The Originals

Joshua Rosza is introduced as an openly gay vampire character early in Season 1. His relationship with werewolf Aiden is a significant storyline, with them becoming public despite the risks in their supernatural world. Aiden is brutally murdered in Season 2 by Dahlia, an event that drew criticism as an example of the 'bury your gays' trope. Freya Mikaelson, a powerful witch, is established as bisexual in Season 4 and develops a romantic relationship with Keelin, a werewolf and ER doctor. Their relationship progresses through the series, culminating in a wedding.

Elijah Mikaelson brutally kills Agnes and her associates by ripping out their hearts after they endanger Hayley's baby, a scene depicting visible gore and multiple deaths. Cami O'Connell dies in Klaus's bed after suffering a fatal bite from Lucien, showcasing the lethal consequences of vampire attacks. Aiden is brutally murdered by Dahlia, a witch, and his death is shown onscreen.

Elijah and Hayley engage in a passionate and romantic love scene, despite Hayley being the mother of Klaus's child and engaged to Jackson, creating a complicated dynamic within the family. Rebekah and Marcel share multiple kisses and are frequently involved in a passionate but forbidden romance, often thwarted by Klaus's interference. The conception of Hope, Klaus and Hayley's daughter, originated from an impulsive hook-up between them in the parent series 'The Vampire Diaries', establishing a foundation of intense, complicated sexual relationships that carries over into 'The Originals'.

The New Orleans witches practice ancestral magic, channeling power directly from their deceased ancestors, who can also possess living witches, which directly contrasts with Christian spiritual beliefs. The witches perform sacrificial rituals every 300 years, involving the sacrifice of four 16-year-old girls from their coven, to strengthen their collective power. The series features powerful, malevolent entities like 'The Hollow,' an ancient mystical menace that targets children like Hope Mikaelson for her immense power, using dark and sacrificial magic.

The arrival of the ancient witch Dahlia, an antagonist from Freya's past, is depicted as striking fear into all supernatural beings in New Orleans, creating a terrifying and suspenseful atmosphere. Klaus Mikaelson endures a 'Hunter's Curse' for 56 years, suffering from intense hallucinations of hunters calling him 'worthless' and an 'abomination,' leading to paranoia and suicidal ideation. The series frequently employs jump scares, where characters (often vampires) suddenly appear to startle others, a common horror trope in the Vampire Diaries universe.

Klaus and Hayley frequently engage in arguments, threatening to kill each other and rarely agreeing on anything, demonstrating a high level of disrespect and conflict within their co-parenting relationship. The entire premise of Marcel Gerard taking over New Orleans and proclaiming himself king is an act of defiance and rebellion against Klaus, his former mentor and sire, leading to a long-running power struggle. Siblings like Kol and Klaus often delight in using their compulsion abilities to manipulate and control others, showing a disregard for free will and authority.

The existence of vampires and vampire-werewolf hybrids fundamentally challenges Christian concepts of life, death, and the soul, portraying beings who are undead, immortal, and can reproduce unnaturally (e.g., Klaus conceiving Hope). Witches in the series actively engage in 'black magic' and are explicitly stated to be 'unable to walk on sacred ground unless invited,' directly opposing the sanctity associated with Christian holy places. The extensive practice of ancestral worship by the New Orleans witches, where they draw power from and are guided by their deceased ancestors, directly conflicts with Christian doctrines regarding the dead and spiritual guidance.