If you loved
The Originals
Julie Plec · Series · 2013
What hooked you in The Originals was the way ancient, power-hungry dynasties navigate the brutal intersection of moral decay and family loyalty.
Start with the source
The source
The Vampire Diaries
Julie Plec · Series · 2009
Books on the same thread
吸血鬼ハンターD (Vampire Hunter D)
Hideyuki Kikuchi · Book · 1983
Like the Mikaelsons, the vampire Nobles in this story possess a deep, centuries-old arrogance that fuels their vengeance, mirroring the power struggles that defined the conflicts in The Originals.
Dead And Gone: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood)
Charlaine Harris · Book · 2009
If the small-town secrets and shifting supernatural alliances of The Originals kept you captivated, you will find a similar atmospheric intensity within the complex, hidden world of Bon Temps.
Doctor Sleep: A Novel
Stephen King · Book · 2013
The struggle for redemption amidst the threat of ancient, predatory evils echoes the internal journeys of the Mikaelson family as they battle their own history throughout The Originals.
The Damned
L. A. Banks · Book · 2007
The intense battle between supernatural factions and the weight of ancestral curses in this story reflect the high-stakes, apocalyptic tension found within the city of The Originals.
Films on the same thread
Daybreakers
Michael Spierig · Film · 2010
This film explores the societal collapse and moral desperation of vampirekind, capturing the same feeling of existential dread and shifting power dynamics that plagued the characters of The Originals.
Descendants 3
Kenny Ortega · Film · 2019
The focus on the legacy of infamy and the desire for second chances among powerful supernatural offspring mirrors the family-centric redemption arcs that anchored the narrative of The Originals.
Interview with the Vampire
Film · 1994
The exploration of immortal existence, betrayal, and the heavy burden of centuries-old memories directly aligns with the existential loneliness experienced by the Mikaelsons in The Originals.
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
Yoshiaki Kawajiri · Film · 2001
The hunt for a vampire nobleman amidst a web of moral ambiguity and ancient feuds mirrors the intense, character-driven conflicts that defined the power struggles in The Originals.
Podcasts on the same thread
CounterClock
Audiochuck · Podcast · 2025
If The Originals hit, CounterClock shares the thread.
True Sunlight
LUNASHARK · Podcast · 2026
If The Originals hit, True Sunlight shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Should I watch The Vampire Diaries before I start The Originals?
The Originals is a spin-off of The Vampire Diaries. While you can understand the premise of the Mikaelson family's quest to reclaim New Orleans independently, watching the 2009 series provides necessary context regarding the history and relationships of the characters featured in The Originals.
Is The Originals a direct continuation of The Vampire Diaries?
The Originals is a spin-off series that follows the Mikaelson family after their departure from the events of The Vampire Diaries. It focuses on their specific goal of regaining control over the city of New Orleans and dealing with those who have wronged them over the last millennium.
What is the primary plot of The Originals?
The Originals follows a family of millennia-old vampires known as the Mikaelsons. The narrative centers on their power-hungry efforts to reclaim New Orleans, the city they originally built, while simultaneously seeking to dominate and defeat all those who have wronged them throughout their long history.
Who created The Originals?
The Originals was created by Julie Plec. It debuted in 2013 as a spin-off of her previous series, The Vampire Diaries, and explores the complex dynamics and ambitions of the Mikaelson family as they fight to regain their former status in New Orleans.