Even though there is a new episode next week, Legacies Season 2 Episode 7, “It Will All Be Painfully Clear Soon Enough” could have been a fall finale. It does not hold back on the twists, turns, and doppelgängers. This episode also prioritizes the friendships at the core of Legacies, even as the stability of the Salvatore School crumbles around them.
True Definition of Girl Power
The girl power is strong from the first few minutes of the episode right down to its final minutes. Clarke’s scheming ways are a nuisance blocking the event that really needs to take place — Hope and Josie finally talking. This is a standout scene from “It Will All Be Painfully Clear Soon Enough” because it really shows the Hope and Josie’s growth. Lizzie joining them with a gallon of ice cream is the cherry on top of the girl power sundae.
Legacies could have resorted to weeks of Josie and Hope going head to head to twin Landon’s heart, endlessly comparing themselves to the other. Instead, it subverted that tired stereotype of the love triangle in favor of their friendship. They prioritize each other’s feelings and well being over the drama that could have divided them further.
With whatever is coming, which is apparently worse than Malivore, the Salvatore students will need a united front. Josie and Hope working to heal their wounds is a major step in the right direction.
It also offers some hope for Hosie fans, because there is clearly a lot of love shared between Hope and Josie. Whether it be as friends or more, it is there, and there is no denying it.
The line that stands out the most is Josie saying, “He made his decision. We can make our own. Landon or no Landon, you belong here. I want you to stay.”
Hope has spent the majority of this season looking for a safe place to fall. Before everyone’s Malivore memories came back, that safe space was fighting alongside Alaric. Now, she can fall back on her Super Squad and know they have her back.
After all, the Salvatore School was built to give supernatural kids a safe space to be themselves and learn about their abilities. It only feels right that Hope comes back to school, because like Josie says, she does belong there.
The Good, the Bad, and the Phoenix
This makes Landon and Rafael running away all the more disappointing. Rafael isn’t wrong when he says that being at the Salvatore School is more dangerous than they both anticipated and were promised, but they are definitely underestimating how intense the supernatural world will be outside of the gates of the Salvatore School. Landon and Rafael are completely in over their heads, and hopefully Legacies does not skim over that in the next few episodes.
Landon’s grand gesture of not making a decision about Hope and Josie and skipping town is a lot less grand than he probably hoped. It’s a lot more cowardly like the adorable and hilarious Simu-Landon states. Landon takes being chased by various monsters over being honest with two people he cares about. That’s not very heroic.
He writes in his journal entry, “I have to let you live a life without monsters, without me,” as if Hope and Josie can’t hold their own against whatever Landon decided and a new Malivore monster. Those two could talk to Landon, fight a creature, and eat ice cream at the same time.
It also seems like a step backwards for Landon. He fought so hard to become a student at the Salvatore School, and instead of fighting for that, he leaves. Landon believes the Salvatore School and its students will be better off without him, which sounds like a familiar tale. Someone please tell these kids that they matter and that someone loves them, because it couldn’t be more true.
It is difficult to see Landon as the hero of this story when Hope sacrificed everything to close the pit. Landon’s gesture seems ill-fated from the start, and hopefully next week expands on that. This is not to say that Landon does not deserve happiness and love, because he absolutely does, but he should probably stick around long enough to fight for it next time.
Until his inevitable return, Josie, Lizzie, and Hope should thrive as the girl-power trio they are. The world will not stop spinning for these young women because Landon Kirby left Mystic Falls. They will continue to fight the good fight. But first, ice cream. And there is nothing wrong with that!
Other Spelltacular Moments:
- Simu-Landon’s “Hello, brother” moment is one that will go down in Legacies history. It’s a truly brilliant callback to The Vampire Diaries.
- Ric clinging to Hope when he sees her for the first time after he gets his Malivore memories back is such a great moment! It’s a reminder of why I love Ric so much. He has a giant heart.
- Does anyone else think that final riddle is about Kai Parker? Fingers crossed the Easter eggs start popping up if I’m wrong about this one.
Legacies is new Thursdays at 9/8c on The CW.
