The Originals
AI Woke Score
Faint messaging, mostly cosmetic.
confidence: medium
Audience Score
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Where to watch
The Verdict
The Originals is a supernatural family melodrama focused on power, legacy, and the Mikaelson siblings reclaiming New Orleans. Its cast is diverse in a way that fits the setting, and while it includes a few LGBTQ+ supporting characters, identity messaging is minimal and never overrides the story. This is a clean, plot-driven show by WokeMeter standards.
What the AI Flagged
Category explanations and examples behind the assessment. Internal category scores and the exact calculation are private; external sources appear below when available.
Identity Swaps
Original characters and an original spin-off mythology; no established characters were identity-swapped.
Girlboss & Male Demotion
Features strong female characters like Hayley and Rebekah, but the show centers the male Mikaelson brothers and does not push a 'men are the problem' message.
- Klaus and Elijah are the dominant protagonists
- Female characters are written with flaws, not as flawless girlbosses
LGBTQ+ / Trans / Non-Binary Content
Some LGBTQ+ supporting characters appear but they are minor relative to the core family drama.
- A few witch and supporting characters with same-sex relationships
DEI Casting
Diverse cast reflecting a New Orleans setting, including Black witch covers and characters; fits the setting plausibly.
- Marcel as a prominent Black character central to the New Orleans power struggle
- Diverse witch covens
Preachiness
Focuses on family, power, and supernatural politics rather than real-world activist messaging.
Anti-Masculinity / Anti-West
Centers male antiheroes without framing masculinity or the West as inherently toxic.
- Klaus and Elijah portrayed as complex, powerful male leads
Source Betrayal
As a spin-off of The Vampire Diaries built on largely original storylines, no identity-driven rewrites of established characters.
Audience Reviews
Discussion
Cast & Crew
Joseph Morgan
Klaus Mikaelson
Daniel Gillies
Elijah Mikaelson
Charles Michael Davis
Marcel Gerard
Riley Voelkel
Freya Mikaelson
Yusuf Gatewood
Vincent Griffith
Danielle Rose Russell
Hope Mikaelson
Steven Krueger
Josh Rosza
Leslie Morgenstein (Executive Producer) · Julie Plec (Executive Producer)
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