The Originals 1.07 Review: We Fight For What We Believe In

Anyone that has yet to watch last night’s episode of The Originals, entitled ‘Bloodletting’, now would be a good time to go and do that. For this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Well, this week’s episode wasn’t a bad episode; I just don’t think it was anywhere near as good as the last two. First of all, they crossed Tyler over to this series, which, while it did illuminate the fact that the blood of Hayley and Klaus’s baby can create more hybrids, was a big mistake in my opinion. I lost interest in him over on The Originals a good season ago, why would they think crossing him over to this series would benefit it in any way? The people want Caroline on this series, not Tyler.

Another thing that bugged was more of the same with Klaus and his insecurities about nobody loving and wanting him around, so he basically has to go around threatening and seeking out vengeance. He wants people to fear him, and yet that tends to end in revolts. I was happy to have him and Elijah being on good terms, and for Rebekah and him to be on, more or less, decent terms as she left. Then they went and screwed that around this week by having Elijah lose faith in his brother’s actions so Klaus bit him, and to have Rebekah and Marcel start to work against Klaus. They’re screwing around with this story too much, when it was working with the Original family of vampires actually working together, with some slight jealousy on Klaus’s part seeing Elijah fawning over Hayley. So basically, this episode worked for about half of it, until they found Hayley, and Marcel and Rebekah got to talking in the garden.

One thing I did enjoy about this episode was Hayley’s willingness to fight. She did her best and actually managed to escape, right before Elijah and Klaus came in to save her. The fact that this girl wants to fight is something I can really find myself rooting for, definitely more so than I was on The Vampire Diaries. And also, I really enjoyed the scenes between Davina and the newbie vamp. They actually seemed like they could be friends. Although I was confused about the guy saying he liked boys. Wasn’t he the vampire that was changed when his girlfriend betrayed him? I’m a wee bit confused about that. Mind you, I prefer his friendship with Davina more being that he’s gay, because that means they’re definitely not going to push a romantic relationship between the two of them. For once a guy and girl can be actual friends without it leading to more.

There were a couple other things I was confused by in this episode. Did anyone else feel like Tyler’s character was completely different on this series than on the mothership? I just couldn’t understand a guy that had been somewhat happy with Caroline for a moment in last week’s TVD episode, could make a complete one-eighty into this character. Am I alone on this? Also, what was that whole business where Klaus bit Elijah and said he would soon have hallucinations? Will he still have hallucinations because of the bite and just not die? Because he said it wouldn’t kill him, and I didn’t think it could because he’s an Original, but then what was the point of Klaus biting him then?

Anyways, like I said, not as strong as the last couple of episodes this season, but it still had its moments. This series is still definitely a guilty pleasure in that I like it so much, much more than I expected to last season on TVD when this concept was introduced. I used to think the Originals needed to stay on The Vampire Diaries, particularly as such a gung ho Klaroline shipper, but they mostly seemed to be more actualized and ripe with story opportunities on their own series, and not distracted by the Delena/Stelena love triangle.

My rating: 6.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“If I’m moving too fast for you Nicklaus, you’re welcome to wait in the car. Do be certain to leave the windows down.” – Elijah explains to Klaus.

“I’m a witch, I’m not Amish.” – Davina says.

“So did I, the last time I was in Cabo.” – Hayley tells Elijah, regarding the fact that everyone does unspeakable things.

Okay, I’m off to review Supernatural now. Stick around for more.

The Originals 1.06 Review: No One Hurts Family and Lives to Talk About It

Anyone that has yet to watch Tuesday night’s episode of The Originals, entitled ‘Fruit of the Poisoned Tree’, now is your last chance to do so without the threat of spoilers before reading ahead. As always, this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

This series is such a guilty pleasure for me because I absolutely love it. It doesn’t always end up moving the way I expect, or want, it to go, but I keep tuning in every week and enjoying this series to no end. Perhaps it’s partly due to my deep love for all things New Orleans, or even my masterful crush on series lead Joseph Morgan, but either way I just love this series. It’s not the best, nor most intellectual of series I’ve ever had the pleasure of viewing, but it is a good, enjoyable watch.

