Blu-ray Review: ‘The Originals’ Season 2

Ever since the Mikaelson’s graced us with their presence in season three of The Vampire Diaries, I’ve been enthralled with the story of the first vampires ever spawned, so when  Julie Plec announced the spin off The Originals,  I was thrilled! For fans of both The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, it’s been fun to see the evolution of our favorite original vampires, Klaus (Joseph Morgan), Elijah (Daniel Gilles), and Rebekah (Claire Holt).  We’ve also been introduced to a whole new pack of werewolves that united Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) and Jackson (Nathan Parson) who are now their King and Queen. Suffice it to say season two has been fraught with angst, danger, and death.

I’d say The Originals has always and will forever be about family, which for me, is one of the draws of the series.  How can someone so ruthless as Klaus, stake his siblings for 80-100 years at the blink of an eye, yet demand their loyalty? How can Elijah still believe so deeply he can find some way to redeem is brother, even after everything Klaus as done?  Rebekah always seems to be caught in between the two, though her allegiance is seemingly firmly with Elijah, there have been times Klaus throws out the family card to win her assistance.

In season two we see their parents emerge from the dead.  Mikael (Sebastian Roche) is hell bent on destroying Klaus and visa versa, while Esther (Alice Evans) feels it’s her duty to destroy her children after condemning them to a life of vampirism.  We also see Kol (Daniel Sharman) return and find love with resident leader of the witches Davina (Danielle Campbell), as well as Finn (Yusef Gatewood), who is restored by yet another Mikaelson, their long lost sister Freya (Riley VoelKel). With six Mikaelson’s in New Orleans, you can imagine what’s in store for season three!

Although the season two Blu-ray won’t clue you in on what’s in store for season three, it has some great special features that makes it well worth adding to your collection.  As with The Vampire Diaries season six Blu-ray, The Originals has several episodes with unaired scenes added. The list includes:

Episode One: ‘Rebirth’- Klaus recruits Elijah and Marcel to help plan his revenge against the Guerrera Wolves.

Episode 9: ‘The Map of Moments’- Rebekah returns Hope to Klaus and Hayley, while Davina learns of an old spell from 1914.

Episode 14: ‘I Love You Goodbye’- Jackson and Hayley prepare for their wedding and Cami finds out something about Hope.

Episode 16: ‘Save My Soul’- Klaus wants to learn more about Freya’s time with Dahlia.

Episode 18: ‘Night Has a Thousand Eyes’- Klaus is confronted by Mikael, in his quest to get rid of Dahlia.

Episode 20: ‘City Beneath the Sea’- Elijah and Jackson fight, while Vincent approaches Davina with an interesting offer.

Episode 22: ‘Ashes to Ashes’- the Mikaelson siblings stand off against Dahlia

Interestingly there is no episode commentary for this season, which is one of the things I love hearing, but it doesn’t take away from the added scenes feature.  I think fans will enjoy rewatching the episodes with a few scenes they’ve never seen before.

As with The Vampire Diaries S6 Blu-ray/DVD, for fans who never get a chance to go to the San Diego Comic-Con to see their favorite actors in person, SDCC 2014 The Originals panel is also included.  There are some really funny moments and questions I never expected, so fans will definitely have fun watching it.

During this years SDCC press rooms for The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, one of the things I brought up specifically with Caroline Dries (The Vampire Diaries Producer/Writer) is the fact that many fans really want TVD and TO to crossover.  Why this hasn’t occurred is beyond me, nor has there been a mention of Mystic Falls on The Originals, which is perplexing since the series is a spin off from The Vampire Diaries.  That’s why I was very intrigued by the webseries The Originals: Awakening, which is included on the Blu-ray.

If you haven’t checked it out, it’s really good and features Kol Mikaelson, played by the character’s original actor, fan favorite Nathaniel Buzolic.

Kol teaches two witches, Mary Alice Claire (Kerry Lynn Pratt) and Astrid Malchance (Aleeah Rogers) how to use dark magic to create a dark object, which turns out to be the white oak stake (which has been used in both TVD and TO).  This is the only thing that can actually kill an original vampire.  The reason Kol wants this created? To kill Klaus, of course!

From the moment we see Kol and Mary meet, the chemistry between them is palpable (almost intoxicating) and it’s obvious he’s trying to seduce her.  Mary’s friend Astrid doesn’t approve of Kol and can see he’s up to no good.  Nothing like a forbidden romance with a bad boy to reel you in!

Julie Plec explains she really wanted to tell Kol’s story.  “This is really a great opportunity for us to show the fans who Kol was and why his relationship was like it was in The Vampire Diaries and The Originals.” Fans of TVD will recall that Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah were not happy to see Kol’s arrival in Mystic Falls.  Now we get to learn exactly why.  “The history of Kol is so interesting to us because in The Vampire Diaries they were nervous when he came back. They were not exactly sure they could trust him or if he was going to cause complete chaos,” adds Plec.

What I find very cool, is that if you watch The Originals and Awakening, by mid-season both series’ storylines merge.  It makes the audience really connect with the character on a whole new level and it explains why Kol is the way he is.  Now when Davina hopefully is able to resurrect him in season three, fans will have a better understanding of the character.

In addition, there is a behind-the-scenes look at Kol’s clubhouse, which the set designers created with great attention to detail that I believe fans will appreciate.

While the writers have been able to create a webseries and storyline that coincides with The Originals, this is something that fans have been clamoring to happen – a crossover between The Originals and The Vampire Diaries. Although a webseries is a lot shorter in length, it’s clear the writers are talented and savvy enough to accomplish this.  It would be great since this may be The Vampire Diaries final season.

For me The Originals is about family, what lengths they’ll go to in protecting its members, and how deep the connection runs.  At SDCC 2015 press room, Joseph Morgan told me that because Klaus has a daughter, he’s always thinking about her in the back of his mind.  Can he really protect her from those who are out to get him and can she really grow up to become a well-rounded person in a den of vampires and werewolves?  It weighs heavily on Klaus’s mind.

In the Blu-ray feature “The Originals Always and Forever,” he explains Klaus and Hayley’s issues with each other further, with regards to their daughter.

“It’s always family. That feeling of their responsibility to family that brings them back together. And then now with Hope in the picture they sometimes have very different ideas about what is best for the child, so I feel that’s what pushes them apart.”

Ultimately, Plec has a plan to “go back into the past” and unravel the history of the Mikaelson family.

The Originals Blu-ray edition is full of behind-the-scenes intel, a fun gag reel, and salute to the great state of Georgia, where it has been filmed for the past two seasons.  I give it an “A-” for lack of commentary, but it’s still well-worth purchasing.  If you’re a fan of the show, you’ll definitely want The Originals S2. Own it now on Blu-ray, DVD,  or Digital HD and include it in your library today!

As with The Vampire Diaries, with the purchase of a Blu-ray, you’ll also receive a code for a free Digital HD download of season two that you can watch anytime, anywhere.

The Originals returns October 8 at 9 p.m. on The CW, following The Vampire Diaries at 8 p.m.