The Originals
2013
Original language: English
- sci-fi & fantasy
- drama
- mystery
The story
The Vampire Diaries spin-off that follows the Mikaelsons, a family of millennia-old, power-hungry vampires who want to reclaim the city they built, New Orleans, and dominate all those who have wronged them.
What it’s like
Warm amber streetlight, humid night air and the hush of old brick courtyards give The Originals a moody, saturated look: candlelit interiors, wrought-iron balconies, jazz-club smoke and a palette that tips from gold into deep wine and teal after dark. The camera moves with confidence, sweeping through crowded Mardi Gras-adjacent streets, then settling into lingering two-shots in dim parlours where the framing turns stately and gothic. The score leans on swelling strings, a slinky electric guitar and bursts of period-flavoured jazz, while the sound of rain on slate and church bells carries the city's atmosphere. Vibe: lush, sultry, melodramatic gothic soap with a rivalry-driven edge, best for a late evening with a glass of wine or a stormy weekend binge. Pacing is brisk and episodic, with family feuds, shifting alliances and a steady stream of cliffhangers. Emotionally it runs on betrayal, loyalty and fraught sibling bonds, with characters who scheme and then tentatively soften. Intensity is moderate to high: frequent stabbings, fang-bared fights, blood, supernatural violence and some sexual content, with bloodshed rarely graphic for long. Made for fans of gothic romance and supernatural family drama who enjoy a bit of camp.
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