“Reigning Pain in New Orleans” gave us a lot to think about during the 49 day hiatus we now have to endure before we get more from The Originals.

‘The Originals’ season 1, episode 9 ‘Reigning Pain in New Orleans’ recap:

• Klaus’ banquet seems strained. Marcel is trying hard to play his part, but he doesn’t seem exuberant about his new role as lackey.
• Klaus declares the vampires free to hunt down and kill every werewolf in the bayou, thereby eliminating his ability to make hybrids and the lingering suspicions that go along with them. Very well done Klaus, except we can’t help but wonder what your part-werewolf offspring will think about you slaughtering his/her family.
• Klaus the memoir-ist has Cami taking dictation again. Poor thing has got to be tired of playing secretary. Someone needs to get this girl some vervain.
• Hayley tells Elijah and Rebekah that Klaus has called for her safety, but implores them to go save her werewolf kin from the vampires hunting them all down.
• Klaus lets Marcel in on the deception he has been weaving, including Thierry’s innocence and Josh’s role as compelled spy. Oh Klaus, if only you knew what Marcel has been up to lately. There is some severe underestimation going on here.
• Klaus seems awfully interested in Davina’s abilities, especially considering that she could be a powerless nobody in a few short weeks.
• The human council seems to be quite happy to be paid off for their silence and protection of the locals. It’s too bad Klaus doesn’t play as nicely as Marcel.
• Elijah and Rebekah show up to the little cabin in the bayou to protect Hayley’s werewolf kin from Diego and his blood-thirsty friends.
• Klaus’ refusal to treat the humans as Marcel did means death and pain for the daywalker vampires, as the humans shatter the protective glass and torch all the vamps in the bar.
• Klaus has been testing Marcel it seems. He knew that he wouldn’t be just a lackey, and is happy when Marcel criticizes him for letting the humans have the upper hand.
• Back in the bayou, Hayley’s werewolf family is quite adept at hiding, but the new werewolves that have come to see the little hybrid/werewolf miracle baby have no idea what they are up against. Eve tells Elijah and Rebekah that they will want to see these werewolves alive. Hmmm…
• Davina arrives at Klaus’ place and immediately goes looking for Josh. Awww! So glad to see these two continuing to be friends. Hayley walks in on them and declares Josh “most likely to die next.” It’s not as if we haven’t considered it.
• Cami is getting smarter and smarter. She is now taping hers and Klaus’ conversations so she can listen to them once she is no longer in his presence.
• The human council are all brought to justice for their execution of Marcel’s friends. Father Kieran is spared from the bloodshed only because of his ties to Cami, but is now in the precarious position of needing to create a new council that will please Klaus. Not an easy task.
• The werewolf that Elijah saved from Diego and crew has a pretty ring… Can’t help but wonder what that’s all about.
• Marcel promises Klaus his loyalty, but his friendship is something that Klaus has to earn. Bravo Marcel.
• Klaus cares about being a good daddy. How adorable. He also wants Marcel to rule at his side as equals and Marcel seems pretty happy with the arrangement.
• Hayley calls Klaus out on his careless attitude toward her family, and even manages to threaten him and walk away. Not everyone gets away with that type of insubordination around here.
• Hayley tells Davina about Agnes’ death and Davina doesn’t believe her. She believes in Marcel and refuses to think he’d lie to her until Josh confirms Hayley’s story. Davina begs Josh to get her out of Chez Original pronto. Hmmm… where do you think he’ll take her?
• Klaus is a little perturbed by his siblings meddling in the werewolf slaughter he had planned, but then Elijah breaks the news that the ring we saw earlier used to belong to their mother Esther, the Original witch.
• The wolves that Eve wanted saved are none other than Klaus’ father’s bloodline. Klaus acts unphased by Elijah’s pronouncement, but we think thou may protest too much.
• Just as we suspected, Klaus pays Father Kieran a visit and requests his help in protecting his newfound family of werewolves. Father seems happy enough to do his part to help, but requests that Klaus release Cami and let her leave town.
• Klaus lets his guard down for one moment and let’s Cami in on a few of his deepest and darkest secrets. Rather than the fear or anger he expects her to feel, she tears up and is sympathetic toward him. He compels her away and to forget all she has learned. Have we mentioned how much we like Cami…
• Marcel meets with Rebekah in secret to tell her that he cannot choose her right now. He has to choose his loyal friends and the power that comes with having Klaus as an ally.
• Elijah appears to Hayley on the balcony to tell her that he secured the safety of the werewolves, and after a brief moment of will-they tension, he leaves to talk to Klaus.
• Elijah apologizes to Klaus for the accusations about his intentions with the child, and in return, Klaus tells him that he and Rebekah are welcome to move into Chez Original whenever they are ready.
• Davina runs to Cami in search of some help now that she can’t trust Marcel, and when she discovers that Cami has been compelled, begins reversing the compulsion, just like she did for Josh.

And that wraps up the mid-season finale recap! We are anxious to find out what happens next, but unfortunately, there won’t be any new episodes of The Originals until January 14, 2014. Feel free to speculate wildly about what Julie Plec and company have in store for us when The Originals returns after the holidays and check out the promo for The Originals season 1, episode 10, “The Casket Girls.”