One thing I absolutely love about this series is its strange, but strong family values. The Mikaelson’s are such a screwed up family unit, but the bond they have to each other is amazing. Being a person that has a strong family value myself, I quite admire their family unit. They won’t think twice about murder, but at least they have each other, even if they sometimes screw up.

My two favourite elements to this series are definitely Klaus and Elijah, and while it is Klaus’s series to an extent, Elijah is beginning to steal the focus of this show. I love Joseph Morgan and Klaus, but Elijah’s honour and dependability in his word just makes him such a class act that I both yearn for and enjoy watching. He definitely has that older brother vibe, always having to take care of his younger siblings, although I still swear Finn was the oldest, and while I, myself, only have one sibling I understand the desire to protect and almost take care of the younger siblings – although I don’t hold as steadfast to my word and am closer to Klaus in my selfish, stubbornness.

Two subtle moments to this episode that I absolutely adored were when Hayley smiled after Elijah corrected himself in saying they may need to kill everyone, and when Klaus smiled after Elijah ripped out the hearts of the witches in the church. Such brilliance in something so subtle, which makes me undoubtedly believe the cinematography in this series, is absolutely well done. It may not have the most original ideas when it comes to writing, but the acting and the way it is shot is especially well done.

Even a day after having watched the episode, I have this excited feeling in my chest that I get when I watch or read an especially moving piece of work. A feeling that tells me I am in love with an idea or a string of scenes, and this series is definitely beginning to get that. As I lose interest in The Vampire Diaries, this series gains my interest. It could be that these people are gorgeous and that it has yet to especially let me down due to it not having aired very long, but I have hope that it will continue to grow into something exciting and fresh. Back when I heard that this idea of a spinoff was in the works, I desperately hoped it wouldn’t come to fruition, but after having watched it these last six episodes, I find that instinct quite wrong. Still, the one thing that is missing is Caroline.

When it was first introduced, I thought the idea of Hayley pregnant, a character I couldn’t stand on The Vampire Diaries but have grown to love on this series, was just an idea stolen from Angel. Now I’ve grown to actually find this tantalizing storytelling, something The Vampire Diaries has mostly lost. Maybe all the good (and I say that very lightly) writers have left that series for this one, because this one is easily better than its predecessor. I’m just really not looking forward to having Tyler on this series, we finally just got rid of him on The Vampire Diaries, why does he have to come and probably ruin Hayley’s character on here?

The one thing I have real issue with on this series is the character of Cami. I just find her useless, and just something in the way of Klaroline, and to distract all of those shippers (of which I will honestly say that I am apart of) from that having been written into the mothership series. I could care less about her character now that Klaus has ruined her character by bringing her into things, but only when he’s near her. It’s just too much fluff for my taste. Yeah, sure, the actress is very good in the part, the emotion of her character’s woes comes across quite easily, but I just don’t find she’s necessary to the story.

All in all, I adore this series. This week’s episode fit quite well coming out of last week’s episode that told the story behind Davina and her extreme amount of witchy power. There was a definite race against the clock type feel to it that came from Elijah and Klaus trying to unlink Hayley from Sophie, to save Hayley’s baby. And I can hardly wait for the next episode to find out what happened to Hayley and where she went. It was probably necessary to get Rebekah to stick around, but I’m curious nonetheless. This series has a lot more going for it than it’s predecessor.

My rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Probably no one. (Pause) Alright, potentially everyone.” – Elijah utters, about who they’ll have to kill.

“I feel like I’ve been microwaved.” – Hayley states about the curse that was put on Sophie to get to Hayley’s baby.

Yay, only one more review to catch up on and it should be pretty easy. Stick around for my review of Supernatural. Then I’m going to watch Revolution and American Horror Story: Coven and review those. Happy watching!

The Originals 1.05 Review: The Significance of Davina

For all those that have yet to watch last night’s episode of The Originals, titled ‘Sinners and Saints’, I suggest that you go and do so now. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! Proceed at your own discretion.

Well, that hour was filled with a major amount of information and mythology, and so early on in the series. There wasn’t a lot of action or movement to this episode, but there was a lot learned and a lot of changes to the overall story. It makes me a little worried though, that all of this was given to us so early on in the season. Although, it was nice to finally have a timeline, even though I am skeptical about how brief a time it’s been. I would’ve believed a couple years to eight months, that’s such a short time for all that has happened and it makes it a little unbelievable.

