13 Episodes
Short on time? Here's the essentials:
The Mikaelson family, an ancient and powerful group of vampires, faces a new threat in Season 5. The core premise revolves around protecting Hope, Klaus Mikaelson's daughter, who possesses immense magical power and is a target for dark forces. Klaus, a ruthless but protective father, wants to keep Hope safe, while his siblings, Elijah (a noble vampire seeking redemption) and Rebekah (a vampire longing for a normal life), are drawn back into the family's dangerous orbit.
The central conflict ignites when Hayley, Hope's mother, is abducted, a tragedy orchestrated by Hope herself to bring Klaus back. This event triggers a series of devastating events, including Elijah choosing to burn himself alive to escape his past and Hayley's tragic sacrifice to save Hope and Klaus. As Hope struggles with her own dark magic, the family confronts a powerful enemy and the consequences of their actions. The season culminates in a profound act of sacrifice, with Klaus and Elijah dying together, staking each other to save Hope and finally find peace.
Season 5 of The Originals covers episodes 1-13. Here's everything that happened:
Season 5, Episode 1: Where You Left Your Heart - Seven years after separating to contain the Hollow's magic, the Mikaelson siblings are drawn back together. Hope, desperate to see Klaus, creates a hybrid, leading to Hayley's abduction. Klaus, on a rampage across Europe, encounters Caroline. Rebekah rejects Marcel's proposal to return to her family, and Elijah's memory is wiped, leaving him unaware of his family. The episode concludes with blood rain in New Orleans, signaling impending danger.
Season 5, Episode 2: One Wrong Turn on Bourbon - Klaus returns to New Orleans seeking Hayley, only to discover Hope orchestrated her mother's disappearance to bring him back. Dark magic manifests as Hope struggles with her powers, and Vincent seeks guidance. Marcel returns, facing tensions with the supernatural factions, while Freya decides to prioritize her family. The episode concludes with Hayley still missing, and Hope's actions raising concerns about her future.
Season 5, Episode 3: Ne Me Quitte Pas - After Marcel erases Elijah's memories, he struggles with his vampiric nature and meets Antoinette. Seven years later, Elijah, engaged to Antoinette, rejects Klaus's plea to return to his family. Elijah chooses to burn himself alive in the sunlight, embracing a new identity and leaving his past as Elijah Mikaelson behind. The episode concludes with Elijah's self-immolation, signifying a definitive break from his former life.
Season 5, Episode 4: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea - Klaus, desperate to find Hayley, takes hostages from the city's supernatural factions, escalating tensions. Freya checks on Hope, who is struggling with her powers and the potential of her being a destructive force. Klaus's violent methods lead to the deaths of a witch and a werewolf hostage, and he ultimately discovers that a faction of Nazi vampires is responsible for Hayley's disappearance. The episode concludes with Klaus being chained up by Marcel, who is fed up with his destructive behavior.
Season 5, Episode 5: Don't It Just Break Your Heart - Klaus hunts down a group of Nazi vampires responsible for Hayley's abduction. Flashbacks reveal Elijah's past with Antoinette and her father, August. Hope attempts to bind her werewolf side, while Roman is revealed to be August's son, luring Hope into a trap. Klaus ultimately kills August, but the episode ends with Hayley still missing.
Season 5, Episode 6: What, Will, I, Have, Left - Hope embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue Hayley, leading Klaus to seek help from Caroline. Meanwhile, Vincent and Freya disagree on revealing supernatural secrets to Declan. The episode culminates in Hayley's tragic sacrifice to save Hope and Klaus from Greta, resulting in Greta's death as well.
Season 5, Episode 7: God's Gonna Trouble the Water - Following Hayley's funeral, Klaus is kept away from Hope by a prophecy. Elijah attempts to save Antoinette, leading to a deal with Marcel and Vincent to restore his memories. Elijah's memories are partially restored, but he collapses, and Klaus, fearing the consequences of Elijah remembering his love for Hayley and his betrayal, traps Elijah and Antoinette in a magical dimension. The episode concludes with Klaus also being trapped in the same dimension.
Season 5, Episode 8: The Kindness of Strangers - Trapped in a magical "chambre de chasse," the Mikaelson siblings are forced to confront their pasts. Hope, with Freya's help, orchestrated this to remove the Hollow's curse. Elijah regains his memories, realizing he was responsible for Hayley's death, and leaves Antoinette. Rebekah shares a moment with Marcel, and Elijah mourns Hayley in the bayou.
Season 5, Episode 9: We Have Not Long to Love - A war erupts in New Orleans as purist vampires, led by Emmett, attack the city's supernatural factions. Vincent, Marcel, and Josh fight back, but Ivy and Lisina are killed during the conflict. Meanwhile, Freya, realizing her love for Keelin, proposes marriage. Hope struggles with the dark magic within her, lashing out at Klaus and Elijah. The episode concludes with Freya and Keelin engaged, and the city in turmoil.
Season 5, Episode 10: There in the Disappearing Light - Hope struggles to control the dark magic within her, leading Klaus to deliver Roman to her as a target. Josh dies after being accidentally injected with venom while trying to save Marcel. In the aftermath, Hope unleashes her power, triggering her werewolf curse, and the episode concludes with her eyes turning yellow.
Season 5, Episode 11: Til the Day I Die - Freya and Keelin's wedding day arrives amidst family turmoil. Davina confirms Hope is slowly dying from the Hollow's influence, leaving Klaus devastated. Elijah grapples with memories of Hayley, ultimately choosing to stay and walk Freya down the aisle. The episode concludes with the wedding ceremony, a brief moment of unity for the Mikaelson family, and Klaus's quiet despair over Hope's fate.
Season 5, Episode 12: The Tale of Two Wolves - To save Hope from a fatal affliction, Klaus enlists Caroline's help, planning for her twins to siphon the dark magic into him. Alaric intervenes, staking Klaus. Hope briefly dies, seeing her mother, before returning. Klaus absorbs the dark magic, setting himself up for a sacrifice, and Elijah grapples with his own fate.
Season 5, Episode 13: When the Saints Go Marching In - In a profound act of sacrifice, Klaus Mikaelson absorbs the dark magic intended for his daughter, Hope, to save her life. He shares final goodbyes with loved ones, including Caroline. Ultimately, Klaus and his brother Elijah die together, staking each other to end the threat of the Hollow and fulfill Elijah's lifelong mission of redeeming Klaus. Their deaths redefine "always and forever" as they face the afterlife united.
