There is no greater joy in my life than a new Legacies episode, and Legacies season 2, episode 5 is pretty effing delightful if I do say so myself.
After the ending of last week’s episode, the huge shift that Lizzie remembering Hope is bound to bring to the show, I was more eager than ever to get back to Mystic Falls and see what Julie Plec and Co. had in store for us next. I was so not disappointed.
Read on for all my thoughts on Legacies season 2, episode 5. Overall, I think this ep was more of a tool to get our characters to the next step than it was a fully fledged episode all its own, but I am totally okay with that because of the growth and plot advancements we got to see unfold.
Underwhelmed with the reveal
I was really hoping for a more intense reunion scene between Hope and Lizzie. I mean, I know that Lizzie has never been Hope’s bestie or anything, but Hope Mikaelson literally just went from having no one on Earth remember her existence to having one person who absolutely remembers everything that she’s ever done. That’s HUGE. While I loved the light-hearted take this episode, I was really sad to not get to see Hope bawl her relieved eyes out on Lizzie’s shoulder for a second.
It comes down to: If Lizzie can remember Hope, then it’s definitely possible for any and everyone to remember her too.
The M.G. and Kaleb of it all
I must say, I think their friendship is my most loved ship on this show these days. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love a good romance, but watching M.G. and Kaleb bond in all the ways puts a huge ass smile on my face every week. And this week is no different. While it would have been easy for Kaleb to dismiss M.G. so early in the morning (and who would have blamed him?), Kaleb sits up and gives his brother time to explain what’s going on.
In addition to my heart being warmed by their bond, these two also give us the most incredible quotes every week. M.G. and Kaleb are Legacies‘ one-liners kings, and I present this stand alone quote as proof: “I’m a pacificist, but if you touch my hair again, we will throw hands!”
I rest my case.
Also, I want a Run KMG shirt. Stat.
Trapped in a maze, sorry, labyrinth with this week’s monster
Hope and Lizzie’s romp through an 80s-video-game-themed version of the famed Greek mythological labyrinth created by Daedalus himself is seriously good fun, even if it does largely feel a little unnecessary. I liked the Minotaur-sized twist in the Monster-of-the-week format though, introducing a monster that has such a rich history, and isn’t so much forgotten as it is trivialized.
It’s Keeper, however, definitely has been forgotten by her world, and that makes her the most dangerous twist in Legacies season 2, episode 5, “Screw Endgame.” Thank goodness Ms. Lizzie Saltzman is ready to stick it to the patriarchy once again and free the Keeper from her prison.
Honestly, it was nice to get some time alone with Hope and Lizzie, but this wasn’t the most exciting part of the episode.
Hostile principal/headmaster relations
Alaric and Vardemus are still not getting along, which should surprise absolutely no one. I do like that Alaric got permission from the sheriff to go be a concerned parent, especially since Vardemus’ restraining order is clearly just a tool the new headmaster is using to put some distance between him and his daughters. Especially Josie, as Vardemus has given her his undivided attention as of late.
80s dances and the post-dance sex ritual
I’m not gonna lie. I’m a little disappointed that the Powers-that-be chose to use the Decades Dance to put pressure on Josie and Landon to have sex. I mean, they were clearly leaning toward their first time last episode without any mention of the upcoming school dance, so I wish we had allowed it to come about a little more naturally.
That said, if it means we wouldn’t have gotten to watch Landon race around the Salvatore mansion in his socks in search of a condom, I am totally fine with it.
And also, I love the Penelope of it all. I love that a discarded master journal put a crimp in Josie’s sexy thoughts long enough for her to think about her lady love for a second. I’m less excited that her jealousy and unhealthy attitude toward Hope is what ultimately kept her from taking the next step with Landon.
I really wish that instead of a song for Hope being the impetus for her hesitation, that instead we would have seen Penelope’s handwriting instead. How hard would it have been for her to steal one of her gift pens on her way out the door? Maybe she was saving this surprise method of communication for when she was most missing her ex, but I would have loved for Josie to crack open that journal and see Penelope writing directly to her. I can see it now:
Josie my love,
I hope you are faring well, my dark-haired vixen. I hope that life is treating you well in my absence and that you are finding all the strength I’ve known was always inside you. I am missing you something fierce here in Belgium, and I just couldn’t hold out writing to you any longer. I don’t know if you’re still reading this thing, or if its been tossed aside along with all your memories of our time together, but I needed you to know that you are still definitely on my mind.
With love,
Penelope
Insert a whole bunch more Penelope-based snark than I am capable of writing, but you get the general idea. I so wish they had gone that route instead in Legacies season 2, episode 5, but we can’t have everything our way, can we?