I’m growing to absolutely adore Hayley’s character. Away from The Vampire Diaries, where she was kind of trying to steal Tyler away from Caroline, she was a pest that also kind of wedged herself between Klaus and Caroline (who I still believe could happen; can Caroline just jump over to this series next season or something?). But over on this series, in her search for her family and in kind of finding it with Klaus’s siblings, she’s beginning to grow into her very own character. She’s got a lot of backbone, and oh so much chemistry with Elijah. I am so glad that is the relationship they seem to be hinting at in the future, because about all Klaus and her have in common is the child growing in her uterus. Up until that slap she gave Elijah, the music just swelled brilliantly into that squeal inducing moment. Their eye contact with each other, it’s just incredibly obvious… And now I have a new favourite pairing to cheer for on this series Eliley (you got that here first! I’m also considering Elijley, just because it reminds me of allegedly in pronunciation).

Okay, the one thing I have issues with technically in this episode, is that Jane Anne is supposed to be the mother of sixteen-year-old (eight months deceased) Monique, but she barely looks older than thirty. Is she supposed to be a young mother, or does she just look younger than she’s supposed to play? Maybe it’s how warped my brain is with television where twenty-plus year olds play teenagers that I can’t tell what age someone is supposed to be playing anymore… Usually I can tell pretty easily around what age someone is, and Jane Anne just did not look old enough. Also, even if she is supposed to be nearly forty – or around there – there’s no way Sophie is older than thirty.

For the most part, I’m a big fan of the episodes that give us information jam packed in them. It feels like we’ve earned it and that it’s justified, and that we don’t need to wait indefinitely for the answers. This episode, however, was a little pre-emptive; I would’ve given it a couple more episodes before we got the full answers. And also, I would’ve waited more than an episode to learn who had caused Cami’s brother to commit a massacre. It hadn’t even been a full episode before we found out. Still, I did enjoy this episode immensely, I’m just worried too much may have been given away.

So who do you think is in the right? Should Davina be killed in hopes that it brings all of them back to life, and replenishes their power? Or should Davina be hidden away until it’s too late to complete the Harvest, and thus guarantee at least she survives, but all the witches become human? I don’t think there’s anyway the witches will lose their power, but I’m not sure how all of this will play out. I’m not even sure what the honourable Elijah plans to do, he is big on family, but he’s also big on honouring his word.

My rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Or to, you know, that.” – Klaus says, unable to say the actual word of whose child Hayley is carrying, and just calls it ‘that’ when referring to not wanting it to be endangered.

“Oh, right.” – Rebekka recalls, after offering Hayley a drink in their bonding moment, but remembers that she’s pregnant.

So, I’m off to watch Supernatural now. Stick around.

The Originals 1.04 Review: Where Allegiances Lie

For any that have yet to watch last night’s episode of The Originals, entitled ‘Girl in New Orleans’, I suggest you go and do so now. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

For a series that isn’t the greatest thing to grace television, I sure don’t like it when the episode is done. Perhaps the characters provide for interesting dilemmas, or maybe it’s how much I really do love New Orleans, but either way this series is growing on me. The writing’s not great, and the actors are a little too pretty but it is a decent series to spend an hour a week watching. I only wish The Vampire Diaries was this intriguing still.

The character of Cami was given a fair amount of backstory this week. I have to say that I am intrigued by the acts her brother committed. Might I add how beautifully shot that brief flashback was? I also enjoyed the performance from the priest in this episode. While I saw it coming that he would ingest vervain, how broken up he was about the murders was quite moving. Again, can I just say how much I enjoy Hayley on this series as opposed to The Vampire Diaries? She’s a much better character, and actress, playing against all of these other characters. The way she acted in this episode was wonderful, killing her actors, and then fainting into Klaus’s arm at the end. Still, I’m curious to know why they want her dead. We got to see more of Davina this week, and she’s a perplexing character. I definitely want to know more in reference to her abilities and her background, as well as how her and Elijah will interact with each other.

This series is something of a guilty pleasure, but I don’t mind that. The actors are pretty, I’m still intrigued by what is going to happen, and I look forward to the episodes and the music each week. Sure, I could write circles around these writers, and there’s only so long this story will be able to survive, but for now it’s a nice easy watch each week. Not great, but good.

