Legacies Review: Just Don’t Be a Stranger, Okay? (Season 4 Episode 20)

After four years, Legacies Season 4 Episode 20, “Just Don’t Be a Stranger, Okay,” marks the end of the TVD universe.

The series finale of Legacies is everything we could have asked for and more, with notable cameos, proper storyline conclusions, and happy endings for everyone.

I love that even in its final moments, we still see an internal conflict among the group that allows other areas to flourish. Alaric’s decision to shut the Salvatore School down pushes the Super Squad to rally and strategize one last time, bringing them closer than they’ve ever been.

“Just Don’t Be a Stranger, Okay?” hits all the problem areas and works to blend everyone’s storylines together beautifully.

Let’s start with Caroline! The screams that left my body when she appeared were horrendous and filled with joy. Bringing Candice Accola back into the TVD universe is the best decision the series has ever made – if only it weren’t during the series finale.

Nevertheless, Caroline’s infamous cameo on the series is the episode’s highlight. Her role as headmaster is a plot line that should have been introduced at the beginning of season 4.

If the series had made this move earlier in the season, I doubt Legacies would have been canceled. 

Alaric has been a tremendous sore on the series for a while, and I’ll forever be convinced that he should have died at the start of the season. His leaving in the middle of the night is a courteous move on the writer’s side and one I applaud.

I’m not sure I could make myself sit through an emotional goodbye with Alaric and the Salvatore School without changing the channel or skipping it.

Back to Caroline — it’s incredibly satisfying and nostalgic, but also such a lovely moment in general as Lizzie is reunited with her mother. The only thing that could have made the moment better was if Josie had been there.

It is nice that we get a nod to her in the finale instead of forgetting her existence. Josie has been a crucial part of the series, and it’s only fitting that we get a life update on her.

Hope’s journey throughout the episode is emotional but heartfelt as she says her final goodbyes to her father.

Danielle Rose Russell’s ability to command a room, provide comfort, and ensure emotional vulnerability from the audience make the finale extra special. Getting to spend four years with her as the series lead has been a special moment, and it will be sorely missed.

Everyone else on the cast is phenomenal and loved dearly by the fans, but Russell is the heart of the show and the connecting factor between Legacies and The Originals.

However, one aspect of Hope’s farewell arc that I will never not have an issue with is Landon. While the purgatory arc has provided little entertainment here and there, it’s been a worthless excuse to keep Landon and Hope’s relationship alive.

It was cute for the first three seasons, but the two have never been destined to be with one another, and the purgatory storyline strips Landon of everything that makes him who he is. And in the end, he and Hope don’t end up with one another anyway.

Landon being the Ferryman in purgatory, rather than him being allowed to find peace, is one of the worst decisions for his character arc. What’s the point of there being an eternity of Hope being able to call on Landon if his feelings for her are no longer there?

I might be a little more courteous towards the decision to make Landon the Ferryman if his ability to provide a message for Hope via Klaus was more pristine.

It’s understood that with timing, filming, covid measures, and Joseph Morgan’s reluctance to ever appear on Legacies, the series did what it could with his cameo. However, for it to be the series finale, there’s a higher level of expectation that is not met.

Morgan’s feature is a lovely surprise and does provide a sentimental moment for Hope, but it’s not enough. We needed Klaus and Hope getting to truly reconnect for one last time, not him sending a message from peace.

Technically, Klaus was never supposed to cross over into peace until Hope also found it, aka the perfect opportunity missed. A proper surprise feature from Klaus would have been him and Hope to reconnect in purgatory somehow and then him crossing over to peace as he says his last goodbye.

Also, why did we awkwardly need to zoom in on Klaus’ face as he continued talking? It felt unnecessary and only made the moment more cheesy.

Other than my issues with Landon and Klaus, the series finale knocks it out of the park and only leaves us wanting more. Caroline as the new headmaster, MG and Lizzie are officially an item, Ben and Jed having adventures together, Alaric is finally gone, and new students? We need a season five!

While the series’ end may be final, I’ll never stop hoping Legacies will magically get a Season 5. Background drama between networks or not, for a series to peak and perform so well with its ratings and storytelling and still end up canceled it’s a travesty.

It’s hard to find solace in the excuse that The CW as a network was unsure of its lifespan when they greenlit new series and renewed others simultaneously. It should be a crime for networks to cancel series when they’re at their apex and doing exceptionally well.

Legacies will always be remembered as a goofy, exciting series that found its voice in uplifting others. As the series evolved over the years, the storytelling and ability to weave in essential topics have only improved, peaking with Season 4.

Other Thoughts:

• I’ll forever be salty for the mistreatment of Finch’s character and how she was swept to the side once Josie left. I do, however, like that we end the series with her having a forever family, both with the pack and with Jed.
• Alaric venturing off to write an autobiography about his life and the supernatural creatures he’s encountered over the years is one of the lamest send-offs and very fitting for his character. I hope if we ever see this series revived, we never have to see Matthew Davis on our screens again.
• Cleo and Kaleb getting the happy ending they deserve melts my heart! Even though we didn’t get too much time spent on their relationship, I think it’s safe to say they are one of the strongest the series has ever seen.
• I would absolutely tune in every week for a spin-off of Jed and Ben going on adventures and traveling the world with one another. Thanks to the God drama, we didn’t get to spend nearly enough time with the two in a happier element.

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

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Legacies Season 4 will be available to stream on Netflix on June 24th.

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