The Originals 1X22: From a Cradle to a Grave

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/vc47cqhtbi6dq3h25w2qx/TO-1X22.mp4?rlkey=ii5rctd7x17j7qe9yoedh4jlo&st=q8c7ffd7&dl=0

You guys. I had very high expectations for this. And they were so fucking exceeded. Also, I cry a lot towards the end. Sorry and about that.

So we start with a bit of a flashback (although it seems very recent) where Hayley is writing a letter to the baby talking about how she'll grow up loved. Klaus wanders in and Hayley allows him to feel the baby kicking. This was so sweet. I really enjoyed it.

And of course, we cut to Hayley being forced to give birth by the witches. Klaus manages to find them, but he's still weak from the werewolf spell and the witches fling him up and pin him to the wall where he's forced to watch Hayley cry and scream, and can do nothing but watch and seethe. Finally, the baby is born, and Hayley asks if she can please hold her. Genevieve hands her over and while Hayley is admiring her, one of the witches (no idea which one) slits her throat. And Klaus has to watch her die. But then one of them snaps his neck, so the two of them lay motionless in the church. What the actual fucking, fuck? I was so stunned at this point, that I don't think I did any reacting for a solid two or three minutes. I just sat there dumbfounded.

The witches take off with the baby to get ready for the sacrifice.

Elijah bursts into the church screaming for Hayley. But all he finds is her dead and Klaus cradling her dead body. Elijah is inconsolable. He begs Klaus to tell him what happened and he claims he was bested. I don't think that really true, Klaus. You were weakened from earlier and, like, 5 witches were using magic on you. This was so not a fair fight. Elijah is upset, but Klaus tell him that even though Hayley is gone, they can still save the baby. There's still time, but they need to go now.

So, they head over the graveyard, but find themselves walking in circles. They realize that the witches are using a spell to keep themselves hidden. They don't really know what to do. And it's already morning so ritual time is approaching. And then a living, breathing Hayley shows up. The brothers are confused, and she tells them she woke up in the church with a hunger. Klaus pretty much immediately realizes she's in transition. She died with her daughters blood inside of her, so she's becoming a hybrid. She'll need to feed from her daughter to sustain the transition, but, on the plus side, she can feel her and can lead them to her.

They start walking through the cemetery with purpose (and damn did I love that shot of Hayley leading them with the Klaus and Elijah just behind her) and Hayley finds the spot pretty quickly. We see Genevieve getting ready to plunge the knife into the baby, Klaus throws an urn (?) at her which causes a bit of chaos, and witches start fighting back using the power of the ancestors, so again, this is not a fair fight.

Elijah (I think) tosses some metal piece like a javelin and impales one of the other witches killing her. So, Monique heads up to take over. But Marcel shows up and throw this star weapon at her, killing her as well. So, we're down a bunch of witches. Marcel grabs the baby and takes it back to the compound.

Marcel follows him there and they make up. Klaus gives him some blood to heal him and it seems like we're back on the same side. But, while Klaus is observing the baby in her crib, he can tell something off. Mikael is prowling around with the white oak stake (oh, did I forget to mention Davina brought him back?)

We catch with with Genevieve finally gets hers. Hayley and Elijah have her chained up and are questioning her. She claims the order to kill the baby comes from Ester and the witches won't stop trying to kill her. Of course she'd hate a baby she'd never fuck. Fuck her as much as we hate Mikael. But, Hayley's had enough and even though it seems like she's dying already from failing her mission, Hayley still takes great pleasure in stabbing her. I enjoyed it too. That bitch had to go.

When we reconvene back at the compound, Klaus and Elijah argue over the best course of action. To stay and fight, leaving Hayley and babies basically prisoners inside, or flee and be on the run forever. Hayley says she's got a better idea. They should give the baby away. Make sure it's safe and taken care of. And later, they can try to get her back when things have died down here.

So, we decide to fake the baby's death. Marcel, who is back in our good graces (and has agreed to be compelled to forget about the baby), steals a stillborn from the hospital and passes it off to the werewolves as the dead baby. Which he seems to believe. So all good on that front. Then, they all grieve publicly at the memorial wall.

Klaus slips out to hand the baby over to Rebekah for safe keeping (I actually thought she might come back in this episode, but I did not expect it to be in this capacity). I think this is a great idea for everyone involved. We can totally trust Rebekah and Rebekah really wants a family so it feels like a win/win for everyone involved. I mean, it's awful and everyone hates that we're having to do this, but it's easily the best of a terrible situation, I think.

Some dead witches show up leaves flowers on Esther's grave. No idea what's happening there.

Oh, and yes, Davina has managed to bring Mikael back, but it seems like he's mostly under her control. She's got him locked away in the attic just like she was. This is a nice little twist. I quite enjoy it.

You guys. I'm so looking forward to S2!