Despite the joy that comes with celebrating FREELIN’s wedding, the Mikaelsons learn that Hope’s situation is much more dire. So, Klaus turns to Mystic Falls for a hail mary move. Our review of The Originals, “‘Til the Day I Die” and “The Tale of Two Wolves”.
Over this last season of The Originals, the Mikaelsons and their friends have had a lot to mourn. However, “‘Til the Day I Die” begins with Freya and Keelin making a distinct decision to celebrate their lives together. These two are getting married! While Rebekah is on board (as maid of honor), Klaus helps to secure the venue, and Kol prepares to officiate the ceremony, other folks aren’t really in the mood for a party.
Vincent is mourning Ivy’s death and is incredibly frustrated that violence has been visited upon NOLA again. Was all the work of the last seven years for nothing? Freya tries to encourage him, but Vincent is determined to leave town.
As for Hope, she is dealing with the aftermath of accidentally triggering her werewolf curse. She’s one week from the full moon and unsure about how she can endure this transformation without her mother.
And darling Elijah is drowning under the guilt of Hayley’s death and missing all this time with her. How could he walk Freya down the aisle and celebrate his sister’s love with Keelin when he’s so thoroughly destroyed the love of his own life?
But the most EPIC surprise of the episode is that Amnesia-Elijah *did* have an interaction with Hayley! Several years ago (while Antoinette is out of town…) Hayley comes to Manosque, France and visits Elijah at the piano bar. He’s instantly drawn to her and they have a conversation. Hayley introduces herself as Andrea and tells Elijah that she’s on vacation to help get over an ex. Their interaction completely shatters my heart because there’s so much love between them, even though Elijah’s memories of Hayley are gone. As for Hayley, she really restrains herself. You can tell that this trip to France is much more about making sure that Elijah is happy with his new life. He invites her to an art show later that night. It’s so lovely to have that Haylijah banter again. I didn’t realize how much I needed this gem of a flashback in my life! MY BABES! Elijah and Andrea watch an older couple dance and marvel at the power of love and destiny. They share a brief dance and part ways with a kiss and hope of meeting in the next life.
Some things can't be forgotten. Stream the latest episode of #TheOriginals: https://t.co/adnjazK1Xd pic.twitter.com/FgkLfEY8Jr
— The Originals (@cworiginals) July 19, 2018
In the present, Elijah comes across a letter Andrea wrote to Elijah. She thanks him for hanging out with her and helping her realize that she can move on with her life. But Andrea promises that she will wait for a dance with him in the next life. *HEARTFAIL*
Klaus tries to reassure Hope with his presence, but secretly, he’s worried. The triggering of the werewolf curse combined with the Hollow’s power is having a dire impact on Hope. Klaus goes to Davina for help, and she does make an attempt to create use a spell using Hope’s tears to lead them to an antidote. Unfortunately, there’s only bad news. Hope will die… she might not even survive her first transformation to a werewolf.
As if there isn’t enough drama all around, the happy couple faces an unexpected obstacle. They haven’t had the conversation about children. Keelin wants kids, but Freya fears reproducing the damage her parents inflicted on her and her siblings. It’s actually Rebekah who helps to reassure Freya. The truth of the matter is that Freya is repeatedly risking herself for those she loves. So rather than closing off the possibility of children, Freya agrees to the open and to treat Keelin as a partner in these types of decisions.
Break the pattern. Stream the latest episode before WEDNESDAY: https://t.co/adnjazK1Xd #TheOriginals pic.twitter.com/XmWUEqdNT0
— The Originals (@cworiginals) July 21, 2018
In the end, for one night, there is joy and beauty and celebration. Elijah and Klaus walk Freya down the aisle and the small wedding party of family and friends watch Freya and Keelin pledge themselves to one another. It’s so lovely and Hope finds a lot of joy in this moment.
Always there for the important moments. Catch up on #TheOriginals before WEDNESDAY: https://t.co/adnjaA1DlN pic.twitter.com/Akj5SwY30U
— The Originals (@cworiginals) July 22, 2018
But the real world is closing in…
Irish Declan got a hold of Uncle Kieran’s journals and HE KNOWS. Declan wants to reveal the truth and insists that the Human faction has a say in governing NOLA again. Marcel wants to prevent this, but Davina actually supports letting Declan and the humans into decision-making. In the end, Marcel promises to take Declan under his wing to teach him all about supernatural life in NOLA. Then Declan will be prepared to lead the Humans.
