The Originals Review: There in the Disappearing Light (Season 5 Episode 10)

On The Originals Season 5 Episode 10, “There in the Disappearing Light,” Greta’s small army of Nazi-ish vamps meets an anti-climactic end. This paves the way for the remaining episodes to focus solely on Hope’s fate and what appears to be Elijah’s impending death.

With only three episodes remaining, the Mikaelsons haven’t shared much screen time. Even though Elijah has regained his memories, he and Klaus remain at odds. Once again, it’s up to Elijah to try to act as his brother’s moral compass, particularly when it comes to Klaus’ parenting.

Elijah picks up right where he left off, putting his own happiness on the back burner, so he can clean up Klaus’ mess — and Klaus remains unappreciative. It’s hard to believe this is the same Klaus who spent seven years aimless and heartbroken without his big brother.

Their dynamic is stale. With Antoinette out of the picture, it feels like the only way Elijah can redeem himself and gain forgiveness from Hope and Klaus is to give all he’s got left: his life (like another formerly immortal brother we know and love).

All Elijah wants is for Klaus to be a good father, and while Klaus has faltered, he’s finally stepped up. Elijah has accomplished his mission. His character flounders with nothing much to do, except feel guilty about Hayley’s death.

We know that without the Other Side, even vampires have a shot at some semblance of “Heaven,” which means reuniting with the ones they’ve loved and lost (often riding off together in a cool car).

Hayley and Elijah never got an epic moment worthy of their romance. Hayley barely got a noteworthy send off at all, so it’s likely the finale will provide the closure fans are longing for.

Viewers are no doubt pulling for the new and improved — and infinitely more dull — Klaus to walk off into the sunset with Caroline. This may happen, but don’t count out the possibility Klaus may not survive himself.

Julie Plec loves to explore the themes of parental abandonment either by death or design (Caroline, Jeremy, Elena, Tyler, Roman, Davina, Marcel, etc.). It would be harsh for Hope to lose both parents over the span of a few weeks, and it would also mean no Klaus cameos to amp up the ratings for the spin-off.

The Originals Season 5 has managed to make almost all of the lead characters dispensable. The series could have ended with Season 4, keeping the integrity of the characters intact and their futures left to the viewers’ imaginations. Sadly, Season 5 promised something it hasn’t been able to deliver, and the Mikaelsons are outliving their usefulness.

The clues that “always and forever” extends beyond life are mounting. Rebekah’s future appears at risk as well. Her last conversation with Marcel confirms that she’ll never be happy living as a vampire. It’s a pretty cryptic chat, but killing off Rebekah means bad news for the supernatural community (her sireline remains intact), so Beks may just go on in eternal misery.

The Originals Season 5 hasn’t shied away from killing off characters both major and minor. And with so many parallels between the Salvatore and Mikaelson brothers, viewers should get out the tissues because Elijah’s fate was likely sealed in Season 4 with his death at the hands of the Hollow and the subsequent demise of his sireline.

Somebody’s going to have to make a huge sacrifice to save Hope, and that’s kind of Elijah’s raison d’etre. We might not want to see him go, but ever stoic and always tragic Elijah’s happiness is waiting for him — and she’s probably driving something shiny.

Other thoughts:

• Will the witches of New Orleans be more or less powerful without the Ancestors? Could this plot twist aid them in defeating the Hollow?
• Declan is on the exact same path as Cami, but his presence on the show must factor into the Hollow storyline in some way.
• Is it hypocritical for Hope to forgive Roman and not Elijah?

What did you think of this episode of The Originals? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Originals airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on The CW.

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