The Originals Review 3×09 “Savior” Mid Season Finale

Have yourselves a Merry Little Christmas: Except if you’re a Mikaelson.

Deck the halls and all that rot! This week on The Originals 3×09 “Savior” the mid season finale, we find our Original family having a bit of a family reunion for the holidays. As always, things do not end up so cheery and bright and that darned prophecy that has been nagging them all lately is close on their heels. Let’s recap, shall we? When we last left the Mikaelson brothers they had already set up a plan to save their dear sister Rebekah (Claire Holt) from her watery grave. The opening of this episode shows the fruition of this plan and the long awaited return of their dear sister, only to discover she has been cursed by the evidence or for lack of a better explanation, a growing dark mark upon her arm. It’s up to Freya (Riley Voelkel) with the aid of Finn (Casper Zafer) to discover a way to save Rebekah and remove the mark before she goes completely mad. Meanwhile, The Strix, are hot on their heals to remove Freya from their midst permanently as she is the only witch that will have anything to do with the Originals.

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Klaus (Joseph Morgan) spends the entire episode tagging along with Cami (Leah Pipes) to protect her and do a little good guy work in the process. Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) attempts to patch things up with Jackson (Nathan Parsons) with promises of a private family Christmas and no inner family crises work, only to have it dashed by Jackson jumping into the fray instead.

Things heat up for the New Orleans witches by the appointing of a new regent by an unexpected choice of the ancestors with Vincent (Yusuf Gatewood). He makes it perfectly clear to The Strix that he is not easily swayed and will be taking business back to the witches for his city and means to take control from his town from the clutches of the Originals and vampires in general, once more. Sounds like the makings of a great holiday celebration, doesn’t it? Not quite.

Eat a Snickers. You’re not yourself when you’re cursed.

All hell breaks loose when Rebekah returns to her familial estate under the influence of an evil curse. Plans for a peaceful family Christmas celebration are put on hold temporarily while Freya casts her magic for a solution that will free her. But of course, things never go smoothly and she becomes the victim of a plot by The Strix to do away with her before she can help her family. It has become almost comical in the many ways Freya is cut low only to be saved by a handy family member. I think it’s only a matter of time before she puts up her ‘I quit’ sign and goes back to day drinking. After being stabbed, accosted in the street, and poisoned, who in their right mind would stick around to see what was next?

Rebekah, on the other hand, brings to light some valid points and observations while her filter is temporarily removed. She starts with Hayley, pointing out her sham of a marriage and enraging her to a fight at the same time. She also calls out Klaus for his all too obvious infatuation with Camille.

“Dear sweet, Cami. You’re so afraid that you’ll ruin her, you keep her behind glass like some breakable object. She’s not precious, Nik. Every woman that you and Elijah bring into our lives turns to poison. She’ll grow toxic, too.” - Rebekah

Insults and spot on character assessments aside, we’re given a reprieve from her antics after Freya finishes her spell and removes the mark off of Rebekah’s arm with a not to delicate slice of knife. However, we later learn this attempt of removing the curse was unsuccessful and Rebekah sacrifices herself back to being staked until the prophecy has been defeated or fulfilled. It’s her kind yet sad act that will supposedly fulfill the betrayal by family element of the prophecy.

Despite all of this, the family was allowed to have their happy celebration, complete with a bonfire and old family traditions. It was nice to see a softer side of the Mikaelson family and friends, even though it was for only a brief moment and later ends in sadness and tragedy.

My town. My Rules.

Not to be overlooked or forgotten, the witch issue is finally brought back to light after Davina (Danielle Campbell) has been cast out of the coven and her regency removed. It was interesting to see that Marcel is still involved if not interested in witch politics, when he approaches Vincent regarding The Strix plan in grooming the next regent of the city. Marcel all but manipulates Vincent into applying for the job, thus undermining The Strix and keeping the ball more in his court regarding the witch loyalties of New Orleans.

“I’m gonna take back the regency, Marcel. But you ain’t gonna like what I’m gonna do with it.” - Vincent

Things may be heating up in the battle for New Orleans judging by Vincent’s attitude when approached by The Strix. They may have a bargaining chip in keeping him under their thumb by stealing the necklace that holds Finn’s spirit, but his loyalty and determination to take back the city in the name of the witches should be a force to be reckoned with and feared.

They giveth and they taketh away.

From the very premier of the first episode of The Originals, they have been hinting and leading up to the chemistry between Klaus and Camille. And boy, did this episode deliver, playing heavily off the coat tails of last week’s episode, “The Other Girl in New Orleans.” Leah Pipes and Joseph Morgan both deliver stunning performances in this episode and expand upon the undeniable chemistry between Klaus and Cami exquisitely.

“What makes you happy makes me want to keep you so. What scares you, I want to tear apart.” - Klaus

By way of Klaus accompanying Cami to protect her, we are able to see a softer more reasonable side of him than previously allowed. We see him strive to please Cami by helping her talk sense into an unhinged Detective Kinney (Jason Dohring). The very fact that he takes the time to compel the man to stick around for the holidays and see his own worth, speaks volumes about the inner turmoil and struggle and sympathy he has for those that struggle with questioning themselves and their usefulness in this world. That one good act sets into motion the one thing that has been hinted at and played with since the beginning: Klaus and Camille stepping up their relationship to a romantic level.

The kiss. Finally, the kiss. It was epic. It was beautiful. It was gone too soon. In true Originals fashion, we are given the gift of Klamille kisses and a hope for the future, only to have it ripped away from our grubby little hands by the stroke of tragedy. I did not in a million years see the death of Camille O’Connell coming by a long shot. It was tragic and heartbreaking and I don’t think that I will get the cries of Klaus’ grief upon his discovery of her bleeding corpse next to him in bed, out of my head for the rest of the year.

FINAL VERDICT: The Originals. Why?! Why did you do this?!

While this episode was very well written by Carina Adly MacKenzie and Diane Adamu-John and directed by Matthew Hastings, I can’t help but want to fly myself to the Originals writing room and slap them all in the face and present them with my counseling bill after toying with my emotions on this one. Bravo on killing my emotions!

I feel as if I was given the greatest Christmas present ever by the realization of the Klaus and Camille relationship only to have it yanked away from me by the Grinch by her Cami’s untimely and unforeseen death. That was majorly uncool and majorly unexpected.

I do have to hand it to them on doing such a horrible thing for the cause of a plot set up. If there is going to be a turf war between vampires and witches, what better way to cause more conflict by inspiring the all too fearful wrath of the one and only Klaus Mikaelson. Vampires vs vampires will surely give the witch covens the upper hand when all is said and done. Maybe the unshakable empire of the Mikaelson family is coming to an end?

Questions, Comments, & Concerns

• Why did they have to kill Cami???
• Is Cami actually completely really dead? No takesy backsies?
• Is this the the eve of battle between the witches of New Orleans and the vampires? And if so, who has a better chance of claiming victory?
• What vengeance will Klaus rain down upon Aurora when he sees her next?
• Will Eliah reveal Rebekah’s sacrifice in order to ease their minds about the prophecy?
• Where does Davina fit in all of this? Will she be back to challenge Vincent?
• Will Hayley and Jackson ever have a real marriage?
• Will Freya start taking self defense courses and start wearing full metal armor?
• Why did they have to kill Cami??? I am so mad.