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The Originals

The Originals is an American supernatural drama television series created by Julie Plec for The CW.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Originals is an American supernatural drama television series created by Julie Plec for The CW. It is a spin-off of The Vampire Diaries and follows Klaus Mikaelson and his family in the supernatural politics of New Orleans. The series premiered on October 3, 2013, and ended on August 1, 2018 after five seasons.

Premise

The series follows the Mikaelson family, a group of original vampires, as they deal with supernatural conflicts and power struggles in New Orleans.

Production and broadcast

The Originals premiered on The CW in 2013 and ran until 2018. It was developed as a spin-off from The Vampire Diaries and later concluded after five seasons.

Cast and characters

The series features Joseph Morgan as Klaus Mikaelson and includes other central family members such as Elijah and Rebekah, along with characters tied to New Orleans' supernatural factions.

Reception and availability

The show has been distributed through streaming and on-demand platforms, and it is catalogued as a drama/fantasy/horror series by major entertainment databases and streaming services.

Key facts

  • The show is a spin-off of The Vampire Diaries.
  • It centers on Klaus Mikaelson and the Mikaelson family in New Orleans.
  • The series aired on The CW and ran for five seasons.
  • Julie Plec is credited as the creator.
  • The final season aired in 2018 and concluded the series.
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Canadian context

Canadian readers may know the series through Canadian broadcast and streaming availability, but the show is an American production with no specific Canada-centered setting or subject matter in the provided sources.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Originals about?
It follows Klaus Mikaelson and his family as they navigate supernatural power struggles in New Orleans.
Is The Originals related to The Vampire Diaries?
Yes. It is a spin-off of The Vampire Diaries and expands that franchise.
When did The Originals first air?
It first aired on October 3, 2013 on The CW.
When did the series end?
The final season ended on August 1, 2018.
Who created The Originals?
The series was created by Julie Plec.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Originals_(TV_series)
    Supports: Series type, creator, franchise relationship, premise, premiere date, and end date.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_originals
    Supports: Network, genre, original release date, and premise.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2632424/
    Supports: Series title, run dates, and genre classification.
  4. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-originals/umc.cmc.202vp87v82ehp76vsmo7uxs1g
    Supports: Series description, creator, and setting.
  5. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/70283261
    Supports: Synopsis, cast, and classification.
  6. TV Guide — https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-originals/1000449661/
    Supports: Seasons, network, genre, and run dates.
  7. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Originals_season_1
    Supports: Detailed release dates and series premise.