Legacies is the third installment in The Vampire Diaries universe. Like its predecessor, The Originals, the series takes already existing characters from the universe and places them front and center. Hope Mikaelson first made an appearance in The Originals as the baby the Mikaelson siblings were determined to protect at all costs. Through the years, Hope grew up spending the fourth season as a young girl and the final installment as a teenager. In Legacies, Hope picks up the mantle, leading the Salvatore School students through an array of monsters.
But Hope is not the only character that could constitute the lead. Josie and Lizzie Saltzman were also previously shown as young children in The Vampire Diaries and teenagers in The Originals. They have actively participated in defeating monsters and have had significant storylines of their own. Hope may be the most powerful character in the series, but there are alternative options for the main character.
With an Original Hybrid father, werewolf mother, and witch grandmother, Hope Mikaelson became the first-ever Tribrid and is the only of her kind. Hope is unique in the supernatural world and one of the most powerful beings in the Salvatore School. Although Hope only has access to her witch and werewolf sides, Hope is one of the most essential and prominent characters. Legacies may consider unleashing Hope's vampire side at some point in the future, but it remains an intriguing possibility for now.
MG is one of the only central vampires in Legacies. Although MG hasn't gotten to experience the entirety of vampirism yet, it is still something that may occur in the future. So far, the series has hinted at MG's Ripper nature.
The most important elements of MG's character have less to do with being a vampire and more to do with the type of person he is normally. As of season three, MG has taken a step back from the Salvatore School and enrolled in Mystic Falls High School. If given more space to grow, MG could be considered one of the most influential characters.
Only a few other characters can share such a title. Hope Mikaelson and Josie, and Lizzie Saltzman made appearances in The Vampire Diaries and The Originals. With Hope's name comes a thousand years of family, enemies, and stories as one of the only characters to have a history previous to the beginning of Legacies. It allows Hope's backstory to be more fulfilled and explored. As the main character, Hope isn't only the lead of the series, but she also comes from the powerful Mikaelson family.
Especially in early season 3 episodes, Landon has become the center of attention. Between Malivore being Landon's father, him being the first Phoenix introduced in The Vampire Diaries Universe, and so many storylines being about him, Landon makes a great possibility for the main character. Landon has already died and come back to life numerous times, but his death in 'Hold On Tight' has been one of the most significant as it was the first time it appeared that Landon's fate was uncertain.
If there is one continuous true aspect of Hope Mikaelson, she tends to be the hero. Hope sacrifices herself to Malivore, believing that she is the key to destroying it, which would stop the endless monsters and save her friends.
Hope has thrown herself in danger several times to protect and save others. Often, Hope will place herself second in the hopes that her actions will make those she loves safe.
Lizzie Saltzman could easily be the main character. She began as looking out more for herself and tended to flake on what Josie wanted. However, Lizzie decided to take action to change that and has come a long way. Lizzie's character development has seen her understanding that she can support Josie even if Lizzie doesn't love her choices.
It has also shown Lizzie's friendship with MG expanding as she begins to contemplate what he means to her. Lizzie is a powerful witch, an aspect that constantly gets reinforced. She has also put herself in danger to protect the people she cares about.
Hope's friendships are some of the most prominent in the series. Most notably, with Josie and Lizzie, it is continually reinforced that Hope cares deeply for her friends. Hope's dynamic with the twins has gone through several stages, showing Hope being friends with Josie and antagonistic with Lizzie until that dynamic became a close friendship as well.
Hope and the twins have shown how much they care about each other and what they would be willing to do to save each other in the face of danger. They have also proved that the trio works very well as a team.
Josie let others walk over her for a long time, mostly staying in her sister's shadow, wanting Lizzie to be happy. As time went on, Josie began stepping out of that role, whether through her friendship with Hope or her own choosing to be herself. Legacies let Josie go dark, showing her overwhelmed and possessed by dark magic, eventually becoming one of the series's biggest villains.
Josie's trauma from the unsuccessful Merge, killing Alyssa Chang, and everything else Josie did with the darkness continues to haunt her throughout the third season as she transfers to Mystic Falls High School and places her magic into a coin, wishing to step away from magic until she believes she can handle it again.
Various characters have had romantic storylines, but Hope and Landon are by far the most prominent. They were looked at as a romantic pairing from the beginning, and their relationship grew the longer they spent together. While the two have been separated by several things, such as Landon's choices to leave multiple times, everyone forgetting Hope, and Landon's death, their romance was still entwined in the series's plot.
There may not be one specific main character with so many different characters, relationships, and supernatural creatures. Instead, the group as a whole may qualify as an ensemble. Many characters are going on their own journey, and not every event is about one person in particular.
Legacies needs many of its central characters to function, and in that regard, the series may work best with all the characters working on exciting journeys rather than a focus on any one person.