My rating: 7 out of 10.

Best Line:

“If I had a dollar for every mess my family’s gotten me into.” – Rebecca mutters.

Okay, I’m going to go take a break now. Check back in later for my review of Supernatural.

The Originals 1.03 Review: In War You Do What's Necessary

All those that have yet to watch last night’s episode of The Originals, entitled ‘Tangled up in Blue’, then I suggest you exit the screen now. As usual, this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! Proceed at your own discretion.

Aside from the usage of the same jingle that plagues The Vampire Diaries, this was a pretty good episode. The costumes, as always, were quite beautiful, and the way open lighting is used to their advantage is breathtaking. That and the aged sets of where they’ve surrounded themselves with, quite magnificent. It makes me crave to see that New Orleans horizon.

Despite this series being nowhere near the best show ever created, it is still a pleasant hour to spend. For some, it might be called a guilty pleasure, for me it’s my love of the city their in and the drama that can be wrought by beautiful people. Also, the acting isn’t too shabby, despite the writing not always being there, but the actors seem to play it to the best of their abilities. I do think that there’s a little bit of two steps forward, one step back, kind of storytelling; it’s a little harrowing to be honest. But I’ll continue to watch if not for my love of psychotic characters.

While the romances with the characters may not be working out quite well at the moment, it has been set up, at least to my eyes, so that it could work out in the future. Although Marcel has a thing for Cami, it’s very obvious that him and Rebecca would be better suited for each other. And while I’m still struggling to get over the fact that Klaus had feelings for Caroline and she seemed to be the only girl in a thousand years and he’s moving on rather quickly, he could work with Cami. Then there’s Hayley, whom Klaus has gotten pregnant, it’s easy to see the chemistry she has with Elijah, so that neatly wraps all of that in a bow. Although these pairings seem like where the writers are eventually leading to, it’s a little too neat, and makes for little wiggle room with future endeavours. Especially being that this is only the series first season.

Some things I liked about this episode were how well the actress plays Davina out to be so young. I completely believe she’s a fifteen-year-old girl, and almost stalled in her aging at that. Reminds me a bit of Kirsten Dunst’s character in Interview With a Vampire. Also, how much I’m beginning to like the Hayley character. Despite how cliché, unoriginal, and unbelievable it was to make her character pregnant, she’s a lot more interesting on this show, working with the characters she interacts with, rather than on The Vampire Diaries where she was fawning after Tyler. The third thing I was impressed by was how bad I felt for the vampire Thierry after he’d killed the other vampire. He did it to protect the witch he loved, but he still knew it was a terrible act to commit. The raw emotion I felt from the man actually made me feel bad for the guy, despite his being a villain in the series. Although, I suppose that all the characters in this series would be classified a villain by normal context.

However interesting this series is progressing to be, there are still a few questions that I have, including ones about continuity. They said in this episode that Elijah was the oldest brother, and he certainly acted like it, but I could’ve sworn Finn was the eldest brother. Am I miss remembering, or is this continuity issues? Also, what happens during the full moon when Hayley changes? It’s a painful process, and she’s not a hybrid so she can’t stop the change, so would that kill the baby? And if not, is the baby protected by magic? Is that what the witch realized and had spoken in the other language? And, was that other language not Latin? I could’ve sworn it was, but I’m not very versed in old languages other than Latin.

Anyways, I’m definitely intrigued by the mysteries in episodes to come. This not an award worthy series, but it is a decent show to spend a TV junkie like me’s time watching. Plus, if you hadn’t noticed already, I just love New Orleans.

My rating: 7 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“In the front, if we’re being specific.” Klaus clarifies where he stabbed Elijah.

“And one compelled minion does not an army make.” – Klaus tells his minion (I love the use of that word, it needs to be used more by people).

“You two chitchat, I need booze.” – Rebecca says to her brother and Cami.

“He was kind to me.” – Hayley tells Klaus, referring to Elijah, saying it in such a gentle way.

All right folks, that’ll be all for tonight. Check back in tomorrow for reviews of Nashville, Revolution, and American Horror Story: Coven. Otherwise, have a nice night.