The Originals Review: Episode 2×03 - Every Mother’s Son

Following a slow start, “The Originals” delivers bountiful back story and content over a memorable family dinner

On tonight’s episode of The Originals, Ester wants her boys to come together for a family dinner. While Klaus, Elijah, and Hayley must determine the best course of action to combat whatever evil plans their mother has brewing, Marcel is putting plans together of his own to bring his new vampire army into the fold of the Mikaelson family. But let’s get back to that family dinner, which will no doubt be what everyone remembers most from this episode… due in large part to a dirty family secret making its way to the surface. What could it be? Let’s discuss!

You’ve Got A Friend In Me, Maybe

Marcel’s still set on having Elijah mentor new-vampire Gia but Elijah isn’t feeling quite as keen on the idea. We’re not entirely sure what to make of this relationship as it’s at such an early stage. Marcel seems to have made nice with the Mikaelsons after their power struggle for much of season one and his intentions seem good thus far. It feels a bit like meddling but with all the sneaking Elijah does to try to help his loved ones, we see this as something Marcel likely picked up specifically from Elijah while being raised by the Mikaelson brothers. This was a subtle way to weave together the introduction we had last week of Elijah’s having acted as a mentor to Marcel when he was still a human child, before pushing him away and back into Klaus’ arms.

“I learned my lesson the hard way. You can’t make your way in this town unless you have an Original looking out for you. Klaus is so fixated on those wolves and Elijah is so wrapped up in centuries of his family’s old crap that he can’t see it but we need him. We need him to see us as family too.” ~ Marcel

By the end of the episode, Elijah comes around to the idea of helping Gia. After all, Elijah is a fixer. But what’s saddest to watch about this whole piece of Elijah’s story is how sad he seems. There was a heaviness to him that made it seem as if Elijah is starting to struggle to cope with putting everyone else’s needs before him. This is an interesting choice from the writers to take Elijah in this direction, of finding himself perhaps. Daniel Gillies made this change in Elijah particularly compelling, making us want to better understand what struggles are going on beneath that perfectly polished exterior. The blues music in the later scene with Elijah and Gia nicely accompanied their story, and gave their conversation and the beginnings of their relationship a more organic feel. The pacing of this plot felt a bit slow overall, but hopefully it’ll pick up as it carries on in the season.

Mikaelson Family Dinner Serves Up Deep Psychological Probing and Posh Name-Calling

If the entire episode had consisted of this elegant mess of a family dinner, we would have still been satiated. The stage is set with a luxurious table and everyone attending in their best dress, or as Elijah would call it, just another Monday. Elijah and Klaus are made aware of their brother Finn being back, albeit in a different body, and the best part is that they don’t waste time being shocked. They immediately jump back into family squabbles and the actors play out the scene with a nice balance of dramatic weight and comedy. These characters are compelling because they offer an otherworldliness about them, having lived over a thousand years, but at the root of it all we as viewers can relate to them. They struggle to let go of the pain they have in their hearts, as they drag around centuries of baggage. It could all be so simple if they just let it go but when are things ever that simple? With the references from the various characters to the past wrong-doings amongst and to one other, it showed again how well-developed these characters and their back stories are. This attention to detail from the show writers keeps the show’s plot intact.

“You might reside, somewhat parasitically I might add, in another body but let me assure you in 900 years, your tedious sentiments remain quite the same. You see Finn, like father, you’ve always despised our supernatural existence. Father, of course, slaughtered, consumed his own, whereas you, you became pretentious and dull, much like this meal. I will not ask you again. Where is mother?” ~ Elijah

Writer Christopher Hollier delivered one of his best work in this scene, as it effectively reintroduced the dynamic of Finn with his brothers, something that some viewers may struggle to remember considering how long ago it was that Finn was staked. We couldn’t help but laugh out loud repeatedly in this scene. Klaus calling Finn a “sycophant” and Elijah likening him to a parasite brought a childlike energy to scene, as the characters were brought down from their usual mode of political scheming to a more basic level of family bickering. Daniel Gillies and Joseph Morgan exchanging snide looks further enhanced this dynamic and kept the laughs going, which was a nice change of pace given how gloomy Elijah and Klaus have been this season. But taking a step back from all the detailed nuances of why this scene worked, we should all enjoy the fact that there was a dinner at all. There’s something undeniably ridiculous about the idea of coming together to have dinner with those who have tried repeatedly to try to destroy you. But it’s entirely in character for the Mikaelson clan. Given the fact that this was set in motion by a rather camp invitation that involved birds flying off into the air, clearly this is a family that thrives on dramatic flair and we can’t help but love them all the more for it.

