The Originals

The debut treads water getting everybody up to speed, but the dagger-in-the-heart of a cliffhanger--coupled with [Joseph] Morgan's radioactive onscreen charm--should keep The Originals' veins flowing amply. [4 Oct 2013, p.60]

There are a lot of moving parts and agendas here, but The Originals does a pretty good job of stitching them all together by the end of its first hour.

Gillies’ character is one for the ages, and although the actor’s portrayal of him is as wonderfully measured as ever, his actions here feel like the equivalent of a vampire Parent Trap situation, with Gillies just trying to keep his siblings together using whatever trickery he can. Yet, in spite of all of these concerns, it still feels like there’s a show here.

If you’re into The Vampire Diaries (I’m not), you’ll get sucked into this sleek spinoff.

The premiere episode of the new series, "Always and Forever," tells pretty much the same story as the backdoor pilot, only from the point of view of Elijah (not Klaus, as before). This works on some levels but stumbles on others.

A not-bad spinoff that feels older than "The Vampire Diaries" and even more convoluted.

It's "House of Cards," with a werewolf/vampire hybrid instead of a charming but ruthless Southern senator.

The originals strikes me as what "Dallas" might have been if J.R. and Bobby had been immortals. And living, of course, in the Big Easy.

There are so many vampires and undeads and such on television these days that this crew is going to have a hard time getting attention, especially if the show continues to be as much of a grab bag as the pilot episode is. Some serious focusing--on specific story lines, specific characters--should be the first order of business.

The Originals deserves credit for a mostly clear set-up for newcomers.

The performances are over the top and enjoyable enough.

The heavy-handed dialogue, courtesy of series creator Julie Plec and Michael Narducci, doesn’t deliver much bite.

Like 'Vampire Diaries' (and so much else), The Originals lacks a sharp wit, preferring the heavy-velvet drapery of self-seriousness and pretend passion.

[A] turgid and convoluted pilot.