On The Vampire Diaries, Katrina Petrova, aka "Katherine Pierce" is arguably the show's biggest villain but also a polarizing character. How does this cunning, self-serving, manipulative liar manage to instill tolerance, empathy, and even mercy in those she's wronged?
Hedonistic predilections aside, the driving force behind Katherine's actions is simple: she wants something or someone. Her survival instinct is the result of running from Klaus Mikaelson for 500 years. Fans get to know Katherine throughout the series, but she's also elusive and secretive which means there are still some question marks where Katherine is concerned.
Is There Any Ancestral Connection Between Katherine And Elena?
For the first two seasons, Elena there is supposed to be a direct biological connection between Katherine and Elena. The presumption is that Katherine's daughter keeps the Petrova bloodline intact since Klaus murders the rest of Katherine's family. On the season 4 finale, Silas tells Stefan doppelgangers are a byproduct of his and Qetsiyah's immortality spell. Nature created a version of himself and Amara who could die -- doppelgangers. There's an implied bloodline among the doppelgangers even though it makes no sense.
While it's feasible that Tatia is genetically connected to Amara, and Katherine is descended from Tatia's offspring, Katherine's daughter, Nadia, never mentions having any children, and it's difficult to imagine her abandoning them if she did to spend centuries searching for her mother. This makes it hard to explain Isobel's connection to Katherine and therefore Elena's.
Why Does Katherine Choose To Come To Mystic Falls In 1864?
In 1864, Katherine arrives in Mystic Falls, but what is her motivation for settling in the small town? One of her oldest and closest friends, Pearl, is already living there with her daughter. There are others and some, including Pearl, have amassed considerable property and other assets that are taken from them after they are presumed dead after the church fire.
Whether Pearl suggests Katherine comes to Mystic Falls or Katherine knows of Pearl's whereabouts and decides on her own the town is as good as a place to hide from Klaus is unknown. Maybe she's just drawn to the supernatural hub.
How Does Katherine End Up Living With The Salvatores?
Katherine creates a persona for herself before arriving in Mystic Falls. She's an orphan who loses everything during the Civil War. It is because of her circumstances that she is invited to seek refuge with Giuseppe Salvatore and his sons. But how does Giuseppe learn of Katherine, and why does he make this offer?
The Salvatore patriarch isn't exactly warm and fuzzy, and later seasons reveal him to be abusive and cruel, making him an unlikely Airbnb host. The connection between Giuseppe and Katherine before her living under his roof is never established.
What Are Katherine's True Feelings For Damon?
Katherine's emotional connection to Damon is a question mark. She tells Damon she never loved him, but contradicts herself when she says to Elena "It's okay to love them both. I did."
Rather than allow Damon to perish from a werewolf bite, Katherine delivers Klaus' blood, but she doesn't care if he dies daggering Elijah. She comes to Damon for help when she's mortal, but she callously rejects him when posing as Elena, choosing to pursue Stefan. The best way to describe Katherine's relationship with the elder Salvatore brother is "It's complicated."
Why Does Katherine Tell Elena How To Bungle Klaus' Ritual Sacrifice?
After Katherine is trapped in the Vampire's Tomb during season 2, Elena visits her hoping to find out more about Klaus. As Katherine recounts her long history with the nastiest member of the Original family, she reveals the like all magic, the spell to break the "Hybrid Curse" has a loophole: it requires a human doppelganger.
Elena has no desire to become a vampire and endanger everyone she cares about. Klaus' rumored thirst for vengeance outweighs her desire to follow in Katherine's footsteps. Katherine counts on Elena to do the right thing, but by giving her doppelganger an out, Katherine risks jeopardizing her plans, knowing if anyone crosses Klaus, everyone dies.
What Are The Details Surrounding Katherine's Escape From Klaus In 1492?
Katherine's cunning and mastery at manipulation have been explained as learned behaviors over time; necessary tools to survive life on the run. She learns of her fate from Trevor, but does she trick him into revealing Klaus' plans for her, or does he offer the information freely?
Aside from telling Katherine she's the key component of a ritual sacrifice, what other secrets does he divulge? He knows Katherine's useless to Klaus if she's no longer human. Is he the one who explains the complexities of transitioning, or does Katherine figure it out on her own? If he reveals this loophole, why does he feel betrayed? How large a role does Trevor play in Katherine's journey from clueless to duplicitous?
Why Doesn't Katherine Kill Elena After Klaus Becomes A Hybrid?
During season 2, it's in Katherine's best interest to keep Elena alive and well. By doing so, she hopes to gain Klaus' forgiveness and regain her freedom.
Elena survives the ritual, so why doesn't Katherine kill her? Doppelgangers have a strong impulse to torment their look-a-likes and try to undo their lives. Katherine does inflict some damage in the aftermath of the ritual, stealing the cure for vampirism and indirectly killing Jeremy by handing him over to Silas. She eventually goes after Elena, but she chooses to strike when Elena is a vampire, making her less vulnerable.
How Long Is Katherine In Mystic Falls Before She Reveals Herself?
Katherine reveals herself during the season 2 premiere, "The Return," but she's been hiding in plain sight for quite some time. She compels her way into the Gilbert's home, and she pumps Caroline for details about Elena's life.
Katherine isn't about to leave anything to chance when it comes to her plan to free herself from Klaus. not leaving anything to chance. Katherine doesn't just roll back up into town and immediately look up her exes, so how long before announcing her return does she hang out in Mystic Falls?
Is Katherine A Witch?
Katherine's father banned his family from doing Traveler -- a faction of witches who don't derive their power from nature -- magic because he believed it was the "Devil's work." Once Katherine is human again, her ability to do magic is back in the mix.
If Katherine can cast the Passenger spell during season 5, it means theoretically she could jump-start her other Traveler gifts as well. Katherine's existence is heavily intertwined with magic thanks to being a doppelganger, but when she dies is she a former vampire which is how she lives for 500 years, or a Traveler since her bloodline dates back two millennia? As in death, Katherine is as complex as she is in life.
How Is Katherine Able To Jump Into Elena's Body?
As Katherine's human body gives out during season 5, it looks like she's made the selfless choice to die instead of using Traveler magic. Her deathbed drama is spot on, allowing her to jump into an unsuspecting Elena.
How does she manage this without alerting Bonnie something is up? Bonnie is the Anchor to the Other Side, and she's the last face supernatural beings see before crossing over or being sucked into a dark void. Katherine never makes an appearance, and Bonnie doesn't stop to question why.