Legacies 4×08, “You Will Remember,” is easily the season’s best episode thus far, and it may shape up to be one of the series best in the long run. However, it’s not just because this episode seems to have found my wishlist and checked every single box.
“You Will Remember” continues to streamline the characters into one cohesive plot, and the ties to the proceeding TVD universe shows have never been more critical. First and foremost, this episode makes up for the prior’s missteps with the therapy box.
Josie’s time in her Grey’s Anatomy-inspired alternate reality adds more context to Lizzie’s time in the Old West. Josie’s gradual realization that she needs to free herself from the pressure of her legacy to help Hope (and others) clarifies Lizzie’s goal to do the opposite.
Lizzie Saltzman is her Buffy Summers era, and I love that for her.
It’s worrisome that Josie tried to distance herself from the Salvatore School in the past, and it didn’t work. Her time at Mystic Falls High was as short-lived as her vow not to practice magic. But, no matter the concern of that ultimately landing, it creates stakes for her relationship with Finch.
Their relationship is still new, and they’re only beginning to find solid ground to build a strong foundation. Josie’s decision to leave Finch for what Josie believes to be the common good after setting clear expectations for Finch to stay creates interpersonal tension.
There’s also the possibility that Finch may go with Josie. Let’s be honest; Stallions only take classes on full moons at the Salvatore School. So Finch won’t miss that much curriculum. She’d probably learn more in the field, but that puts her life at risk, and Josie won’t likely let that happen.
Similarly, it warms my heart every time MG expresses to Ethan that he doesn’t want Ethan to get hurt. It’s such a smart character choice for us not to know (alongside MG) whether Ethan lied to MG because Lizzie gave him the false memory or because he didn’t want to lose MG or Lizzie.
Those three are about to be the best love triangle. It’s all but written in the framing of the scenes. Lizzie walks into the gymnasium and stands directly between MG and Ethan — forming a triangle. It’s pure perfection, and I cannot wait for it to develop more!
For a while, it felt like I was reading into something the show would never deliver on until Josie’s time in the therapy box. The symbolism of Lizzie, MG, and Ethan walking out of that supply closet together is too good for words.
Also too good for words is Rebecca Breeds‘ return as Aurora de Martel from The Originals. The logistics surrounding her return still raise plenty of questions, and that’s all part of the appeal. How did the person who freed her get through Freya? What about her obsessive brother Tristan?
There’s still time for Legacies to answer those questions now that Aurora is in Hope’s body, but honestly, it’s okay if they don’t. It’s been long enough since Breeds’ time on The Originals that I would believe some odd occurrence happened to free Aurora.
The best part of having a character from a previous show back is that Legacies get to live up to its title. “You Will Remember Me” is the first time in a long time that individual characters confront their literal legacies. The distinct ways they choose to do so directly reflect their growth.
Part of that means confronting what’s hindering it. For Hope, that means avoiding her family history. Hope’s past is ridiculously and sometimes unfathomably painful. That’s why it’s simple to grasp why she would flip her humanity switch when given the opportunity.
Still, it’s riveting to watch Aurora raddle off Hope’s family history and ridicule the Tribrid for not knowing enough. Klaus and Hayley did what they could, to varying success, to shield Hope from the brutalities of their immortal lives.
Moreover, why would Hope want to remember all of these things?
Aurora’s vendetta is personal (and a little petty), which makes her tactics personal (and a little petty). She has no problem whipping out Papa Tunde’s blade and namedropping the Hollow to run a shiver down Hope’s spine. The Originals mythology at play in this episode is impeccable!
That’s what makes the first vampire of Rebekah’s sire line the perfect factor to add into this season — she’s as much a wild card as the Tribrid.
Watching Breeds and Danielle Rose Russell‘s scenes together is a resounding delight.
The two actresses are so quick on their feet that their dialogue feels like a tennis match. Breeds doesn’t feel a beat out of step after a few years since her last appearance, and Russell’s command of Hope’s physicality and wit remains one of the greatest aspects of this season.
The only time “You Will Remember Me” pulls away from its superb pacing and well-crafted plot is when its focus shifts to Limbo. Sadly, there is still plenty to be desired with Ted, Ric, and Landon’s time there. This loophole to death continues to poke holes in anything having real permanence.
However, this episode does the most to keep me engaged with that element of the plot. Filling the Town Square with monsters and past foes is a unique way to bring back old faces, including Dana’s mom, who calls Ric out as more people should.
It’s also clever that a minor death from Season 1 had the potential to hold actual weight for Alaric’s future. It’s a confrontation that shouldn’t be as comical as it is, but Legacies finds a way to pull that thread through the needle by leaning on the actors’ comedic timing.
Plus, it’s always rewarding to be a long-time TVD fanatic and hear a line as great as “Well, because technically hell was a creation of a psychic named Cade and has since been destroyed.”
There are so many things to love about this week’s episode. The character work is excellent. Likewise, the callbacks, meaningful details, distinctive parallels, and striking metaphors contribute to “You Will Remember Me” being a favorite in the series’ episodes standings.
It may be wishful thinking, but if Legacies can continue on this path, Season 4 will give Season 2 a good run for its money.
Other Spelltacular Moments:
- The portrait of Klaus in the hallway at Mikaelson Memorial
- The attention to every detail to make the therapy box’s world identical to a Grey’s Anatomy episode
- “Integrity. I don’t miss it.”
- Hope casually becoming an Alpha
- Hope telling the wolves they’re not royalty is reminscient of the pack treating Hayley like royalty.
- Landon, Ric, and Ted with their milkshakes
- McLandon
- Lizzie and Josie’s biological mother Jo was a doctor.
- “I see him in you.”
- “Oh, I’m quite cute when I’m angry.”
- Cleo opening up to MG
What did you think of “You Will Remember Me?” Let us know in the comments below!
Legacies airs Thursdays at 9/8c on The CW.
