Courtesy of The CW
You can’t deny that The Originals centers on family as this week all we do is focus on familial betrayals and the resulting destruction. It ain’t pretty.
Let’s bitch it out…
After one thousand years watching her brother and being on the wrong end of his anger, Rebekah (Claire Holt) still has not figured out the cardinal rule of life with Klaus (Joseph Morgan) – don’t cross him. How many times does she have to learn the same lesson? Usually the result is simply her being daggered in a coffin for a couple of decades. But in this case, she takes a strong stance of betrayal against her brother in hopes of a ‘happily ever after’ with Marcel (Charles Michael Davis). Instead of the happy, though, she only ends up contributing to the death of a dozen vampires, encouraging her lover to pledge allegiance to Klaus and the destruction of her family.
Along the same lines, Elijah (Daniel Gillies), betrays his brother once more by falling in love with Klaus’ werewolf baby mama. Elijah tells Hayley a very poignant tale about a time when he abandoned Klaus in the name of his own happiness, and that the result was the death of his love, Celeste (Raney Branch). He claims he won’t do the same thing again, but it’s hard to hide the longing glances and touching moments Elijah and Hayley share. Obvious enough that Klaus mentions the child calling his brother daddy. Strange image. And gross because I just can’t handle the Hayley/Elijah love story. There’s so much chemistry lacking that the Marcel/Rebekah love story seems semi-plausible in comparison.
Regardless, these two siblings have betrayed Klaus again, only this time the results are different. Klaus is so terrified of being left behind that he trusts no one and ends up driving everyone away, as Rebekah reminds him. But in this case, in an extremely moving scene that makes this reviewer shed a tear or two (or a few dozen) along with him, Klaus leaves them behind. No revenge, no retribution, no violence. Just an emotional exchange filled with disappointment. Easily the best scene of the show in recent weeks.
Courtesy of The CW
Other Observations:
- Despite Klaus’ attempt to keep Cami (Leah Pipes) away from all the supernatural secrets that surround New Orleans and the death of her brother, she is wise to him already. I guess he should’ve picked a bigger bimbo instead of a grad student who would find a way to leave herself a message about Klaus. Her discovery of the supernatural and the truth about her brother can’t be too far behind. Now, after everything Klaus has done to hide her from the truth, she is going to find out anyway (isn’t that always the way?) and she’s just going to be pissed off at him for trying to help her (in his own weird way). So any chance for a love affair is likely going to be shot. Don’t worry, I know I jumped ahead about a dozen steps there, but Cami has really grown on me and it would be nice to see Klaus with a girl who had a little fire in her, doesn’t despise him (here’s looking at you, Caroline) and is smart enough to love him but not back down. Sigh. Better luck next time.
- Did all those vampires really think that being a hybrid meant nothing? That Klaus has no extra power or fight in him even though he embodies both of the strongest supernatural beings? Geez these guys must’ve gotten their cockiness from Marcel. Clearly a guy like Klaus (with millions of enemies) wouldn’t have survived this long if he didn’t have a little something extra. So it’s no surprise whatsoever that their little plot to take him down doesn’t work. How Rebekah even thinks that this is a smart idea is beyond me. I shake my head at her. She has no excuse.
- Thanks to Rebekah, and Tyler’s disturbing, morbid talk of killing unborn babies, we have to suffer only a few Tyler-centric moments and the rest of the episode is blissfully Tyler-free. I liked the guy in the beginning back in Mystic Falls, but he got an ego when he turned into a hybrid and thought he was God’s gift to the werewolves. Since then, I can do without him. But right when I he finally disappears from Mystic Falls, I turn around and he’s here in New Orleans. Ah well, I will learn to enjoy these Tyler-free moments while I can.
Where do you think the Mikaelson siblings go from here? Do you think Marcel actually going to give up his kingdom to Klaus and be loyal to him? Where do you think the werewolf storyline is going? Sound off below!
The Originals airs at 8pm EST, Tuesdays on The CW