Legacies 4×17, “Into the Woods,” is all about what it means to choose to live in the face of supposed insurmountable odds and predestined fates. That weighty topic allows the characters to take big steps in their relationships. Some are more successful than others within the context of the season (and series), but all of them take courage.
Then again, no one has ever doubted the Super Squad’s courage.
Firstly, “Into the Woods” gives Handon proper closure after their traumatic goodbye when Hope killed Landon. Of course, this ending is also traumatic, but there are more sparks of peace in it, thanks to Landon’s acceptance of his presence in limbo. It’s a heart-wrenching scene that feels more permanent than any of their other partings.
The scene rests on Aria Shahghasemi and Danielle Rose Russell‘s talent and ever-present chemistry to pull it together, and the actors pull it off.
Hopefully, this closure means Hope and Landon can finally move on, though it seems Landon could be in limbo for eternity. For Hope, her choice to take Landon’s advice and be the one who lives is a massive decision for her — a series (or two, counting The Originals) in the making.
That choice isn’t easy, but she makes it. The musical theater reference in the episode’s title makes a Hamilton lyric from “Right Hand Man” play in the background for me when Hope wakes up: “Dying is easy, young man. Living is harder.”
To be the one who lives means choosing to fight the insurmountable odds and predestined fate, and Hope Mikaelson is entirely capable of doing that.
Landon knows it. Lizzie knows it. Josie knows it. The entire Super Squad knows it. Hope needs to believe in herself — even if it means she has to carry more death, grief, and loss that no one her age (or anyone, really) should ever have to face.
It’ll always be heartbreaking that Hope and Landon will forever be Legacies‘ forbidden, tragic romance. Their timing will never be right, even when it seems like it is finally right. But, there is something profoundly beautiful in Landon helping Hope keep fighting even when he can be selfish and keep him with her.
Landon knows Hope is destined for greatness — even if he can’t be there to see her accomplish it.
Ideally, Landon will finally find peace after he finishes accomplishing all the selfless greatness he’s capable of by helping lost souls in limbo. Maybe it’ll be with Seylah or Rafael if that can’t be with Hope. Landon could also find it alone, but that’s not usually how it goes in the TVD Universe.
Stefan reunites with Lexi in peace in The Vampire Diaries‘ series finale. Similarly, Klaus and Elijah die together, but The Originals leaves whether they find peace together up to interpretation in its season finale. Who’s to say Landon won’t get a definitive or ambiguous scene like those?
Landon may not be the only character who gets to find peace or something like it by the end of Legacies. This season continually suggests that one or more people will die in the fight against the gods, or Ken and Aurora. After “Into the Woods,” Ben and Ethan are the most probable possibilities, but their predictability suggests a pending plot twist.
It would be a letdown to see any of the characters we love die, but it would be a major letdown to lose Ben and Ethan die this season.
It would be far more powerful to see Ben follow Ric’s (surprisingly sound) advice and choose to live and use his powers against his father. Assuming Ken is manipulating Aurora as he did with his children, Ben would have the opportunity to stand up to his biggest bully and win. He would win alongside his newfound friends and love.
Despite that gorgeous shot looking up at Ben with his arms outstretched and the sunlight shining over his shoulders, Ben doesn’t need to be a martyr to win this fight.
As for Ethan, Legacies has yet to uncover the truth about his abilities — let alone give him an independent storyline since MG and Caleb went to get him from his family’s home. It would be a disservice to his character to lose him before those stories even get a chance to be told on the show
Plus, there’s still hope with MG and Ethan (or MG and Ethan and Lizzie, if Legacies wants to go there). MG’s big love confession to Lizzie is seasons in the making, and even though the direction and score make it seem like a big moment, the timing is still off right now.
MG and Lizzie have spent far too much time apart this season for this confession to be the sweeping romantic scene it tries to be. Of course, it could have been different had Lizzie been thinking about MG nearly as much as MG does Lizzie, but that isn’t the case.
It always feels like MG likes Lizzie more than she likes him.
Also, it seems all too fitting for Ethan’s blood to interrupt Mizzie’s moment after MG mentions that Ethan is the one “obstacle” still keeping them apart. It feels like there’s still something missing from this story, so Ethan can’t die — not yet.
It may be naively optimistic, but Legacies Season 4 still has three episodes left to find a way to save everyone.
This new generation of supernatural beings is not doomed to repeat the mistakes of their predecessors. There doesn’t need to be a bittersweet or tragic end to this story. Death is a part of every narrative, but this group of kids has already faced so much.
“Into the Woods” is about what it means to choose to live. It would be incredible to see (most of) the Super Squad get to live beautiful, full lives after everything — because of everything. Similar to what Lizzie tells MG, the Super Squad deserves to break the cycle.
Other Spelltacular Moments:
- Aurora laughing in Ken’s face is so iconic of her.
- The Necromancer hugging Hope was so unnerving; I should have known he was up to something.
- MG says the title!
- Since the pukwudgie’s remains disappeared, I’m hoping that means he’ll make a grand comeback.
- Lizzie making a list is very Caroline Forbes of her. Like mother, like daughter!
What did you think of Legacies 4×17, “Into the Woods?” Let us know in the comments below!
Legacies airs Thursdays at 9/8c on The CW.
