The Originals: 10 best episodes that define the series

The Originals is a supernatural drama about vampires and witches. It ran from 2013 to 2018, and it’s a spin-off of The Vampire Diaries. The show was created by Julie Plec, centering on the Mikaelson siblings—Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah. These people are the OGs, literally the first vampires and hybrids ever, and have been around for over a thousand years.

The show is set in New Orleans. Apparently, the Mikaelsons helped build the city back in the day, but after being in exile for almost a hundred years, they decided to come back in and take back what’s theirs. However, the city is now run by Marcel—Klaus’s ex-bestie and Rebekah’s old love.

The Originals spins around the Mikaelson crew trying to claw their way back on top in New Orleans’ supernatural scene. The show features power grabs, messy alliances, and a ton of vamps, witches, werewolves, humans, and more. Klaus (a vampire-werewolf hybrid) is fighting threats from outside forces as well as from within his broken family.

One of the major storylines of the series is Klaus’s upcoming fatherhood. Hayley, who’s also got werewolf blood, is pregnant with a kid that pretty much shouldn’t exist: Hope, the first of her kind. Protecting Hope is paramount for the family, and the Mikaelsons are all in—even if it means throwing down with anybody who gets in their way.

The Originals has got everything—family beef, backstabbing politics, and supernatural mythology. We’ve got loyalty and betrayal ping-ponging all over the place, plus people chasing after redemption and trying to figure out who they even are. Klaus is constantly wrestling with his inner demons, desperate to be part of something real while also leaving his mark on the world.

Now, we are diving into ten episodes that make The Originals what it is. We will break down what makes each one tick, how they mess with the characters, push the story forward, and dig into themes that keep us hooked.

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Best episodes from The Originals

“From a Cradle to a Grave” (Season 1, Episode 22)

The season one finale of The Originals is the moment the show fully stopped living in The Vampire Diaries’ shadow and became its own beast. Hayley is giving birth, everybody is losing their minds, and it’s just chaos everywhere. The mythology gets deeper, the stakes get higher, and hearts get stomped on.

You’ve got Klaus and Elijah scrambling to keep Hayley and baby Hope safe. Of course, nothing is ever simple with them, as betrayals are flying in from every direction. And then there’s Marcel, who was Klaus’s adopted son, going full rebellion. That move totally wrecks the family dynamic, and you can feel the heartbreak.

But the gut punch is Klaus handing over Hope, giving her up so she’ll be safe. That’s the kind of stuff that echoes for seasons; the whole sacrifice and legacy theme gets its roots right there.

Critics called it “heartbreaking and beautifully acted.” And that scene where Klaus says goodbye to Hope is one of those TV moments that sticks with you. No surprise it’s one of the highest-rated episodes on IMDb and always pops up on “best of” lists.

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“Farewell to Storyville” (Season 1, Episode 16)

In this episode, we have the Mikaelson siblings—Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah—stuck together in a cemetery, nowhere to run, just oozing centuries of family drama. It’s claustrophobic, and they’re forced to air out all the dirty laundry: betrayal, old wounds, and more.

Claire Holt owns it as Rebekah. Her goodbye scene is like watching someone finally drop a grudge they’ve been dragging around for a thousand years.

This episode cracks open the heart of The Originals. Fans called it one of the most honest hours in the whole Vampire Diaries world. It has a minimal set and maximum emotional damage.

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“The Bloody Crown” (Season 3, Episode 22)

The season three finale is peak consequences, and nobody in New Orleans gets off easy—especially not the Mikaelsons. After Lucien’s reign of terror, the family gets put down with this curse that’s one step away from total annihilation. Freya is working her magic (literally), trying to keep everyone alive in some enchanted limbo. Meanwhile, Klaus is busy suffering in excruciating silence to save Hope.

This show just can’t help itself—it loves showing off that family power. But also, these people cannot catch a break. Klaus’s big sacrifice scene is the most grown-up, desperate move he has ever pulled.

