The BEST episodes of The Originals

Every episode of The Originals ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Originals!

Though once pledged to remain together through the test of time, the Mikaelson's — the first and original family of vampires — have been torn apart over the thousands of years of their existence. When Klaus Mikaelson, the original vampire-werewolf hybrid, receives a mysterious tip that a plot is brewing against him in the supernatural melting pot that is the French Quarter of New Orleans, he returns to the city his family helped build. Klaus, along with his siblings Elijah and Rebekah, must take back the city that once belonged to them, while avoiding a war between the vampires, werewolves and witches that populate the French Quarter.

Last Updated: 3/16/2024Network: The CWStatus: Ended
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When the Saints Go Marching In
star
8.45
945 votes

#1 - When the Saints Go Marching In

Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 8/1/2018

Intent on saving Hope's life, Klaus' plan will change the lives of the Mikaelson family forever.

Directors: Lance Anderson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Feast of All Sinners
star
8.37
1663 votes

#2 - The Feast of All Sinners

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 6/23/2017

The Mikaelsons find themselves out of options as they face the all-powerful and un-killable entity known as The Hollow. With the life of Hope at stake, Vincent proposes a final, desperate plan.

Directors: Bethany Rooney
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
From a Cradle to a Grave
star
8.36
1635 votes

#3 - From a Cradle to a Grave

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/13/2014

Hayley atempts to save her unborn baby from the witches. Francesca meets with Oliver and Jackson to decide the future of the werewolves in New Orleans.

Directors: Matt Hastings
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Bloody Crown
star
8.27
1746 votes

#4 - The Bloody Crown

Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/20/2016

After months of thwarting off dangerous threats and deadly attacks, the Mikaelson siblings finally come face to face with the one person that could lead to their ultimate demise. With the stakes higher than ever and the compound overrun by an army of his oldest sworn enemies, Klaus is put on trial for centuries of atrocities he’s committed. Meanwhile, Marcel, who has been spiraling out of control following an act of betrayal by those closest to him, is stunned by the unexpected arrival of someone from his past. Finally, Elijah, Freya and Kol frantically search for a way to save their family before it’s too late.

Directors: Matt Hastings
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Tale of Two Wolves
star
8.22
850 votes

#5 - The Tale of Two Wolves

Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 7/25/2018

With Hope facing a life-threatening affliction and deteriorating quickly, Klaus travels to Mystic Falls to seek help from Caroline. Tasked with keeping Hope preoccupied in Mystic Falls, Elijah comes to a heartbreaking realization about his niece. Meanwhile, at the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted, a run-in with Alaric Saltzman throws a wrench into Klaus’ plan.

Directors: Rudy Persico
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Battle of New Orleans
star
8.19
1583 votes

#6 - The Battle of New Orleans

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/6/2014

Cami feels threatened, as Marcel rallies an army to take back control of the city.

Directors: Jeffrey G. Hunt
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ashes to Ashes
star
8.19
1081 votes

#7 - Ashes to Ashes

Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/11/2015

With time running out, Klaus' ultimate plan to protect baby Hope at all costs continues to take shape.

Directors: Matt Hastings
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Le Grand Guignol
star
8.18
1621 votes

#8 - Le Grand Guignol

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/4/2014

Rebekah and Marcel have been trying to keep a secret from Klaus which may come to the light as we flashback to 1919. Elijah and Monique bond. Hayley takes Sabine hostage to try and get information on reversing the curse on her clan.

Directors: Chris Grismer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Devil Is Damned
star
8.14
1151 votes

#9 - The Devil Is Damned

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/9/2015

Vincent joins forces with a figure from his past. Kaleb is forced to make a difficult life or death decision, and Elijah finds himself in the fight of his life. Hayley and Jackson become pawns in Vincent's dangerous plan.

Directors: Lance Anderson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
No More Heartbreaks
star
8.13
1576 votes

#10 - No More Heartbreaks

Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/29/2016

Everyone joins together in an attempt to save Cami's life.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Red Door
star
8.13
1353 votes

#11 - Red Door

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/3/2014

In order to show Elijah that her plan is what's best for him, Esther forces him to relive a time long ago when he loved a young woman named Tatia.

Directors: Michael Robison
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Live and Let Die
star
8.12
1466 votes

#12 - Live and Let Die

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/27/2014

Davina takes Mikael to a cabin to heal from his wolf bites. Klaus searches for them. Elijah, Marcel and Hayley try to rescue some young wolves.

