Caution: Spoilers ahead for The Originals' series finale.
Klaus did not survive The Originals' series finale, a development that impacted several potential plot lines that could have occurred if he had survived. Among them is that his death drove a stake through the potential of Klaus and Caroline coupling up. The Originals' creator opened up about whether Klaus surviving the finale could have meant he and the feisty Caroline would have ended up together. Julie Plec said:
I think they could have ended up together. They could have had a moment together, or a series of long moments together. As a fan, I didn't want to dishonor Stefan by having Klaus become Caroline's one true love. I certainly love the idea that, in time, you can learn to love someone new even after you've lost someone. Caroline's got her own stuff to deal with; she's got daughters who need her and a school she's running. She's got her own life. She'll be OK. Klaus impacted her in really profound ways, but I think she's going to be OK.
So there was hope for Caroline and Klaus' romantic future! Julie Plec's answer to TV Line mentions a lot of what could have happened. Of course, fans will never know for sure. There is potential for a silver lining to the doom and gloom of The Originals' finale for Caroline and Klaus, though.
Thanks to a universe that allows for multiple lives via doppelgangers, there is always potential for a Klaus look-a-like to sweep Caroline offer her feet in the future. So, while Klaus' death is most assuredly the nail in the "Klaroline" coffin, it could theoretically not be the last chance for the actors to explore the screen chemistry that helped fans enjoy the characters' dynamic.
As for life after Klaus, Caroline has no shortage of things to occupy her, as Julie Plec points out. The finality of Klaus and Elijah's deaths in The Originals' series finale was quite impactful, and its domino effect will undoubtedly be felt in the spinoff to the spinoff series. The latest installment in The Vampire Diaries franchise is entitled Legacies, and will debut this fall.
The series will follow Klaus' daughter Hope as she attends the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted, which is the school that Julie Plec mentions Caroline is running. Also going to school there are Caroline's twin daughters -- Lizzie and Josie. So, even though Klaus and Caroline did not end up together, their children will be in each other's orbits. And, the girls will have something to bond over given their parents' complicated relationship.
In her interview, Julie Plec also clarified that Caroline's absence when Legacies begins would mark the beginning of a mystery as to why she has gone missing. As for The Originals, the ending of the show gave fans of Caroline and Klaus closure without alienating fans of hers and Stefan's -- a healthy compromise for fans of both ships.
Given Klaus' fate, there was no way for he and Caroline to have ended up with a happily ever after. There had been a lot of push-and-pull between them throughout the years and whether it could have turned into something long-lasting will likely be debated by fans for many years more.
The CW has released a deleted scene from the series finale of The Originals, which involves Caroline and Klaus. You can watch the pair reconnect and discuss art on the next page:
The Originals spinoff, Legacies, will premiere October 25 on The CW. For other new television shows set to bow this fall, check out CinemaBlend's guide to TV's fall premieres.
