The Originals: The River in Reverse (S1: E8)

Rebekah asks Kieran to take her confession. He wonders if she’s even Catholic, and she admits that she doesn’t believe in much but basically tells him to shut it and hear her confession anyway.

Twenty-four hours earlier, Tyler is filling Marcel’s crew in on Klaus’s evil plot to create an army of unkillable hybrids using his unborn child. He’s eager to take down Klaus, but also wants to kill Hayley and the baby. Rebekah interrupts, finishes his story, and snaps his neck. She calmly explains that she will support them in bringing Klaus down, but no one will be allowed to hurt her niece.

Out in the bayou, Hayley cares for a sick Elijah. He wants her to take a hike, because Klaus’s bite is followed by feverish hallucinations and he expects he’ll become poor company. She doesn’t plan on going anywhere, but she’s weirded out by the girl peeking through the trees outside, spying on them. Hayley thinks she’s the one who left the Bible, but every time she goes to talk to her the girl flees.

Elijah’s hallucinations reveal that he loved a woman named Celeste, a witch. Klaus, however, was having high times challenging the local gentlemen to duels they kept losing. When Elijah confronted his brother, fearful that their father might pay attention to such a large number of bodies, Klaus confessed that he blamed the witches. When Elijah returned to warn Celeste, he found her lifeless body in the bath. She’d been drowned.

Josh, no longer under Klaus’s compulsion, agrees to help Marcel and friends bring him down. He lies to Klaus, luring him into a trap in Marcel’s place in the French Quarter. Klaus promises Josh a daylight ring for his loyalty, once he’s back in power, but warns that if Josh betrays him he will regret it. Josh bids him farewell and good riddance, probably sick of being threatened by everyone. Poor Josh. Who knows what Klaus will cook up to punish him.

When Klaus arrives at Marcel’s home, it seems deserted. He calls Marcel out, and Marcel comes. He brings Rebekah, which is clearly a shock to Klaus, and several of his thugs. Klaus laughs, unimpressed, and claims he taught Marcel better ambush tactics. Several more thugs spill into the room.

Klaus starts by laying a coin on the ground, and saying the first to pick it up and vow allegiance will be spared. The thugs attack. Klaus fights and takes a good number of them out. More come, and he gets chained and dragged back, into a corner. Rebekah is holding a dagger, and looks ready to plunge it into Klaus’s chest when he lifts his head and growls – he’s become the hybrid. Rebekah drops the dagger and stumbles back, and Klaus begins ripping Marcel’s vampires to pieces.

Rebekah pleads with Marcel to pick up the coin – Klaus won’t stop until everyone is dead, otherwise, and she doesn’t want him to die. Marcel picks up the coin and pledges his loyalty, and Klaus ceases the slaughter.

Later, when it’s quiet, Marcel invites Klaus to kill him. Klaus explains that there are rules in war, and Marcel picked up the coin, so he gets to live. Marcel, disgusted, says that he had real loyalty and friendship, whereas Klaus will reign over an empty kingdom. He’ll never have loyalty or trust. Klaus looks bothered by Marcel’s prediction.

Elijah loses it in the bayou and attacks Hayley – her mysterious blond relative saves the day by putting a stake in his back. She warns Hayley to cover her birthmark – Marcel killed their kind or drove them out. She tells Hayley to be very careful, then skidaddles when Elijah shows up feeling better, but pleased with her for staking him. Elijah and Hayley drive back to the plantation. He explains that he can’t care about anyone deeply because Klaus always ruins everything. Hayley doesn’t get the message and tries holding his hand. He tells her this is as far as it goes between them, for her safety, and gets out of the car.

Inside, Elijah and Rebekah greet Klaus with their heads hanging. He’s furious with both of them. He accuses Elijah of taking over the role of father to his unborn child, and is hurt that his brother believed his intentions for his baby would be dishonorable. He bitches Rebekah out for sleeping with Marcel and joining him in his weak and disorganized attempt at taking Klaus down. Rebekah wonders how long they’ll be daggered for this time; Klaus hands the dagger to Elijah and tells them he’s taking back their home in the Quarter, and taking Hayley, and they can stay on the plantation and rot for all he cares.

Outside, Klaus orders Hayley into the car.

Wow. No daggers. I wonder how Elijah and Rebekah will get back into his (relatively) good graces? I don’t know about you, but as far as I’m concerned Joseph Morgan gives GOOD CRY. It pulls at the heart strings.