The spin-off, The Originals had really well-developed characters in the franchise. Of course, the audiences had witnessed some characters in The Vampires Diaries as well, so they had a lot of room to grow and their transformation was quite organic. Fans may find some main characters on The Originals are harder to root for, but each character development was quite intriguing and well-paced.
It's tricky to define a character with a one-liner or one joke since the main leads are not one-dimensional. Even the most daunting villains on the show are nuanced and complex with intricate backstories. But the show does feature some very telling lines that shed light on each character's fundamental traits.
Elijah - "To Me, The Very Definition Of The Word 'Broken' Suggests That Something Can Be Fixed"
Though he was a believer in redemption, Elijah's goodness wasn't naive. While he could be merciless towards his enemies, he wasn't judgmental or self-righteous. He had walked the earth long enough to understand the realities of the human condition, this also made him one of the smartest characters on The Originals.
He had said these words to Hayley in season 1 when she pointed out how fraught the relationship was between Elijah and his brother Klaus. Elijah never stopped believing that Klaus can earn his redemption, in fact in many ways his pursuit of peace, unity and redemption for his family defined him, so these words outline Elijah's priorities accurately.
Marcel - "You'll Never Have Loyalty. You Can't Buy It, You Can't Own it, It Comes Only Out Of Love"
In season 1, after returning to New Orleans, Klaus usurps Marcel's power. In the process, he ends up killing many vampires of Marcel's army. But as intimidating as Marcel's reign over New Orleans was, it wasn't based on the supremacy of wealth or something materialistic, he had worked for over a century to build the city and simply commanded fealty from many people.
Marcel's idea of loyalty and allyship would go on to mark some of his most significant storylines on the show. So when he tells Klaus that he can take away his home but not his position in the town or the loyalties he enjoys, in a way that is a prediction for his arc.
Cami - "Love Will Make You Strong"
Cami believed in Klaus even though she had witnessed some of his darkest episodes. She had been a friend, ally, and his closest confidante and was clearly a positive influence on Klaus because she was able to steer him away from some of his toxic patterns. This made her one of the best characters on The Originals.
"Love will make you strong. It will make you the man that I know you want to be, and you have to remember that because I won't be here to remind you," Cami tells Klaus in season 3 right before she dies. Cami consistently helped Klaus to identify the goodness in himself and these lines actually outline her character perfectly because throughout the show she had pushed Klaus to be better than he thought he was.
Hope - "Every Family Has A Legacy, And This Is Mine"
Hope has been aware of her origins and her family from a very young age; it's true that much like her father and uncle, she too has a unique supernatural existence and has inherited a complicated legacy. But Hope has also witnessed how fiercely her family had fought to protect her and the sacrifices they have made, particularly her parents and uncle who gave their lives so she could live.
So when she acknowledges her legacy in season 5 and vows to fight for it, it was a milestone moment for her that would go on to define her future storylines.
Kol - "In Every Moment A Choice Exists"
Kol's season 2 monologue about choice is significant because it's self-referential; it's indicative of his transformation on the show and how he himself chose to let go of the deep angst against his family. He had always been a wild card, with an unstable relationship with his siblings.
He had felt wronged by his family and actually thought they did not care whether he lived or died. But his sentiments change significantly during the show, he acknowledges his past mistakes and makes peace with his brothers, and this also made him one of the most likable characters on The Originals.
Hayley - "Sometimes, When I Feel Like It's Me Against The World, It Keeps Me Going"
Hayley was one of the toughest characters on the show. Despite being an outsider, she had been able to stay her ground when it came to dealing with the Mikaelsons and also against the threats in New Orleans. These words may be a throwback to her sad childhood because she grew up as an orphan feeling lost and abandoned and was extremely protective of her own daughter Hope.
These words encapsulate Hayley's spirit and her resilience perfectly because many a time she had to fight her own battles when she was cornered or isolated and had only her strengths to rely on.
Rebekah - "Everything We Love, We Turn To Ash"
Rebekah became more and more disillusioned with her vampiric existence and there came a point when her past and her family's history weighed heavy on her. She sought the cure because she wanted a regular human existence and a family with Marcel, but this was also a way for her to leave some of her past traumas behind.
Rebekah had clearly evolved after Hope's birth, as she saw her family fight to protect the child. It's possible that her love for Hope was in a way a reality check for her. And these words give a clear picture as to how aware she was of her family's terrible legacy and was quite haunted by it.
Freya - "Family Defines You Even if It Does Demand Sacrifice"
Freya's storyline was largely defined by the sacrifices she had to make just so her family could be immortal. She was given away by Esther to her sister Dahlia, according to a deal they had struck. Freya's curse allowed her to be awake for one year per century but despite the heavy cost she had to pay she was ready to give her life for her family.
Clearly, she valued family ties more dearly than some of her siblings considering her history and these words actually spell out exactly how loyal she was to her family.
Davina - "The Question Is What The Hell Would You Do Without Me"
Davina was extraordinarily gifted and she was acutely aware of the extent of her powers because she has also had to suffer for it. Despite being Marcel's instrument of destruction in season 1, Davina clearly made her own decisions and fought her own battles.
The fact that she knew exactly how powerful she was as a witch also made her a lot more assertive and despite her youth, she was coveted as an ally. When she demands to be made the regent of the nine covens she knew exactly what she brought to the table and also what the others would be up against if they refused. These words define her dynamic sense of self-awareness and tenacity accurately.
Klaus - "The Line Between What Brings Us Pain And What Sustains Us Is Far Thinner Than One Imagines"
These may be the most poignant words ever spoken by Klaus and they're also very definitive of his predicament. In The Originals, he realizes how his family's tainted legacy had driven most of his actions for centuries. Throughout the show, Klaus came to terms with how his inner demons were mostly the result of his dysfunctional family, and yet he could never really remove himself from his legacy.
As he himself pointed out once that he called Mikael his father because he had caused damage only a father can cause. His words are a look into his psyche which was heavily influenced by the knowledge of his past and how it had scarred him for life.