How Does The Originals Show The Development Of The Vampire Genre In Ashes To Ashes?
How does The Originals show the development of the vampire genre in Ashes to Ashes?
The Originals is a spin-off of ‘The Vampire Diaries’ which is based on a series of novels of the same name. The Originals and The Vampire Diaries are shows that navigate complex themes within the genre of the modern vampire. The show focuses on Klaus the original vampire/werewolf hybrid, returns to New Orleans - which his family helped build - to investigate rumours of a plot against him. He finds his former protege, Marcel, reigning powerful over its inhabitants, causing growing tension in the supernatural community. Klaus' brother, Elijah, joins him, and they learn that werewolf Hayley has fallen into the hands of a defiant witch who has life-changing information. Klaus and Elijah …show more content…
plan to reclaim the city, and while waiting to see if their last remaining sibling, Rebekah, will leave Mystic Falls to join them, they form an alliance with the witches to help further their cause. Ashes to ashes revolves around Dahlia Mikaelson, a powerful thousand-year-old original witch who made a deal with Esther Mikaelson her sister, and the mother of the Mikaelson family of which the show centers around that every first-born child will be hers. However, when Klaus discovered his infant daughter, hope was owed to his estranged and ought-to-be-dead aunt, he is unwilling to lose her without a fight, although he knows he may not win. Ashes to ashes is one of the most pivotal episodes in the originals as it succinctly depicts the development of the vampire genre by exploring complex themes in a way standard vampire literature has not.
In the Originals, the development of the vampire genre is shown through the theme of power. Traditionally, vampires have been portrayed as ancient mystical beings dressed in nothing but dark trench coats, could only come out at night, lived in horrid dungeons, and were able to be killed primarily by silver or wood. However, these beings were typically only physically powerful and could be subdued by humans under the right circumstances and using the right equipment. However, in the originals, original vampires are prominent in modern day society and remain influential in socio-political events such as using their power to aid in war efforts. In ashes to ashes, the complex theme of power is shown through the mise en scene and lighting. The Original vampire Niklaus Mikaelson is shown to be able to walk in the naked sun and cannot be killed simply by wood or silver. During scenes with a show of power, Klaus is usually in a more favourable setting such as his pristine manor, and the lighting always appeared brighter. Around him the sun shined bright, and the setting was usually fit for a king. Without making a single move, the directors were able to show Niklaus to be powerful using these cinematic techniques.
The vampire genre is one of the oldest, most resilient archetypes in modern media which still lacks strong influences of the theme of family. Hence why the originals critically uses the theme of family to show the development and evolution of the vampire genre. It is typical in vampire literature such as Bram Stoker’s Dracula that vampires are lonely creatures who lack human-like interactions and emotions such as the everlasting bond of a family. However, in the originals, family is the strongest recurring theme. In the episode ashes to ashes, the theme of family is shown using plot structure which is supported by non-diegetic sound. The plot structure of ashes to ashes unfailingly rests upon the theme of family. In the episode, Klaus and his siblings whom he loves dearly have to come together to stop their evil all-powerful aunt, Dahlia. “We still have a sister to save and an aunty to send to hell,” he blatantly said. And during one of their darkest hours, just as Dahlia was about to end their thousand-year-old lives, Rebekah Mikaelson said to her brother Elijah, “I suppose it’s a family trait...Everything we love, we turn to ash.” Regarding how careless they were with their aunt. The plot structure is followed by nostalgic non-diegetic sounds in the most intense of scenes where the family is shown together to support the plot structure and further express the theme of family to a viewer that may not be familiar with having a family setting within the vampire genre.
Finally, in ashes to ashes, the development of the vampire genre is shown through the theme of revenge.
Vampires of old have been known to be vengeful creatures, however, this vengeance was not usually depicted as intelligent revenge and came in the form of blatant rage. Nonetheless, the originals show that the vampire genre has come a long way since then and shows revenge in the form of a carefully crafted plan with near perfect execution as is in ashes to ashes. In the episode, the directors use editing, focus, and mise en scene to convey the theme of revenge more effectively. For example, when Dahlia who was denied her promise of the first born Mikaelson finally had her long-awaited revenge on the family however unjust, the scene was frequently cut to flashbacks which helped communicate her complex emotions more effectively. Furthermore, the camera was focused on her, and the setting was in her favour as all other characters including the great Klaus Mikaelson were shown being brought to their knees at the hands of Dahlia while the camera refocused to her face to show the pleasure she got from finally enacting her revenge on her own nephews and nieces which also links to themes of power and
family.
In conclusion, ashes to ashes of the originals shows the development of the vampire genre not just through the conveyance of complex themes such as power, family, and revenge. But also, through the way in which these themes were linked and the cinematic techniques used to convey them were ingeniously intertwined, unlike classical vampire films and literature.
