Legacies Review: The Only Way Out Is Through (Season 4 Episode 14)

Hope’s humanity fights back on Legacies Season 4 Episode 14, “The Only Way Out Is Through.”

After spending half the season running from her problems, Hope slows down in the race against herself. With her humanity constantly staring back at her – literally – Hope’s sense of fear comes back.

Thanks to Vardemus’ Manticulum, Hope forces the Salvatore School to help her train for the upcoming battle with the Gods. But she’s taken aback when the answers she gets don’t fit her needs.

While it might be discouraging initially, watching the Super Squad fight their imaginary battle against Ken by the end of the episode is exciting. Instead of losing every time, they’ve finally figured out the right way to win. The downside for everyone, Hope’s humanity must be on.

Hope has been running from her problems for so long that she’ll do anything not to return her humanity, even if it means killing all her friends. It’s not that she wants to hurt them because she’s certainly shown that she can restrain herself, humanity or not. She doesn’t know what else to do besides eliminating those who can force her to turn her humanity on.

It’s pretty sad if we’re being honest. Hope needs to own up and face her wrongdoings, but flipping her switch was never her choice. It happened to her in the worst moment of her life. No matter how badass she’s been this season, it’s not something she asked for.

Hope has killed someone, tortured people, fought her blood family, and harmed her friends. It’s not something that she wants to face because she knows how bad it will hurt. Even without her humanity on, she’s frightened at the thought of feeling the gravity of her decisions.

There’s always that one character in a television show, the beacon, and Hope is that character for Legacies. No matter how violent, murderous, and bloody she gets, focusing on her is a sure-fire way to ensure a great episode.

Season 5 Episode 15, “Everything That Can Be Lost May Also Be Found,” is bound to be one for the books, thanks to Hope’s upcoming family reunion. I’m smelling a top three episode of the series.

Wade For the Win

“The Only Way Out Is Through” is a remarkable episode because we also get to see other characters shine – like Wade. His DND skills come in clutch when it comes time for the Super Squad to figure out their skill set.

Also, he gets to be a dungeon master in a real-life scenario like DND; how cool is that? It would be a lot cooler if it weren’t for their lives at stake, but pretty amazing, nonetheless.

It’s nice to see Wade praised for his super-nerd skills and be a helpful teammate since it’s obvious exploring his powers is not essential, for some reason. It’s as if Legacies has forgotten that Wade is a fairy, and he’s only ever tapped into those powers once before.

He may not be one of the most favored characters on the show, but he also deserves admirable character progression.

Lizzie and Aurora’s Journey

“The Only Way Out Is Through” gives us more insight into the gods and what they’re like, thanks to Aurora and Lizzie’s bribery for Jen. Thanks to Jen’s storytelling, we now know that she’s the one who spelled her family into the sarcophagus’ and tricked her father.

The gods were supposed to awaken after Malivore’s defeat, but Jen lied to Ken, her father, and hid the key inside Ben before Malivore ate him so they would be entombed for eternity. Never in a million years did Jen expect Ben to survive Malivore and return to the living, so she thought the key would be safe.

Thanks to Jen unknowingly giving Lizzie and Aurora precisely what they came for, their plan continues, but with a twist. Instead of raising Ken, the two decide it to be safer if Kronos, the god of time, is the one brought back. Thanks to Jen’s story, he seems to be the safest bet for achieving their goals.

Their trip back to the Salvatore School afterward leads to one of the most genuine interactions between the two when Lizzie spots her father alive.

Aurora: If I could have Tristan back, I wouldn’t let some silly brand keep me from that.

Lizzie: You’re not just trying to trick me into betraying you?

Aurora: Once upon a time, I absolutely would have, but we’re trying to be better people, are we not? I can’t deprive you of your happiness when it’s right there in front of you. I will raise the god time to get my family back; you go to yours.

However, even with Aurora’s approval, if Lizzie ends up fighting against her, it’s bye-bye Lizzie. The battle will be over before it begins if Lizzie “betrays” Aurora thanks to their blood pact, so she’s forced to stick by her side for safe measure.

No matter how bad she wants to run to Alaric, she can’t risk incinerating herself.

I don’t particularly like that Lizzie has to stick with Aurora instead of being with the school to avoid death, but at least it means she can make sure the plan works. If they mistakenly raise Ken by accident, it’s over.

I fear that they’ll raise Kronos, and instead of helping them, he’ll either wake his family or try to take them back to a time when the gods ruled. I hope I’m wrong, but I’m prepared for a curveball no matter what. This is Legacies, after all.

Lizzie and Aurora’s partnership is one that I didn’t anticipate liking, but I love how it’s made them grow as characters. Their initial team-up consisted of killing Hope and enacting revenge, but now their entire focus is regaining the love of their family.

The Aurora de Martel we see on “The Only Way Out Is Through” is the complete opposite of the woman we see in The Originals. Introducing her into the Legacies universe and allowing her character to get the closure and, somewhat, therapy she needs is brilliant.

Pairing her with Lizzie and forcing both to grow and figure themselves out is one of the best things about the season. Everything about their team-up is ingenious, even with their rocky beginning. The two play off each other incredibly well.

#BenJed

We don’t get much interaction between Ben and Jed on “The Only Way Out Is Through,” but what we do get is magical. The two of them sitting around an open fire, talking about how they bring out the best in each other? Them staring into each other’s eyes lovingly? I love it!

Jed: Today, I got a crash-course reminder in how short and unpredictable life can be. It made me want to appreciate all the good things and the good people when we have them. So, I say hold on to that optimism; it’s worth protecting.

Ben: You know, I think if we’re not careful, you might wind up making me a better person, Jed.

Even if they haven’t officially defined it, their newfound relationship has sparked a brand-new love for Legacies in me. I can’t wait to see where their partnership will go in the back half of the season. My only hope is that neither of them dies in the end.

Other Thoughts:

• Jenny Boyd and Danielle Rose Russell have been carrying this season on their back.
• Cleo possibly evolving as a muse rather than having her magic broken is thrilling! She’s been working so hard to be okay, but it’s apparent that she isn’t happy with her magic gone. I hope before the end of the season we see some her pinpoint what’s happening to her.
• Ethan and MG making a pact to promise no matter what happens, Lizzie won’t be the one to die had me in tears. They both love her enough to prematurely lay their lives on the line to protect her, and I’m not okay! Nobody needs to die.
• Landon’s purgatory storyline is so dull. Please, let him find peace and move on! It’s not worth the time spent on it.
• While I appreciate the slight nod to Finch and her taking care of the pack, I’m sick of her not being involved with everything.

 

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

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Legacies airs Thursdays at 9/8c on The CW.

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