Legacies 3×04, “Hold On Tight,” is like a race against the clock and a race to end last season. Executive Producer Brett Matthews shared on Twitter earlier today that this episode was originally meant to be Legacies‘ Season 2 finale. That puts the last four episodes into perspective, and it explains the urgency to move the story forward. More than anything, the confirmation from Matthews’ that this episode is the end of last season makes me confident that Legacies can finally find its footing again next week.
That being said, there are some elements of “Hold On Tight” that miss Legacies‘ otherwise high mark. This show is one that lets teenagers save the day and approaches their supernatural existence with empathy and nuance. A lot of that is skipped over or lost entirely during “Hold On Tight” in an attempt to explain things in order to wrap up the stories from Season 2. Hopefully Legacies won’t wash over the fallout of the events of “Hold On Tight,” since this episode acknowledges that magic (and life) has consequences.
Change of Heart
A lot of characters have a change of heart during this episode, which isn’t out of the ordinary in what’s intended to be a season finale. Things are happening — usually life or death things — so people say and do things they wouldn’t otherwise do. However, since everything has moved so fast this season, there is some whiplash when characters make such expedient changes. For example, both Alyssa and Ric’s have this effect. Both of them are in completely different situations, yet their moments of clarity are as similarly late as they are jarring.
It’s not a bad thing that Alyssa and Ric realized the error of their ways later than expected. They still have time to be forgiven or not by the people who matter to them. However, one of them sticks the landing more after the initial shock than the other — Alyssa Chang.
To be fair to Alyssa, she has shown more growth than Ric at this point, and she’s been on the show for less time. Alyssa’s forgiveness by the Super Squad feels more earned because we’ve seen the ways they’ve casually chipped away at her armor during this season and last. That’s the same reason why the initial shock of her suddenly joining forces with the Saltzman twins (one of whom killed her before) wears off pretty quickly. Everyone needs someone to believe in them, even the girl who deems herself Team Monster. MG giving Alyssa a chance romantically feels less earned. Though, I’m willing to let it slide for what it could mean for Lizzie and MG down the line. Their slow burn will be worth the wait, I’m sure of it.
Ric, on the other hand, has existed within the world of magical creatures and magical consequences longer than a lot of the Salvatore students have been alive and he’s still making absurd decisions. Ric is going to screw up sometimes, that’s a given, but conveniently compelling your girlfriend to benefit you and doing it under the guise of heroism is dangerous. Ric finally realizes he overstepped in “Hold On Tight,” but the episode ends before we know if he’ll face any consequences for taking away Sheriff Mac’s agency.
Ric only allows Sheriff Mac the option to remember things that were always her memories after the big battle is seemingly won. There’s no way Ric can believe this relationship is going to last if it’s built on compulsion. Hopefully Legacies follows through with this storyline next week and doesn’t let it slip away into a muddy pit where it’ll be forgotten. Ric should face some kind of consequences for this. It would be a bit bizarre if Sheriff Mac miraculously understands Ric’s standpoint since it was all for the children. Ric is the headmaster of a school of supernatural children. He’s supposed to be a role model, and it’s frustrating to see him continuously fumble that responsibility.
Going Back to Mystic Falls High
After an announcement back in September of last year, Leo Howard returns as Sheriff Mac’s son Ethan in this episode. It’s unfortunate that Legacies dropped the characters it introduced after everyone remembered Hope and returned to the Salvatore School. So I think it’s a good thing that the show is finding a way to work the Mystic Falls High students back into the mix. Josie wanting a fresh start at Mystic Falls High isn’t a bad idea. Plus, it’s nice to see her making decisions that she thinks would be better for her. Though, it is a bit weird that she runs the idea by Lizzie before she even tells Alaric. One would assume her father would need to be involved in that at least partially, right?
Anyway, this reveal feels out of left field since Josie hasn’t shown any interest in Mystic Falls High other than her deep remorse for breaking Ethan’s arm. There’s been nothing on screen or nothing insinuated that a conversation happened off screen alluding to the fact that Josie would want to change schools. Legacies could have slipped this in a conversation regarding Landon’s future at the Salvatore School since he was not a supernatural being at the time. Instead, we get that weird scene of Josie getting a tour of the school from Ethan for a piece in the Salvatore Scroll, which I’m not even sure exists.
Josie’s decision to put away her magic is a brave one she should be applauded for making. The decision to change schools should be viewed the same way. Josie and Lizzie’s codependency has been a big part of their journey on Legacies, and it’ll be interesting to see how that’s tested with Josie at an entirely different school. However, I guess Josie would come home to the Salvatore School every day since both her father and sister live there. Nevertheless, it’s exciting to think we’ll get to return to some old TVDU sets and explore Mystic Falls High through Josie’s eyes.
Playing with Fire
Admittedly, a lot of the Necromancer/Landon/Malivore in this episode is confusing. I wish Legacies had established that Malivore was out of Landon’s body before he kissed Hope. The possibility that Landon wasn’t free of Malivore took a lot of the epic romantics out of that moment for me. Landon’s inability to die — even when he’s believed to be a human — also takes away from the shock of whatever happened at the end of the episode. That isn’t a bad thing for me, because I happen to love Landon. I’m glad there’s always a loophole to bring him back.
It’s heartbreaking that Landon seemingly turns into a pit of Malivore-ish goo after such a special time for him and Hope. Those two are always getting up in tragedy and it’s not fair. It’s a common side effect of being a part of the Super Squad, I know. I just wish they could’ve been blissfully unaware of the rest of the world (and they them) and happy for just a little while longer. As unfortunate as the end of “Hold On Tight” is for Handon, it’s also one of the best moments Legacies shows of magic having consequences in this episode. Landon was sucked into a prison world with Malivore inhabiting his body. Of course he isn’t going to come out of that unscathed; I would be more shocked if he did. Nevertheless, it’s Landon. Thankfully, nothing is every truly permanent for him. Hopefully the Super Squad can find a way to restore him to his body.
Other Spelltacular Moments:
- Hope said the title this week!
- The Necromancer’s body walking around trying to find its head was hilarious!
- We love a Kai mention!
- Legacies must know how much I love dragons. Even zombie dragons!
- The Super Squad arriving at Mystic Falls High in the most epic fashion possible. As they should!
- Did anyone else notice Hope’s Crescent Wolf Pack birthmark on the back of her shoulder?
- Are we ever going to see Maya again?
- I love every time Legacies brings back the peanut butter blasts from The Originals.
- Jed and Kaleb fighting over who killed the most monsters is so good.
What did you think of this episode of Legacies? Let us know in the comments below!
Legacies is new Thursdays at 9/8c on The CW.
