All the Junior Men’s section V-necks aside, The Vampire Diaries is a multigenerational saga at its core. The show has achieved such complexity by fueling character motivation and plot with the flames of family drama. Mystic Falls is for dysfunctional families what The Bible Belt is for radical Christians—an epicenter for epic displays of devotion or contempt for whoever’s team you’re on or against. A telling illustration of how familial loyalty seesaws emotions occurred in “The Sun Also Rises” last season. Elbow-deep in his brother’s chest, Elijah was a heart-snatch away from avenging the siblings he thought Klaus daggered and buried at sea. Elijah, honorable to a fault, rescinded his word to murder Klaus when he revealed that the family was safe, and that he could deliver his fiercely coiffed elder to them. This shocker paid off in the season 2 finale as we saw just how twisted Klaus is. The Originals had been kept in coffins in a storage bin.

The executive producers have basically dubbed season 3 “the Season of the Originals”, and we met four members of the family in the first nine episodes: Rebekah, Mikael, Esther, and Henrik. Now executive producer Julie Plec has revealed two more Originals have been cast. However, that doesn’t account for the extra coffin(s) in Klaus’ possession. Julie explains, “There’s definitely a question of why, if there are only two left, why are there all those coffins. That is a good question, and that’s something that will be answered.” What a tease. I’m pretty sure since Stefan hijacked the coffins he’s taken a peek, but I don’t exactly have him on speed dial. Join me as I speculate who might come crawling out of a coffin next. Read on for my two theories!

The Original Doppelganger adds to TVD’s familial scope, because Katherine and Elena are her descendants. The Vampire Diaries likes to echo similar themes amongst different characters: Klaus, Stefan, and Caroline all have fathers disapproving of their nature. The relationship between Klaus and Elijah parallels Stefan and Damon’s at its bloodiest. But none is more explicit than the doppelgangers’ relationships. Katherine may be a cautionary tale for Elena, but they also reflect each other in more than just appearance at times. Why not introduce the Original spark to the Petrova fire?

At some point the relevance of Petrova blood in binding the curse placed on Klaus has to be explained. Was she Klaus’ lover, and punishment for his hybridity was her death? Or perhaps just a gal pal for Rebekah? I kid, but Klaus’ bratty-and-bold baby sis clearly knew the Original Petrova, as she commented in “The Reckoning” that “the Original was much more pretty”, upon seeing Elena. Discovering the Original Petrova in one of the extra coffins makes sense when considering the shows unraveling backstory. However, I’m not certain how she would impact the current storyline. For the curse to work she had to die—unless she was turned or that resurrecting elixir meant for her thousands of years ago finally gets put to the test. Either way, Nina Dobrev has already crafted two distinct portrayals of women surviving in supernatural chaos, will we soon meet a third?

On to theory number two, which is compelling for her potential to brew more mischief in Klaus’ life—yes his adulterous mother who cursed him to begin with, Esther. Now that Klaus has succeeded in siring the creations she attempted to thwart millennia ago Esther may have a bone to pick (literally) with her homicidal offspring. She’s antagonized him from beyond the grave. The natural progression would be for her to return to accomplish what Mikael couldn’t—which is too kill Klaus. However, why would Klaus travel around with such a witch? Keep your siblings daggered and your dead mommy’s corpse closer? I’m not completely sure, but perhaps it’s a protection measure in the event that she gained a physical foothold on this side of the divide à la the dearly departed in “Ghost World”. Besides her beef with Klaus, let’s not forget that Esther wants Elena dead too. She propped open the door from “the other side” to allow Vicki back to kill Elena for her. Reviving Esther definitely raises the stakes because the witch is a threat to our girl Elena and Klaus.

What personal baggage do you think Klaus is carrying around? The Original Dobrev or the Real Witch of Mystic Falls? Or someone else altogether?? Disqus!