The Original vampire-werewolf hybrid Klaus Mikaelson and his brother Elijah have spent 1,000 years fighting to protect their dysfunctional family. And now that Klaus and the hybrid Hayley share an infant daughter, Hope, the stakes are higher than ever. Season Three finds Klaus and Elijah estranged from each other, while adjusting to life with their long-lost sister, Freya. Hayley suffers mightily at the hands of Klaus’ petty vengeance, while Marcel and Davina rule the city. Cami and Vincent are tangled in a surprising mystery involving the newest resident of New Orleans — the first vampire ever sired by the Mikaelsons. With threats from the rebellious Strix and a fatal prophecy hanging over the Mikaelsons, all 22 sexy and suspenseful episodes simmer with bloodlust, revenge and supernatural warfare.
Season Four’s 13 fateful, final episodes begin on the fifth anniversary of the once all-powerful Mikaelson family’s greatest defeat, with Klaus held captive by Marcel Gerard and siblings Elijah and Rebekah deep in an enchanted sleep. After daring rescues, the Mikaelsons are reunited, only to face an even bigger threat: the revival of a malevolent power that has strong ties to their most vulnerable family member. In response to a devastating attack by this nightmarish entity, the Mikaelsons stand their ground and forge an alliance with former friends Marcel and Vincent Griffith, leader of the New Orleans witches, to confront an enemy more powerful than themselves. The dysfunctional siblings and their allies have no choice but to fight together — even if this is to be their final battle.
Note: Seasons Three and Four of The Originals are sold individually. The grouping of these releases together is only for the purposes of this review.
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Video Quality
The Originals arrives on Blu-Ray with a fairly solid AVC-encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. The third season provides 22 episodes spread across five discs, while the fourth season serves up 13 episodes on three discs. Both of these configurations allow for a decent amount of space for the material to breathe. There are no egregious instances of aliasing or compression artifacts detectable here, but you will spot some instances throughout the season. The show implements some inconsistent visual effects at times, but that is not the fault of the transfer.
The level of detail this presentation spotlights is quite amazing at times, as all of the subtle facets in the production design are easily identifiable. The series can be a bit dark, but there are some lovely instances of sumptuous colors popping off the screen. Black levels are a bit overbearing and often eat up some of the detail in shadows. The highlights of the show do not fall victim to any blooming in this presentation. Skin tones appear very natural across the entire cast. The Blu-Ray presentation should please most fans of the show.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with a stellar DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that creates a truly three-dimensional world. Dialogue always comes through crisp and clear without being drowned out by the score or any sound effects. Action sequences and more kinetic moments are given the appropriate weight in the mix with a forceful showing in the low end. Ambient sounds are also precisely placed in the rear channels. The show sports a fun soundtrack that often fills the room with music that perfectly conjures a vibe. The audio track does not feature an incredibly complex mix, but it gives the sounds being featured a robust presentation.
Special Features
Season Three
- Deleted Scenes: There are 35 minutes of unused material provided here in HD from throughout the season. These are mostly smaller moments, but there are some significant scenes worth checking out.
- Charles Michael Davis In The Big Easy: An eight-minute piece with “Marcel” who gives you a tour of some of the shooting locations while answering questions sent in through social media.
- Gag Reel: A three-minute collection of flubbed lines, ruined takes, laughing fits, and more is provided.
- Come Visit Georgia PSA: A three-and-a-half-minute promo in which the Originals team playfully talks up the benefits of shooting in Georgia.
- The Originals – 2015 Comic-Con Panel: A 29-minute panel featuring cast members Yusuf Gatewood, Danielle Campbell, Charles Michael Davis, Joseph Morgan, Daniel Gillies, Phoebe Tonkin, Leah Pipes; Creator Julie Plec; and Executive Producer Michael Narducci. In this piece, the panel teases some developments occurring in the third season without giving away too much to spoil the fun.
Season Four
- Deleted Scenes: There are 17 minutes of unused material provided here in HD from throughout the season. These are mostly smaller moments, but there are some significant scenes worth checking out.
- Gag Reel: A five-minute collection of flubbed lines, ruined takes, laughing fits, and more is provided.
- Come Visit Georgia PSA #1: A three-and-a-half-minute promo in which the Originals team playfully talks up the benefits of shooting in Georgia.
- Come Visit Georgia PSA #2: A five-minute promo in which the Originals team playfully talks up the benefits of shooting in Georgia.
- The Originals – 2016 Comic-Con Panel: A 26-minute panel featuring cast members Yusuf Gatewood, Charles Michael Davis, Joseph Morgan, Daniel Gillies, Phoebe Tonkin, Riley Voelkel; Creator Julie Plec; and Executive Producer Michael Narducci. In this piece, the panel teases some developments occurring in the fourth season.
Final Thoughts
The Originals established itself early on as a worthy spinoff from The Vampire Diaries as it started off with dynamic characters and fleshed out the world even further with unique personalities. While it is helpful if you have watched the mothership, this spinoff lays out its lore well enough that newcomers can appreciate the supernatural drama. The third season, especially, feels like the show really hitting its stride leading into the equally compelling fourth season. Some major developments occur that shift the trajectory in bold ways that would have felt a bit out of place in the earliest outings. If you are open to this genre of television, it is good fun. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray set of these seasons with a great A/V presentation and a lovely assortment of special features. Recommended
The Originals: The Complete Third Season can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.
The Originals: The Complete Fourth Season can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.