The Originals 2X1: Rebirth

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/jy9fi4e7zqrg5deoq4wjf/TO-2x1.mp4?rlkey=dr1yrlva8rrgj1hfd06toef3t&st=51b207g3&dl=0

Well this was delightful. After how amazing the finale was, I was kind of skeptical that this could live up to it. But it totally did. Also, I have no idea if I'm an idiot or not. Was I supposed to realize that these guys were the Esther, Finn, and Kol much sooner?

Okay so, it's been a couple of months and Klaus is still locked up inside the compound grieving. But he's climbing the walls. He needs to get out and kill someone. Thankfully, Elijah shows up and tells him he's found the twelfth ring and we're ready to act. We've got to destroy all these rings so Klaus can get back to his full power.

Somehow (it made sense I just don't remember how know) Marcel has figured out that the werewolves don't have the white oak stake (Klaus was concerned about this), so we feel okay attacking to get the rings. We've got a plan and everyone is involved. It's sort of flash cut together, so we just see a lot of Elijah killing people and cutting their fingers off to get the rings.

Back at the compound, Elijah tells Klaus that they got all but one. Francesca 'got away.' Klaus is upset until we find out that really, Elijah just sent Hayley loose on her. Because if anyone deserves to kill that bitch, it's her. And she does. However, it was not nearly as cathartic for her, as it was for me. She comes back to the compound afterwards and starts tearing the nursery apart because killing her didn't make her feel better.

While this is happening, Davina still has Mikael locked in the attic. She tells him he can kill Klaus when she figures out how killing him won't kill all the vampires he sired.

And speaking of Davina, she meets a new guy (no idea what his fake name is, but it's Kol in a different body). They seem to hit it off. But later, we see him gathering with the two dead witches from the end of the previous episode. And it turns out they are Esther and Finn. So now we've got not only Mikael who wants to kill Klaus, but Esther who wants to kill all of them. I may be remembering incorrectly, but I think Finn was always on board with the 'kill them all' (mostly because it's a momma's boy), but I didn't think Kol wanted to kill everyone. Maybe Klaus? I can't remember.

We also get a really great scene with Klaus who is blaming himself for everything that has happened. This is one of the most complex characters ever. And this actor plays him so well. I think I said it in this reaction (or maybe the last one) every time he shows someone a kindness, I'm shocked. But then I realize, he does that a lot. Ugh. He's just a joy to watch.