Directors: Jeffrey G. Hunt
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Rebirth
star
8.11
1615 votes

#13 - Rebirth

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/6/2014

Hayley struggles with her powers. Marcel sides with Klaus and gets revenge over the wolves. Esther is busy plotting her own plans. Everyone wants control over the city.

Directors: Lance Anderson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Map of Moments
star
8.09
1366 votes

#14 - The Map of Moments

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/8/2014

Rebekah persuades Klaus and Elijah to take part in a family tradition from their childhood.

Directors: Leslie Libman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Give 'Em Hell, Kid
star
8.08
1593 votes

#15 - Give 'Em Hell, Kid

Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/13/2016

After receiving new visions of the looming prophecy, Freya uncovers that her family is on a collision course with a dangerous new enemy. Meanwhile, with the help of Detective Kinney, Vincent and Kol travel to the ancestral world to put a stop to the witches and take back their city once and for all. Elsewhere, Klaus and Elijah confront Marcel after a heartbreaking plan gone wrong has sent him spiraling.

Directors: Jeffrey G. Hunt
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Crescent City
star
8.08
1737 votes

#16 - Crescent City

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/4/2014

Marcel and Rebekah fret over whether secrets hidden for nearly a century are about to be exposed. Father Kieran deals with a witch from his past. Hayley and her werewolf clan enjoy a party. Sophie discovers something shocking at the cemetery. Klaus takes some dangerous measures that will affect everybody.

Directors: Chris Grismer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Gather Up the Killers
star
8.08
2128 votes

#17 - Gather Up the Killers

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/17/2017

On the fifth anniversary of the Mikaelson's defeat, Marcel is king of the city and welcomes the unsired vampires to New Orleans, only to find they pose an unexpected threat to his rule, leading him to seek counsel from an unlikely source.

Directors: Lance Anderson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
What, Will, I, Have, Left
star
8.07
983 votes

#18 - What, Will, I, Have, Left

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/30/2018

Hope sets off on a dangerous mission to end the mess she started, and Klaus turns to Caroline for help when he discovers Hope's plan. Plus, Vincent and Freya clash over Declan.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Fire with Fire
star
8.07
1164 votes

#19 - Fire with Fire

Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/4/2015

With the knowledge that he has been betrayed by his siblings, Klaus and an unlikely friend plan to get even with them.

Directors: David Straiton
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Kindness of Strangers
star
8.06
941 votes

#20 - The Kindness of Strangers

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/13/2018

As pressing matters rage on in New Orleans, the Mikaelson siblings find themselves forced to set aside their differences and work together to escape a "chambre de chasse."

Directors: Kellie Cyrus
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Fruit of the Poisoned Tree
star
8.06
2128 votes

#21 - Fruit of the Poisoned Tree

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/5/2013

Klaus goes to extreme measures to protect Hayley and their unborn baby when he learns Hayley's life is being threatened. Meanwhile, Cami turns to Father Kieran for guidance. Marcel seeks advice from an old friend. Davina tries to control her magic.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Long Way Back from Hell
star
8.05
1687 votes

#22 - Long Way Back from Hell

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/25/2014

In 1919, Rebekah worked in a sanatorium. She finds herself back there and locked up as a witch who is seeking revenge plans to reveal her darkest secrets. Elijah makes a decision that puts the others in further danger.

Directors: Matt Hastings
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Where You Left Your Heart
star
8.05
1130 votes

#23 - Where You Left Your Heart

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/18/2018

Desperate to see her father Klaus after seven years, Hope resorts to drastic measures to bring him back to New Orleans.

Directors: Lance Anderson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Farewell to Storyville
star
8.04
1659 votes

#24 - Farewell to Storyville

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/11/2014

Since the original vampires were stuck in the cemetery, Klaus takes any chances to punish his sister with the Original-killer stake.

Directors: Jesse Warn
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Dance Back from the Grave
star
8.04
1767 votes

#25 - Dance Back from the Grave

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/28/2014

Tension between Marcel and Klaus results in Marcel refusing to help Klaus with a gruesome discovery in the Cauldron. Rebekah revisits her past when she finds the remnants of a sacrifice by the docks - the work of a dangerous warlock she has come across before. Klaus battles, but his opponent has an unfair advantage.

Directors: Rob Hardy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV