julie plec experience: from promise to failure the destruction of the Originals
I apologize I have no idea why I wrote this but I did because hell, I have a lot of feelings and since I have no tumblr, this was the only place I felt comfortable for posting this.
And yes, this really is a post based on the Vampire Diaries new spinoff The Originals
I had really low expectations going in. Like really really low. Not to my surprise Julie Plec couldn’t even met those.
The Originals has so much potential going for it. All the characters had become fan favorites and even started to overshadow the Vampire Diaries leads and the tired drawn out triangle which will forever plague this show. The actors had become immensely popular and well liked by fans.
Disclaimer: I started to have my doubts about the spin off from the start when the writers promptly killed off Kol. An original. Then came news about the casting of Phoebe Tonkin who came onto the show and her character has become immensely hated. She has served no purpose and added no value.
It was telling to me from early on once backdoor pilot news broke and casting news started to trickling in that this show wasn’t going to be as any fan expected or probably hoped for.
I was already on the fence since then. Nothing has changed that. In fact the way the writers had reinserted Hayley into the show randomly in 4x16 was just so utterly laughable and lame. Why? So again, the writers took the lazy path in setting up why Hayley would turn up in New Orleans. Now, the backdoor pilot has aired, the implications of that episode which makes me weep and laugh at the same time.
Despite my misgivings, I was willing to give the backdoor pilot a chance. I really love the characters and the actors. Joseph Morgan, in particular, has become a favorite of mine and he’s the reason why I even started to find clips on You Tube. Klaus was one of those unique characters who has evolved in the course of the two seasons he’s been on TVD and yet, even as he has developed feelings for Caroline, the writers weren’t afraid of staying true to his character. 4x09 is a perfect example of that. No matter how Caroline makes him feel, even if those emotions were formed when she was used by her friends a ploy as the little blonde distraction, Klaus is still a man with a 1,000 years of emotional scars. He’s paranoid, he’s dangerous, he’s merciless, and like he’s says in 4x20, he’s got a bit of a temper.
I love the other Originals too. Elijah is another favorite. So, why wouldn’t want to support the actors and characters - to have them be on their own show, be given real air time and a chance to explore their history which TVD had just barely skimmed the surface. That was exciting.
Unfortunately, none of that promise and excitement translated onscreen for me. I will say there was some really good moments but overall, it fell flat for me. Instead of focusing on Klaus and the Originals, they became supporting characters again, and took a back seat to much of the action and set up. I understand the difficulties in a pilot - who in case of a drama one - they only have 40 minutes to introduce all the characters and the premise of the story. Yet, they didn’t have to spend too much time when it comes to a backdoor pilot, because as viewers we are familiar with most of these characters. Still, this episode was sold to the audience with one simple idea - Klaus goes to his old stomping ground, New Orleans, a city he founded because there is a threat on his life. We got the opposite.
The opening scenes gave me an uneasy feeling because it was all about Hayley. A character no one cares about. I didn’t give a damn she was in trouble. Yet, the writers felt it necessary to start their story with her and set up the rest of the pilot and considering what they were setting up, it is painfully obviously Julie doesn’t get her audience and how horrible she is as a storyteller.
This episode was supposed to engage an (already pre-exisiting) audience, to excite them, to make them want more. By 9:00pm, it was evident a lot of viewers were utterly furious, disappointed, and disgusted. I don’t think I have ever seen so many people alienated by one episode before. This show may win new fans in the fall but it isn't smart to turn off the built in fanbase since they are the reason there is a spinoff in the first place!
The first thirty minutes offered some positive and exciting elements which gave me some hope. Filming in New Orleans was wonderful - it was great to see the city and like so many shows, the location became a character in itself, and helped to create feel of the show. It is a shame we will only get limited chance for the actor to film on location due to logistics, costs, and to remain in Atlanta which will be helpful when they film crossover episodes.
As the lovely Joseph Morgan had indicated in many interviews prior to the backdoor pilot being green lighted and until its premiere, The Originals was going to be an adult, darker, and more mature world. These were all characters who were comfortable with who they were. Fears about romantic triangles were alleviated a bit by Joseph again who said this wasn’t the Vampire Diaries (sad thing is there will be a triangle just not the way we were expecting or wanted). This show was going to be everything the Vampire Diaries isn’t.
Something the actors (mostly Daniel and Joseph) had sold to the fans. In their own ways, they both talked about how their new show would be unique, and interesting, and fun.
Funny, this seasons big storyline on the Vampire Diaries looks like a masterpiece now. The sire bond storyline? FUCKING GENIUS MAN. Nina, Ian and Paul (if they have seen the pilot and/or know the ‘twist’) must be thanking their lucky stars right now.
The episode committed two big sins in my mind (and why I have no interest in watching this show weekly). I will say that my two big issues with the episode can be easily fixed by the writers, and if they were, The Originals could become an amazing show that I want it so desperately to be.
Will the real Klaus please stand up:
Sin one - the destruction of Klaus: As I mentioned beforehand, I hated how Klaus seemed less like the lead and more like a spectator on his own show. Yes, they had to introduce Marcel, give the audience a background on his relationship with Klaus since it will be a big part of the show going forward. I just didn’t like the Klaus we saw in New Orleans. There were glimmers of Klaus we all know from TVD - the alpha male, the big bad hybrid and violate man. Yet, it was too little. I didn’t want to see a glimmer. I wanted to see it in full force. He was too passive and Klaus is anything but that.
As the episode progressed, I was wondering if he was playing by Marcel’s rules, toying with his protégé, quietly lurking in the background while he was plotting something on his own. I was really hoping any twist or the ending would show the audience Klaus had something up his sleeve. An inkling that he wasn’t just watching on the sidelines while others played in his sandbox city
Since this will be a season long arc (or even longer), it was obvious Klaus wasn’t going to completely get back his throne back in the pilot, but I expected that he would have done more. Klaus is about power plays. Asserting his control and status. He was in a bit of a sticky situation trying to ‘figure’ out Marcel’s control and reach within the city (his city) and how much of a wild card Marcel would be. Klaus is a 1000 years old. He’s always two steps ahead of everyone. He’s the most feared. As Sophie says, everyone in the supernatural community has heard of him, there are stories about him, and as Klaus has repeatedly said - he enjoys that he has the power to install fear in others.
