We have a lot to unpack, Legacies Fanatics!

On Legacies Season 1 Episode 7, the necromancer showed up and threw our characters for a loop, while Alaric continued to deal with the fallout of Jo's short-term return. 

Below, TV Fanatics Kat Pettibone, Justin Carreiro, and Paul Dailly discuss Hope's decision, what needs to change, and so much more. 

Was Hope selfish by taking matters into her own hands with the Necromancer?

Kat: Hope may have been a little selfish, but I think it was justifiable. One of the most significant issues I have with Legacies the writers leaving Hope parentless to make the series happen, so I like seeing her emote about her losses.

I’m enjoying Hope as a character immensely, but she does have a wall built up around her. She hasn’t allowed us to see her pain. Considering Klaus sacrificed his life to save her?

That’s going to cause residual traumatic feelings, and the presence of the Necromancer allowed those feelings to surface. So yes, she was selfish and reckless, but it was justified, and I’m glad they played it that way. 

Related: The CW Confirms Midseason Schedule: What's on the Move?

Justin: There's always a bit of selfishness when it comes to the decisions of the characters in The Vampire Diaries/The Originals/Legacies universe.

The characters need to make tough decisions that push their wants and the plot. But, Hope needed to make a call, and it drew from an emotional place that she needed to explore again for the betterment of the series.

Paul: Hope lost her father and her mother within a short time, so her actions were justifiable. She wanted to make sure her father was in a good place, and that his sacrifice was not for nothing. 

Would you have liked to see Klaus watching over Hope, or did the episode work without the inclusion of Joseph Morgan?

Kat: I should make it clear before answering this question that I have a gigantic bias, being that Klaus Mikaelson is my favorite character to ever come off of any show on the CW.

He’s also one of my favorite villain/anti-heroes of all time. So with that said, no I don’t think it worked without Klaus. It enraged me that he died in the last few minutes of The Originals, and although I know Joseph Morgan said he is done with the TVD universe, it would have been extremely fulfilling to see him with Hope again. 

I knew he wouldn’t be in the episode, but the way they framed those Klaus references almost felt like baiting as if they were going to reveal him eventually.

It was disappointing he never appeared, and the episode would have had more gravitas if he had been. It’s also frustrating to hear that he’s somewhat suffering alone until Hope finds her own sense of peace. 

If he had been the one to deliver that message, the scene would have landed with a lot more emotional vulnerability.

Related: Legacies Season 1 Episode 7 Review: Death Keeps Knocking on my Door 

Justin: Him never appearing again? Never say never in this universe. If Rebekah can make countless returns after Claire Holt needed a major break from the series, anything is possible.

One day Klaus will return, and it will have a huge impact. Though I agree with Kat, the episode would've had more of an emotional impact and importance had Joseph Morgan appeared.

He's such an essential part in Hope's life. It's sad that he couldn't be there to deliver what could've been the biggest moment of the series.

Paul: I agree about the baiting. A part of me thinks there's no way that Joseph Morgan or Phoebe Tonkin will appear on Legacies, and I came to that conclusion before the series debut. 

The various teases that Klaus is right by Hope rubbed me the wrong way for that reason. Hope is a great character, but I don't think it's right to be dangling Klaus Mikaelson like a carrot in front of our eyes. 


Hope activated phase one of Malpocalypse. Any theories about what the other two phases might be?

Kat: As of right now, I don’t have too many guesses as to what they may be. All this information was just revealed to us last episode, so I’m still processing how everything connects.

If I had to guess, I would assume it has to do with sacrifice. I am absolutely sure a ritual will need to be done, and someone will have to die. And Landon has to be involved somehow. He’s probably a key of some sort. 

Justin: I feel like a broken record at this point haha. It's Landon. One of the next phases will involve him, his blood, or something of his being to complete the entire ritual together. He is a key. 

Paul: Landon has to be a key, right? Aside from that, I have no idea. I'm still prepared for a revelation that links Landon to a character from The Vampire Diaries. 


Alaric is hurting after the loss of Jo all over again. Are you enjoying this vulnerability to the character, or should it be brushed under the rug since Jo passed away on The Vampire Diaries several years ago?

Kat: I wasn’t enjoying Alaric at the beginning of the series because he felt too detached from his old character. Being a big fan of the early TVD days, it’s nice to see some of his vulnerability and softer edges come back into his character.

I also think to tie Legacies actively back to aspects of The Vampire Diaries, and The Originals is an important way to keep the show connected to that specific world and keep the longtime viewers interested in the topics.

Jo may have passed away a few years ago, but she was the love of Alaric's life, and the biological mother of Josie and Lizzie, who are two of Legacies main characters.

It made perfect sense to bring her back, and it was one of the first episodes that really had me believing this show could be great. 

