Technically, no. The Originals stands on its own. However, the backdoor pilot for the show happens in The Vampire Diaries Season 4, Episode 20 ("The Originals").
The show follows the story of the original vampire family, the Mikaelsons, as they return to their hometown of New Orleans to reclaim their city from other supernatural beings. The series features a mix of drama, romance, and action, and it explores the complex relationships between the characters.
The series follows the Mikaelson siblings—Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah—the world’s first vampires, as they return to New Orleans to reclaim the city they helped build. Season Overview
When the show moved from Season 3 to Season 4, The CW shifted the schedule. They moved The Originals to mid-season, which meant a shorter order of 13 episodes. This actually worked in the show's favor—Season 4 is widely considered one of the tightest, fastest-paced seasons because there was no "filler."
The show’s structure changed as it progressed, with the first three seasons following a traditional full-season format and the final two featuring shorter episode counts. The Originals (TV Series 2013–2018) - FAQ - IMDb
Absolutely. While The Vampire Diaries focused on high school romance, The Originals is a darker, more mature show about family, power, and sacrifice. Five seasons is the perfect length—long enough to fall in love with the characters, but short enough to avoid the "zombie season" slump that plagues many long-running fantasy shows.