Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Forget ‘The Vampire Lestat,’ TV’s Best Modern Vampire Series Is a Streaming Smash
Four years after The CW's The Vampire Diaries franchise ended, its 2013 spin-off The Originals has found a new lease of life on streaming, becoming a surprise hit for Peacock in the US. The show, which moved the story from Mystic Falls to New Orleans, was initially met with mixed reviews for feeling disjointed but grew into a critically praised series, with several seasons later scoring perfect ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. Its renewed popularity underlines the lasting appeal of the Vampire Diaries universe even though no successor series has since taken its place.
Since being added to Peacock two weeks ago, The Originals has climbed to number four on the platform's domestic chart, according to tracking firm FlixPatrol. The Vampire Diaries franchise ran on The CW for 13 years from 2009, created by Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson, before The CW cancelled the third spin-off, Legacies, in June 2022 amid a wider retreat from scripted programming. Fans now have five seasons of The Originals and four seasons of Legacies available to watch.
In short
- The Originals is now a top-five hit on Peacock in the US
- The 2013 Vampire Diaries spin-off overcame a shaky start to gain acclaim
- The wider franchise ended in 2022 after The CW dropped Legacies
Explained simply
The Vampire Diaries was a supernatural drama series that aired on American television for over a decade beginning in 2009, following young people navigating a world of vampires and supernatural conflict. The show's popularity led to multiple spin-offs, including The Originals, which launched in 2013 and relocated the story to New Orleans.
The Originals initially received mixed critical reviews but grew into a well-regarded series, with later seasons earning strong praise before the franchise concluded in the early 2020s. The show maintained a devoted fanbase throughout and after its broadcast run.
The enduring appeal of the Vampire Diaries universe reflects the lasting popularity of vampire fiction in television. The franchise demonstrated how interconnected storytelling could sustain viewer interest across multiple related series, which explains why audiences continue to engage with these programmes.