The Originals are the most dangerous vampires on The Vampire Diaries but there are several times when they die throughout the young adult drama's eight seasons. The Mikaleson family includes parents Mikael (Sebastian Roché) and Esther (Natalie Dreyfuss) and children Freya (Riley Voelkel), Elijah (Daniel Gillies), Henrik (Devon Allowitz), Rebekah (Claire Holt), Kol (Nathaniel Buzolic), and Finn (Casper Zafer) and Esther's son Klaus (Joseph Morgan), who is half-siblings with the other characters. The Originals are the very first vampires and they are quicker and mightier than other kinds, which sets them apart and makes them a serious threat.
The Mikaelson family are part of TVD spin-offs The Originals and Legacies, which proves their importance in the franchise's lore. They can be killed using a White Oak Stake, which is magical and will stop the spell that creates original vampires. This is different from a White Ash Oak Dagger, which can't kill an Original Vampire but will stop their power for a while. They can also be killed by an Upgraded Original Vampire's venom. Several Original Vampires are killed during the series, and each time, the other characters are affected.
Finn Mikaelson
In season 3, episode 18, "The Murder of One," Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) and Matt Donovan (Zach Roerig) kill Finn Mikaelson using the White Oak Stake. In contrast to TVD deaths that are permanent, when an Original Vampire is murdered, there is often the chance that they will come back, and Finn appears again in season 3 of The Originals when Upgraded Original Vampire Lucien Castle (Andrew Lees) gives him venom, which is another way to kill these creatures. The lead-up to Finn's death is tense and dramatic, with Rebekah going after Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder) for reading her mind about the stake.
This Original death is one of the most unforgettable because only a few episodes later, in the season 3 finale, Elena transitions into a vampire. While Klaus's death is shocking since he is the unofficial leader of the family, Finn's is just as impactful because Elena kills him, which is a contrast to her usual peaceful nature. Later, Elena will develop feelings for Damon and then become a vampire, so this is a hint that after she transitions, these violent scenes will become part of her regular routine and won't stand out as much.
Although none of the Original Vampire deaths are sad since they are enemies of the Salvatore brothers and the other characters, Finn is a contrast to the other Mikaelson children as he supports their mother no matter what and will always take her side. This leads to a long-standing family rivalry, which emphasizes that even though the Salvatores hate the Mikaelsons, not every Original Vampire gets along. Finn's death empowers Elena, who realizes that beating evil is actually possible.
Mikael Mikaelson
While there are several types of vampires in TVD, the Originals are the most dangerous, and since Mikael is the patriarch of his family, it's particularly surprising when he is killed by his very own son. The conclusion of Mikael's arc involves lying, tricks, and manipulation on the part of Elena's doppelganger Katherine Pierce (Dobrev). In season 3, episode 9, "Homecoming," Katherine stabs Mikael to influence Klaus to return to Mystic Falls and pretends to be Elena. Klaus kills Mikael with the stake, which results in a showdown between Klaus and Stefan, who explains that Stefan will murder the whole Mikaelson clan if Klaus attacks anyone else.
Mikael's death leads to an argument between Stefan and Damon, with Damon wondering why they couldn't murder Klaus and end their rivalry for good. Because Klaus shared with Katherine that Damon will die if he is murdered, Stefan does what he can to save his brother. Even Elena choosing Damon over Stefan doesn't end the love that the Salvatore siblings have for one another, and their bond remains powerful throughout the entire series. Each time they go up against an Original Vampire and win, they become closer. While they are not the ones to kill Mikael, they do appreciate the fact that he is gone.
It's compelling that Klaus is the one who murders his father, as it would be more expected for Damon or Stefan to do so. However, Mikael is a harsh parent who treats his family poorly, and Klaus has been dreaming about getting revenge for the way that he was raised. Although this background doesn't create sympathy for Klaus, since he is still evil and a problem for the other characters, it does explain why he is so determined.
Klaus Mikaelson
Elena and Katherine are Petrova doppelgangers, which is why Klaus is so interested in both of them as he has been cursed and if he locates these doppelgangers and moonstone, he can be free. In season 2, episode 8, "Rose," Stefan and Rose (Lauren Cohan) talk about the threat that Klaus poses, which sets up his fear-inducing presence in Mystic Falls and which is why his death is so memorable. In season 3, episode 22, "The Departed," Bonnie Bennett (Kat Graham) works her magic so Klaus dies but, in a plot twist, Klaus is now in Tyler Lockwood's (Michael Trevino) body.
It was believed that the Salvatore brothers would die when Klaus did though an unlinking spell on The Original rectified that. As Damon and Stefan are hundreds of years old by the series finale and Klaus permanently died far before that, the spell worked. In TVD, it never appears that Klaus's death would be permanent since he is so powerful and if he was gone forever, that would feel unrealistic. Still, this moment is one of celebration for the other characters, who at least know that they can stop him temporarily.
Season 3 is an important part of The Vampire Diaries since this is before Elena becomes a vampire and when she is still uncertain about her love life. Klaus's death is the impetus for Elena to decide that, at least right now, she wants to be with Stefan. The show excels in sharing Elena's real feelings for both brothers and the fact that while Damon excites her, Stefan has always kept her safe and shown that he cares about her well-being, which she appreciates.
Kol Mikaelson
Jeremy Gilbert (Steven R. McQueen) changes and becomes more powerful, which allows him to kill Kol via stake in season 4, episode 12, "A View To Kill." Kol is brought back to life in season 2 of The Originals by Esther and then passes away later, but his first death still matters. This storyline is fairly complex, as Jeremy and Elena think that Klaus will be happy since Kol kept the cure close to his body and now they can access it, but Klaus shares that he has moved on from the dream of creating hybrids.
While they knew that Klaus was manipulative and untrustworthy, this plotline emphasizes that fact for Elena and Jeremy, who are reminded that they can't listen to anything that he says. It also shares the power behind the White Oak Stake in TVD, as when the characters are able to use it, they are confident that they can beat the Originals.
When Kol is killed on The Vampire Diaries, it's a little more emotional than when his family members die, given the fact that his siblings don't care for him and he is never given a chance to redeem himself or bond with them more. They have never been able to relate to one another, and since he stays dead after coming back to life once more, he doesn't get the opportunity to fix their poor relationship.