Parents' Guide to

The Originals

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Vampire spin-off is as steamy, bloody as the original.

TV CW Drama 2013
The Originals Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 13+

Based on 32 parent reviews

Angela F.
Angela F. Parent of 10-year-old
March 16, 2023
age 10+

Great role models

There is very little sex and nothing too graphic. No nudity. Swearing is infrequent. Uses of damn and hell, Nothing too bad. There is some violence but as long as your kids are mature it should be fine.

This title has:

Too much violence
parentuser101
parentuser101 Parent of 11, 12 and 14-year-old
November 3, 2022
age 10+

would deffinitly recomend for tweens

amazing show

This title has:

Great role models
See all 32 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Involving characters from the CW drama The Vampire Diaries, THE ORIGINALS follows "original vampire" siblings Klaus (Joseph Morgan), Elijah (Daniel Gillies), and Rebekah (Claire Holt) Mikaelson back to New Orleans after a decades-long exile. Vampire-werewolf hybrid Klaus swore he'd never set foot in the Big Easy again, but word of a plot to destroy him has changed his mind -- as has unlikely news that a beautiful werewolf (Phoebe Tonkin) he once slept with is now carrying his child. Meanwhile, Klaus's one-time protege, Marcel (Charles Michael Davis), has become the city's most powerful resident.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (32 ):
Kids say (74 ):

If The Vampire Diaries' improbable plots don't already give you pause, then you'll probably find The Originals an easy pill to swallow. But if you're coming at it with a fresh pair of eyes, it might take you a while to figure out the who, what, when, where, and why -- and in the end, you just might conclude, "Who cares?"

Given the ongoing appeal of supernatural stories, however, there are plenty of people who do care. And one welcome twist here, at least, is that the series is set in picturesque New Orleans, a city not only renowned for its beauty but also for its fascinating diversity. That means that, in addition to vampires, werewolves, and witches, you'll see faces from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds. But when it comes to power, men -- for the most part -- are still running the show.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the ongoing popularity of supernatural beings on television and in movies, books, and the like. What's the appeal? How does The Originals compare to other shows out there?

  • What messages do the show's main characters send about gender and power? Do you think males have an advantage in the world of The Originals?

  • If you've read the books that inspired The Vampire Diaries (and, subsequently, this spin-off), how does The Originals fit into the fiction? How true to the books and their characters did the show's creators stay?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate