Legacies season 3: It’s time to move on from Malivore

Will the Super Squad ever defeat Malivore? Legacies has been asking that question since the main characters discovered Malivore existed. But, since Malivore is still around as the main villain in Legacies season 3, it is tough to tell.

Legacies has worked with a monster-of-the-week format since the beginning. By doing so, there have been numerous antagonists visit and attack the Salvatore students and school. But, behind it all, Malivore has reigned supreme as the show’s central villain, and it’s time to move on.

While Malivore occasionally gets screen time, he is a pile of mud for the most part. His intentions, motivations, and desires were explained but never truly explored or justified. Malivore has never had the opportunity to describe his own story, with Clarke, the Necromancer, and Cleo having to step in to describe a lot of Malivore’s backstory.

Still, Legacies has spent its run dealing with the same villain, and not much about Malivore suggests that he was worth so much time as the show’s Big Bad.

When it comes to defeating Malivore, teases and hints have been suggested since Hope first jumped into the Malivore pit in “There’s Always A Loophole.” Having the blood of a witch, werewolf, and vampire, Hope believes herself to be the key to destroying their enemy, but she is missing the key components. So instead, Hope is released from Malivore’s confinements after a few months.

Such storylines reveal that Hope’s blood is toxic to Malivore, which was proven when having sex with Landon leads to his death because he is Malivore’s son. Legacies season 3 is the first time that the narrative has moved forward with suggestions to vanquish Malivore while also giving him more urgency in the story.

Cleo informing Hope that by going full Tri-brid, she can truly beat Malivore gets Hope thinking, and it is the closest anyone has had to an answer yet. However, no one is in a rush to have Hope activate her vampire side, including Hope herself.

Does Legacies season 3 prove it’s time to find a new villain?

Still, if Legacies wants Malivore to continue to be an asset to the storyline, then the last episodes of the third season have moved in the right direction. Knowing Hope may be the key to everything is not a risk Josie and Lizzie are willing to take either, and they make Hope promise that the three of them will find an alternative and conquer Malivore together.

But, in the meantime, Legacies had one more Malivore trick up its sleeve. Malivore had wanted to use Landon as a vessel, and during “Fate’s a Bitch, Isn’t It?” it is finally revealed that Malivore had succeeded.

By doing that, Legacies accomplishes what it has yet to do previously; it gives Malivore a true voice. By possessing Landon, Malivore can speak and communicate with others freely. Finally, he comes across as a bigger threat because the main characters can actually interact with him. But is it too late?

For three seasons, Malivore has been a mud pit. While occasionally forming a body, Malivore has been unable to communicate, and instead, monsters have appeared in his place to attempt to help his goals.

Although Legacies finally has the opportunity to use Malivore more excitingly and intriguingly, it may be time to defeat Malivore and move on.