Why did Mason Lockwood come back to life in The Vampire Diaries?
As a long-time Vampire Diaries superfan and content creator, I was absolutely shocked when Mason Lockwood returned in Season 3 after Damon brutally killed him!
A Refresher – Who is Mason Lockwood?
For those who need a refresher, Mason is the handsome brother of Mystic Falls Mayor Richard Lockwood and uncle to Tyler Lockwood. He‘s a werewolf who triggered his curse after accidentally killing someone during a bar fight.
Mason first came steaming into Mystic Falls in Season 2, harboring secrets about the Moonstone and determined to help Tyler with his new werewolf abilities. There was definite sexual tension between Mason and Katherine Pierce as well! However, Damon Salvatore ripped out Mason‘s heart, killing him instantly. Brutal!
Digging Into Why Mason Returned From The Dead
So why and how did this deceased werewolf make a comeback in Season 3? Let‘s analyze some possibilities:
Theory 1: Mason‘s supernatural resurrection was linked to his quest for revenge.
Given how violently Damon murdered Mason, his angry ghost returning to settle the score would make total sense! Mason could have refused to find peace until Damon apologized or suffered his wrath.
We see Mason‘s ghost torture Damon and prove he retains his werewolf strength. Maybe sheer rage and unfinished business fueled his resurrection? The rules of The Other Side ghosts have always been hazy so this explanation works!
Theory 2: Mason was resurrected to mentor Tyler and stir up Klaus drama.
Perhaps mystic forces sensed a greater purpose for Mason‘s return – helping the newly-triggered werewolf Tyler gain control. Who better to guide his nephew then his seasoned uncle?
Bringing Mason back also allowed the show to explore the feud between vampires and werewolves. Remember when Klaus commanded Tyler to bite his sire Caroline? Mason‘s return upped the stakes there!
Theory 3: The Lockwood family magic caused Mason‘s revival.
There‘s still heaps we don‘t know about the ancient magic that allows Lockwoods to transform into werewolves. Maybe their bloodline carries mystical resurrection abilities too?
If Bonnie could bring Jeremy back from the dead multiple times, perhaps Lockwood magic unintentionally activated to revive murdered family member Mason? Would surely help continue their werewolf lineage!
My Take – It Was All About Ratings and Twists!
Honestly, my theory is that the showrunners brought Mason back simply because it made for tense, shocking television! A character returning to torment their killer always gets fans buzzing.
The Vampire Diaries thrived on crazy plot twists, so resurrecting fan favorite Mason after he was callously offed by Damon is a juicy ploy for higher ratings. Taylor Kinney likely jumped at reprising his role to boot!
I have to applaud the writers for the clever way they built on existing lore to make Mason‘s return work. His ghostly comeback delivered a thrill while expanding on the Other Side concept. Genius!
Even if the "why" is as simple as creating a buzzworthy WTF TV moment, Mason 2.0 brought the drama! Would‘ve loved to see more of his fiery dynamic with Katherine too.
So what do you think – did Mason return purely for vengeance, family duty, magic or ratings? Share your best theories with me in the comments!