While Marcel is the King of NOLA, I felt like Klaus wasn’t seen to his former protégé or his followers as someone to fear. After all these years, I am surprised that Marcel was a bit more cautious and concerned, that suddenly Klaus is back again especially since Marcel knows, I believe, why Klaus left in the first place. He’s returned after breaking the curse and killing his father. He’s more powerful than ever and the writing didn’t seem to respect that. I am sorry but Marcel sending two lackeys to follow Klaus was a weak response. Klaus could kill them in an second without blinking an eye. It could have been a test on Marcel’s part and asserting his power in this situation but Klaus isn’t a fool - he has the ability to take action in the most violent of ways (4x09) or in a much smaller way. Klaus knows how to move around pieces and have things happen in his favor. So why didn’t we see Klaus mount a more overt attack on Marcel and find a quieter way to make some inroads? Granted, yes the witches threat was more valid on his part at the time being but even when he finds out they need him to help overthrow Marcel and therefore help him, we should have seen him do something and push the pieces around the board. Despite his situation, I hoped Klaus would have been seen more as a threat because all he could do to assert his dominance was to bite one of Marcel’s friends? I find that hard to believe.
Plot hole #1 (out of 1,000,000) Klaus had to abandon NOLA because of Mikael. He couldn’t have been King and founder without his stepdaddy finding out. So he had to run. What I did scratch my head over was Klaus seemed utterly oblivious to the strength of Marcel’s dominance and power since he’s left. Since he was quite fond of New Orleans and relished his role as the self proclaimed King, I thought it really unbelievable Klaus would be so unaware of Marcel’s rise to power over the last 200 years. He was still dodging Daddy Dearest and looking to end his curse but I don’t believe for a second, Klaus would just forget about his old stomping ground. Klaus is a smart and ruthless man who knows what is happening around him. He’s a 1000 years old. He has seen it all. He knows to be vigliant, to keep ears and eyes everywhere, to know everyone and everything around him. (Completely irrelevant but I have to point out - sorry shipperness coming out - Caroline who until 3x11 wasn’t a concern of his or even on his radar per se, we find out just three episodes later, he knows she was Miss Mystic Falls which occurred a year before he even arrived in Mystic Falls. And until that point, she was just the doppelgangers best friend).
It is troubling when Klaus is written better and his actions actually stay true to his character when he’s a supporting character than on his own show. Julie has a unique talent of not being able to write good storylines for any of her leads and instead saddling them with love triangles, sire bonds, and now Teen Mom rip offs!
Back to my original point, there had to be ramblings coming out of New Orleans about Marcel. I can’t believe Klaus hadn’t heard anything. Yes, Marcel made it a point for people to fear him, to bow to him, and he had learned to control them but still, this is Klaus. Klaus has a reputation. I can’t believe for a second people were more terrified of Marcel than they were of Klaus - because who would you as a supernatural creature have protection of? The immortal hybrid who can’t be killed or one of the vampires he created? I wish the writers had actually spent more time laying out the background for Klaus’ eventual departure to New Orleans especially since the talk of a spin off has been
going on since season 3.
He’s a bad boy and that’s how we like it -
I hate how the writers have approached the idea of Klaus’ redemption (another plot hole - I can’t believe Elijah has no idea about Caroline or Tyler’s actions since 4x09 especially how Tyler is still alive). The writers have been carefully touching on this on TVD and very slowly showing some changes in Klaus. A year ago, Klaus would have never given Tyler two chances to run away from Mystic Falls. No Tyler would have died as brutally as his unsired hybrids did. And Tyler, aside from having Caroline’s love, has been Klaus biggest headache. In 4x14, Klaus pointedly tells Caroline he has an reputation to uphold that he has to kill Tyler and yet, he doesn’t. Does it mean he’s soft? No. He knows how much Tyler means to Caroline. He knows killing Tyler means the end of having any hope for a future with Caroline. For Caroline, he shows mercy.
I am not surprised the backdoor pilot touched on the idea of his redemption. He won’t ever completely change but could he become a bit more tempered, thoughtful, and less prone to rash actions and violence? Sure. Instead the writers focus on Klaus redemption can only be based on the fact -drum roll please - this show has now become less about the dark, adult and not!TVD and completely become about Teen Mom and Baby Daddy Show.
If I have to list the reasons why a pregnancy on a show about vampires and werewolves is utterly ridiculous and lame, then we have some issues to discuss. It isn’t cool. This isn’t Twilight.
Also when would Elijah of all people champion a baby as their family's savior? Again, she is making everyone so OOC to cater to her ridiculous storyline.
Even on supernatural shows, there is a limit to how much BS a writer can feed to the audience and many things are brushed off because well, believability can be stretched and bended. BUT A PREGNANCY? There is a reason why shows with humans avoid baby storylines - writers admit they are a nightmare and don’t make for good storytelling. If they don’t work on other shows, then of all shows called The Originals, can this seen as good writing? The big bad hybrid is going to be a Dad isn’t what the viewers want to see. I hate the implication that these writers have instituted with this plot is that Klaus can only redeem himself because of a baby? A child he doesn’t want? How will this change him? It won’t.
I don’t want Klaus to be redeemed because he’s forced to. That isn’t the point of a character changing and even learning to act differently and not to resort to their first impulse and give into their rash and violent side without a second thought. A baby won’t make Klaus into a good guy. There is absolutely no value a baby can bring to Klaus’ journey. I want to see the complex Klaus - the man who ruthless and viciously kills twelve of his hybrids, instills fear and is emotionally fucked up and the same man who smiles when calling the one person who has captured his interest and he deeply cares for, the artist who finds solace in his art.
Redemption should only come from his own actions and choices. Klaus is stubborn and only knows how to react and act by violence and anger (as Julie mentioned after 4x09 aired - when he's hurt and betrayed, he lashes out often with violence). I want it to be his choice. Not anyone else. He was slowly finding himself on a different path strongly motivated by falling in love with Caroline and wanting her in his life. Would he even completely change for Caroline? No, but as Joseph had discussed in interviews after 4x09, he was showing a little willingness to compromise (i.e. give mercy to Tyler twice!).
Being merciful to Tyler went against every fiber of his being. You see it in his face in 4x19 after Tyler disappears - he longs to exact revenge on Tyler, and defies his own nature and beliefs, but it is Caroline that makes him stop. He takes her feelings into account and despite his intense hatred for Tyler, he's more concerned about Caroline and he chooses on his own to give Tyler a chance to escape again. Why? Because he shares one important trait with Tyler - they both want to make Caroline happy. That doesn't make Klaus weak even if he may still view it as such. It is a small change but a very meaningful one for him. It is his actions and choices - and I don't want redemption shoved onto Klaus, unless it is a truly conscious choice on his part, but instead evolves naturally and even without him being fully aware of it happening as it did after 4x14.
Also I have an issue with fans who bemoan the Klaus we saw with Caroline in 4x07 was 'cringe worthy' and OOC. He was a much different person in that episode. But if any, this show has shown us Klaus has many different layers and personalities. Caroline is the only one who brings out the softer and more human side to him. I think in a way it is something he longs for, to be liked without pretense and Caroline did enjoy his company at the pageant. She truly laughed and smiled with him. So, this brings me to why people are so anxious to see Klaus a father. I know that a baby won't change him into a smiley happy person. In a way it would be interesting to see him as a Dad because he could be a very good one and want to be better but I don't want to see that on the show. We have fanfics for that. Also do we really want to see Big Bad Klaus' entire life and storyline be about a baby? It could yield some interesting moments but especially for this show and character, it would be watching a train wreck.
oh baby, oh baby. what a mess we've made.
