The Originals: How does Hayley die? Details from the supernatural drama, explored

The Originals is a dark, emotional, and super addictive show that takes us deep into the lives of the original vampires, the Mikaelson family who are as ancient as they are complicated. Set in the mystical city of New Orleans, the show is a spin-off of The Vampire Diaries and is filled with supernatural politics, deep-rooted rivalries, and family drama that’s often just as deadly as any monster.

Created by Julie Plec, The Originals digs into themes of power, loyalty, redemption, and sacrifice. It explores what it means to be a family, especially when that family consists of immortal beings who’ve lived through centuries of conflict. The show stands out because of how it mixes action with emotional storylines. The characters grow, break, love, and fall apart in ways that feel real, even if they drink blood for dinner.

One of the most beloved characters in the show is Hayley Marshall. A werewolf-turned-hybrid and fiercely devoted mother to Hope Mikaelson, Hayley had a story arc that kept fans rooting for her until the very end. Her final moments on the show left many shocked, emotional, and honestly, kind of angry. So let’s get into what really happened.

The Originals: How Hayley dies in the supernatural drama

The Originals never held back from brutal twists and turns in the story. And Hayley’s death is one of the most unforgettable ones. In Season 5, Episode 6, titled What, Will, I, Have, Left, Hayley sacrifices herself to save her daughter, Hope. It’s a powerful, heartbreaking scene that still has fans debating whether it was necessary or not. After being captured by a group of purist vampires led by Greta, Hayley is held hostage. She eventually breaks free but there’s a catch.

To save Hope from a spell that’s draining her, Hayley agrees to a ritual that strips away her werewolf side. This makes her a regular vampire, which means she’s suddenly vulnerable to the sun. The Originals fans knew this was bad news. Hayley’s hybrid strength was always her shield, and now it was gone.

In a final act of bravery, she rips off Greta’s daylight ring and drags both of them into the sunlight. Without her hybrid healing, Hayley burns alive taking Greta down with her. It’s a fiery, tragic end. It's layered with emotion, sacrifice, and pain. That scene was about protecting what mattered most to her: her daughter.

Phoebe Tonkin, who played Hayley in The Originals, told TV Guide in an interview:

"My final scene [of filming] was with my daughter Hope. Hayley's journey throughout all five seasons was to protect her child, and it was nice to wrap up the show that way too."

The decision to kill off Hayley left fans divided. Some praised the bravery of her final moments, while others felt her arc deserved a more thought-out goodbye. The Originals has never held back from shaking things up, but this one was different. It was the end of an era. Not just for Hayley, but for the kind of fierce, loyal, grounded presence she brought to the show. Love it or hate it, her death changed everything.

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