The Originals

Voodoo you think you are?

Between seasons, the Originals writing team clearly sat down and decided, “You know what we need? More Originals.” Of course, the fact that the number of Originals is finite ( statement pending revision when some hitherto unmentioned brother/ sister is revealed) and that many of them were killed off in the course of The Vampire Diaries is no obstacle. This is supernatural telly we’re talking about here. Resurrection is just another hand- wavy ritual away. Hell, you don’t even need to hire the same actors if the particular mode of resurrection you decide upon is shoving someone’s spirit into a new body. That even means that vampires can become witches.

The Originals continues to be the perfect show for anyone who wants The Vampire Diaries with fewer jocks and more jazz. The differences between the two shows are largely cosmetic ( a different city, a different soundtrack, a bit more grand guignol horror). In terms of plotting and characterisation they

bonus features

Kinda Crossover: Nina Dobrev makes a guest appearance in episode 2.05 but as neither Elena nor Katherine. She’s yet another doppelganger – Tatia.

It’s Wotsisname: The actor playing Kol’s new host body, Daniel Sharman, previously played werewolf Isaac in Teen Wolf. If you want to see more of the original Kol ( Nathaniel Buzolic) google “The Originals The Awakening” for tie- in flashback eps.

In- Joke: Episode 2.04 is called “Live And Let Die” which just happens to be a James Bond film which is largely set in a voodoo- rife New Orleans.

Best Line: Klaus: “Well, then there’s only one question we need to ask, isn’t there? Which of our parents do we kill first?” follow the same blueprint: bickering vampire brothers; women who can’t decide which bad boy they like best; plots that fit a season’s worth of events into one episode; enemies becoming uneasy allies, and vice versa.

Admittedly, the cosmetic differences are what make The Originals the more interesting show at the moment. The New Orleans voodoo vibe helps give the show a sense of edginess missing from Mystic Falls, and the Deep South setting provides a spicier gumbo for the simmering tension between witches, werewolves and vampires.

But with season two, the show seems to be trying too hard to emulate its progenitor in terms of structuring its storylines. There’s an “everything plus the kitchen sink” approach – with all the main characters in a constant state