Suddenly the entire focus of the backdoor pilot became less about Klaus reclaiming his throne based on his own actions and more about how a baby is the key to solving all his problems. Really? Suddenly, the baby is the only reason why Elijah is pleading with Klaus in the streets of New Orleans, telling him he believes in Klaus’ humanity and this can help heal their family. Like others who have pointed this out, since when would Elijah ever want a baby in their lives? (Plot hole 1,000,001). I hate how Elijah invokes the ‘Always and Forever’ promise to Klaus and how it is conditional because of Klaus having a child.
Also a baby is the only way the witches can threaten Klaus to stay in New Orleans and help them dethrone Marcel? That is their best threat to a man who has roamed the earth for a 1,000 years, terrorizing people and making himself known as the most feared creature? Oh, plot hole 9,000,000 talk about another stretch of believability who in the hell do any of the NOLA witches even know about Hayley sleeping with Klaus? Completely BS and lazy poor storytelling. Instead of touching on their families long and tortured history, the writers choose to go the soap opera route, because it’s the only way for Klaus to have his family again and be redeemed? It’s not like three Original vampires who have been around since 1100 would have, um, like any enemies or anything. I wish that they weren’t forcing Klaus’ journey and storylines based on being pushed into something he wants to nothing to do with.
He’s been around for a thousand years, so wouldn’t he have a few contacts in his phone -
I know this won’t be addressed due to Julie logic but wouldn’t Klaus seek out other witches to confirm if Hayley pregnancy is real? He can’t just take a word of witches who have a HUGE ulterior motive to keep in him in New Orleans. That is there only leverage they have over him and he would just take their word? Klaus is a smart man and he knows about being played so if the writers don’t address the fact about him consulting other witches or magical entities I will be really pissed off.
And other points -
After reading all the interviews about this episode and the feel to the spinoff, and seeing what unfold on screen, I felt really misled and even in a small way it felt like a betrayal of my trust. A part of me was expecting at the end of the episode it would be revealed the viewers had just been punked.
Before I am called melodramatic, it is how I felt in the moment, and even now I still feel extremely disappointed but more so, being toyed with and misled hurts even more.
I get it though.
Actors do have to sell their product to the viewers and with this show, Joseph and Daniel in particular, know their fanbase. The fans are the reason why the Originals have their own show. It hurts. I know actors have to say things and present them in a way to promote an concept to any potential viewer not just their built in fanbase. But everything they had talked about and raved about and why it would be so good and fun ended up being a lie.
From previous interviews, it seemed from Joseph’s reactions and comments that he wasn’t a fan of the whole Hayley hookup in 4x16 (for a one time thing it has suddenly become even more of a disaster and a distributing way to make Hayley important), and also from what he’s talked about how he loves playing Klaus is he stays dark and he will never be good etc.. So it makes me wonder how he will promote this show knowing as he knows his fans (which many of them are Klaroline fans) will be turned off by this twist. I will be disappointed if he ends up liking this new storyline and thinking it could be good (then again he will have to promote his new show a lot as the lead so he will have to say BS things even if he doesn’t believe them) for Klaus. I feel bad for him because he deserves so much better than a poorly written rip off.
But in this moment, I want to be happy that the Originals got picked up. I really do but I can’t. I won’t sit through 22 episodes to see Klaus learn to change diapers or bond with Hayley over their baby. I refuse to watch a character I have grown to love so much and appreciate for being so complex, dark, and tormented turn into someone unrecognizable as he did in the pilot. I do hope Julie will come to her senses and end this pregnancy storyline (and get rid of Hayley) soon and if she doesn’t, this show won’t last very long because the baby twist has alienated a lot of viewers many of them aren’t Klaroline fans. She has such fabulous actors in her three leads and I really hope the writer improves and the quality of the show matches the talent of Joseph, Daniel and Claire. They shouldn’t have to promote with smiles on their faces and (fake) enthasium such horrible and cringe worthy storylines when this was supposed to be an edgier, more adult, and darker show.
With all my heart wish the best to the lovely trio of Joseph, Daniel and Claire. I am happy that they are happy.
But hope my young padawans, there is still hope
There is some hope this show will fix itself and address many of the concerns of the audience. Since The Originals started as a backdoor pilot, which was to give viewers a glimpse of a new show and test it (which in retrospect ended up being a moot point since it was obvious the network was going to pick up. Which they did just a day later! Because if viewer response and ratings were going to be part of the decision process, I really don’t think this show would have earned its pick up so quickly). When it premieres in the fall, it will air this actual pilot to kick off the season and reintroduce viewers to this new world and characters. This is why I do have some hope because a lot can change between now and the premiere, which will likely be in early October. Storylines can be dropped, roles can change, recasting can happen (consider Julie’s immense love for Phoebe unfortunately Hayley will probably stay on The Originals forever). Shit can be fixed. In terms of storytelling, the sooner the pregnancy storyline/angle is erased from the show, the better. Character wise - the writing for Klaus needs to become stronger and be reflected in the fall because viewers don’t want to see a passive and weak Klaus. He should be front and center of his own show and act true to his character, which again a lot hinges on how Julie and her writing staff have this pregnancy play out.
Crossovers with the Vampire Diaries is both inevitable and necessary for this new show because even with Klaus gone and there is so much history with many of the people left in Mystic Falls. There is a wealth of stories that can also play out between Caroline and Klaus and Klaus and the Mystic Fall gang even if they are hundreds of miles apart. Julie makes very questionable choices but the network would be absolutely foolish to keep trying to destroy the budding relationship between Klaus and Caroline, a couple which has a very large fanbase. Also, yes, I will admit that I do want Caroline to join The Originals because like with Klaus, she has outgrown Mystic Falls, and being on this new show could give the writers to explore Caroline’s character a lot more and give her an actual storyline which doesn’t hinge on just being Stefan and Elena’s friend.
I will be very shocked if the first crossover which no doubt will happen just in time for February sweeps (November sweeps might just be a bit too early) and it doesn’t include Caroline being part of it. A lot of fans have hoped from Julie’s and Joseph’s comments about how the Karoline relationship would continue once Klaus moves to New Orleans, they both talked a lot about crossovers. It would be a missed opportunity to ignore Caroline’s role in Klaus’ evolution and storyline because as the backdoor pilot showed she never strays from his mind even at the darkest moments and he still has hope that he can fulfill his promise to her of showing her the world. There is so much potential for both characters individually and as a non couple to explore and room for character growth, which they have started by making Klaroline friends.
