In fairness to the horse that almost ruined a beautiful moment on The Vampire Diaries between Klaus Mikaelson and Caroline Forbes ... this is a show about vampires. Maybe the horse was just getting into character to try to bite Candice King? Or maybe the horse was jealous of the Klaroline love story.
Candice King opened up about the diva horse who was the third wheel of a very memorable scene from The Vampire Diaries Season 3, Episode 14, "Dangerous Liaisons." Yes, the ball episode where Klaus gave Caroline that dress as his date. The scene in question is gorgeous, with Klaus explaining why he fancies Caroline. She's beautiful, she's strong, she's full of light. First, watch the scene again:
Now the background story. During her Directionally Challenged podcast, Candice King revealed she had a bad experience with that particular horse.
In real life I love horses, I will go ride, I have no issues, but for some reason on a set, I've just had bad experiences. The very popular 'Klaroline' scene of Klaus and Caroline with the horse. Yes. So we're standing outside, it's like 3 in the morning because it's a night shoot, and I'm in like this dress, and there's this whole storyline where -- and it's freezing -- where I have to stand next to a horse and like admire it.
Candice King said Caroline was supposed to be petting the horse while Joseph Morgan's Klaus Mikaelson came to talk to her. As you can see in the clip, that didn't quite happen. Here's why:
So we're standing outside next to this horse, and the horse actually tries to bite me. Like nips, whole thing tries to bite me. Gets really close, to the point where they didn't show me on screen, how close he was to bite me. I guess the trainer was like, 'Yeah, he gets a little nervous around bright lights.' We're at a night shoot!
Yikes. So here's how The Vampire Diaries handled the scene, as she told the story:
So literally every take it would be me backing up farther. They'd be like, 'We'll just go again, just back up farther,' and he'd try to nip me again! So the scene ended up being me just standing very far away from the horse like looking at it. Klaus is supposed to draw this picture of Caroline with the horse -- and he did.
Candice King revealed she had another iffy experience with a horse for her recent guest stint on The Orville, playing an alien. She didn't think it helped that she was wearing "elf ears" because she thought she probably freaked out the horse.
I love hearing behind-the-scenes stories like that. By the way, Candice King's guests for that podcast were The Vampire Diaries Universe ruler Julie Plec, The Originals writer and current Roswell, New Mexico producer Carina MacKenzie (who wrote the Klaroline letter used in The Vampire Diaries finale), and also Aria Shahghasem, aka Landon on Legacies.
The Originals alum and Legacies star Danielle Rose Russell -- who plays Klaus Mikaelson's daughter Hope -- recently said Legacies Season 2 would have a love triangle for Hope that leaves her heartbroken over Landon.
Legacies Season 1 had a wonderful callback to that "Dangerous Liaisons" episode by having Hope herself wear the "Klaroline dress" -- given to her by Caroline's daughter Lizzie Saltzman.
Candice King moderated the recent Legacies Season 2 panel at San Diego-Comic Con, but there's still no word yet on King bringing Caroline to Legacies. However, it sounds like she will at least be referenced in the Season 2 premiere, which airs Thursday, October 10 on The CW.
