Legacies Season 3 Episode 12, “I Was Made to Love You,” answers some of the season’s biggest mythological questions, but leaves us with plenty of questions to finish out the season. Somehow the show finds a way to weave together all of its strands that I presumed would remain loose ends. In that sense, this episode makes me excited for what’s to come. Unfortunately, on the other hand, Legacies lets me down once again with its cliffhanger. Nevertheless, the majority of this episode feels like the Legacies I love. I am optimistic that what this episode does set up will pay off in a delicious way that only the TVDU can pull off.
Cleo’s Motives Revealed
This episode succeeds with its big reveal involving Cleo, and it’s evident this reveal is just the tip of a giant iceberg because it’s obvious there is a lot left to learn about the Muse. That’s exciting! The fact that Cleo’s story hinges on the supernatural development of Hope Mikaelson is endlessly fascinating. We’ve known for a while know that Hope is the key to defeating Malivore, but to see that she can’t do that until she triggers her vampire side is an instrumental and exciting piece of information.
This allows Legacies to dig into the mythology of tribrids because they are incredibly rare. It also allows the show to explore Hope’s relationship with Cleo when everything is all said and done — if there is a way to repair what’s broken. That’s something I’m ecstatic to see unfold on Legacies moving forward because it will allow us to get to know Hope beyond her attachment to Landon. It’ll let her know herself beyond her devotion to Landon. I’ve only been begging for that for a season and a half.
I want Hope to become a vampire when she wants. After years of being a fan of the TVDU, I know how detrimental it can be for that decision to be made for someone without their permission. I don’t want that for Hope Mikaelson. As much as it piques my interest to think of all the juicy mythology we could get in the future about tribrids; I don’t want that if it’s coming on the heels of Hope becoming a vampire against her will.
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
This story brilliantly contrasts MG and Ethan’s during “I Was Made to Love You.” Their friendship is such a highlight of this rather frustrating season. The events of the episode aren’t the end for them because that would be too easy. MG will have to deal with the fallout of his actions, of compelling his best friend to forget a transformative time of his life. MG transformed Ethan’s life just as Ethan did MG’s. Those two found comfort in each other in transitional parts of their lives. MG won’t be able to move past that now that he compelled Ethan.
There’s also the moral dilemma that MG compelled a person, regardless of that it’s Ethan, without their consent. That’s something MG has always stood in opposition to in the past. Hopefully, Legacies won’t forget that moving forward. It would be beneficial to see MG battle with that decision.
I will say that I thought MG would steer their conversation in Matt Donavon’s truck in a very different direction. Yes, you read that right. I’m assuming Ethan’s truck is Matt’s truck because he’s staying with Matt until Legacies proves me wrong. MG starts that conversation with, “We’re not friends…” or something along those lines. I thought he would end it with, “We’re more than that.” Can you blame me? MG and Ethan have chemistry! MG literally risked his life, set himself on fire, to run across town to save Ethan.
Regardless, if Legacies wants to keep them as only friends, I am okay with that, but let them be friends. I understand that MG believes he’s doing the right thing by removing himself from Ethan’s life, that Ethan’s life will be happier and safer without MG in it. The latter may be accurate, but the former doesn’t seem likely. As I said, MG and Ethan changed each other for the better. I sincerely hope that all of that isn’t in the rearview mirror.
Goodbye Necromancer, Hello Landon
One thing I am thrilled about that’s in the rearview mirror is the Necromancer. This episode does something I never expected Legacies to do: It gives the Necromancer an unnecessary redemption arc. This villain could’ve remained just that, a villain and everything would have been fine. He could’ve died in the prison world, and the plot would have moved on without him. It’s bizarre that Legacies spends so much time redeeming him only so he can free Ric from a room after summoning a ghost that proves to be useless. That ghost is only there to give a clue that Cleo is much older than she lets on, and she’s got some motives of her own. That’s not needed in the grand scheme of the episode because golem Landon (and later Cleo) reveals the same thing to Hope. Hope could’ve filled Ric in on this information later.
The only reason I can fathom for Legacies attempting to redeem the Necromancer is so that it can tease a redemption arc for Ric and push Josie to speak to Finch. Strangely, the only way the show thinks to do both of those things is to bring back a monster they’ve exhausted. Instead, Josie could have spoken with her friends about Finch, and that could’ve given us more context that Josie wants to foster her relationships at the Salvatore School and possibly return. Plus, that would have made it less jarring when Josie states that leaving the Salvatore School is a regret of hers.
I’m not complaining that Josie’s rambling lead to her and FInch’s first kiss, though, because I genuinely want nothing best for them. Sparks literally fly when they kiss. That’s some epic romance stuff, right there.
Anyway, a tease for Ric’s redemption could have been teased in literally any other way, too. It would have been more powerful had Ric come to his senses on his own and realized that he needed to make some profound changes. But, unusually, Legacies suggests Ric can only have this revelation after the Necromancer sacrifices himself. Why can’t Ric realize he’s made mistakes without someone dying?
Speaking of someone not dying, guess who’s not dead? Landon! Shocker, right? The reveal that he’s the person covered in monster skins and bones isn’t entirely shocking for a few reasons. One of being that Legacies can never let Landon permanently die. The other being that if Golem Landon existed, real Landon had to be somewhere. I, once again, am optimistic that this chance at life will take Landon in a new direction than before, and I wish that direction doesn’t bring us back to the same tired cycle he and Hope get caught in on this show.
Golem Landon is a fun twist that I’m glad Legacies executed because it points out Hope’s toxic dependency on Landon. It makes me want to believe that things will be different if she and Landon can ever come together again after his time away. Hope says something along the lines of, “You’re a coping mechanism, and I don’t need it anymore,” before she turns Golem Landon into a pile of goo. That confirmation is enough to make me believe that Legacies knows Hope can say goodbye to Landon if she needs to now.
Please don’t let me down, Legacies.
Other Spelltacular Moments:
- Landon says the episode title this week!
- Josie’s outfit is fantastic in this episode.
- I squeal every time there is an exterior shot of the Gilbert house.
- “Black magic frenemies”
- MG’s hero theme music
- This cast is incredible, but you already know that.
- It never gets old seeing Ric with his crossbow.
What did you think of “I Was Made to Love You?” Let us know in the comments below!
Legacies is new Thursdays at 9/8c on The CW.
