The Vampire Diaries Spinoff Was Way Better Than the Original

When The CW announced a spinoff of its hit series The Vampire Diaries, focused on the ancient Mikaelson siblings, many fans rolled their eyes at what seemed like a transparent attempt to milk a popular franchise. Yet, something magical happened when The Originals premiered in 2013 — the spinoff quickly established itself as not merely equal to its predecessor but significantly superior in almost every aspect. The transformation of Klaus Mikaelson from a compelling villain in Vampire Diaries to a complex anti-hero at the center of his own narrative became one of television’s most fascinating character evolutions. While The Vampire Diaries spent eight seasons entangled in increasingly convoluted love triangles and doppelgänger plots, The Originals presented a more mature, richly developed world of supernatural politics, family drama, and moral complexity.

The shift from the small-town high school setting of Mystic Falls to the vibrant, historically rich New Orleans breathed new life into the franchise’s mythology. The Originals expertly balanced its supernatural elements with genuine stakes, creating storylines where immortal beings faced meaningful conflicts beyond teenage romance. The show’s exploration of the “always and forever” bond between the Mikaelson siblings provided emotional depth that its parent show often lacked, especially in its later seasons. As both series have now concluded their runs, it’s become increasingly clear that the student surpassed the teacher — The Originals delivered a more consistent, sophisticated, and ultimately satisfying supernatural drama than The Vampire Diaries ever managed to achieve.

A More Dynamic and Layered Setting

Mystic Falls served its purpose as the quaint backdrop for teenage vampire drama, but New Orleans became a character itself within The Originals. The city’s rich history, vibrant culture, and established supernatural community provided a much more compelling canvas for storytelling. While Mystic Falls often felt limited by its small-town dynamics, New Orleans offered genuine complexity — different supernatural factions vying for control, centuries-old conflicts bubbling beneath the surface, and a tangible sense of place that The Vampire Diaries simply couldn’t match.

The French Quarter’s atmospheric streets, historic mansions, and jazz-filled nights created an ambiance perfectly suited to vampire drama. More importantly, the show’s writers incorporated the city’s actual multicultural history into the supernatural narrative, making the setting feel authentic rather than merely decorative. The Originals showed how the Mikaelson family had shaped the city over centuries and how their return disrupted existing power structures among vampires, witches, werewolves, and humans, creating a rich political landscape that elevated the series beyond typical teen drama.

Superior Character Development

The Vampire Diaries frequently struggled with maintaining consistent character development, particularly as the show progressed. Characters like Elena Gilbert often seemed to make decisions based on plot requirements rather than established personality traits, while some supporting characters were underutilized or relegated to repetitive storylines. In contrast, The Originals gave its characters room to evolve in meaningful ways while maintaining their core identities.

Klaus Mikaelson’s journey from tyrannical villain to protective father never felt rushed or unearned. His relationship with his siblings — particularly his complex bond with Elijah — provided emotional stakes that went beyond romantic entanglements. Supporting characters like Marcel Gerard and Vincent Griffith received thoughtful, nuanced development rather than being mere plot devices. Even characters who crossed over from The Vampire Diaries, such as Rebekah Mikaelson and Hayley Marshall, gained new dimensions when freed from the constraints of Mystic Falls’ drama.

A More Mature Approach to Storytelling

While The Vampire Diaries remained firmly rooted in its young adult origins, The Originals embraced a more sophisticated narrative approach. Love triangles took a backseat to family dynamics, political maneuvering, and moral dilemmas. The show wasn’t afraid to explore darker themes and ambiguous morality, presenting a world where “good” and “evil” were rarely clearly defined.

The central conflict of The Originals wasn’t about which boyfriend Elena would choose, but about whether a family defined by violence and betrayal could find redemption through love and sacrifice. The show explored questions of nature versus nurture, the legacy of trauma, and the possibility of change even after centuries of darkness. These weightier themes gave The Originals a depth that The Vampire Diaries, particularly in its later seasons, often lacked.

Embracing Diversity and Representation

The Vampire Diaries has been rightfully criticized for its lack of diversity and meaningful representation of characters of color. The Originals, while not perfect, made significant improvements in this area. The New Orleans setting allowed for a more diverse cast, and the show gave substantial roles and development to characters of various backgrounds.

Characters like Marcel Gerard and Vincent Griffith weren’t merely token additions but foundational elements of the narrative with their own agency and story arcs. The show’s exploration of New Orleans’ unique cultural history, including its practices of Voodoo and Creole heritage, added layers of authenticity that The Vampire Diaries’ largely homogenous Mystic Falls couldn’t match.

[RELATED – Should The Vampire Diaries Get a Reboot?]

Stronger Season-to-Season Consistency

Perhaps the most significant advantage The Originals held over its predecessor was its narrative consistency. The Vampire Diaries, which ran for eight seasons, suffered from significant quality fluctuations, particularly after Nina Dobrev’s departure in Season 6. Plot lines became increasingly convoluted, with new supernatural threats emerging seemingly at random and character development often taking bizarre turns.

The Originals maintained a more consistent vision throughout its five-season run. While it certainly had weaker episodes, the overall quality remained relatively stable, and the show never lost sight of its core themes and character arcs. By ending after five seasons, The Originals avoided the narrative fatigue that plagued The Vampire Diaries’ final years, concluding its story while it still had creative momentum.

A More Satisfying Conclusion

The series finales of both shows featured significant character deaths and emotional conclusions, but The Originals managed to provide a more coherent and thematically satisfying ending. Klaus and Elijah’s joint sacrifice felt like the culmination of their thousand-year journey together, a fitting conclusion to their story of redemption through family love.

The Vampire Diaries’ finale, while satisfying for many fans, relied heavily on nostalgic callbacks and convenient plot resolutions. The return of Dobrev as Elena was welcome, but the rushed nature of many character conclusions left something to be desired. The Originals, by contrast, took the time to provide meaningful closure for its central characters, honoring their development throughout the series.

The Legacy of Both Shows

Despite The Originals’ superiority in many aspects, it’s important to acknowledge that without The Vampire Diaries, the spinoff would never have existed. The parent show established the world, introduced the Mikaelson family, and built the fan base that made The Originals possible. Many of the elements that made The Originals great — including Joseph Morgan’s charismatic performance as Klaus — were first developed on The Vampire Diaries.

Both shows have left an indelible mark on supernatural television and continue to attract new viewers through streaming platforms. The franchise even spawned a second spinoff, Legacies, further expanding the universe created in The Vampire Diaries. Yet, when comparing the two original series directly, The Originals stands as the more accomplished, mature, and consistent vision — a rare example of a spinoff that fully eclipsed its source material.