I’d love for Caroline to join The Originals and to have their friendship deepen and mature before they became a couple. Of course, as a new show trying to separate themselves from their sister show, I understand why Caroline might not be a part of the show for a while, they need to distinguish themselves. Even if Caroline is on it, if this show is going to be written how Joseph and Daniel among others have sold it as, there would be no concern that Caroline’s presence would impede that. People are excited for this show because it is supposed to be different, darker and more adult. Fans want to see that world and are completely different from the more teen aspects and drama of TVD.
I do remain hopeful in the coming months we will hear about changes and get a sense when filming starts up in July (my guess since that is when most shows come back from summer hiatus) and spoilers begin to trickle in, the writers are laying the ground work to explore the more welcomed aspects of the backdoor pilot - Marcel and Klaus, Elijah and Klaus, Klaus himself, and tweak the very very bad (sorry Hayley looking at you). I hope Camille (oh sorry Cami), who Joseph mentioned in an interview before the backdoor pilot aired, is developed into a jaded adult and not the quirky adorable bartender who likes to psychoanalyze paintings, life and Klaus every week. And please, she might be blonde and bubbly but she is not love interest material for Klaus. Just no.
Sophie’s character needs to be fleshed out and given more of a personality - she was woefully underdeveloped in the backdoor pilot.
Finally, the writing of the Originals themselves especially Klaus needs to be fine tuned because in the end, that is what is the most critical for the spinoff to be a success. I can’t be the only one who hated how Klaus was written in the backdoor pilot and I don’t want that trend to continue. We need to see his ruthless, no bars hold, violate, cunning, intelligent, one step ahead of everyone else hybrid. This will be reflected in how the writers approach the Marcel versus Klaus storyline because in order for it to work, we have to see the Klaus we’ve all grown to love, actually be the Big bad Original who is always planning something because Marcel might be a friend but Klaus is also an indestructible Original who has been alive for a 1000 years.
How this show is marketed by the CW over the summer will be interesting. This will give some insight on how the network has taken the writers’ plans of the season and how to present it to the audience. If they are smart, the promos and print will focus more on Klaus’ plan to regain his throne and Marcel than anything else. If they use the baby/pregnancy as part of their promotion and the big key to this storyline, I will throw up. It will backfire on them if they do. If the network and or Julie don’t quickly wise up to the fact a big chunk of the viewers who watched the backdoor pilot absolutely hated Hayley twist, then they are condemning this show to failing completely.
Also the TCAs held in July will be very important since the new shows and the casts are paraded out to the media and they are there for one big reason - to sell the hell out of their new show and convince people to watch it. So how Julie and company talk about the spin off to the media and (if they are smart) will outright address the concerns of viewers because they need to win back skeptical fans. Either way, the Hayley story will be a hot topic item which will be addressed by the media but it is how Julie responds to the criticism (which I will be shocked if months later, it is forgotten about and completely gone) and tries to market her own show.
Right now, in the early beginnings of this show, as I said before the actors presented the backdoor pilot has something radically different and assured fans that it would be darker and more adult which wasn’t reflected at all. I do hope that in the fall, viewers do see that show.
Because right now all we see is wasted potential and a show centered around a much hated character and ripping off probably the worst source material of all time - Twilight.
P.S. Oh, Julie. You lose. I ship my ship even harder now. Your BS talent and terrible writing can go to hell. And please if you do one thing right for TVD s5 which I won’t watch, DON’T ruin the Stefan and Caroline friendship. Please. Don’t make them into a couple.
They have the one healthy relationship on the show which means she will ruin them and make them a couple which will be a disaster and (sorry baby or not, it is pretty clear the only person Klaus wants in his life is Caroline), Caroline deserves better than to be the second choice.
P.S.S. My opinions. No fans were hurt by writing this random rant. If anyone does read this, I am sorry for the spelling errors and if I repeated myself, writing this out between 3am -4:30am is not a good idea ;)
And yes, this really is a post based on the Vampire Diaries new spinoff The Originals
I had really low expectations going in. Like really really low. Not to my surprise Julie Plec couldn’t even met those.
The Originals has so much potential going for it. All the characters had become fan favorites and even started to overshadow the Vampire Diaries leads and the tired drawn out triangle which will forever plague this show. The actors had become immensely popular and well liked by fans.
Disclaimer: I started to have my doubts about the spin off from the start when the writers promptly killed off Kol. An original. Then came news about the casting of Phoebe Tonkin who came onto the show and her character has become immensely hated. She has served no purpose and added no value.
It was telling to me from early on once backdoor pilot news broke and casting news started to trickling in that this show wasn’t going to be as any fan expected or probably hoped for.
I was already on the fence since then. Nothing has changed that. In fact the way the writers had reinserted Hayley into the show randomly in 4x16 was just so utterly laughable and lame. Why? So again, the writers took the lazy path in setting up why Hayley would turn up in New Orleans. Now, the backdoor pilot has aired, the implications of that episode which makes me weep and laugh at the same time.
Despite my misgivings, I was willing to give the backdoor pilot a chance. I really love the characters and the actors. Joseph Morgan, in particular, has become a favorite of mine and he’s the reason why I even started to find clips on You Tube. Klaus was one of those unique characters who has evolved in the course of the two seasons he’s been on TVD and yet, even as he has developed feelings for Caroline, the writers weren’t afraid of staying true to his character. 4x09 is a perfect example of that. No matter how Caroline makes him feel, even if those emotions were formed when she was used by her friends a ploy as the little blonde distraction, Klaus is still a man with a 1,000 years of emotional scars. He’s paranoid, he’s dangerous, he’s merciless, and like he’s says in 4x20, he’s got a bit of a temper.
I love the other Originals too. Elijah is another favorite. So, why wouldn’t want to support the actors and characters - to have them be on their own show, be given real air time and a chance to explore their history which TVD had just barely skimmed the surface. That was exciting.
Unfortunately, none of that promise and excitement translated onscreen for me. I will say there was some really good moments but overall, it fell flat for me. Instead of focusing on Klaus and the Originals, they became supporting characters again, and took a back seat to much of the action and set up. I understand the difficulties in a pilot - who in case of a drama one - they only have 40 minutes to introduce all the characters and the premise of the story. Yet, they didn’t have to spend too much time when it comes to a backdoor pilot, because as viewers we are familiar with most of these characters. Still, this episode was sold to the audience with one simple idea - Klaus goes to his old stomping ground, New Orleans, a city he founded because there is a threat on his life. We got the opposite.
The opening scenes gave me an uneasy feeling because it was all about Hayley. A character no one cares about. I didn’t give a damn she was in trouble. Yet, the writers felt it necessary to start their story with her and set up the rest of the pilot and considering what they were setting up, it is painfully obviously Julie doesn’t get her audience and how horrible she is as a storyteller.
