“The Originals” has delivered so much drama, romance, heartbreak and bloodshed over the last three seasons that every episode is an eventful one. That being said, there are certain episodes that rise above the rest and are some of the best hours the show has ever put out. Here’s a countdown of the ten best so far.
SPOILER ALERT
#10: “House of the Rising Son” (Season 1, Episode 2) | The second episode of the series featured a confrontation between Klaus and Rebekah and flashbacks that revealed Rebekah’s past with Marcel.
#9: “The Devil is Damned” (Season 2, Episode 13) | An action packed episode that also packed in some emotion, this hour had Finn battle Elijah in a fight to the death, while Kol aligned with Klaus and Rebekah to save Hope.
#8: “Sinners and Saints” (Season 1, Episode 5) | Another game changing episode, this time the secrets behind the Harvest ritual and Davina’s backstory were finally revealed, changing everything you thought you knew about the show.
#7: “Behind the Black Horizon” (Season 3, Episode 17) | Directed by Joseph Morgan, this thrilling episode had Lucien finally get the upper hand against the Mikaelsons by killing Finn once and for all.
#6: “The River in Reverse” (Season 1, Episode 8) | A game changer for the entire series, this episode featured not only a killer fight scene with Klaus and dozens of vampires, but an emotional moment as Rebekah finally stood up to her brother.
#5: “Farewell to Storyville” (Season 1, Episode 16) | It was a true shock when Claire Holt left the show, but her sendoff couldn’t have been better. Confined almost entirely to a cemetery, Klaus, Elijah and Rebekah had it out, ending in a heartbreaking performance by Holt.
#4: “Sanctuary” (Season 2, Episode 12) | This instantly re-watchable episode was a season long highlight. Finn and Jackson discovered the truth about Hope, Kol was cursed to death, and as if that wasn’t enough, Freya finally came into the show in one of the most memorable entrances in history.
#3: “The Map of Moments” (Season 2, Episode 9) | A Mikaelson family Christmas reunited Hope with her parents, while Klaus got his ultimate revenge on Esther. Add to that Rebekah’s return and a final twist no one saw coming, and you’ve got a killer winter finale.
#2: “From a Cradle to a Grave” (Season 1, Episode 22) | This grueling first season finale drove many to tears and for good reason. Hope was finally born, Hayley became a hybrid and Klaus made a devastating sacrifice to keep his child alive in a finale people are still talking about.
#1: “A Ghost Along the Mississippi” (Season 3, Episode 10) | It may be one of the newest additions to the roster, but this intense episode was an instant standout. The Mikaelsons condemned Tristan to a fate worse than death, Hayley and Jackson said their final goodbyes, and Cami finally became a vampire in this stunning episode that had virtually everything fans love about the show.
Did any of your favorite episodes make our list? Let us know in the comments below!
Season Four of The Originals premieres midseason on The CW.