The Originals (2013)
Kernel Score: 91% · 3,543 ratings
Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Mystery
First aired: 2013-10-03
Seasons: 5 · 92 episodes
Is The Originals worth watching?
Worth watching. A vampire-family spin-off set in New Orleans that leans on melodrama, big feuds and sibling loyalty. It builds its own world beyond the show it came from, and viewers rate it highly. Best for committed supernatural-drama fans.
Watch it if you
- enjoyed The Vampire Diaries
- like soapy supernatural family sagas
- want a long binge with lots of plot
Skip it if you
- dislike melodrama and love triangles
- want grounded drama
Best for: Binge weekend
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Originals
- Stream: Prime Video, Peacock
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
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.
The Originals parents' guide: ages 14+
Parents need to know that The Originals is a TV-14 supernatural drama about power-hungry vampire family members fighting to dominate New Orleans.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Frequent supernatural violence among vampires and werewolves battling for power.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official TV-14 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Shows like The Originals
If you liked The Originals, these are the shows we'd watch next.
- The Vampire Diaries (2009) — 91%: The show it came from, with the same romantic vampire drama.
- Legacies (2018) — 91%: Another spin-off in the same universe, set at a school for witches.
- Teen Wolf (2011) — 91%: Fast-paced supernatural teen drama with werewolves.
- A Discovery of Witches (2018) — 88%: Witches and vampires in a more grown-up setting.
- True Blood (2008) — 87%: Vampires and small-town secrets, with a Southern flavour.
- Shadowhunters (2016) — 87%: Romantic supernatural saga full of magic and secret worlds.
Cast
- Joseph Morgan as Klaus Mikaelson
- Daniel Gillies as Elijah Mikaelson
- Charles Michael Davis as Marcel Gerard
- Riley Voelkel as Freya Mikaelson
- Yusuf Gatewood as Vincent Griffith
- Danielle Rose Russell as Hope Mikaelson
- Steven Krueger as Josh Rosza
The Originals FAQ
Is The Originals worth watching?
Worth watching. A vampire-family spin-off set in New Orleans that leans on melodrama, big feuds and sibling loyalty. It builds its own world beyond the show it came from, and viewers rate it highly. Best for committed supernatural-drama fans.
Where can I watch The Originals?
In the US you can stream The Originals on Prime Video and Peacock and buy it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and Fandango At Home.
Is The Originals OK for kids?
The Originals is rated TV-14. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 14+. Parents need to know that The Originals is a TV-14 supernatural drama about power-hungry vampire family members fighting to dominate New Orleans.
What shows are like The Originals?
If you liked The Originals, try The Vampire Diaries, Legacies, Teen Wolf and A Discovery of Witches.