This episode was supposed to engage an (already pre-exisiting) audience, to excite them, to make them want more. By 9:00pm, it was evident a lot of viewers were utterly furious, disappointed, and disgusted. I don’t think I have ever seen so many people alienated by one episode before. This show may win new fans in the fall but it isn't smart to turn off the built in fanbase since they are the reason there is a spinoff in the first place!
The first thirty minutes offered some positive and exciting elements which gave me some hope. Filming in New Orleans was wonderful - it was great to see the city and like so many shows, the location became a character in itself, and helped to create feel of the show. It is a shame we will only get limited chance for the actor to film on location due to logistics, costs, and to remain in Atlanta which will be helpful when they film crossover episodes.
As the lovely Joseph Morgan had indicated in many interviews prior to the backdoor pilot being green lighted and until its premiere, The Originals was going to be an adult, darker, and more mature world. These were all characters who were comfortable with who they were. Fears about romantic triangles were alleviated a bit by Joseph again who said this wasn’t the Vampire Diaries (sad thing is there will be a triangle just not the way we were expecting or wanted). This show was going to be everything the Vampire Diaries isn’t.
Something the actors (mostly Daniel and Joseph) had sold to the fans. In their own ways, they both talked about how their new show would be unique, and interesting, and fun.
Funny, this seasons big storyline on the Vampire Diaries looks like a masterpiece now. The sire bond storyline? FUCKING GENIUS MAN. Nina, Ian and Paul (if they have seen the pilot and/or know the ‘twist’) must be thanking their lucky stars right now.
The episode committed two big sins in my mind (and why I have no interest in watching this show weekly). I will say that my two big issues with the episode can be easily fixed by the writers, and if they were, The Originals could become an amazing show that I want it so desperately to be.
Will the real Klaus please stand up:
Sin one - the destruction of Klaus: As I mentioned beforehand, I hated how Klaus seemed less like the lead and more like a spectator on his own show. Yes, they had to introduce Marcel, give the audience a background on his relationship with Klaus since it will be a big part of the show going forward. I just didn’t like the Klaus we saw in New Orleans. There were glimmers of Klaus we all know from TVD - the alpha male, the big bad hybrid and violate man. Yet, it was too little. I didn’t want to see a glimmer. I wanted to see it in full force. He was too passive and Klaus is anything but that.
As the episode progressed, I was wondering if he was playing by Marcel’s rules, toying with his protégé, quietly lurking in the background while he was plotting something on his own. I was really hoping any twist or the ending would show the audience Klaus had something up his sleeve. An inkling that he wasn’t just watching on the sidelines while others played in his sandbox city
Since this will be a season long arc (or even longer), it was obvious Klaus wasn’t going to completely get back his throne back in the pilot, but I expected that he would have done more. Klaus is about power plays. Asserting his control and status. He was in a bit of a sticky situation trying to ‘figure’ out Marcel’s control and reach within the city (his city) and how much of a wild card Marcel would be. Klaus is a 1000 years old. He’s always two steps ahead of everyone. He’s the most feared. As Sophie says, everyone in the supernatural community has heard of him, there are stories about him, and as Klaus has repeatedly said - he enjoys that he has the power to install fear in others.
While Marcel is the King of NOLA, I felt like Klaus wasn’t seen to his former protégé or his followers as someone to fear. After all these years, I am surprised that Marcel was a bit more cautious and concerned, that suddenly Klaus is back again especially since Marcel knows, I believe, why Klaus left in the first place. He’s returned after breaking the curse and killing his father. He’s more powerful than ever and the writing didn’t seem to respect that. I am sorry but Marcel sending two lackeys to follow Klaus was a weak response. Klaus could kill them in an second without blinking an eye. It could have been a test on Marcel’s part and asserting his power in this situation but Klaus isn’t a fool - he has the ability to take action in the most violent of ways (4x09) or in a much smaller way. Klaus knows how to move around pieces and have things happen in his favor. So why didn’t we see Klaus mount a more overt attack on Marcel and find a quieter way to make some inroads? Granted, yes the witches threat was more valid on his part at the time being but even when he finds out they need him to help overthrow Marcel and therefore help him, we should have seen him do something and push the pieces around the board. Despite his situation, I hoped Klaus would have been seen more as a threat because all he could do to assert his dominance was to bite one of Marcel’s friends? I find that hard to believe.
Plot hole #1 (out of 1,000,000) Klaus had to abandon NOLA because of Mikael. He couldn’t have been King and founder without his stepdaddy finding out. So he had to run. What I did scratch my head over was Klaus seemed utterly oblivious to the strength of Marcel’s dominance and power since he’s left. Since he was quite fond of New Orleans and relished his role as the self proclaimed King, I thought it really unbelievable Klaus would be so unaware of Marcel’s rise to power over the last 200 years. He was still dodging Daddy Dearest and looking to end his curse but I don’t believe for a second, Klaus would just forget about his old stomping ground. Klaus is a smart and ruthless man who knows what is happening around him. He’s a 1000 years old. He has seen it all. He knows to be vigliant, to keep ears and eyes everywhere, to know everyone and everything around him. (Completely irrelevant but I have to point out - sorry shipperness coming out - Caroline who until 3x11 wasn’t a concern of his or even on his radar per se, we find out just three episodes later, he knows she was Miss Mystic Falls which occurred a year before he even arrived in Mystic Falls. And until that point, she was just the doppelgangers best friend).
It is troubling when Klaus is written better and his actions actually stay true to his character when he’s a supporting character than on his own show. Julie has a unique talent of not being able to write good storylines for any of her leads and instead saddling them with love triangles, sire bonds, and now Teen Mom rip offs!
Back to my original point, there had to be ramblings coming out of New Orleans about Marcel. I can’t believe Klaus hadn’t heard anything. Yes, Marcel made it a point for people to fear him, to bow to him, and he had learned to control them but still, this is Klaus. Klaus has a reputation. I can’t believe for a second people were more terrified of Marcel than they were of Klaus - because who would you as a supernatural creature have protection of? The immortal hybrid who can’t be killed or one of the vampires he created? I wish the writers had actually spent more time laying out the background for Klaus’ eventual departure to New Orleans especially since the talk of a spin off has been
going on since season 3.
He’s a bad boy and that’s how we like it -
I hate how the writers have approached the idea of Klaus’ redemption (another plot hole - I can’t believe Elijah has no idea about Caroline or Tyler’s actions since 4x09 especially how Tyler is still alive). The writers have been carefully touching on this on TVD and very slowly showing some changes in Klaus. A year ago, Klaus would have never given Tyler two chances to run away from Mystic Falls. No Tyler would have died as brutally as his unsired hybrids did. And Tyler, aside from having Caroline’s love, has been Klaus biggest headache. In 4x14, Klaus pointedly tells Caroline he has an reputation to uphold that he has to kill Tyler and yet, he doesn’t. Does it mean he’s soft? No. He knows how much Tyler means to Caroline. He knows killing Tyler means the end of having any hope for a future with Caroline. For Caroline, he shows mercy.