Fans called it “bittersweet” and “gut-wrenching.” They loved how the finale mashed together all love and self-destruction.

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“Alive and Kicking” (Season 2, Episode 2)

If there’s one thing this episode nails, it’s the art of the flashback. We get glimpses into the Mikaelsons’ New Orleans beginnings, and all the Klaus-Elijah drama makes way more sense.

This one really digs into the “what even is family?” thing. It shows how one’s past influences allegiances in the present.

Critics and fans recognized this as one of The Originals’ best executions of handling both mythos and character backstories at once.

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“No More Heartbreaks” (Season 3, Episode 19)

Cami bites the dust, thanks to a werewolf bite. She’s not just another pretty face, either—she’s the show’s actual conscience, the one making sure everyone doesn’t go full psycho. And then, she’s gone.

The way her death hits is brutal. We’ve got the entire Mikaelson crew scrambling, desperate, throwing every trick in the book at the problem. But it doesn’t matter how many magic tricks or ancient curses you’ve got up your sleeve—sometimes fate just has the upper hand.

Also, the song “Terrible Love” plays again, just like when Klaus and Cami first crossed paths. That’s almost like the universe rubbing salt in the wound, reminding you how far they’ve come.

People have called it the absolute bleakest moment in the whole show, which is saying something for The Originals.

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“Give 'Em Hell Kid” (Season 3, Episode 21)

The second-to-last episode in season three just wrecks the Mikaelsons. It’s a bloodbath—people you thought were untouchable are gone. Lucien finally pulls off his evil mastermind routine, and it stings.

This one’s famous for being relentless. The emotional whiplash is real; one minute you’re rooting for someone, the next minute they’re gone. Fans were all over social media calling it “an episode that delivers on every promise of impending doom.” And the sharp dialogue and breakneck pace just make the devastation hit harder.

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“The Map of Moments” (Season 2, Episode 9)

It’s a traditional “family Christmas” episode. The Mikaelson brothers are clinging to some idea of normality—fake smiles plastered on, cameras flashing for a family photo… literally seconds before they run off on a suicide mission.

The whole thing is just dripping with that bittersweet mix: missing people you love, crossing your fingers for some kind of second chance, and a heavy death cloud hanging over the tinsel. Kol actually grows up a bit, and Rebekah drops by for a minute, which pulls at the heartstrings more than we expected.

Critics and fans keep gushing about how this episode pulls off that tricky combo: it’s got genuine warmth, but also this creeping sense of doom.

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“Rebirth” (Season 2, Episode 1)

Season two kicks off with no coasting on last year’s cliffhanger. There’s fresh chaos, new grudges, and the Mikaelsons lurking in the shadows, plotting their comeback tour for New Orleans. They’re stirring up trouble with the Guerrera werewolves, and you can almost smell the revenge in the air.

It’s all about vengeance, second chances, and the weariness of endless conflict.

As for the critics, everyone says the episode flips the whole script and actually gives season two a real sense of direction.

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“Apres Moi, Le Deluge” (Season 1, Episode 11)

The Originals throws you into the chaos of New Orleans’ witch scene. The Harvest ritual reaches its climax, and the magical balance in the city has devastating consequences. One minute you’re watching the usual backstabbing politics, and the next thing you know, Davina is right in the eye of the storm.

Every storyline smashes together here. Davina is not just some side character anymore; she’s running the show.

People didn’t just shrug this one off, either. The stakes feel real, and the world-building is on point. If you’re into magical mayhem and power plays, this episode is a must-watch.

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“The Battle of New Orleans” (Season 1, Episode 21)

This second-to-last episode has movie-level action all over the place, plus all that messy dad-son baggage between Marcel and Klaus just explodes.

Marcel decides he’s done playing nice and goes full rebellion mode to grab the city for himself. So war breaks out, and alliances crumble.

It’s all betrayal, feeling like you don’t belong, and identity laid bare. Critics called it a “stunning lead-in to the season finale” and loved how the family drama was just as juicy as the vampires and witches throwing down.