TV REVIEW: The Originals “Chasing the Devil’s Tail” Proved Torture For the Mikaelsons

By Erin Resnick

Every few years my family tries to arrange a big family reunion. It is the WORST. Trying to interact with people you’re told you’re related to but have never met, it’s like an awkward handshake/fist-bump combo. I usually spend family reunions cooped upstairs watching television, avoiding all the “OMG I HAVEN’T SEEN YOU IN FOREVER!” and the “So are you dating? Seeing anyone? Remotely interested in marriage?” conversations. Which is why I could never imagine being chained up and forced to interact with people. That’s my worst nightmare come true.

This week’s The Originals episode “Chasing the Devil’s Tail,” was pure torture for some of the Mikaelson family. There were tears, combat, foreplay involving magical fire, and death. In other words, it was Monday!

Unfortunately, Elijah was still on his “witchy acid trip” battling against a younger (adorable) version of himself and the only way Klaus could save his big brother was to travel into the woods and seek out a specific plant to remedy his bewitched state. Klaus made Hayley promise not to go after Esther, even though she was itching to bring pain to the witch matriarch.

Over in the bayou, Jackson was mourning the loss of Ollie alongside a late-arriving Hayley. Disappointingly, no one had shown up to the funeral since the wolves were in complete disarray when it came to loyalty.

Hayley may have promised not to go after Esther, but she was dead-set on destroying the people closest to her, first and foremost, Finn. Instead of Jackson, Hayley brought along Aiden, or as Marcel referred to him, “Junior Varsity.” They knew Marcel would want in on the action and they were correct; they only needed Cami now to help tie the whole plan together.

Cami had become a much better liar since last week and was making pretend heart-eyes at Finncent. He invited her to listen to some smooth jazz and she obliged. With Marcel, Josh, and Aiden’s help, they would all lure Finncent to the church and strap him with hundred-year-old magical handcuffs and render him powerless.

Davina and Koleb had shacked up in a motel, but Esther soon summoned him with painful carvings on his arm. It said something like, “Come home, I got Pizza Hut,” but Koleb was much more interested in flirting and revealing his secrets to Davina. They took a drive where he revealed that he had been the only sibling of his family to practice witchcraft before Esther made them into vampires. He had resented his mother for taking away the one gift that made him truly happy. Thankfully, he had created a secret tomb filled with dark, magical objects where he had taught the witches of New Orleans an ancient form of magic in 1914. All he needed was Clare blood to enter the tomb (since he now had a pattern for fancying Clare women). Once inside, Kol was eager to show Davina the many powerful items, including a special dagger set aside for Klaus.

Over in the woods, Klaus was deep into his mission. He wasn’t alone, though, as Ansel had shown up to help and have a father/son chat. Klaus was irritated, it was too little too late, and he mission was to save his brother, not have a thousand-year catch-up with the man he had only just met.

The plan to lure Finncent into the church was underway. Cami had pretended to take a phone call, only to be bitten by a mysterious wolf. Finncent tried to help, but she was “kidnapped” before he could tend to her. The gang waited for him at the church as Josh and Aiden shared a cute moment where Josh expressed to Aiden his apologies for making him spend his Friday night Original-hunting and not doing push ups with his bros, and Hayley (the mysterious wolf to bite Cami) provided Cami with her curable blood.

Back at the tomb of magical wonders, Kol explained to Davina just how powerful the two of them could be together. Their linked magic could spell the dagger to fatally hurt Klaus; it would work similarly to the others, except this one would not be hybrid-proof. This would exact Kol’s revenge on his brother and ensure that Davina could save her friends without having to unlink them from Klaus. All they needed was some magical, witchy foreplay.

Unfortunately for Ansel, his father/son bonding time was turning out to be abysmal. Klaus resisted, wanting to trust his biological father, but he couldn’t. Ansel confessed he knew of Hope’s survival and wanted to help protect her, but Klaus had sworn to be the proper father he never had and that meant keeping Hope safe at all costs. In a heartbreaking moment Klaus murdered his father, all in the name of his daughter’s innocence.

Finncent had finally found his way to the church, only to be thwarted by the gang. He tried to rip Hayley’s heart from her chest using magic, but Jackson swooped in to save the day with his bow and arrows. Cami chained him, subduing the eldest of the Mikaelson brothers.

Klaus had finally made his way back home and was able to penetrate Elijah’s hallucinations to lure him back. Klaus recounted his experience in the woods and Elijah agreed it was all for Hope, it was necessary. Elijah, though, was having horrible flashbacks to the day he killed Tatia, shaky and unable to grasp his wrongdoings.

Koleb had returned a sleeping Davina to her home, but not before snagging the White Oak stake from her bag. Too bad a certain vampire was nearby watching.

Esther found the body of a now dead Ansel, maimed exactly how Mikael had a thousand years prior. The witch was shaken to her core. Her plans for her family were being destroyed right in front of her eyes.

Marcel and Hayley arrived at the compound, promising a surprise for Elijah and Klaus. The two brothers made their way downstairs only to find both Finncent and Koleb chained up, awaiting a nice family reunion.

Things we need to discuss:

• Whether Nate or Daniel portrays Kol, I do, in fact, want “all of that.”

• “I always thought having a woman’s mouth on my neck would be more erotic.” – Cami. How much do you love Cami?

• Speaking of Cami, what exactly was Esther doing to her in the bar at the very end?

• I’m kind of bummed Ansel’s resurrection was cut short. I was looking forward to Season Ten when he and Klaus went on a father/son fishing trip and played catch.

• Are you as excited for the return of Rebekah as I am?