Klaus and Marcel from The Vampire Diaries' spin-off show The Originals have a complicated relationship. The Original hybrid adopted Marcel and raised him as his ward whilst establishing dominion over New Orleans during the 1800s before fleeing the French Quarter.
Klaus returns to New Orleans and reunites with Marcel in the show's first season. The two become entangled in a cat-and-mouse game over control of the city which eventually descends into all-out war. Klaus may have raised Marcel from childhood but there is plenty of bad blood between this father and son...
Klaus Stopped Marcel From Being With Rebekah
Marcel and Rebekah fell in love whilst he was still human and the ward of her brother Klaus. Klaus loved them both but couldn't stand to see them love each other. He daggered Rebekah for 52 years and prevented the lovers from being together.
Klaus is dangerously controlling especially when it comes to his little sister. Although Marcel loved Rebekah and declared that he would marry her one day, Klaus denied him the chance to be happy with her.
Marcel Lured Mikael To New Orleans To Kill Klaus
The only person Klaus has ever truly feared is his stepfather Mikael. The Original hybrid spent centuries running from Mikael until he and his siblings eventually made a home for themselves in New Orleans.
In season one, we learn that it was Marcel and Rebekah who lured Mikael to New Orleans. Klaus was standing in the way of their love so they enlisted the help of the witch Genevieve to call Mikael to the city so he could finally kill Klaus. Although Klaus raised him as a child, Marcel chose Rebekah over his adopted father.
Klaus Challenged Marcel For Control Of New Orleans
Klaus returns to New Orleans in the fourth season of The Vampire Diaries and immediately grows envious of Marcel's rule over the city. Marcel rules the French Quarter with an iron fist and an army of loyal vampires who stand with him against the Originals.
In The Originals, Klaus continues his fight against Marcel and wins back control of the French Quarter. His jealousy got the better of him as he couldn't stand to see his adopted son ruling over the city he built.
Marcel Daggered Klaus And Kept Him Away From His Daughter For Five Years
Marcel is distraught after Davina's death and blames Klaus and the Original family for her murder. He daggers the Original hybrid with Papa Tunde's blade in revenge and imprisons him for five years, keeping him away from his daughter Hope.
Marcel viewed Davina as his adopted daughter and lashes out after her death. He makes is clear by daggering Klaus that his surrogate daughter means more to him than his adopted father figure.
The Mikaelsons Stopped Marcel From Bringing Davina Back To Life
The Mikaelsons honor family above all despite their differences and, to them, Davina was not part of the family. Marcel is distraught after Kol kills her whilst under the influence of the Ancestors in season three. He enlists Freya's help and she almost succeeds in bringing Davina back until Elijah intervenes.
The Mikaelsons needed the power of the Ancestors to defeat Lucien and sacrificed Davina's chance to be resurrected to save themselves. Davina's soul is shredded by the angry spirits and Marcel exacts revenge on Klaus and his siblings after being given Lucien's serum.
Marcel Forced Klaus To Turn Him Into A Vampire
Klaus initially didn't want to turn Marcel into a vampire, despite his ward's wishes. The Original feared that all of the good in Marcel that he admired would be lost after he transitioned. Marcel eventually forces his hand after he is shot by the Governor, his biological father, whilst freeing slaves.
Marcel knew that Klaus didn't want him to become a vampire but, instead of heeding his friend and father figure's advice, instigated his transition to fulfill his wishes. In that regard, he and Klaus are alike. Both characters look out for themselves above all others.
Klaus Was Jealous Of Marcel's Other Friends
Throughout The Originals, we see that Marcel is a charismatic and capable King of New Orleans. Marcel exacts justice on his enemies but treats his followers with kindness. They regard him as their friend and respect him more than they respect Klaus.
Klaus is enraged with envy by Marcel's dominion over the French Quarter. He craves the respect and loyalty that Marcel's friends show him and is infuriated by his lack of control over the city, as well as his weak presence in Marcel's life.
Klaus Killed Marcel's Followers
Klaus wastes little time reestablishing his reign over the French Quarter after returning to New Orleans in The Originals. He makes a powerful display of biting Marcel's friend and follower Thierry, only to cure the vampire with his blood afterward.
Klaus kills more of Marcel's followers after the vampire king sends his army to defeat the Original. Klaus may consider Marcel his family - sometimes - but the lives of Marcel's friends and loved one meant nothing to him.
Marcel And Rebekah Tried To Bury Klaus In The Garden
Marcel and Rebekah team up against Klaus again in season one. Marcel plots to bury him in the Garden and sends his army to overwhelm the Original. Klaus is almost overpowered, before turning the tables and slaughtering many of Marcel's minions.
Klaus is too strong even for the combined forces of countless vampires. He forces Marcel to submit to him and declare him the new king of the city, to the dismay of Marcel's followers.
They Fought Each Other
Klaus and Marcel's complex relationship comes to a head in the show's fourth season. Marcel keeps Klaus captive for five years before banishing the Original siblings from the city. Although he helps them protect Hope from the Hollow, refuses to forgive Klaus for Davina's death and the two come to blows.
With Lucien's serum, Marcel is more than a match for the Original hybrid. The two eventually set aside their differences to defeat the Hollow and the series concludes with Marcel and Rebekah leaving for New York and together at last.