BWW Preview: THE ORIGINALS, The Ruin of Many a Poor Boy

I first watched the backdoor pilot during Season Five of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES. I wasn't too excited even though I do adore Klaus' lips, and I'd move mountains if Elijah asked me to (swoon). However, at the urging of friends, I binge watched THE ORIGINALS this summer and as it turns out, it's pretty fantastic. I don't know why I doubted it to begin with, the Mikaelson Family has never disappointed in entertainment. I mean it's pretty much the same basic story as TVD, two brothers, one pretty good, one pretty bad, both invested in the same woman yada yada yada, but here, there are a lot more witches, a lot more wolves, and a lot more intrigue. This isn't Mystic Falls; this is New Orleans.

The basic premise; Klaus goes to New Orleans and meets a former protege, Marcel, who is now the self-proclaimed "King of the City," and Klaus wants it back as the Mikaelson family originally built it. We also find out that Hayley, a werewolf, is inexplicably pregnant with Klaus' child, giving Elijah hope to restart the Mikaelson family on a better note.

Let's meet the crew:

Klaus - We all know and love/hate Niklaus don't we? What we've learned recently is that Mom, Esther, stepped out on Dad, Mikael, and Klaus is the product of her affair with a werewolf, thus making him the original hybrid. Dad wasn't pleased, and suppressed his werewolf side through a spell. Klaus had a one night stand with Hayley back in Mystic Falls, and this has resulted in a pregnancy. A hybrid baby. Naturally, the supernatural community is stirred up with this possibility.

Elijah - (swoon) Yes, Elijah is back, and even though Klaus stakes him in episode one, never fear, he never really leaves us, does he? He sees the birth of his niece/nephew as a fresh, new start for the Mikaelsons. Now he just needs to get Klaus on board.

Marcel - The son of the governor and a slave girl, Klaus adopted him at a young age and gave him his name meaning "God of War!" When the Mikaelsons were run out of New Orleans, Marcel made the city his. He now runs New Orleans like a kingdom, and will stop at nothing to keep it that way.

Cami - A psychology student who moved to New Orleans to investigate the death of her brother, Sean, with the help of her Uncle, Father Kieran. She is caught in a love triangle with Marcel and Klaus (woe is she) and she is slowly learning of the existence of the supernatural world.

Davina - A powerful young witch who is said to be more powerful than an Original. She is rescued from the Harvest by Marcel who is finding it increasingly harder to control her powers.

Francesca - a werewolf who pretends to be human in order to gain trust as the Faction after Father Kieran's health deteriorates.

Josh - Davina's gay bestie.

A lot of characters, yes. So what do you really need to know before you watch Season Two? Let me break it down as best I can. Klaus and Hayley got pregnant and everybody who is anybody wants a piece of this baby. Marcel and Klaus used to be cool but now they're not, then they are again... it goes back and forth... a LOT. Elijah really just wants his family to be all together again. He also really wants Hayley and the feeling is definitely mutual. The witches, the werewolves and the vampires are not what you'd call friends but they continually strive to make it seem that way. Cami is having a hard time believing there is a supernatural world and she gets glamoured compelled a lot by Marcel and Klaus. Rebekah (Klaus and Elijah's sister) returns and she's still super mad at Klaus, but still will do just about anything he asks.

These witches be crazy. First, they have the Harvest where they sacrifice four teenage girls, then they want to kill Davina so they can resurrect the girls. When Sophie Devereaux successfully resurrects her niece, Monique, Monique turns around and kills her. (Ungrateful witch!) Davina tries to control her magic which is getting more and more powerful. And towards the end of the season, she winds up resurrecting Mikael (Klaus, Elijah and Rebekha's dad) to torment Klaus. Now who's got the dirty, little secret?

Elijah's ex, Celeste, reappears as Sabine, another witch to torment the Mikaelson family some more. Genevieve (Guess what, another witch!) traps the siblings in the cemetery where they are all forced to deal with their issues (finally). Rebekah finally bonds with Hayley over the safety of the baby. To save them, Marcel makes a deal with Genevieve. Rebekah (and Clare Holt) decide to leave New Orleans once and for all... or at least for a few episodes.

Everybody tries once again to make peace and it ends in brutal violence resulting in the death of Thierry (Marcel's right hand man). Marcel is SUPER pissed now. Klaus and Elijah are forced to make their own deal with Genevieve to save Hayley and the baby. Marcel rallies his army together to take them down but Elijah (swoon) takes them down one by one. Genevieve, in an act of betrayal, with Monique and witch #3 kidnap Hayley and force her to give birth on an altar as Klaus watches. The baby is born, a daughter, and Hayley is promptly killed by Monique. They take the baby to the cemetery as Klaus and Elijah mourn Hayley. Except Hayley isn't dead, she's a hybrid and she still has baby's blood in her so she's in transition. The three descend upon the cemetery to stop the sacrifice with help from Marcel who has recently been humbled by the death of his entire army, including Diego. (RIP, I'll miss your hair the most). He takes the baby to safety and Klaus gives Marcel his blood to heal him and as many of his friends as possible. Klaus and Hayley decide the best thing for their new daughter, Hope, is to send her away with guess who? Aunt Rebekah. But the rest of the town will mourn for Hope's death. Cami discovers that this woman Francesca who has been masquerading as a human is actually a werewolf from another clan.

In the setup for Season Two, we see yet another witch resurrected as she places a rose on Esther's (Mommy Mikaelson) grave as she summons her companion to come with her. His response of "Yes, Mother" is exactly as creepy as you would think it would be.

A lot of information; yes. A lot of characters; yes. A lot of drama and magic and lore and plot twists; yes. But that's why we tune in, isn't it? That and the impeccable casting team at the CW. And of course, Elijah. Swoon.

THE ORIGINALS Season Two premieres Monday, October 6th at 8/7 central on the CW. Check out the Season Two preview video. I will be recapping the show all season, so stick with me all year to see what happens and follow me on Twitter @eponineq.

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