The Vampire Diaries revolved around two major love triangles: The Salvatore Brothers and Katherine; The Salvatore Brothers and Elena. However, there were other love triangles in the show. These triangles provided tension that moved the plot forward. Although the show has been off the air for some time, fans still discuss the love triangles, especially Elena and the Salvatore Brothers: Did she make the right decision or not?
The Originals and Legacies don't disappoint in continuing the love triangle tradition. In The Originals we have more adult-themed triangles with added complications like parenthood. Whereas Legacies is similar to the early seasons of The Vampire Diaries. While these three shows boast more than 10 love triangles, here are the top 10.
Legacies: Emma, Alaric, and Dorian
Alaric's feelings for Emma almost ended his friendship with Dorian. While Emma could say that she kissed Alaric because she was under magical influence, Alaric couldn't use that excuse. Since Dorian and Emma had been an on-again/off-again serious item, Dorian felt that Alaric betrayed his trust and friendship.
This made Alaric not pursue anything further with Emma although the two share a bond. However, now with Emma married to Dorian and giving it a try, it's unlikely that anything will continue with Alaric, at least not for the next few episodes.
The Originals: Hayley, Elijah, Klaus
This is a hard one because Hayley and Klaus had a child, Hope, and Elijah is Klaus's big brother. While Klaus didn't really have romantic feelings for Hayley beyond a one-night stand, he did feel a sense of ownership over her. She was the mother of his child, after all.
Elijah protected and befriended Hayley, helping her out when the other Mikaelsons were less than generous. He tried to keep it at that, but in the end, Hayley and Elijah fell for each other--as much as they resisted. Klaus couldn't argue with their love and stepped back.
The Vampire Diaries: Caroline, Stefan, Valerie, (And Alaric)
This was more of a love square than a love triangle. At this point in the show, Caroline and Stefan were a couple and in love. To protect Caroline, Stefan kept away from her, but he also didn't contact her. By doing so, he abandoned her after she had the twins.
While he was on the run, Valerie came with him. While Caroline was at home, raising her twins, she lived and became engaged to Alaric. Both Valerie and Alaric were nice enough, but there was no real passion. It made sense that Caroline and Stefan got back together, but not after working through piles of hurt.
Legacies: Landon, Hope, Josie
When Hope was forgotten by everyone due to jumping into the abyss called the Malivore, a mystical being that erases the memories of supernatural beings that find themselves stuck there, Landon dated Josie. Even after Hope escaped, she was reluctant to talk to Landon because he seemed really happy with Josie.
Both couples made good pairs; however Josie was more a girlfriend of convenience, and Hope was a girlfriend of epic love. Still, Josie was broken up about Landon's decision to get back with Hope, and truthfully, Landon was a little heartbroken about it as well. Adding more to the love triangle, Josie once had a crush on Hope, too.
The Originals: Elijah, Klaus, Tatia
Elijah and Klaus fell for the same person when they were human. Her name was Tatia, and she was one of the first doppelgangers. While we don't see a lot of screen time between the two brothers and Tatia, it was clear that they both cared for her, and it created a rift between them. Tatia's blood was used by their mother to help in their transition into vampires. For years, Elijah hid what he did to Tatia, his love, and why his mother made hers the blood that united them.
Had Tatia lived, she would have been Elijah's love because she chose him over Klaus. Years later, Elijah and Klaus meet a human-Katherine, a doppelganger of Tatia. Both brothers followed their pattern and competed for Katherine except Klaus wanted to use her blood and Elijah loved her. In this case, Elijah was willing to let Klaus have his way as if to make up for Tatia.
The Vampire Diaries: Caroline, Tyler, Klaus
When Caroline became a vampire, she fell for Tyler. Her friendship with Tyler opened up into a great romance. Although she knew that one bite from Tyler could harm her, she still was there with him when he transitioned into a werewolf in order to help him. When her father wanted to torture the vampire out of her, Tyler stepped up and saved her. These two seemed to become better together, but they were a young love.
Meanwhile, Klaus promised Caroline that he would be her last love and that he was willing to wait for however long it took. He didn't care for Tyler, but he didn't harm Tyler because of Caroline. Klaus was a major villain on The Vampire Diaries, but he opened up with Caroline, admiring and trusting her. Their romance never really developed, but the promise of it was always there.
Legacies: Hope, Landon, Rafael
Hope and Landon have a history from even before Legacies started, having met on The Originals. She had an instant attraction to Landon, and they have the more developed relationship of the series. However, we can't deny that there is chemistry between Rafael and Hope as well. They have an understanding of being werewolves and controlling their anger.
Since Rafael and Landon are best friends and like brothers, Rafael decided not to pursue Hope. Rafael stepped back from his friendship/feelings for Hope. These feelings haven't really gone away, and we could see them together although that would cause serious problems for the best friends.
The Originals: Hayley, Jackson, Elijah
Hayley, an alpha and hybrid, decided to marry Jackson, another alpha. The marriage between the two had been arranged since they were infants. When Hayley discovered her heritage in New Orleans and ran into dangerous situations, Jackson (in wolf form) was always there to protect her.
Despite all this, Hayley loved Elijah. Wanting to talk and establish an end to their flirtation, Hayley approached Elijah who told her to marry Jackson, but then had sex with her, further complicating Hayley's feelings. In the end, Hayley did love Jackson, but she loved Elijah more.
The Vampire Diaries: Katherine, Stefan, Damon
Katherine started the love triangle when she decided to be romantic with both brothers and then turn them into vampires. This love triangle created serious tension between the two brothers for years, and to took several seasons of the show for them to work it out. Damon pined for Katherine, waiting for her, believing her to be imprisoned, and doing everything he could to get her out.
For most of his vampire life, Katherine was the one thing he cared about. Meanwhile, Stefan tried to reason his feelings away, especially since she was a core villain on the show. In the end, Katherine liked both, but she loved Stefan more, something that didn't help the tension between the two brothers.
The Vampire Diaries: Elena, Stefan, Damon
Elena found herself torn between the two brothers. We start the series with Elena and Stefan together. However, Damon is attracted to Elena from the beginning. It could be that both brothers were initially drawn to Elena because she looked like Katherine.
Damon continuously tried to win Elena over, and Elena was unwilling to admit that she had fallen in love with him at the same time that she was dating his brother, Stefan. In the latter seasons, Elena ended up with Damon. Still, fans to this day, debate which brother she should have ended up with--Damon or Stefan? So, the love triangle continues even after the story does not.