I am not surprised the backdoor pilot touched on the idea of his redemption. He won’t ever completely change but could he become a bit more tempered, thoughtful, and less prone to rash actions and violence? Sure. Instead the writers focus on Klaus redemption can only be based on the fact -drum roll please - this show has now become less about the dark, adult and not!TVD and completely become about Teen Mom and Baby Daddy Show.
If I have to list the reasons why a pregnancy on a show about vampires and werewolves is utterly ridiculous and lame, then we have some issues to discuss. It isn’t cool. This isn’t Twilight.
Also when would Elijah of all people champion a baby as their family's savior? Again, she is making everyone so OOC to cater to her ridiculous storyline.
Even on supernatural shows, there is a limit to how much BS a writer can feed to the audience and many things are brushed off because well, believability can be stretched and bended. BUT A PREGNANCY? There is a reason why shows with humans avoid baby storylines - writers admit they are a nightmare and don’t make for good storytelling. If they don’t work on other shows, then of all shows called The Originals, can this seen as good writing? The big bad hybrid is going to be a Dad isn’t what the viewers want to see. I hate the implication that these writers have instituted with this plot is that Klaus can only redeem himself because of a baby? A child he doesn’t want? How will this change him? It won’t.
I don’t want Klaus to be redeemed because he’s forced to. That isn’t the point of a character changing and even learning to act differently and not to resort to their first impulse and give into their rash and violent side without a second thought. A baby won’t make Klaus into a good guy. There is absolutely no value a baby can bring to Klaus’ journey. I want to see the complex Klaus - the man who ruthless and viciously kills twelve of his hybrids, instills fear and is emotionally fucked up and the same man who smiles when calling the one person who has captured his interest and he deeply cares for, the artist who finds solace in his art.
Redemption should only come from his own actions and choices. Klaus is stubborn and only knows how to react and act by violence and anger (as Julie mentioned after 4x09 aired - when he's hurt and betrayed, he lashes out often with violence). I want it to be his choice. Not anyone else. He was slowly finding himself on a different path strongly motivated by falling in love with Caroline and wanting her in his life. Would he even completely change for Caroline? No, but as Joseph had discussed in interviews after 4x09, he was showing a little willingness to compromise (i.e. give mercy to Tyler twice!).
Being merciful to Tyler went against every fiber of his being. You see it in his face in 4x19 after Tyler disappears - he longs to exact revenge on Tyler, and defies his own nature and beliefs, but it is Caroline that makes him stop. He takes her feelings into account and despite his intense hatred for Tyler, he's more concerned about Caroline and he chooses on his own to give Tyler a chance to escape again. Why? Because he shares one important trait with Tyler - they both want to make Caroline happy. That doesn't make Klaus weak even if he may still view it as such. It is a small change but a very meaningful one for him. It is his actions and choices - and I don't want redemption shoved onto Klaus, unless it is a truly conscious choice on his part, but instead evolves naturally and even without him being fully aware of it happening as it did after 4x14.
Also I have an issue with fans who bemoan the Klaus we saw with Caroline in 4x07 was 'cringe worthy' and OOC. He was a much different person in that episode. But if any, this show has shown us Klaus has many different layers and personalities. Caroline is the only one who brings out the softer and more human side to him. I think in a way it is something he longs for, to be liked without pretense and Caroline did enjoy his company at the pageant. She truly laughed and smiled with him. So, this brings me to why people are so anxious to see Klaus a father. I know that a baby won't change him into a smiley happy person. In a way it would be interesting to see him as a Dad because he could be a very good one and want to be better but I don't want to see that on the show. We have fanfics for that. Also do we really want to see Big Bad Klaus' entire life and storyline be about a baby? It could yield some interesting moments but especially for this show and character, it would be watching a train wreck.
oh baby, oh baby. what a mess we've made.
Suddenly the entire focus of the backdoor pilot became less about Klaus reclaiming his throne based on his own actions and more about how a baby is the key to solving all his problems. Really? Suddenly, the baby is the only reason why Elijah is pleading with Klaus in the streets of New Orleans, telling him he believes in Klaus’ humanity and this can help heal their family. Like others who have pointed this out, since when would Elijah ever want a baby in their lives? (Plot hole 1,000,001). I hate how Elijah invokes the ‘Always and Forever’ promise to Klaus and how it is conditional because of Klaus having a child.
Also a baby is the only way the witches can threaten Klaus to stay in New Orleans and help them dethrone Marcel? That is their best threat to a man who has roamed the earth for a 1,000 years, terrorizing people and making himself known as the most feared creature? Oh, plot hole 9,000,000 talk about another stretch of believability who in the hell do any of the NOLA witches even know about Hayley sleeping with Klaus? Completely BS and lazy poor storytelling. Instead of touching on their families long and tortured history, the writers choose to go the soap opera route, because it’s the only way for Klaus to have his family again and be redeemed? It’s not like three Original vampires who have been around since 1100 would have, um, like any enemies or anything. I wish that they weren’t forcing Klaus’ journey and storylines based on being pushed into something he wants to nothing to do with.
He’s been around for a thousand years, so wouldn’t he have a few contacts in his phone -
I know this won’t be addressed due to Julie logic but wouldn’t Klaus seek out other witches to confirm if Hayley pregnancy is real? He can’t just take a word of witches who have a HUGE ulterior motive to keep in him in New Orleans. That is there only leverage they have over him and he would just take their word? Klaus is a smart man and he knows about being played so if the writers don’t address the fact about him consulting other witches or magical entities I will be really pissed off.
And other points -
- You can’t have a show about Klaus and bring in Hayley who should be dead by now. BY KLAUS’ OWN HAND. Julie was making him OOC on TVD just to have Hayley on her new show. Klaus got what he needed found out about his traitorous hybrids (another OOC plot because there is no way Klaus would have been so unaware of what his own hybrids were planning against him). Also he had to find out about Katherine from Hayley. Are you kidding me? Really? He has to find out from a nobody about a woman he hunted for five hundred years? So since her introduction, Klaus has been written horribly and incredibly OOC for the sake of Hayley and keeping on her on TVD and now putting her on the spinoff. … And then they had her have sex with Klaus then made her pregnant with his kid. I have no hope that Julie’s writing will do right by Klaus or any of the Originals because that would mean she would have to admit that pretty no one likes Hayley and she admit being at fault for ruining a show with so much potential because she loves Hayley too much (who could have joined the spinoff for so many other reasons than a baby
- 'Every king needs a heir.' Oh this line made me cringe. As Klaus points out when Marcel tries to assert his power as King, he is immortal and can't be killed. Was it to show Klaus' twisted sense of love? We already knew that! Also again, I hated this line fed into my earlier comments about how we are expected to believe and be happy that Klaus' reign of power will return because of his unborn child (if it is his and/or a real pregnancy). Klaus doesn't need anyone else to fight his battles and especially win them for him. I really hate the message the writers are trying to convey that Klaus' true sense of worth and power won't come from him but the result of a drunken meaningless one night stand that he had be so liquored up to even willing to be a part of?
