Legacies 3×05 “This Is What It Takes” drops Hope in the middle of an ’80s slasher to deliver some hard truths. This episode shows no matter how hard some of these characters try to run from reality, whether it be through a therapy box or a prison world, the truth will always be waiting for them. Whether they accept that truth or not is a whole other story. Through it all, “This Is What It Takes,” points plenty of our favorite characters in the new direction of new dynamics and opportunities that we are eager to see Legacies explore when the show returns from a three-week hiatus.
Hope After Landon’s Death
Legacies never denies the fact that Hope has been through an unimaginable amount of loss in her life. That’s why it’s understandable that Ric is willing to cross (even more) lines to help Hope. Though, shutting down a school for hundreds of kids for three weeks is extreme. Nevertheless, it makes sense that Hope would try to run from the grief of losing Landon in what appears to be the most permanent way to date. However, Hope’s resistance in accepting the hard truth that he’s gone isn’t absurd.
It may come across that way to people who don’t like Landon and wish that Hope would move on. But how is she expected to do so when Legacies has gone out of its way to prove that Landon’s death is never permanent? He’s died a handful of times now and has found a way to come back from all of them. We see him at the end of the episode, clutching Hope’s family heirloom, heading towards a glowing door. This could be Landon going into the light of eternal peace or it could be the more likely option that he’s on the way to finding some route back to Hope. Legacies gives us no other choice than to believe it’s the latter.
This becomes compelling on Hope’s behalf because she’s finally at her breaking point with all of this. Hope decides to allow herself to grieve instead of avoiding the truth. This is a seismic shift from where Hope starts in “This Is What It Takes,” and it allows Legacies to take her character in a new direction this season. Assuming Landon does find his way back to the Salvatore School at some point, we will get to see how Hope exists without him. So much of Hope’s time on Legacies has been about her relationship with Landon. This episode even points out that sometimes that relationship came at the expense of the ones with her friends. Hopefully Legacies will remedy that in the upcoming episodes.
As hard as it is to know that Hope has lost someone else she loves, it does give us hope that she can find happiness in a life without Landon. Even if it does take time. Even if it is temporary due to his likely return. Hope deserves to know that she’s enough on her own. Let her rage out and fall back on her friends. Let her lean into her art. She’s going to move through this grief on her own time and in her own way. There’s so much to explore and learn about Hope as a character through this. We know that she’ll still be a badass and a superhero and all of that, but we want to get to know Hope beyond all of that this season. It’s well past time.
All the Siblings Feels
Josie and Lizzie’s final scene together in this episode is one of their best yet. It’s moving to see Lizzie be so supportive of and honest with Josie. It would have been frustrating to see Lizzie knock down Josie’s wish after Lizzie reminded herself that Josie’s happiness is just as important as her own. Thankfully, Legacies avoided that headache and proved just how much the Saltzman twins have grown. Just like Hope without Landon, it’s going to be so interesting to see how Josie and Lizzie navigate their daily lives without the other. This episode disrupts so many dynamics Legacies relied on over the past few seasons that it leaves so many doors open for new stories.
Similarly, MG and Kaleb are a sibling duo we want to see more of this season. It is refreshing to see two male characters talk so openly about vulnerability. Kaleb wants to protect MG’s heart, because that’s what friends do but it’s also what brothers do. MG had every right to stand up to Lizzie for convincing him to go into the prison world with her just so she can help her come to conclusions. Legacies is doing all but point a neon sign that says “slow burn” at those two.
Regardless, it’s such a breakthrough to see Kaleb urge MG to say “no” more and MG ask Kaleb to do the opposite. MG is learning it’s not selfish to look out for himself and his heart. That’s powerful stuff that everyone could use to be reminded of every once in a while. MG is lucky because he couldn’t have a better brother in his corner on that journey. Fingers crossed Legacies lets us see it.
Welcome Back to Mystic Falls High
Who ships Josie and Finch already? Let the ship sail!
Speaking of ships, Maya had a crush on Josie?! Why did Legacies never tease this or keep Maya around long enough to see if anything could come of it? It’s a bit confusing that Sheriff Mac and Maya would move to Savannah but leave Ethan for football purposes. It’s a little hazy on what Legacies plans to do with Ethan. Maybe we’ll find out now that we’ll be spending more time at Mystic Falls High.
The best thing about being back at Mystic Falls High (other than the nostalgia) is knowing that we’re there because Josie did something for herself. She made a decision to better her life and stuck with it. It’s intimidating but she’s diving in with a confidence we’ve only begun to see Josie wield. The show finally feels like it’s turning over a new page. It’s letting its characters move out of their comfort zones in an attempt to discover more about themselves. Legacies is a show about supernatural teenagers, after all. And what’s being a teenager without angst, love, self-discovery, and saving the world from monsters?
Other Spelltacular Moments:
- Hope’s werewolf eyes
- MG’s scream when he saw the gargoyle
- Josie is the cutest! She doesn’t eat bacon any more after she was a pig in a fairy tale.
What did you think of this episode of Legacies? Let us know in the comments below!
Legacies returns Thursday, March 11 at 9/8c on The CW.
One of the better episodes for Legacies recently. Not sure I care for the getting rid of another one of Hopes loved ones just so they can send her in another direction, their connection was one of the main reasons I watched the show,it certainly wasnt for the boring enemies or the riveting quests, their love story gave you hope that Hope would actually find someone that was for her. Unless they plan on bringing back the Landon love interest later again which will more than likely just be another competitive love drama blah blah.
If they do bring Landon back, for goodness sake, give him some additional/better powers, wth, healing powers, or fire manipulation, fire resistance or something like that.