Legacies 4×15, “Everything That Can Be Lost May Also Be Found,” brings Hope’s internal conflict to a new intensity after an epic family reunion.
The reunion could feel disjointed from the rest of the episode (or season or series) or gratuitous, but that never happens. Rebekah, Freya, Marcel, and Kol’s return is a big part of “Everything That Can Be Lost May Also Be Found.” But, their return isn’t the entire episode — it’s still Legacies.
Legacies could have made Hope’s astral projection journey similar to a traditional bottle episode on TV. Then, the show could press a temporary pause on the rest of its narratives to give Hope (and her family) undivided attention for an episode.
However intriguing, “Everything That Can Be Lost May Also Be Found” strikes a nice balance. Each character gets an introduction fitting to their character and level of connection to Hope, including nicknames like Rebekah calling Hope “little one” or Kol calling her his “favorite niece.”
The reference to Marcel and Hope’s deep bond via the Perceval toy is a total standout.
It calls back to one of my favorite scenes between the duo when the fantastic Summer Fontana played Hope. Danielle Rose Russell and Charles Michael Davis are excellent during their short scenes. Hope and Marcel’s history is palpable, so it makes sense that he’s the one she would listen to return to Rousseau’s.
The whole group is incredible together, as if no time has passed since they all shared the screen. Additionally, the set of Rousseau’s is so similar to how it is on The Originals that it almost feels like a sensory memory for me as it would for Hope via the astral projection.
History looms heavy on Legacies, from that family reunion to Ric’s odd confrontation with himself inside the Salvatore brothers’ home-turned-boarding school and Lizzie driving Damon Salvatore’s car around with gods.
Those ingredients stir up an overwhelming nostalgia that helps me look past the Mikaelsons’ bizarre excuse to reunite with Hope. Thankfully, via Hope’s unfiltered perspective, Legacies points out how absurd it is for Rebekah and her siblings to search New Orleans for specifically Klaus’s ashes for years.
Oddly, they don’t mention doing the same thing for Elijah, whose ashes would undoubtedly be mixed up with Klaus’s. It’s equally as odd that it takes them as long as it does with witches as skilled as Freya and Davina being in the family. But, canonically, it does make sense that Hope and her family would want to lay Klaus (and not Elijah, apparently) to rest.
The Originals confirms that Hayley finds peace (with Jackson and her parents) on 5×12, “The Tale of Two Wolves.” Hope never gets the same closure with her father. While it’s a personal grievance that Legacies doesn’t address Hope’s relationship with her mother as often as it does with Klaus, this plot point works in the larger Universe’s canon.
Danielle Rose Russell’s performance is moving as Hope stresses why she would want Klaus’s remains with her. As a fan, it’s exciting to think of an upcoming scene when that urn makes it to her, and we get to see her keep her father with her however she sees fit.
So, as fitting a final scene as the Mikaelsons have with Hope, that can’t be the end — not if they want to honor her wishes. Someone — probably Rebekah — will need to bring the urn to Hope once all is said and done. After all, Hope doesn’t only need that urn for closure and peace; she needs her necklace back, too.
“When all is said and done” has plenty to do with the Super Squad’s fight with the gods. It’s only getting more extensive and more costly as the season progresses. Still, reprieve has to do with Hope’s internal conflict, too, because it’s far from over despite her literal fight with herself during “Everything That Can Be Lost May Also Be Found.”
Until now — until Legacies — the TVDU’s perception of the humanity switch has always been pretty black and white. There is no emotion until there are all of them. Then, you get scenes like Elena realizing Matt’s death isn’t permanent or Caroline confronting burning a meaningful letter from her deceased mother.
Those scenes are significant to those two characters and how they would react upon turning on their humanity again. With Hope, Legacies brings a different perception of the humanity switch into perspective by examining its grey areas. Hope gets her humanity back by killing her no-humanity self without ever recognizing the irony of that situation.
Hope’s humanity often speaks about how no matter how hard no-humanity her tries to repress her feelings, they will be there. Yet, the same is true about the big, scary feelings she experiences without humanity, but she struggles to admit that. So, Hope must learn to live with both halves of herself — to feel the good and the bad.
Hope has always been self-sacrificial as she struggles to live up to an impossible standard of worth that no one should have on their shoulders. So, it’s logical for her to think the only way to move forward is by sacrificing a part of herself, but she doesn’t have to do that. Hope shouldn’t have to do that. She must learn to accept the totality of her being because all of her makes her Hope — all of her gives others hope.
Similarly, I’m not ready to lose hope in Ben. Legacies flips the script on the TVDU’s perception of Aurora by making Lizzie Saltzman her primary scene partner. So, why believe Ben opening Ken’s casket at the end of the episode is a solely evil action driven by his desire to be the season’s villain? There is obviously so much more to this character than that.
Ben’s a relatively new character to the Universe, but he’s been genuine until now. Not to mention, his involvement in Legacies 4×14, “The Only Way Out Is Through,” allowed him to see the Super Squad’s strengths and weaknesses. For example, he knows that the team can’t win without Lizzie on their side. Because of his actions, Lizzie is at home with the Salvatore School and Jen is on their side.
Equally as important, Ben told Jed that Jed was on his way to making Ben better. Those remarks could have been a feigned way to get even closer to his enemies, but it doesn’t play that way on screen. Zane Phillips is an incredible talent that Legacies is lucky to have, and Phillips plays that JedBen scene as romantic and genuine.
Jen spells out that Ben can be free from his curse only by a boon that Ken can grant. Raising Ken may become a detriment to, well, everyone, but it would mean Ben’s freedom. Then, Ben can fight alongside the Super Squad and be with Jed without fearing his curse may make things more complicated. Ben’s actions feel like a betrayal because we care about him.
Additionally, they are a betrayal — on the surface. But beneath that is a story about a demi-god doing whatever needs to be done to stop a vicious cycle of trauma Ben cannot escape. Ben driving a semi-truck around with his family’s caskets in the back harps back to Klaus Mikaelson doing the same thing on The Vampire Diaries.
We all know how that story ended. Give Ben a chance to prove himself. He isn’t the villain of this story.
Other Spelltacular Moments:
- I ship Lizzie and Jen now.
- Davina misses Hope!
- Marcel and Rebekah are happy and married, and nothing else matters to me.
- “It’s one of Elijah’s old ones.” Only Legacies can make me cry about a suit.
- Aurora talking about the “endgame” makes me want to tweet #RenewLegacies until my hands cramp.
- The mention of Freya and Keelin’s son Nik made me smile.
- This episode throws a Vincent mention at us less than five minutes in, and I screamed in pure joy.
- Marcel not wanting to understand “witch stuff” is so good.
- “Because I am my father’s daughter.” Right in the feels!
- Cleo’s powers are evolving!
- Will we ever know more about Kaleb’s backstory? Please, I’m begging!
- Hope Mikaelson will always be a beignet fanatic.
- The Mikaelsons love a big, family dinner — with sad circumstances.
What did you think of Legacies 4×15, “Everything That Can Be Lost May Also Be Found?” Let us know in the comments below!
Legacies airs Thursdays at 9/8c on The CW.