- Most viewers really loved Marcel. I have to admit to being very meh on him. Yes, the actor has great chemistry with Joseph but I wasn’t a fan of how Marcel was written. First, I don’t see him as a true threat and foe to Klaus. I can’t really put my finger on why Marcel didn’t click for me but it felt to me that the writers struggled with his characterization. The writing seemed a bit over the top for me and awkward. This is something as time goes on, the voices of the characters will hopefully get better but in 4x20, I wasn’t feeling it for Marcel. They were straddled the line between making him charismatic and fun while being the King and in many ways, it felt too forced to me in some senses that they were trying too much to make him be both. The scene in the street with Sophie’s sister didn’t work for me. I wish the writers had done something more subtle in showing Marcel’s power and influence instead of ‘well he has to kill someone’ route. I get the idea it was a show to both the others residing in his town and maybe even to Klaus but it had me just roll my eyes a bit. Marcel may have taken some of his old friends’ lessons to heart and even adopted some of his ways, and even despite his young age compared to Klaus, I don’t see him as an equal in any way.
- Camille. She came across as I feared she would as a Mary Sue. Everything about Camille screamed dull, unoriginal and forced. Oh the painting scene with Klaus was utterly cringe worthy. Again, I know the writers need a way for him to interact with her, and make himself ‘known’ to her but the dialogue was terrible. Right now, the writers seem to think if they give her Caroline like characteristics and have her connected like Miss Forbes did with Klaus, then people will ship them. Yeah, that’s not going to happen. Hopefully she will become her own person but Klaus having any feelings for a human would be so OOC then again this show is already ruining his character for a pregnancy so I don’t have much hope.
- Sophie - I have no opinion on. She was such a small part of the pilot and the little we saw of her, wasn’t much to like or hate. Totally indifferent to her. I was wondering if she will end up being the wild card in a potential full war between Klaus and Marcel because she has a lot of power to help defeat Marcel and well, revenge angle can be very dangerous.
- I have had lots of issues with the writing for Elijah (4x18 - praising Elena for her compassion knowing she killed Kol without blinking an eye; 4x19 - his entire scene with Klaus) but his entrance to NOLA was perfect. Then when it came to the storyline which shall not be named frustrated me again with Elijah’s kindness and warmth towards his brother being so conditional and easily dismissed when it convenient to him.
- The Kalijah break up wasn't completely unexpected and again, it is all because of Hayley's damn spawn? (god this pregnancy better be a Lex Luthor mind fuck like they did with Smallville). Nina obviously can't do both shows - I wish she could only play Katherine - so Katherine's appearances would have been limited. Still I hate Elijah chooses to break up with her for a child that might or might not a) exist or b) actually be his brother's. I do hope Katherine will turn up at some point in New Orleans. Can you imagine the Marcel/Katherine interactions - oh man, sassy fun!
- Rebekah scenes - I love her but honestly I didn’t pay much attention to her because all her scenes of late when it comes to her family are two fold: I hate Nik and I won't ever help him (all feelings which are very much justified IMO) and I want to be human.
- The brief Klaroline moment. Only good part of the last 30 minute suck fest. Loved the call back to 3x20 and how just leaving a voicemail can make him smile and give him some happiness after everything. Joseph did allude to in an interview how Klaus, in his mind, wants to be a tour guide to Caroline, and I really want to see that. Don’t care what Julie does because in my mind, they will be end game. Even EW singled out this moment - "In fact, Klaus has more chemistry on a voicemail with Caroline than he does with anyone else we’ve seen him with so far."
- On an unrelated note, I wonder how much truth there is to a comment which came out one of the cast interviews about the spinoff in regards to filming schedule for Saving Hope which could limit Daniel's availability on The Originals. While he might be considered to be a lead, he wouldn't need to appear in all 22 episodes (Joseph really is the only one who needs to appear in every one). If Daniel can only to be in x amount of episodes, I do hope the writers will find a way to bring back Esther, Mikael, Finn and Kol for flashback centric episodes and we get a bit more insight into the Originals' past both as humans and I'd love to see a Mikael centric episode when he's chasing Klaus. Also I would love to see little Henrik again since his death started the chain reaction to his family becoming vampires and their very twisted history.
- This will never happen because we won't be this lucky but I do hope Julie adopts a less is more approach when it comes to Camille and especially Hayley. I am interested to see if the hints about Marcel being interested in Camille (which in a way we saw in 4x20) will come into play especially when the war for NOLA heats up with Klaus and Marcel. I can very easily see Camille becoming a pawn for Klaus to use against his friend.
After reading all the interviews about this episode and the feel to the spinoff, and seeing what unfold on screen, I felt really misled and even in a small way it felt like a betrayal of my trust. A part of me was expecting at the end of the episode it would be revealed the viewers had just been punked.
Before I am called melodramatic, it is how I felt in the moment, and even now I still feel extremely disappointed but more so, being toyed with and misled hurts even more.
I get it though.
Actors do have to sell their product to the viewers and with this show, Joseph and Daniel in particular, know their fanbase. The fans are the reason why the Originals have their own show. It hurts. I know actors have to say things and present them in a way to promote an concept to any potential viewer not just their built in fanbase. But everything they had talked about and raved about and why it would be so good and fun ended up being a lie.
From previous interviews, it seemed from Joseph’s reactions and comments that he wasn’t a fan of the whole Hayley hookup in 4x16 (for a one time thing it has suddenly become even more of a disaster and a distributing way to make Hayley important), and also from what he’s talked about how he loves playing Klaus is he stays dark and he will never be good etc.. So it makes me wonder how he will promote this show knowing as he knows his fans (which many of them are Klaroline fans) will be turned off by this twist. I will be disappointed if he ends up liking this new storyline and thinking it could be good (then again he will have to promote his new show a lot as the lead so he will have to say BS things even if he doesn’t believe them) for Klaus. I feel bad for him because he deserves so much better than a poorly written rip off.
But in this moment, I want to be happy that the Originals got picked up. I really do but I can’t. I won’t sit through 22 episodes to see Klaus learn to change diapers or bond with Hayley over their baby. I refuse to watch a character I have grown to love so much and appreciate for being so complex, dark, and tormented turn into someone unrecognizable as he did in the pilot. I do hope Julie will come to her senses and end this pregnancy storyline (and get rid of Hayley) soon and if she doesn’t, this show won’t last very long because the baby twist has alienated a lot of viewers many of them aren’t Klaroline fans. She has such fabulous actors in her three leads and I really hope the writer improves and the quality of the show matches the talent of Joseph, Daniel and Claire. They shouldn’t have to promote with smiles on their faces and (fake) enthasium such horrible and cringe worthy storylines when this was supposed to be an edgier, more adult, and darker show.
