We’re giving The Originals Season 2 the TV Fanatic Report Card treatment!
We’re ticking down the best and worst episode, as well as the best and worst plot twist. Dahlia’s name comes up a lot, and while she was a part of the best plot twist, she was also the biggest letdown of the season.
We’ve picked the most gruesome death, the most welcome character addition and the surprisingly good storyline. Find out where The Originals Season 2 Episode 14, “I Love You, Goodbye,” came into play or how the events of The Originals Season 2 Episode 7, “Chasing the Devil’s Tail,” stacked up against the rest.
Read on and let us know what you would have chosen in the comments!
BEST EPISODE
The Originals Season 2 Episode 14, “I Love You, Goodbye,” or as we like to call it, My Big Fat Werewolf Wedding, was one of the strongest episodes of the season. Any time all the major players – as well as the smaller ones – are pulled into the same place for a big event, you know you’re going to have a winner.
Hayley’s marriage to Jackson was as heartbreaking for Haylijah fans as it was romantic for Jayley fans, and that was all wrapped up in an impressive bit of mythology to boot. And then Kol’s tragic farewell as he died in the arms of his siblings just kicked it over the edge with feelings. Not even Klaus’ evil machinations could put a damper on this excellent episode.
WORST EPISODE
The season finale, The Orignals Season 2 Episode 22, “Ashes to Ashes,” has been a point of contention among critics. Some think it was epic, others think it was pretty weak sauce. We tend to side with the latter. Season finales are a time for your big guns, and The Originals pulled out a grand total of zero guns in their finale episode. Dahlia was defeated – predictably, Esther died, and they all lived happily ever after. Huh?
Forget the fact that Hayley barely even made an appearance the entire hour, there was little to no tease for what we can expect next season. Not even Claire Holt could make this episode a success, and that’s when you know you’ve taken a wrong turn. Suffice it to say, Season 2 ended with a whimper rather than a bang.
BREATH OF FRESH AIR
The Originals was just never the same after Claire Holt left, so understandably, the news that she was being recast was met with cries of anger and outrage. But as it turns out, Maisie Richardson-Sellers nailed the character right away and actually managed to breathe some new life into the show. New-Bekah was a total success.
SURPRISINGLY GOOD STORYLING
Davina becoming the Regent of the witches. Davina grew up a lot this season, and she’s no longer just a chess piece on the board. Now that she’s got quite a bit of firepower, not to mention nine covens backing her, she’s going to be a force to be reckoned with. A force for Klaus to reckon with specifically, if past grudges are any indicator.
CHARACTER WHO NEEDS TO DIE
There’s a reason Cami won the “Most Unnecessary Character” trophy in TV Fanatic’s 2015 Finale Awards. Besides the will-they-won’t-they romance between her and Klaus, there’s really no reason for Cami to be hanging around chewing scenery and screen time. On a show where everyone else is entirely integral, Cami’s just kind of… around. It’s well past time to kill off the brave bartender and replace her with someone who actually matters.
CHARACTER WHO SHOULD NEVER DIE
After losing Aiden, it’s safe to say that Josh will probably be sticking around for a while, and thank goodness for it! Josh brings levity, joy, and adorableness to every scene he’s in, which is a refreshing change of pace from the ultra-dramatic Mikaelsons sometimes. Everyone needs a good, sarcastic sidekick who tells it like it is! The day Josh dies is the day I stop showing up for this rodeo.
BEST PLOT TWIST
Klaus allying with Dahlia to put the Crescent Wolf curse back on Hayley’s pack was a big move that changed the entire direction of the show. With Hayley in wolf form 29 days out of the month, there’s no telling what next season will look like as she struggles to reunite with her daugther!
WORST PLOT TWIST
Klaus’ biological father coming back from the dead takes the cake on this one. It was an interesting concept that ultimately never went anywhere, seeing as he died faster than Kenny on an episode of South Park.
MOST GRUESOME DEATH
Gia. Hands down Gia. We love us some Aiden, and watching him die was tragic, but Gia literally burned to death in the sun right in front of her beloved Elijah. We’ll never be over it, Julie Plec. How dare you.
STUPIDEST MYTHOLOGY
Hope the tribrid wonder has been a shaky part of The Originals since her conception, but she’s just so damn adorable that we forgive her for it most of the time. Most of the time. Giving Hope the ability to magically turn off cars (as well as omniscient danger sensing powers?) was too much. If you’re going to force a baby onto a supernatural show, for the love of god, don’t turn her into the most magical thing to ever crawl on all fours.
BIGGEST LET DOWN
Dahlia’s appearance as the big bad was built up and up and up for nearly 15 episodes. We knew she was coming, but she sure took her sweet time getting there. Consequently her arrival – and subsequent destruction – felt rushed and a little anticlimactic. Villains with that much build up need to be serious game-changers, much like Klaus was on The Vampire Diaries. Dahlia was kind of a soufflé that flopped.
BEST NEW CHARACTER
Finncent was not only an amazing name mash up, he was an amazing addition to the cast. Yusef Gatewood managed to create TWO amazing characters, Finn and Vincent, and we can’t decide which one we prefer more! Finn’s got the whole diabolical thing going on, but Vincent is just so compassionate and sensitive. We love them both!
BIGGEST SOBFEST
Kol’s death might not have been a total shock, but it still just felt WRONG. Fans have been crying for more Kol since the spinoff was first announced, and both Nate Buzolic and Daniel Sharman brought him to life beautifully. Watching Kol die in the arms of his siblings – plus the girl he’d just barely begun to love – felt like a kick in the teeth. We cried for dayssss.
SEXIEST SCENE
Is there any doubt that the limb-bending, mind-blowing, earth-shaking Haylijah sex scene wins this category? After over a year of waiting, they earned that steamy hookup, and they probably broke the table they were doing it on with all their repressed passion. If there’s one thing we need to see more of in Season 3, it’s this couple.
