The Originals season 5 episode 7 lays the perfect setting for the showdown of this season
After last week's shocker of an episode, 'The Originals' this week has given its fans a little breathing space. Episode 7 'God's Gonna Trouble the Water' from 'The Vampire Diaries' spin-off was like a warm hug, a place to just cry and vent after the insanity that's been going on this season. Most shows have one cliffhanger, season 5 of 'The Originals' has one every episode.
After Hayley Marshall (Pheobe Tonkin) and Greta Sienna (Nadine Lewington) died in the last episode, the city of New Orleans comes together to pay their tributes to her. Hope Mikaelson (Danielle Rose Russel) wakes up after the fight, straight at home and she receives the unfortunate news from her aunt Freya, that her mum is no more. Freya (Riley Voelkel) tries her best to make it easier for her, but the teen that she is, Hayley asks to be left alone.
Klaus is dealing with the loss of Hayley too and the treacherous role that Elijah played in not saving her even though he was right there. He gets a sweet note from Caroline Forbes saying that she's always there for him, even though she must leave and go back to her daughters.
The witches of New Orleans figure out another danger that may occur if the Mikaelson siblings come together. Klaus is called to the forest by Ivy (Shiva Kalaislevan) to inform him about the prophecy - if the siblings come together and bring the dark magic into the city, there will be hail, vipers, blood, hurricanes and the end of the firstborns aka the originals.
Elijah in the meantime has arrived in the city and is trapped along with Antoinette (Jaime Murray) into Klaus' brilliant plan. He makes his minions pretend to be Greta's supporters and get the two when they come to her mourning party. Elijah's head is spun backward by Klaus before he bites into his fiance Antoinette's neck. Elijah wakes up in chains with vervain in his system and with a hybrid bite, dying.
Elijah tries to trade his memories for her life but Klaus refuses. However, Elijah tries his luck with Marcel Gerard (Charles Davis) and he agrees. Vincent (Yousuf Gatewood) and Marcel go to the dungeon and carry out the plan but we still don't know for sure if Elijah is back. We also don't know if Antoinette is alive or is "one of the innocent victims of Greta", as Marcel puts it.
The funeral happens in full swing and the episode ends with Klaus coming to attend the last rites but being captured by Elijah. What will follow will probably be the showdown of this season.
Klaus' character has evolved so much this season and with this episode, you can see a certain kindness, if I can say that, in his eyes. He has learned to love without hurting and he's learned to trust. It's a far cry from season 1 for sure. As he stands on the banks of the bayou holding his daughter's hand you can almost feel his pain and his longing to come home and be with his family.
Elijah as a villain is colder than ever. The switch in the characters of Joseph Morgan (Klaus) and Daniel Gillies (Elijah) in this episode is stark. It's like suddenly, both of them grew a heart but for very different people.
Episode 7 builds the perfect plane for the inevitable doom but at the same time makes us feel for these characters. It wouldn't be too far-fetched to say they may all be wiped out in the end. This is the final season after all.