Justin: I'm happy that he's showing more vulnerability, but the scene didn't affect me like it should have. Jo passed away on The Vampire Diaries, so I've already mourned for the character and closed the chapter.

This loss probably had a more significant effect on those who are new to the character or the series. For me, I expected it and moved on. Alaric was okay to grieve again because Jo was the love of his life, and Lizzie and Josie lost their mother again.

Paul: Agreed about the vulnerability side of things, but we mourned this loss on The Vampire Diaries. Legacies needs to set itself apart from the other shows to some extent, so these ratings stunts need to stop. 


The Bennett witch sending the knife to Malivore did not have white eyes. Why would she be helping the bad guys?

Kat: Bennett witches and witches, in general, have always put “their kind” first, in every storyline the TVD universe has done. I have to believe that sending the knife to Malivore will ultimately enact a deal that protects or saves the witch community in some way. 

Justin: Either this witch is acting of her own self-interest/preservation, or she's doing it to protect her people. Moves like this aren't made without a grander scheme in the works. She's getting something important from handing over the knife.

Paul: That was a surprise. Shouldn't Bonnie have made a call to Alaric to let him know there was something sketchy going on?

Any guesses about what was going on in the final scene with the person seemingly watching Malivore?

Kat: I wish I had a great and intricate theory for this, but I really don’t. The black tar-like pit reminded me of the pit in the last season of The Vampire Diaries that held the Devil, but I’m sure it’s something else this time around. If there’s one thing I’m sold on, it’s that Landon is the key to everything. 

Justin: I'm not sure at the moment. Maybe it's someone with information that will change everything? Or, maybe it's a red herring? Completely up in the air.

Paul: Nope, but I'm getting serious Dread Doctor vibes from Teen Wolf.


With Legacies over until 2019, grade the first half of the season!

Kat: I’m going to give the first half of the season a generous B-. I wasn’t a fan of the first few episodes; I really felt they were unsure of what they were trying to do, not to mention completely disassociated from the Vampire Diaries world.

The tone was all over the place, and the monsters were cheap and seemingly without motive. As the episodes have progressed, however, the characters are starting to gain complexity, the stories are peaking in interest, the villains have clear motives, and the tone has increasingly felt more like that of TVD and The Originals.

I’m super interested in Landon and Hope (both as individuals and as a dynamic), not to mention, but I find Raphael’s story one of the best so far, and I'm enjoying the attempt at inclusion and diversity. 

Related: Legacies Season 1 Episode 5 Review: Malivore

Justin: I'll give it a C+. Coming straight from The Originals (and before that to The Vampire Diaries), I understood most of the natural progression that led the characters to this moment in time. 

However, there were still a lot of confusing plots in the beginning. The tone kept shifting, the style of series (serial vs. procedural) wasn't clear, and the characters fell flat - they didn't have the same draw as the previous casts.

Though, as with most newbie TV shows, it took time for them to get their footing. I'm excited to see where things go for the latter half of Legacies Season 1.

The cast has grown on me, and more influences/vibes from The Vampire Diaries/The Originals are being infused into the dialogue and action.

Still, I'd like a few more changes to be made to make things perfect, but I'm keeping my expectations open.

Paul: I'll go with a B+. There have been some teething issues as the show figures out which characters the audience connects with the most. 

The pace has not been that great, and some of the villains in the earlier episodes were killed off a little too easily. The last few villains have been more engaging.


What are your hopes for the rest of the season?

Kat: I want to see them continue to grow their world, and let their characters grow. I want less “Hogwarts style” tones and darker, more complex storylines.

I hope they continue to reference things from their predeceasing shows while also finding a way to stand out on their own. I want to know more about Landon, dig deeper into Hopes psyche, see where M.J.’s newfound ripper status may take him, and explore the twin dynamic between Josie and Lizzie on a deeper level.

Also less cheap procedural elements, more serialized character driven arcs! 

Justin: I agree with Kat here about the serialized vs. procedural tone. Focus on growing the characters' own stories instead of throwing in Monsters of the Week to distract us from the story.

I want the stakes to be raised and these characters put to the test. Sure, it will take some time for them to grow, but we should want to care about them and their path.

Paul: I hope the show ditches the monster of the week and goes with a villain that lasts a handful of episodes. It's like the moment we start to connect with what's going on, the villain is killed. 

I want more of Hope and Landon because they're an awesome pairing. I want the future cameos from other characters not to feel cheap. 

Okay, Legacies Fanatics.

What are your thoughts on this?

Hit the comments below. 

Remember you can watch Legacies online right here via TV Fanatic. Get caught up right now. 

Legacies returns Thursday, January 24. 

Paul Dailly was an Associate Editor for TV Fanatic.Follow him on X.