“The Originals” season two actually improves upon its freshman year with good storylines and a well rounded ensemble that in some instances rivals “The Vampire Diaries” and on the whole, I found this series more enjoyable and fresh by comparison. The Blu-ray released by Warner Home Video offers great audio/video transfers while the bonus material, while fine, does feel a tad light in substance.
“The Originals”: The Complete Second Season
(2014-15)
REVIEW NAVIGATION
The Movie | Special Features | Video Quality | Audio Quality | Overall
Genre(s): Fantasy, Drama
Warner Home Video | NR – 930 min. – $60.10 | September 1, 2015
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MOVIE INFO: Directed by: Various Writer(s): Julie Plec (created by) Cast: Joseph Morgan, Daniel Gillies, Phoebe Tonkin, Charles Michael Davis, Leah Pipes, Danielle Campbell, Daniel Sharman, Natalie Dreyfuss, Peta Sergeant DISC INFO: Audio: English (DTS-HD MA 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 2.0) |
** Click Here to Purchase “The Originals”: Season 2 on Blu-ray from Amazon.com **
THE SEASON – 4.0/5
Season Synopsis: Werewolves rule New Orleans’ French Quarter for the first time in centuries, leaving the vampire-werewolf hybrid Klaus Mikaelson (JOSPEH MORGAN) plotting his revenge and vowing to take down anyone who poses a threat to baby Hope. As long-buried family secrets are revealed and the Mikaelson matriarch (NATALIE DREYFUSS) returns to make her demands known, it’s clear that a treacherous, bloody battle is in story. Join devious mastermind Klaus, noble-but-tormented Elijah (DANIEL GILLIES) and fierce mother-wolf Hayley (PHOEBE TONKIN) – now a hybrid herself – as they seek unusual truces, build vast armies and attempt retribution to reclaim power over the Quarter – and make it safe for a beautiful baby girl.
Quick Hit Review: In my previous reviews for “The Vampire Diaries”, I’ve said I wasn’t a big fan of the series, though admit they do hold a good amount of entertainment value if only on a visceral level in a sort of soap opera kind of way. I’ll admit, I’m probably a bit more of a fan of “TVD” spin-off, “The Originals” which feels fresh and new with a wide variety of characters and new stories that don’t have a ‘been-there-seen-that’ vibe like the aging mother ship.
It can’t be discounted that Joseph Morgan’s Klaus is a far more entertaining and fun character who shows more humanity, taking him from the heel on “TVD” to a main character you’d be hard-pressed not to root for. Aiding Morgan is a nice supporting cast from Daniel Gillies serving as the more refined brother to Klaus and Leah Pipes as Camille O’Connor appears to serve as a replacement to actress Claire Holt who, save for a few cameo-esque appearance in this second season, departed leaving a void hard to fill, though the show still manages to stay afloat (something I question whether “TVD” will be able to do).
Episodes:
- Rebirth
- Alive and Kicking
- Every Mother’s Son
- Live and Let Die
- Red Door
- Wheel Inside the Wheel
- Chasing the Devil’s Tail
- The Brothers That Care Forgot
- The Map of Moments
- Gonna Set Your Flag on Fire
- Brotherhood of the Damned
- Sanctuary
- The Devil is Damned
- I Love You, Goodbye
- They All Asked For You
- Save My Soul
- Exquisite Corpse
- Night Has a Thousand Eyes
- When the Levee Breaks
- City Beneath the Sea
- Fire with Fire
- Ashes to Ashes
SPECIAL FEATURES – 2.5/5
The 3-disc set comes housed in a standard Blu-ray keep case and side-slides into a matted slip cover. Inside is a redemption code for the Digital HD copy.
Disc 1:
Deleted Scenes (1:32; HD) – ‘Rebirth’
Disc 2:
Deleted Scenes (6:47; HD) – ‘The Map of Moments’, ‘I Love You, Goodbye’ and ‘Save My Soul’
Disc 3:
“The Originals”: Always and Forever (13:00; HD) is a breakdown of some of the supporting characters that have big roles in this second season.
“The Awakening” Web Series (8:21; HD) are short episodes that aired online sort of side stories to expand on the world around “The Originals”. Also included is a Behind the Scenes (5:02; HD) look at the web series.
Gag Reel (4:31; HD) features the normal line flubs and on-set screw-ups.
Deleted Scenes (4:49; HD) – ‘Night Has a Thousand Eyes’, ‘City Beneath the Sea’ and ‘Ashes to Ashes’
Come Visit Georgia PSA (2:41; HD) is an ad for the state even though it takes place in New Orleans…
“The Originals” Comic-Con Panel 2014 (29:56; HD) has the cast and producers discuss then-upcoming storylines and characters for the second season.
VIDEO – 4.5/5
“The Originals”: The Complete First Season arrives on Blu-ray presented in its original televised 1.78 widescreen aspect ratio and a 1080p high-definition transfer. Colors appear to be vibrant in keeping with the New Orleans setting and the numerous nighttime scenes are stark and show no major signs of artifacts or pixilation. Detail levels are also sharp showing off each pore on the faces in the close-up shots. (Copied from my Season 1 Review)
AUDIO – 4.5/5
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track seems to be improved for the second season. Dialogue levels are still crisp and clear but the ambient noises and other elements, like the occasional fight scene, offers decent-to-good depth while the score and choice music make fine use of the front and rear channels. It’s a solid lossless track that might not offer the wow factory or anything but is in some ways still impressive.
OVERALL – 4.0/5
Overall, “The Originals” season two actually improves upon its freshman year with good storylines and a well rounded ensemble that in some instances rivals “The Vampire Diaries” and on the whole, I found this series more enjoyable and fresh by comparison. The Blu-ray released by Warner Home Video offers great audio/video transfers while the bonus material, while fine, does feel a tad light in substance.
Published: 09/19/2015
Check out some more screen caps by going to page 2. Please note, these do contain spoilers.