And Hope is dying. Elijah holds Klaus as he weeps.
In “The Tale of Two Wolves”, we see that for the last week, Freya and Davina have been on lockdown trying to figure out how to save Hope. But with 24 hours until the full moon, time has run out. Marcel begs Elijah to convince Klaus to break the news to Hope so she has time to say her goodbyes. However, Klaus has no intention of doing that. He has a plan to save his daughter and the first step is getting to Mystic Falls!
Ostensibly, Klaus wants to get Hope to Caroline and Ric’s school so she can use the special facility they have to help their werewolf students transform. But in truth, Klaus has another plan… he begs Caroline to allow her daughters to use their magic to siphon the Hollow out of Hope at the apex of her transformation and then transfer the dark magic to him. Klaus has the last remaining white oak stake and plans to kill himself to put an end to the Hollow, once and for all.
While Klaus is negotiating all this with Caroline and Ric (and Ric practically harpoons Klaus with a stake to get him away from his kids), Hope and Elijah explore Mystic Falls. It’s so weird to be back in this town and all the shout-outs to the history–Stefan’s journals and the Salvatore house, Elena Salvatore’s medical practice (!!!!!!!!), Sheriff Matt Donovan serving and protecting, Mystic Falls High having the decade dance and a car wash to fundraise. *EEEEEEP*
Things are tense between Hope and Elijah… she blames him for her mother’s death, but honestly, Hope may blame herself more for setting the events in motion that lead to Hayley’s capture by the Nazi-Vampires. It turns out that Hope knows she’s dying and a really big part of her wants to let go and be reunited with her mom. Elijah tries to encourage Hope to enjoy a milkshake, drive a Bentley, go to a Blues concert in the town square with the cute boy (Landon). My love for Uncle Elijah! But Hope reflects on how she wasn’t supposed to exist in the first place… “The universe has been trying to kill me since before I was born.”
Hope does have a little fun getting back at some jock who were picking on Landon by shattering the windows on his beloved car. But the exertion from performing that magic causes Hope to pass out. Elijah rushes Hope to Klaus, who performs CPR and begs her to return.
She's a teenager, not their savior. Stream the latest for free: https://t.co/H6NbFfZpGv #TheOriginals pic.twitter.com/B6QLfQ2DpO
— The Originals (@cworiginals) July 26, 2018
But Hope is elsewhere, on the other side, and reunited with her mother. Hope wants so badly to stay with Hayley. She apologizes for her hand in her mother’s death, but Hayley brushes that aside. Hayley has forgiven Hope. In the background, we hear Klaus calling for Hope and Hayley tells her she has to go back. Hope doesn’t want to leave her mom by herself, but… Hayley isn’t alone. We follow them through the woods to a campfire. Jackson is there, Grandma Mary and Hayley’s parents are there, and Hayley is at peace. They will see each other again, eventually. And Hayley tells Hope to live her best life, experience epic love, and know that her mother loves her, Always and Forever.
Hope returns and, though she thinks she just experienced some sort of fever dream, she brings a message from Hayley… to tell Elijah that she’s still holding out for that promised dance. *SWOONS*
Hope enjoys a dance in the town square with Landon, while Klaus and Caroline say their goodbyes and an almost kiss… “part of me has always known that you weren’t the villain in my story…”
When the full moon is high, Hope returns to school, locks herself away, and prepares for her transformation. But at the last minute, Klaus brings her outside, saying that Hayley would want that for Hope. He encourages hope to lean into the pain, and at the moment before she fully transforms, the Saltzman Twins siphon the Hollow from Hope. Klaus looks at were-Hope and tells her to run wild and free.
In the end, Klaus is infused with the Hollow’s dark magic before Elijah can stop it. Klaus prepares to use the White Oak stake on himself as Elijah looks on in grief.
And now, my friends, we have arrived at the end. I want so badly for the Mikaelsons to have an HEA and to be embraced by love. I hope this will be the case!
The Originals Series Finale airs Wednesday, August 1 at 9p/8c on The CW!
