite his reluctance, seeing himself abandoned stirred within him a deep understanding of his family’s ruthlessness. He came to grasp the brutal nature of his siblings and the destruction they caused, not just among themselves but across the world with their eternal lives and immense power. This revelation led Finn to believe that the Originals were an unnatural abomination, a violation against the natural order. As a result, he decided to align himself with Esther in her quest to end her children’s lives for good.

She also believed that transforming her children into Originals was a tragic error, and in an effort to rectify this, Esther decided to eliminate them all. Finn, who had just been freed from his dagger imprisonment, opted to assist his mother as he no longer wished to be involved in the misery that the Mikaelsons were known for inflicting on others. Working together with Esther at the Mikaelson Ball, Finn aimed to bind Klaus, Rebekah, Kol, Elijah, and himself, ensuring that the demise of one would result in the demise of all.

Despite the attempt being unsuccessful, tragically, Finn became the first Original character to perish on the series. Although he was brought back to life in “The Originals,” his storyline on “TVD” ended abruptly and poignantly. Matt managed to stake Finn through the heart with a White Oak Stake, causing him to instantly die and turn into flames. In a tragic echo of Shakespearean drama, Sage also met her end shortly afterwards, as the death of an Original also claimed their descendants. Although Finn’s life was filled with suffering and misery in retrospect, it was a poetic fate for him.

At last, Matt found a chance to lead his life, but instead, he ended another’s for good. Finn had always wished to spare his kin from harm, but being imprisoned altered him profoundly, causing him to turn against himself due to the abuse inflicted by his brother. Finn never truly experienced life outside of confinement, and upon escaping once, he was swiftly murdered. His storyline in The Vampire Diaries is undeniably heart-wrenching.

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2025-06-01 17:22