Legacies: What happened to Hope’s relationship with the Mikaelsons?

Practically since Legacies began, viewers have been hoping for more fan-favorite characters fromThe Vampire Diaries and The Originals to appear at the spinoff series’ Salvatore School. Among those most frequently mentioned are those who hold significant relationships with Hope Mikaelson, like her aunt Rebecca and uncle Kol.

Audiences got a glimpse of New Orleans and Freya Mikaelson during season 2’s “That’s Nothing I Had To Remember” when Josie goes searching for Hope’s family and a way to reverse Malivore’s effect on everyone’s memories.

Freya is a powerful witch and was responsible for helping Hayley raise Hope when the Originals were forced to separate for most of Hope’s life. Freya is essential to helping Josie work out the spell, but the fact that most of Freya’s scenes in her guest appearance are with Josie instead of Hope is a significant drawback. While Freya’s wife Keelin is mentioned briefly in the episode as well, she has yet to appear.

Hope and Freya reunite in the last moments of the “There’s Nothing I Had to Remember”, barely getting to share a word and hug before the episode’s end. But it is a sweet moment and allows Hope to reconcile with a relative after Hope’s return from Malivore.

But, it is also a major plot hole. Where are Rebekah and Kol when they regain their memories of Hope? Did they visit Mystic Falls to see her? Did they call or video chat? Hope occasionally references her family, but they are mysteriously absent on momentous occasions like Hope’s return to the world.

Legacies mainly takes place in Mystic Falls, and with the monsters continuing to attack, it makes sense that the narrative cannot move Hope out of the small town in Virginia. But is it strange that she doesn’t return to New Orleans or try to find her other relatives after escaping Malivore?

In The Originals, Hope and Kol video chat because they do not have the ability to spend time together in person. Yet, Hope barely suggests she has any connection to Kol anymore. It is similar to Marcel, who Hope had spent time with growing up, but who gets referenced even less than the remaining Mikaelson siblings. Given how Marcel told Hope he would be there for her if she ever needed him, it is odd that she never mentions him.

The third season of Legacies has suggested a way to truly defeat Malivore, which is the closest the series has come thus far. But, it requires a major sacrifice.

While pausing to discuss major life decisions or self-sacrifices with her relatives may slow down the plot, it is also important to reference how Hope has seriously considered triggering her vampire side to become a full Tribrid.

Hope has discussed this in-depth with Josie and Lizzie, and both have repeatedly told Hope they would find alternative ways to defeat Malivore. But, wouldn’t purposely becoming a full Tribrid to sacrifice herself to Malivore be something that Hope would at least consider talking to her family about?

Rebekah, Kol, Freya, Marcel, and Keelin do not need to appear on screen for them to be relevant to Hope’s life. Legacies often references Klaus and Hayley by constantly reminding the audience that Hope is an orphan and she does not want to lose anyone else in her life. But, in doing so, the series ignores that Hope does still have living family members.

Even something as a simple mention about having an off-screen phone call with Hope’s relatives would suffice. Things have gotten quite dangerous at the Salvatore School of late. And while Hope does have elements of it handled, it begs the question about how much she has been informing her family about the dangerous scenarios she has gotten involved in.

Hope may be a Mikaelson, and Legacies never forgets that, but it could improve in referencing her remaining relatives.