Legacies 4×07, “Someplace Far Away From All This Violence,” dashes away any chance of deeming this episode a “filler episode.” Instead, it provides a close reading of Tribrid Hope. It also opens the door for more nuanced stories about the Super Squad members that fall to the wayside far too often.
Furthermore, it is an hour that continues to streamline the characters into one cohesive plot — making room for more organic ties to The Vampire Diaries and The Originals. The references to past characters and established lore and mythology have more purpose behind them now.
That connection will be necessary if my suspicions are right about who is on the other side of Hope’s mysterious phone calls, but time will only tell in that regard. Unfortunately, that reveal likely won’t come until closer to the end of the season. There is still plenty of that mystery to unravel.
For now, “Someplace Far Away From All This Violence” expertly balances its newfound darker tone with the sense of humor we’ve come to associate with the show.
There are moments when things could teeter one way or the other, but the writing paired with the excellent performances keeps the characters tiptoeing on that tightrope. For example, Danielle Rose Russell‘s performance as Tribrid Hope without her humanity is impeccable.
Hope’s dry wit is fantastic, but Russell delivers her lines in such a way that they are equally hilarious and bone-chilling. Her attempts to be at least partially engaged with Salvatore Idol are funny, but her complete disregard for anyone’s wellbeing is striking.
It’s been a while since a TVD Universe character flipped their switch and stayed that way for a prolonged period, but Legacies has never gone as far as this season has with Hope. The closest it has gotten to examining the darkness is with Dark Josie, making those two a perfect match.
It’s exhilarating to watch Russell and Kaylee Bryant go toe to toe. It’s the one time during the episode that the stakes feel high because both of those characters are so unpredictable.
Now, Hope finds herself in the same place Josie was during Season 2 — struggling to accept a part of herself while grappling with immense trauma. It’s a full-circle moment that caters to the emotional storytelling Hosie fans clamor for every week.
The desire for a scene like that, starring a pairing of that magnitude, to be more than a brief confrontation directly comes from its inherent richness. Seriously, the entire episode could have been Dark Josie and Tribrid Hope trying to outsmart each other, and I would be okay with it.
However, we wouldn’t get all the other great moments that discreetly tell us and the Super Friends about Hope’s state of mind — humanity intact or not. The aforementioned confrontation is electric and fun, and it ends on a definitive note that Josie will look for a Plan B to avoid Lizzie’s Plan A.
Unfortunately, Lizzie’s storyline is this episode’s weakest link. But, even though it’s weaker, it doesn’t lower the overall quality of the episode.
It’s still fun to see Jenny Boyd adapt Lizzie Saltzman to the Old West. This cast is so great they can sell this tale in any setting. Plus, the Isobel Flemming namedrop took my breath away. Moreover, Uncle Ric being a hunter, with Stefan and Damon’s names engraved on pistols, is perfect.
However fantastic they may be, those references don’t distract from how Lizzie’s trip in the Therapy Box doesn’t meet expectations.
Lizzie does the brave thing by asking for help during “You’re A Long Way From Home,” but this episode doesn’t follow through on Lizzie’s wishes as best as it could. Her dedication to stopping Hope is personal, but this episode could have used her time in this mindscape to be introspective on a singular level.
Nevertheless, there is something to be said about Lizzie realizing her capability to save herself, her sister, and her friends if need be. Bring on her vampire hunter era!
Understanding her strengths is important, but Lizzie’s journey to prioritizing her mental health is too.
Maybe “Someplace Far Away From All This Violence” missed the bar because that arc has the kind of longevity that Legacies will follow.
Lizzie’s time in the Therapy Box felt like a way to delay the inevitable. So far, Lizzie is the only one willing to say (and maybe do) the thing everyone else tiptoes around — kill Hope. There’s a slim to none chance that plan will ever see the light of day because it’s challenging to imagine Legacies without Hope.
One of the other standout scenes in this episode proves that MG won’t be the one to kill Hope. It plays out as a way for Hope to test MG’s leadership skills, but it quickly and quietly shifts into something much darker. Quincy Fouse and Russell are so great in this scene. They let the shifts in their characters’ demeanors be as subtle as they should be.
There’s a fleeting moment when Hope forces MG’s hand to hold a sword to her chest when it feels like Hope wants MG to make the move no one else can.
However, MG’s possession of the Ripper gene makes him aware of living with bloody mistakes, just like with Josie’s time as Dark Josie. Those common threads make various pairings dynamic to watch, like Kaleb and Jed.
Their mission to find and defeat the Argus quickly establishes itself as more than a silly C-plot to lighten the hour.
Kaleb’s hesitation to accept the powers he got because of that betrayal is a compelling arc. Though it would have been nice to know more about Jed’s past than he revealed, it’s sweet to see Jed extend an olive branch that lets Kaleb realize he isn’t alone.
It’s also a way to weave Jed into the plot more, which is always a good thing.
The Super Squad is no stranger to making mistakes, but they always find a way to have each other’s backs through the thick of it. “Someplace Far Away From All This Violence” exemplifies that by proving Rick’s mission to create a school for supernatural children wasn’t in vain, despite his mistakes.
Other Spelltacular Moments:
- Uncle Ric said the title!
- Starting the episode with a reminder of one of TVD‘s devastating scenes is a choice.
- “I guess I have some time to kill before it’s time to kill.”
- PEDRO!
- Jed finding stray wolves
- “There’s a hole in the heart of this place — a void where you used to be.”
- MG is a poet.
- I still ship Methan.
What did you think of “Someplace Far Away From All This Violence?” Let us know in the comments below!
Legacies airs Thursdays at 9/8c on The CW.
