The Originals is the best spinoff of The Vampire Diaries, as the TV show successfully takes what TVD does best and expands upon it. Following the story of the Mikaelson siblings, who are the original vampires, The Originals sees them return to New Orleans and attempt to reclaim the empire and seat of power they once held there and rule over the supernatural entities living there. However, things aren't so simple for Klaus (Joseph Morgan) and his siblings, who've been through a lot since they were last in town, and weren't expecting things to be so different.
Though there are some The Originals has some heartbreaking episodes, unafraid to put the audience and characters through the wringer. It was often at the hands of the nuanced antagonists that the Mikaelsons suffered the most.
The Vampire Diaries Benefited From Its Complex & Likable Villains
From The Mikaelsons To Katherine, The Villains Were Instantly Iconic
Almost every character on TVD had their villain moment. Whether this came in the form of turning off their humanity and going full ripper-mode or simply because they were at odds with our protagonists, the villains on TVD were just as important as the main characters. Though Damon (Ian Somerhalder) is the first official villain introduced in TVD, it's obvious that he's much deeper and more complex than this, and it doesn't take long for the viewer to be on his side. The same can be said about Katherine (Nina Dobrev), who developed into a fan-favorite role.
There's little question that the Mikaelsons were the best antagonists in TVD history. From the moment that Klaus is introduced, we see not only his chemistry with the other characters but also how well he commands every scene; there is no going back to a world without him. It's true that as TVD progressed, some of the villains were as dramatic and three-dimensional, but this was in comparison to the unforgettable scoundrels who had populated the story for so long. TVD worked because viewers enjoyed spending time with the villains as much as they did the heroes.
The Originals Repeated The Vampire Diaries' Villain Strength
The Originals Learned From The Best Parts Of TVD
One part of The Originals that worked in the show's favor is the fact that it understood what made TVD popular and was primed to continue this trend. Also created by Julie Plec, one of the minds behind TVD, The Originals found its footing quickly, especially in the dynamic between heroes and villains. In recent years, centering on antiheroes and main characters who exist in a moral gray area has become increasingly popular. For this reason, The Originals was wise to follow Klaus and his journey to redemption and empathy, while fighting against those who would take his family away.
7 Villains In The Originals That I Secretly Rooted For
Because The Originals centers on the villains of the TVD Universe, many of the series' antagonists are worth rooting for because they aren't wrong.
The Originals prioritized making the antagonists not only interesting but also likable. More often than not, villains are made by their experiences, not simply thrust into the story. It's through the actions of the Mikaelsons that their biggest threats are created, though the Mikaelsons struggle to accept responsibility for what they've done to others. This dynamic is rife with emotional intrigue and violence, and follows the path laid out by TVD. When the audience can easily empathize with the villain and understand their motivations, this makes for an unforgettable show.
The Originals' Villains Were Even More Compelling Than TVD's
The Spinoff Had Some Of The Best Antagonists Of The Franchise
Being the original vampires, the Mikaelsons had a lot of lore and history that the writers could play with. Fortunately, this was also accompanied by many enemies. The Mikaelsons left a path of chaos and destruction in their wake wherever they went. While they often came out on top thanks to their strength and skill, this didn't mean their mistakes wouldn't come back to haunt them. As audiences saw on TVD, it was possible to outwit the Mikaelsons, and The Originals took this idea even further with the show's villains.
Villains like Dahlia (Claudia Black) and Marcel (Charles Michael Davis) are amazing examples of people who get involved with the Mikaelsons and are burned by their selfish nature. While Dahlia was much more evil than Marcel, as Marcel's arc takes him to many different places and alliances with the Mikaelsons, both are fueled by anger and hurt when they strike out against the protagonists. Things get even more interesting when one of the Mikaelsons turns on the others, creating a rift within the family itself.
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
The Originals (2013–2018) |
84% |
72% |
It Makes Sense That The Vampire Diaries Spinoff Had The Best Villains
The Show Started With The Greatest Villians In TVD History
Throughout the show's run, The Originals didn't shy away from the fact that the Mikaelsons, particularly Klaus, were morally ambiguous at best and borderline evil at worst. The Mikaelsons acted in favor of their own self-interests and never hesitated to throw others under the bus for the sake of their goals, even if it was the people they loved who stood in their way. The fact that the Mikaelsons were already so nuanced and compelling meant that their antagonists were almost always sympathetic and worth investing in.
The writers ensured that the viewers could get a complete look at every side of the Mikaelsons.
Many of ' most important episodes revolved around the Mikaelson siblings, especially Klaus. Taking characters that the audience was already excited to see onscreen and associated with iconic storylines was a recipe for success for The Originals. The writers ensured that the viewers could get a complete look at every side of the Mikaelsons. This made audiences open to the possibility that the main characters in The Originals could be in the wrong. They weren't always going to be the heroes, which increased the tension of every scene and left us on the edge of our seats.
The Originals
- Release Date
- 2013 - 2018-00-00
- Network
- The CW
- Showrunner
- Julie Plec
Cast
Charles Michael Davis
WHERE TO WATCH
- Directors
- Julie Plec
- Writers
- Julie Plec
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