The Minotaur’s ranking
As far as monsters go, I’m pretty impressed with this one. I love the mythology behind his monsterhood, and while he’s not one of the show’s more subtle creatures, I like the history and gravitas that weaving more Greek mythological creatures does for the Malivore mythos. It just strengthens the entire history of this supernatural-eating golem to expand the pantheon of creatures he’s absorbed to include all the monsters of Greek myth, too.
I’d probably rank the Minotaur somewhere between the Arachne and the slugs in my Legacies season 1 monster rankings. At least until we see more from what Legacies season two has to offer.
Landon the virgin
I love that he remembers to shave and make a playlist, but doesn’t remember the condom. It’s so very Landon of him to think of all the romantic necessities, but forget the practical one. Or maybe that was his subconscious stepping in to keep him from making a mistake? Maybe his subconscious is the biggest Handon shipper of them all. I think I’m okay with that to be honest. I’m not really into what Josie and Landon have become since they started kissing.
Also, dorky human customs are adorable. I didn’t expect him to get her a corsage, but it was really sweet.
How do you solve a problem like Sebastian?
So, Sebastian WAS awoken by a little bit of rancid blood and is looking for some help from his vampire brethren to rise completely. He just needs a decent amount of fresh blood to do so. Now M.G. and Kaleb just have to decide if it’s a good idea or a truly terrible one.
Not gonna lie, I kind of love that they go to Alaric for help with this one. They clearly have declared their loyalty to their former headmaster, so if it ever comes down to a principal/headmaster death-match, I think our vampires have chosen their affiliation.
Anyway, Kaleb outsmarts the smarmy Sebastian, but probably should have gone about burning the desiccated corpse right then and there, rather than waiting til after the dance. Sebastian was just too desperate to sit and wait for permanent death to find him. Poor Wade.
Father/daughter moments
We’ve suspected that Josie voted against her father since the season 2 premiere, but hearing why she voted him out reminds us that Josie isn’t a totally different character just because Hope is gone. While not everyone is excited about her romance with Landon, we all still care about the raven-haired Saltzman.
And deep down, she’s still taking care of people. She voted her dad out of his position at the Salvatore School to encourage him to have a life of his own. He had become so enveloped in the supernatural drama of keeping the school going in Caroline’s absence that he had completely neglected his own well being.
I may not be happy with some of Josie’s choices, but her justification for minorly betraying her father is well reasoned and sound. She cares deeply about her dad and just wants what’s best for him.
Hope letting Landon and Josie make their own choices
Honestly, I’m glad that Hope didn’t barge into Josie’s room and drop a whole bunch of truth on them as they are all pre-coital. As much as I was dreading being witness to Landon and Josie sleeping together, I would have rather them do the deed than Hope charging into the room in a last ditch effort to stop them. It would have just made Josie’s hatred for her stronger and probably even pushed them even harder into each other’s arms.
Plus we got a sweet Hizzie hug out of the deal, and I’m go glad their friendship is finding solid ground to build on.
Is M.G. moving on?
While I love the history and would love to see more of a solid friendship built, I was kind of relieved to see M.G. magically Facetime-ing with Kym. I really want to know more about Kaleb, and his sister could definitely fill in some holes (like a last name, perhaps?), but M.G. needs a new love interest after Lizzie’s reaction to his meddling last episode. I’m happy to see he’s at least talking to other girls at the very least. Maybe Kaleb’s right, and M.G. is just not at his best when he’s crushing on Lizzie Saltzman. If M.G. moving on is the ultimate purpose of Legacies season 2, episode 5, then I’m good with that.
A little Hafael hope, too?
They are definitely slow building some relationship progress for Hope and Rafael. While I would be ecstatic for them to just become the best of friends, I can see romance blooming between the two. He was just so damn happy that she showed up to the dance in Legacies season 2, episode 5. His attraction to her isn’t privvy to their memories. He just has to see her to feel their connection, and if they continue to slow build this romantic tension, I may just jump aboard the Hafael train.
Vardemus is WHO?!?!
Talk about a twist ending! I thought that Vardemus might have been working for Malivore, but I didn’t think Vardemus was Clark in magical disguise! This definitely complicates things a bit. And, it sort of explains why the shunka got eaten the way it did.
Now all the questions start pouring into my brain after Legacies season 2, episode 5. What does he want with Josie’s dark magic? Is he part Malivore now? He clearly killed the former Keeper, but how exactly did that happen? Does he have anything to do with the red caped people? SO MANY QUESTIONS!