With all my heart wish the best to the lovely trio of Joseph, Daniel and Claire. I am happy that they are happy.
But hope my young padawans, there is still hope
There is some hope this show will fix itself and address many of the concerns of the audience. Since The Originals started as a backdoor pilot, which was to give viewers a glimpse of a new show and test it (which in retrospect ended up being a moot point since it was obvious the network was going to pick up. Which they did just a day later! Because if viewer response and ratings were going to be part of the decision process, I really don’t think this show would have earned its pick up so quickly). When it premieres in the fall, it will air this actual pilot to kick off the season and reintroduce viewers to this new world and characters. This is why I do have some hope because a lot can change between now and the premiere, which will likely be in early October. Storylines can be dropped, roles can change, recasting can happen (consider Julie’s immense love for Phoebe unfortunately Hayley will probably stay on The Originals forever). Shit can be fixed. In terms of storytelling, the sooner the pregnancy storyline/angle is erased from the show, the better. Character wise - the writing for Klaus needs to become stronger and be reflected in the fall because viewers don’t want to see a passive and weak Klaus. He should be front and center of his own show and act true to his character, which again a lot hinges on how Julie and her writing staff have this pregnancy play out.
Crossovers with the Vampire Diaries is both inevitable and necessary for this new show because even with Klaus gone and there is so much history with many of the people left in Mystic Falls. There is a wealth of stories that can also play out between Caroline and Klaus and Klaus and the Mystic Fall gang even if they are hundreds of miles apart. Julie makes very questionable choices but the network would be absolutely foolish to keep trying to destroy the budding relationship between Klaus and Caroline, a couple which has a very large fanbase. Also, yes, I will admit that I do want Caroline to join The Originals because like with Klaus, she has outgrown Mystic Falls, and being on this new show could give the writers to explore Caroline’s character a lot more and give her an actual storyline which doesn’t hinge on just being Stefan and Elena’s friend.
I will be very shocked if the first crossover which no doubt will happen just in time for February sweeps (November sweeps might just be a bit too early) and it doesn’t include Caroline being part of it. A lot of fans have hoped from Julie’s and Joseph’s comments about how the Karoline relationship would continue once Klaus moves to New Orleans, they both talked a lot about crossovers. It would be a missed opportunity to ignore Caroline’s role in Klaus’ evolution and storyline because as the backdoor pilot showed she never strays from his mind even at the darkest moments and he still has hope that he can fulfill his promise to her of showing her the world. There is so much potential for both characters individually and as a non couple to explore and room for character growth, which they have started by making Klaroline friends.
I’d love for Caroline to join The Originals and to have their friendship deepen and mature before they became a couple. Of course, as a new show trying to separate themselves from their sister show, I understand why Caroline might not be a part of the show for a while, they need to distinguish themselves. Even if Caroline is on it, if this show is going to be written how Joseph and Daniel among others have sold it as, there would be no concern that Caroline’s presence would impede that. People are excited for this show because it is supposed to be different, darker and more adult. Fans want to see that world and are completely different from the more teen aspects and drama of TVD.
I do remain hopeful in the coming months we will hear about changes and get a sense when filming starts up in July (my guess since that is when most shows come back from summer hiatus) and spoilers begin to trickle in, the writers are laying the ground work to explore the more welcomed aspects of the backdoor pilot - Marcel and Klaus, Elijah and Klaus, Klaus himself, and tweak the very very bad (sorry Hayley looking at you). I hope Camille (oh sorry Cami), who Joseph mentioned in an interview before the backdoor pilot aired, is developed into a jaded adult and not the quirky adorable bartender who likes to psychoanalyze paintings, life and Klaus every week. And please, she might be blonde and bubbly but she is not love interest material for Klaus. Just no.
Sophie’s character needs to be fleshed out and given more of a personality - she was woefully underdeveloped in the backdoor pilot.
Finally, the writing of the Originals themselves especially Klaus needs to be fine tuned because in the end, that is what is the most critical for the spinoff to be a success. I can’t be the only one who hated how Klaus was written in the backdoor pilot and I don’t want that trend to continue. We need to see his ruthless, no bars hold, violate, cunning, intelligent, one step ahead of everyone else hybrid. This will be reflected in how the writers approach the Marcel versus Klaus storyline because in order for it to work, we have to see the Klaus we’ve all grown to love, actually be the Big bad Original who is always planning something because Marcel might be a friend but Klaus is also an indestructible Original who has been alive for a 1000 years.
How this show is marketed by the CW over the summer will be interesting. This will give some insight on how the network has taken the writers’ plans of the season and how to present it to the audience. If they are smart, the promos and print will focus more on Klaus’ plan to regain his throne and Marcel than anything else. If they use the baby/pregnancy as part of their promotion and the big key to this storyline, I will throw up. It will backfire on them if they do. If the network and or Julie don’t quickly wise up to the fact a big chunk of the viewers who watched the backdoor pilot absolutely hated Hayley twist, then they are condemning this show to failing completely.
Also the TCAs held in July will be very important since the new shows and the casts are paraded out to the media and they are there for one big reason - to sell the hell out of their new show and convince people to watch it. So how Julie and company talk about the spin off to the media and (if they are smart) will outright address the concerns of viewers because they need to win back skeptical fans. Either way, the Hayley story will be a hot topic item which will be addressed by the media but it is how Julie responds to the criticism (which I will be shocked if months later, it is forgotten about and completely gone) and tries to market her own show.
Right now, in the early beginnings of this show, as I said before the actors presented the backdoor pilot has something radically different and assured fans that it would be darker and more adult which wasn’t reflected at all. I do hope that in the fall, viewers do see that show.
Because right now all we see is wasted potential and a show centered around a much hated character and ripping off probably the worst source material of all time - Twilight.
P.S. Oh, Julie. You lose. I ship my ship even harder now. Your BS talent and terrible writing can go to hell. And please if you do one thing right for TVD s5 which I won’t watch, DON’T ruin the Stefan and Caroline friendship. Please. Don’t make them into a couple.
They have the one healthy relationship on the show which means she will ruin them and make them a couple which will be a disaster and (sorry baby or not, it is pretty clear the only person Klaus wants in his life is Caroline), Caroline deserves better than to be the second choice.
P.S.S. My opinions. No fans were hurt by writing this random rant. If anyone does read this, I am sorry for the spelling errors and if I repeated myself, writing this out between 3am -4:30am is not a good idea ;)