The supernatural struggle for control of NOLA in series two of “The Originals”

Nina Belzer, Contributing Reporter

Season two of “The Originals,” a spinoff of The CW’s hit series “The Vampire Diaries,” premieres Monday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.

Set in New Orleans, the city itself is at the forefront of “The Originals.” The living members of the 1000 year old Original vampire family cross over from “The Vampire Diaries” to regain control of New Orleans. A century earlier, the city was home to Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah Mikaelson. In the first season of the spinoff, they engaged in a power struggle against the vampires who ruled the city in their absence, a coven of dark witches vying to publicly practice magic, and a pack of werewolves desperate to free themselves of a crippling curse. Season one ends with a bandit werewolf faction gaining control of the city, ultimately driving the other supernatural residents into hiding.

While “The Originals” is filmed primarily in Atlanta, some scenes (including the entirety of the pilot) are shot in New Orleans. The show takes into account many of the city’s cultural and topographical characteristics. The witches’ incantations are in French rather than Latin, a clear nod to the area’s Francophone culture. Voodoo dolls are used in one episode to inflict pain on one of the characters. Werewolves are often shown prowling Bourbon Street and Jackson Square. The city’s cemeteries are hotspots for witch rituals and sacrifices. This season, we can expect to learn more about the Original Family’s genealogy, as we’ll also see some crossovers from actors who star on “The Vampire Diaries,” such as Nina Dobrev.

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