Qetsiyah, whose name most viewers will recall seeing as Tessa, entered as one of the strongest witches in The Vampire Diaries. Her name is constantly mentioned whenever there is talk about the creation of immortality, the cure, and supernatural laws that governed vampires', witches', and doppelgängers' lives.
Unlike most of the characters, Qetsiyah did not require much screen time to make an impression. Her own past was wrapped up in betrayal, revenge, and magical consequences over two millennia ago. She was more than a background actress in TV history; she was a cornerstone of the creation of its supernatural mythology.
On The Vampire Diaries, Qetsiyah was remembered as the woman who placed the first spell of immortality on her lover, Silas. Her intentions were for love, but the result changed supernatural history. When Silas rejected her for Amara, Qetsiyah's broken heart was overshadowed by anger. Her anger motivated her to create the cure for immortality, the Other Side, and the endless doppelgänger loop.
All the main plot threads concerning Silas, Amara, Stefan, and Elena were a product of her original choices. Her power was not temporary; it was woven into the show's narrative.
Qetsiyah's origins in The Vampire Diaries
Qetsiyah existed over 2,000 years earlier than during the days of The Vampire Diaries. She belonged to a lineage of witches who were not only long-lived but also exceptionally talented, which had a connection with the harmony of nature and supernatural forces.
Other witches of her era were not as adventurous when it came to what they could do with magic as Qetsiyah was. She did not merely cast healing, protection, or balance-of-nature spells; she delved into the borders of life and death. Such an endeavor for the sake of power and knowledge granted her a certain amount of respect and fear among witches.
Her bravery gave her the privilege to do what no other witch could do, such as obtaining eternal life itself. Her domestic life was no less extraordinary. Qetsiyah's intense love for Silas was what defined much of her story. The two were going to spend forever together with her powers, and that was harmful and beautiful. Her faith in him was what murdered her.
Silas's betrayal changed her not just as a female but as a witch. Instead of being remembered as an awesome spellcaster according to historical standards, Qetsiyah grew legendary as the inventor of curses, remedies, and supernatural revenge that lasted even beyond her lifetime.
The origin of the immortality spell
The immortality spell, according to The Vampire Diaries mythology, was the most groundbreaking piece of magic ever committed to paper. Qetsiyah wrote it with the sole purpose of keeping herself and Silas together in perpetuity. She aspired to end the fear of death and ensure their love forever.
The spell itself was an act of magic, rewriting nature's laws in a way nobody had ever dared to try to do. It was an act of love that required monumental magical ability, so Qetsiyah's skill was that much brighter. But what had started in love would soon become a curse to her. Silas tricked her by switching the immortality draught with Amara. His trick killed Qetsiyah and put her on a path of revenge.
Her sorrow built the pillars across centuries of war. The immortality spell that would become her greatest blessing was also her worst regret. Without this spell, The Vampire Diaries may not have been able to have its traditional story of love-struck eternities, wrathful witches, and forever doppelgänger cycles.
The cure for immortality
Qetsiyah's reaction to Silas's treachery was not only emotional, though it was so, but it was strategic and practical. And thus she fashioned the cure for immortality, and in so doing became not only the engineer of eternal life but also the one who could reverse it. The cure was a testament to her brilliance as a witch and her thirst for justice.
The cure in The Vampire Diaries became a ubiquitous plot tool that would determine the fate of the central characters. Katherine Pierce wished for it because she wanted to be human, Elena Gilbert struggled with its implications, and Damon Salvatore saw it as both a blessing and a curse. The presence of the cure enriched the story.
Qetsiyah created it initially to hurt Silas, so eventually he'd learn the worst that could happen through seeking immortality. Its connotation, though, transcended its use as a tool of revenge in her existence. The cure also introduced more universal questions of whether dying was worth it, the cost one has to pay for existing eternally, and whether immortality is a curse or a blessing.
With the cure, the power of Qetsiyah's magic continued to determine character decisions and destinies millennia after she died.
The origin of the other side
The probable one of the most significant things Qetsiyah did within The Vampire Diaries universe is build the Other Side. When Silas had betrayed her, she decided that simply making him human again was not sufficient as a punishment. She designed the Other Side as a supernatural purgatory, an existence where the supernatural dead would be stuck at the time of their death.
Supernatural beings would not be able to pass over like human souls, but they would be stuck on this plane and could not progress in any manner. It was balanced to nature, and the jail was designed around Silas.
The Other Side played a huge role in the narrative of The Vampire Diaries. It explained what became of the witches', vampires', and hybrids' souls after they died and added to many great plotlines. Bonnie Bennett, for example, was greatly affected by being tied to it. Although Qetsiyah passed away centuries before the destruction of the Other Side, her contribution continued to shape the dynamics of supernatural living and dying in The Vampire Diaries.
It unveiled how fierce her revenge on Silas was that it changed the destiny of all supernatural creatures who were his disciples.
Qetsiyah's Tessa role
Qetsiyah then reappeared in The Vampire Diaries Season 5 as Tessa. Even after two millennia, she was still dressed in the attire of her bitterness, anger, and resentment towards Silas. She was painted as manipulative, strong, and thoroughly consumed by the desire to see Silas suffer. Her return was significant because it introduced the audience at close range to the witch whose judgment had been the cornerstone of the series for decades.
It placed into perspective that even centuries later, her resentments were fresh. Tessa dealt with the main characters of the new timeline, including Damon, Stefan, and Elena. She added depth to the already twisted storylines of Silas and Amara. Although she didn't stay for long, her appearance in Season 5 wouldn't be forgotten.
She made the characters and audience remember that everything that had gone awry up to that point had resulted directly from her action, her spells, and her desire to punish the man who had done her wrong.
Influence on the doppelgänger line
Another long-term influence of Qetsiyah's actions in The Vampire Diaries was that she established the doppelgänger line. Silas and Amara's immortality threw the world into chaos, and Qetsiyah's spell of binding caused nature to retaliate with mortal shadow duplicates. These doppelgängers or shadow duplicates were one of the defining aspects of the show, with Stefan and Elena as their modern-day doppelgängers.
The constant production of doppelgängers wasn't coincidental; it was a direct consequence of Qetsiyah's original magic. This would reclaim for her all of the love triangles, all of the sacrifice circular theme, and all the doppelgängers' fates. Stefan and Elena thought they were normal people who got caught up in weird situations, but they were the product of Qetsiyah's centuries-long spell.
Her decision to bind Silas and Amara's fates meant that their love, betrayal, and sacrifices were going to echo for centuries to come.
Legacy in The Vampire Diaries
The existence of Qetsiyah in The Vampire Diaries was indirect and direct, yet her impact was consistent. She was the reason for immortal existence, the cure, and the supernatural beings trapped on the Other Side. Even character doppelgänger ideas and troubles, like those of Elena and Stefan's, were attributed to her. Her story revealed how the actions of one witch could transform the existence of so many creatures over the centuries.
Although not having the most screen time, Qetsiyah's character was among the most crucial in the supernatural story of The Vampire Diaries. She was the origin of iconic plots and the cause of many issues. Her movements were a reminder to the audience that love, betrayal, and revenge could all echo well past one lifetime. Most importantly, Qetsiyah was proof that in the world of vampires and witches, one decision had the power to change the course of everything.
Also read: Will the original The Vampire Diaries creators work on the upcoming spin-off? Explored in depth