Joseph Morgan, come help us pick up our jaws off the floor

Though the family dinner was the standout sequence of the episode, it’s Joseph Morgan who stole the show with a dramatic, downright Shakespearean speech that had us utterly transfixed to the screen until he released us from his grip. Klaus is delivered yet another blow upon learning that a childhood necklace given to him by his mother had been enchanted to keep him weak as some misguided attempt at “keeping him safe.” Though we don’t enjoy seeing Klaus have his trust issues validated, this piece of writing serves as a painful reminder of why Klaus acts out so much. Joseph Morgan masterfully built up a crescendo of Klaus’ anger, before dropping back down to deliver the final, most memorable part of his speech to his mother: “you are the author of everything I am.” The writing may be pure poetry but without Joseph Morgan to bring the words to life, it would have nowhere near this level of potency. It’s a terrible shame that critics have an ongoing tendency to overlook genre shows, as Joseph Morgan deserves all the awards for this speech alone.

You ruined me. You left me to suffer at the hands of a father who valued only strength… You lied to me to hide your own transgressions because of your own fear. My whole life, I sought the approval I was denied by the man I thought was my father. You turned me into the weakling he hated! Look at me! You rant and you rage about the monster I have become but you, mother, you are the author of everything I am.” ~ Klaus

FINAL VERDICT

Though parts of the episode felt slow, the family dinner made us largely enjoy it. Director Dermott Downs brought great artistry to the opening scene of Cassie/Ester preparing the invitation for her sons. The music enhanced his vision, with a tinkling music box, soft piano, and birds chirping to bring an eeriness to her actions and set the tone for the episode in its entirety. We appreciated how Downs utilised the bird imagery throughout the episode to tell Ester’s story. As Ester jumped from Cassie’s body to Lenore’s, the responsibility of playing her falls on Sonja Sohn. We’re thrilled at this, as Sonja has already shown she can bring the gravitas Ester needs to be a believable nemesis.

Writer Christopher Hollier teased us with the fact that Elijah and Klaus have yet to learn which body Kol is back inhabiting. Hollier also composed several comedic lines, that had us laughing throughout. Hayley telling Klaus to shut up was simple, but effective. It also showed how Klaus and Hayley have developed both individually and together. But Hollier seemed to have even more fun writing for Klaus as he was the one with the most amusing lines. “I doubt her guard will drop just ’cause I’m dressed like a bloody lawyer” made him seem like a hilariously petulant child in his disdain for being made to dress up, while “What wine goes well with treachery?” gave that signature brand of Mikaelson dialogue that is precisely what we love to hear.

Questions, Comments, Concerns…

• Hayley’s got attitude this season. I like it!
• BABY KLAUS! Poor thing!
• Well well well, looks like Finn grew a backbone.
• CAPTAIN CONDESCENSION! Is that Elijah’s superhero name? Does this mean he’ll be put in tights? Or at the very least, put him in a cape. ^_^
• That Elijah’s a fixer, all right! – Scandal’s Olivia Pope and Elijah needs to share notes.
• These are some bad-ass witches. Don’t mess with the witches. Let me say this again. Don’t mess with the witches. Just Don’t!
• All this Mikaelson family sass is too much. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry for all the broken souls and hurt feelings.
• All the awards for Joseph Morgan. I was completely and utterly entranced by that dramatic outburst.
• Joseph Morgan yelling makes me want to start throwing trophies at him.
• Will Elijah ever do something for himself? Just once? Please? *whispers* …go give Hayley a snog…