The Originals is a spin-off of ‘The Vampire Diaries’ which is based on a series of novels of the same name. The Originals and The Vampire Diaries are shows that navigate complex themes within the genre of the modern vampire. The show focuses on Klaus the original vampire/werewolf hybrid, returns to New Orleans - which his family helped build - to investigate rumours of a plot against him. He finds his former protege, Marcel, reigning powerful over its inhabitants, causing growing tension in the supernatural community. Klaus' brother, Elijah, joins him, and they learn that werewolf Hayley has fallen into the hands of a defiant witch who has life-changing information. Klaus and Elijah …show more content…
plan to reclaim the city, and while waiting to see if their last remaining sibling, Rebekah, will leave Mystic Falls to join them, they form an alliance with the witches to help further their cause. Ashes to ashes revolves around Dahlia Mikaelson, a powerful thousand-year-old original witch who made a deal with Esther Mikaelson her sister, and the mother of the Mikaelson family of which the show centers around that every first-born child will be hers. However, when Klaus discovered his infant daughter, hope was owed to his estranged and ought-to-be-dead aunt, he is unwilling to lose her without a fight, although he knows he may not win. Ashes to ashes is one of the most pivotal episodes in the originals as it succinctly depicts the development of the vampire genre by exploring complex themes in a way standard vampire literature has not.
In the Originals, the development of the vampire genre is shown through the theme of power. Traditionally, vampires have been portrayed as ancient mystical beings dressed in nothing but dark trench coats, could only come out at night, lived in horrid dungeons, and were able to be killed primarily by silver or wood. However, these beings were typically only physically powerful and could be subdued by humans under the right circumstances and using the right equipment. However, in the originals, original vampires are prominent in modern day society and remain influential in socio-political events such as using their power to aid in war efforts. In ashes to ashes, the complex theme of power is shown through the mise en scene and lighting. The Original vampire Niklaus Mikaelson is shown to be able to walk in the naked sun and cannot be killed simply by wood or silver. During scenes with a show of power, Klaus is usually in a more favourable setting such as his pristine manor, and the lighting always appeared brighter. Around him the sun shined bright, and the setting was usually fit for a king. Without making a single move, the directors were able to show Niklaus to be powerful using these cinematic techniques.
The vampire genre is one of the oldest, most resilient archetypes in modern media which still lacks strong influences of the theme of family. Hence why the originals critically uses the theme of family to show the development and evolution of the vampire genre. It is typical in vampire literature such as Bram Stoker’s Dracula that vampires are lonely creatures who lack human-like interactions and emotions such as the everlasting bond of a family. However, in the originals, family is the strongest recurring theme. In the episode ashes to ashes, the theme of family is shown using plot structure which is supported by non-diegetic sound. The plot structure of ashes to ashes unfailingly rests upon the theme of family. In the episode, Klaus and his siblings whom he loves dearly have to come together to stop their evil all-powerful aunt, Dahlia. “We still have a sister to save and an aunty to send to hell,” he blatantly said. And during one of their darkest hours, just as Dahlia was about to end their thousand-year-old lives, Rebekah Mikaelson said to her brother Elijah, “I suppose it’s a family trait...Everything we love, we turn to ash.” Regarding how careless they were with their aunt. The plot structure is followed by nostalgic non-diegetic sounds in the most intense of scenes where the family is shown together to support the plot structure and further express the theme of family to a viewer that may not be familiar with having a family setting within the vampire genre.
Finally, in ashes to ashes, the development of the vampire genre is shown through the theme of revenge.
Vampires of old have been known to be vengeful creatures, however, this vengeance was not usually depicted as intelligent revenge and came in the form of blatant rage. Nonetheless, the originals show that the vampire genre has come a long way since then and shows revenge in the form of a carefully crafted plan with near perfect execution as is in ashes to ashes. In the episode, the directors use editing, focus, and mise en scene to convey the theme of revenge more effectively. For example, when Dahlia who was denied her promise of the first born Mikaelson finally had her long-awaited revenge on the family however unjust, the scene was frequently cut to flashbacks which helped communicate her complex emotions more effectively. Furthermore, the camera was focused on her, and the setting was in her favour as all other characters including the great Klaus Mikaelson were shown being brought to their knees at the hands of Dahlia while the camera refocused to her face to show the pleasure she got from finally enacting her revenge on her own nephews and nieces which also links to themes of power and
family.
In conclusion, ashes to ashes of the originals shows the development of the vampire genre not just through the conveyance of complex themes such as power, family, and revenge. But also, through the way in which these themes were linked and the cinematic techniques used to convey them were ingeniously intertwined, unlike classical vampire films and literature.