5 Ways The Vampire Diaries’ Salvatores Had The Worst Relationship (& Why The Originals’ Mikaelsons Did)

Sibling relationships can be difficult, especially ones that last centuries. As humans, the Salvatore and Mikaelson siblings considered themselves to be close. Once the transition to vampires happened, it set their course for a vastly different dynamic. The Salvatore brothers lost their close relationship in 1864 and spent years afterward bouncing between a possible reconciliation and fighting. Once returning to Mystic Falls, Stefan and Damon’s relationship does improve, but they still find themselves in old patterns hurting each other.

As for the Mikaelsons, the sibling relationships, while significant, also had plenty of issues and problems revolving around betrayal. When their parents would appear, the family drama extends to them. Mikael spent centuries hunting Klaus down to kill him. Esther wished to either eliminate her children or remove their immortality. Family played an integral role in The Originals, but the Mikaelsons had so many problems between them that it was never a sure thing how they would interact.

10 Salvatores: Stefan Forces Vampirism On Damon

Stefan and Damon had agreed to die rather than complete the transition believing Katherine to be dead. But, when Stefan goes off on his own and confronts their father, the bloodlust takes over, and Stefan gives in, completing the transition and killing their father in the process.

Stefan didn’t want to be alone forever, so to avoid a future without his brother, he forced Damon to become a vampire too. This was why Damon harbored disdain for him for so long.

9 Mikaelsons: Klaus Daggers His Siblings

As a way to punish his siblings when they disappoint Klaus, betray him, or just to prevent them from leaving him, Klaus daggers them and keeps them in coffins for decades or centuries.

While the reasoning for Finn’s daggering seems to boil down to the others being bored by him, Kol and Rebekah were constantly daggered for trying to find happiness of their own outside of Klaus.

8 Salvatores: Damon Promises Stefan An Eternity Of Misery

After Stefan forced Damon to become a vampire, Damon made a promise of his own. Knowing they would be stuck with each other forever, Damon promised Stefan an eternity of misery for forcing him to drink.

Damon later revealed that part of his anger came from believing that Katherine was only going to turn Damon, and Stefan was not supposed to transition. He also carried anger for Stefan because Stefan talked to their father about vampires when Damon knew their father would react badly.

7 Mikaelsons: Finn Attempts To Kill His Siblings

Finn hated being a vampire and was very bitter about spending 900 years in a coffin. So, when he had the chance to team up with Esther and rid the world of his siblings, Finn jumped at the opportunity.

Finn never had the chance to be a part of the familial bond that Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah created. Even Kol got to be involved in it at some points. Still, being willing to kill his siblings was not a way to prove Finn was any better than Klaus, Elijah, Kol, and Rebekah.

6 Salvatores: Two Love Triangles

If it wasn’t bad enough that Stefan and Damon had to get caught in a love triangle with Katherine in 1864, they had to repeat the process all over again with Elena. Initially, Katherine caught both their attention in 1864, happily watching Stefan and Damon fall over themselves and fight for her affection.

While Elena was not thrilled to get caught in the middle, that was exactly where she ended up anyway. Twice in their lifetimes, Stefan and Damon allowed their relationship to be harmed over a love interest. They placed Elena in the middle as she struggled to determine her feelings for each of them.

5 Mikaelsons: Kol Betrays His Family

For a family that has had a thousand years to work things out, they still manage to find ways to betray each other. Kol never believed he was as important to his brothers and sister as they were to each other. But, he did find happiness with Davina. When Kol had the chance to keep her alive, even if it meant going against his family, Kol took the opportunity.

Kol was also tired of being daggered, so he worked on a dagger that would put Klaus down, claiming it was only to be used as a last resort and for self-defense.

4 Salvatores: Caused Harm To Each Other’s Loved Ones

Unknown to Stefan and Damon at the time, being caught was exactly what Katherine wanted. Given they weren’t in on her plans, one of Stefan’s biggest betrayals against Damon was trying to discuss vampires with their father, unintentionally giving him reason to believe Katherine was one as well.

As for Damon, one of the biggest lines he crossed was when Damon was trying to cover his tracks in Mystic Falls to convince Liz there was another vampire. Damon took advantage of Lexi’s visit for Stefan’s birthday and used it to kill Lexi and put a temporary end to the curiosity about vampires in Mystic Falls.

3 Mikaelsons: Mikael And Esther

Mikael and Esther may have caused more harm to the Mikaelson siblings than they did to each other. Many of their storylines involved the prospect of killing their children or stripping them of their power and immortality. Mikael chased Klaus for over a thousand years, intent on killing him. Such a reality turned Klaus into a very paranoid man, as he could barely grow to trust anyone.

Esther wanted to turn her children human again, giving their family a chance to reunite. However, her methods usually brought more harm than good. Still, teaming up against their parents became one of the rare times Klaus, Elijah, Rebekah, and Kol willingly worked together and were on the same side.

2 Salvatores: Don’t Realize When The Other Is Hurt

Damon and Stefan didn’t have a perfect relationship, and years would go by when they wouldn’t communicate at all. Yet, each of them went through horrible things and hoped the other would realize they were in trouble or hurt. Damon spent years as an Augustine Vampire, trapped and tortured, hoping for an escape. Although he and Enzo discussed possible ways out, Damon revealed that he hoped Stefan would find him one day.

But, Damon didn’t realize when Stefan needed help too. Stefan spent months locked in a safe at the bottom of a quarry, drowning over and over again. He desperately wished for a way out and wanted Damon and Elena to be the ones to save him. Unfortunately, Damon was too busy with Elena to give himself time to question why Stefan, who was leaving town anyway, had never bothered to communicate with him after leaving.

1 Mikaelsons: Always And Forever

“Always and Forever” was meant to be a motto of strength for Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah. A family mantra to show they would be together for eternity by each other’s sides. But, a thousand years of togetherness may not be the healthiest concept. Given how much they were on the run or Klaus daggered his siblings, they grew to have severe issues.

Klaus’ paranoia prevented him from supporting Rebekahs’s happiness with Marcel because he believed they would grow to no longer care for him. The promise of forever grew to feel like a burden to Rebekah. While Kol had once dreamed of being part of their vow, he also saw that their family had times of becoming a toxic paradox.

About The Author

Lindsay Press
(274 Articles Published)

Lindsay Press is a freelance writer. As a graduate of SUNY Purchase College with a degree in Screenwriting and Playwriting, Lindsay has loved television shows and movies since childhood. In addition, she loves to create stories and enjoys dystopian futures, teen drama, and fantasy worlds.

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