The Winter Premiere of The Originals “A Ghost along the Mississippi” was everything I wanted it to be and more.
Whilst thankfully, Cami did survive her death at the hands of Aurora’s compulsion, the episode taunted us with her fate for the entirety of the episode.

Feeling like a fangirl hype-man for the show, I loved the raw emotion coming from Klaus so much that I had to repeat the scene a few times before I could move on.
Crosscut with a therapy session between Klaus and Cami, we began doubting how sure we were about Cami’s fate. As Klaus is called out on his nonchalance to death, Cami asks, how long will it be before she proves him wrong; in which we are welcomed back to scenes of scenic, and emotional destruction.

Awaking into transition earlier than I thought, the episode focused more on the rescue of Hayley and Jackson, who are abducted by the Strix, early into the episode – and had me wondering who was looking after Hope.
With the death of Jackson – trying hard to silence the Hayley/Elijah ship in the back of mind – I was shocked that the show’s creators didn’t try to progress his character; as they’d hinted in the episode prior with his chemistry with Freya.

With Klaus’ vengeance put on hold until Hayley is rescued, and he begs for Cami to transition – becoming more human than ever in the face of death – Cami’s wavering between the line of Life and Death proves to be heroic and convincing.

Whilst next week seems to welcome the tropic initiation of baby vamps, Cami resolves to live her immortal life with purpose. Having successfully sealed Tristan, and the only weapon to eternally lock away the Original family; subsequently rescuing Hayley, away to the depths of the ocean, Cami begins the next step in developing her character.

Also saved, is Vincent, who was on the verge of becoming evil in the hands of the Strix’s blackmail.
With Davina MIA, Cami’s role as human had begun to tire out. Eager to see whether her time as a Human with Klaus will be impressionistic enough to save her in her darkest days as a vampire; it will be exciting to see which direction both of these Characters take. Whilst it may be easier for Klaus to revel in the both his and Cami’s wild side, will he be human enough to save the woman he loves?
By the shared smile between the two at the episode’s end, I think we may be granted, a temporary reprieve from anything too dramatic.
Still a threat, though, is Aurora. Who is thought to have been rescued from a distracted Freya by Lucien – though Cami and her armoury of Dark Objects would make for a more exciting transition into her Wilder side.
With the Strix’s weapon neutralised, and Rebekah in hiding, what will threaten the Original family next? With the prophecy still unfilled, where do we go from here?
The Originals returns Friday at 9|8c!
[Featured Image Courtesy of The CW; Source Content for Gifs: ‘The Originals’, The CW, 2016]