What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Originals
Julie Plec · Series · 2013
If you loved The Originals, start with The Vampire Diaries (Julie Plec, 2009) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Originals across media.
What hooked you in The Originals was the way ancient family power struggles play out against a backdrop of supernatural intensity.
Start with the source
The source
The Vampire Diaries
Julie Plec · Series · 2009
Books on the same thread
The Vampire Chronicles
Anne Rice · Book · 1976
Shares a thread with The Originals: Vampire Fiction.
If the immortal angst of the Mikaelsons captivated you, these foundational stories will resonate deeply, exploring the same existential weight and moral ambiguity found in The Originals.
The Southern Vampire Mysteries
Charlaine Harris · Book · 2001
Shares a thread with The Originals: Urban Fantasy.
The Originals thrives on its complex supernatural social hierarchy, and this series offers a similar immersion into a world where vampires navigate secrets and romance in the American South.
Sookie Stackhouse
Charlaine Harris · Book · 2009
Shares a thread with The Originals: Urban Fantasy.
Much like the power plays in The Originals, this series centers on a small town where supernatural entities force the protagonist to confront the dangerous realities of their world.
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Lemony Snicket aka Daniel Handler · Book · 1999
Explores: Orphans, Conspiracy, Misfortune.
You will recognize the persistent threat of a villainous mastermind seen in The Originals, as these orphans must constantly outsmart a schemer who seeks to destroy their family unit.
Films on the same thread
The Avengers
Joss Whedon · Film · 2012
Shares a thread with The Originals: Redemption.
The Originals is driven by the necessity of unlikely alliances, a dynamic mirrored here as disparate figures must put aside personal grievances to combat a massive global threat.
The Hunger Games
Gary Ross · Film · 2012
Explores: Oppression, Rebellion, Sacrifice.
The themes of sacrifice and rebellion against oppressive systems define the struggle in The Originals, matching the intense survival stakes faced by these protagonists in their dystopian society.
The Lost Boys
Joel Schumacher · Film · 1987
Explores: Coming of Age, Brotherhood, Good vs Evil.
If you enjoyed the focus on brotherhood and the dark allure of vampirism in The Originals, this film captures the same tension between human connection and supernatural danger.
Only Lovers Left Alive
Jim Jarmusch · Film · 2013
Explores: Immortality, Existentialism, Melancholy.
This film echoes the centuries-old dynamics and melancholic immortality central to the Mikaelson family, stripping away the action to focus on the intimate, often strained bonds of vampires.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Orphans
The Light and Tragic Company · Podcast · 2025
The Originals explores deep themes of loss and survival in a hostile world, which this audio drama mirrors through its focus on castaways navigating a harsh and unforgiving landscape.
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
The Originals relies on the complex group dynamics of its central cast, a trait this actual play campaign shares as it explores the interplay of family and high-stakes adventure.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Should I watch The Vampire Diaries before starting The Originals?
The Originals is a spin-off of The Vampire Diaries. While you can follow the plot of the Mikaelson family in New Orleans independently, watching The Vampire Diaries first provides necessary context regarding the history and previous conflicts of these millennia-old vampires before they attempt to dominate the city.
Is The Originals a direct sequel to The Vampire Diaries?
The Originals is a spin-off series derived from The Vampire Diaries. It focuses specifically on the Mikaelson family as they relocate to New Orleans to reclaim the city they built. The narrative follows their quest for power and retribution against those who have wronged them over the centuries.
What is the premise of The Originals?
The Originals follows the Mikaelson family, a group of millennia-old vampires. The series centers on their return to New Orleans, a city they originally built. They seek to reclaim their territory and assert dominance over all those who have wronged them throughout their long history.
Who created The Originals?
The Originals was created by Julie Plec. It serves as a spin-off of her previous television series, The Vampire Diaries. The show focuses on the power-hungry Mikaelson family as they navigate conflicts in New Orleans while attempting to reclaim the city they helped establish.