Hope crosses some major lines to save Landon on Legacies Season 3 Episode 8, “Long Time, No See.” Although, no one goes as far as Hope does – begging the question of whether or not her friends will (or should) ever forgive her for her actions. In that sense, “Long Time, No See” could be the turning point that Legacies needs to move things forward this season. I’ve begged for a lot of things to change for the past eight episodes. It may be naïve to believe that it’ll come next week.
Cleo’s Take on Magic
One thing that makes Legacies so interesting as the third show of the TVD Universe is how it commentates on the past. It can point out the preceding shows’ flaws and try and do better or offer another perspective. One example of this that still stands out is how MG critiqued vampire culture and showed a great dislike of compulsion because it strips agency from the victim.
Cleo is new to the show, and she’s lived experiences before entering the Salvatore School that allow her to have different perspectives. This isn’t a remarkable phenomenon because this happens with most new characters introduced on TV shows. Although, with a show like Legacies that keeps getting in its own way this season, Cleo’s perspective on magic and her patience in trying new things are so refreshing, like summoning a monster. It’s pretty nice to hear her speak about magic in a way that isn’t so black and white.
For the most part, Legacies has looked at magic as good or bad. Kaleb’s comments about black magic reflect that. Cleo shrugs off his remarks by saying that magic aligns with the intentions of the person doing it. That’s a much more nuanced take that Legacies needs right now.
It also frames everything that comes after it in a new way. Hope’s intentions to get Landon back are born out of her love for him, but they’re just as nuanced as how these characters use magic. While Hope needed a Gemini witch to help activate the Ascendant, Hope’s just as much tethered to those spells as Lizzie. The black magic that came from the Ascendant could very well be from the Necromancer like Josie said, but it wouldn’t be shocking to learn that Hope had some role in its presence.
Blind Spots
Legacies also calls out one of its most frustrating qualities this season: that Landon is Hope’s blind spot. The fact that the show speaks to this makes it even more frustrating that it hasn’t done anything to develop Hope beyond this point yet. The end of the episode makes it feel as though Hope is doubling down on her attachment to Landon out of love and because it would be easier than dealing with the hard truths.
Lizzie is very honest in drawing a parallel between Hope’s relationship with Landon and her relationship with Sebastian. There are apparent differences between the two relationships, but they’re both co-dependent relationships that manifest themselves as major blind spots for both girls. Lizzie is correct, but Hope shuts down even the chance of this.
Hope is in denial about so many things that it’s hard to believe there will be any resolution to all of this that’s satisfying. This is primarily affected by Legacies’ dedication to impermanence and how that pertains to Landon’s deaths. This isn’t to say that Landon should remain dead because I happen to enjoy him as a person. I wish I could get to know him beyond his relationship with Hope and vice versa.
On the other hand, Lizzie’s growth throughout the last three seasons has been realistically gradual and in line with her character. She’s been putting in a lot of work, both on and off-screen, and it’s very evident during “Long Time, No See.” She sees warning signs with Hope and voices them the best way she can. She recognizes when she’s going to use MG and how wrong that is. Instead of justifying her actions or ignoring the truth, Lizzie apologizes to MG before the episode ends. That’s progress!
Not to mention, she names her blind spot. Lizzie does the hard thing of acknowledging the hard thing. It’s endlessly frustrating to watch Hope deny any sense of reality over and over again, but it’s so rewarding to see Lizzie lean into the hard truths. She’s ready to face them, no matter the consequences – like pushing MG further away. It’s so true to Lizzie Saltzman that MG may be one of her people, but Josie is the one she would burn it all to the ground to protect.
The Saltzman twins are my begin all, end-all. I hope we get to see them interact some more this season, even though Josie is moving to live with Ric and Caroline’s anonymous friend in town.
It’s a little weird that Legacies doesn’t name this person because they haven’t been coy about other TVD Universe characters’ names in the past. Maybe this means that there could be a guest star in the future, but they haven’t lined up who could work in the time. It could also mean that it’s just a fun nod, and I’m not supposed to be read that much into it. But where’s the fun in that?
Hope Goes Too Far
Hope Mikealson, what are you doing? She is ready to blow up everything and put her friends in danger for the man she loves. Landon is correct to say this is a family trait because the Mikaelsons are known for doing such drastic things for the ones they love, like in the story Hope tells him. They also dealt with the intense fallout of those situations.
Legacies suggests that it’ll do the same thing when Lizzie says that was the last thing she’d ever do for Hope. It would be ideal if Lizzie stuck to her truth on this (at least for a while) because Hope has to see that what she did was wrong. With MG distancing himself and Josie away, Lizzie is the person Hope is closest to within the Super Squad. If Lizzie sets some serious boundaries, maybe Hope will recognize the error of her ways.
Even then, it would be understandable if the Super Squad didn’t accept Hope’s apology – assuming the show is building to a moment of self-reflection. That would be more of an exciting turn for Legacies to take. This could take Hope down an even darker path, something different than this weird stasis she’s been in orbiting Landon’s wellbeing. It could see her have to win back the trust and respect of the people she loves.
Everything can’t continue the way it has during the next episode. Too much damage has been done. Hope tried to guilt Josie into taking her magic back, sacrifice Lizzie to get to the prison world, and ignored the advice of her friends. Legacies can’t forget those decisions to fight another Malivore monster on the next episode.
Ric talked about how he wants the Salvatore students to make decisions for themselves. Well, Hope made these decisions, and now she has to deal with the consequences, just like everyone else would. This is Legacies’ chance to change things for the better.
Other Spelltacular Moments:
- The witches are spelling scarlet letters into Jed’s shirts.
- Ric making a fool of himself in front of the monster
- Kaleb swooping in and saving us all with his amazing voice
- “Oh, and Cleo, next time you want to summon a monster, just ask for permission first.”
- Landon said the episode’s title!
- “Nice try, nosey Josie.”
- Kaleb cooking Cleo breakfast was sweet.
- More Finch and Josie, please!
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.
