Before Arrow, The CW's biggest hit was The Vampire Diaries, which spawned a franchise with spin-offs. No one really died in these shows, the characters kept coming back, turning into vampires, or hunting them, so it's easy to get confused about the chronology of Elena, Damon, and Stefan's story.
We've put together a handy guide that takes into account the chronology of events and spin-offs. This will help you avoid getting confused about the storylines if you suddenly decide to refresh your memory or watch the series for the first time.
Where to start and how not to lose the thread
The Vampire Diaries — 2009–2017. We'll start with the original series, where viewers get to know Elena Gilbert, the Salvatore brothers, and the mystical town of Mystic Falls. Only 8 seasons.
Important: Season 4 begins the storyline of Klaus Mikaelson, one of the Original vampires, which develops into a spin-off.
The Originals — 2013–2018. After season 4 of The Vampire Diaries, you can start watching The Originals — the series tells the story of a family of original vampires and their struggle for power in New Orleans.
Ideally, alternate episodes of seasons 4 and 5 of The Diearies with the first seasons of The Originals, but you can also finish The Diaries completely and then move on to The Originals. Only 5 seasons.
Legacies — 2018–2022. This is a continuation of the story of Caroline and Alaric, but in the center is Hope Mikaelson, the daughter of Klaus. She studies at a school for supernatural children. The series includes references to both previous shows and many familiar faces. Only 4 seasons.
What else to watch
You can turn on The Originals: Awakening - a mini-series about Kol Mikaelson, the action takes place before the events of The Originals (you can watch before season 2 of The Originals).
