I Wouldn't Be Standing Here If It Weren't For You is the sixteenth episode of the fourth season of Legacies and the sixty-fourth episode of the series overall.
Summary[]
FAMILY FIRST – Hope continues her fight and Lizzie devises a plan to potentially help. Cleo is fearful of her visions and what it means for those she loves. Alaric sends Kaleb, Ethan and MG on a high-stakes mission. Jed finds himself needing to make a very difficult choice. Meanwhile, Landon makes a surprising discovery.[2]
Plot[]
Cleo sits outside of Mystic Grill as Kaleb comes out with two coffees. Kaleb's car has broken down from this trip back from Atlanta and they're waiting on a tow truck. Distracted, Cleo sketches out her vision before it slips away. Kaleb takes a closer look, admiring her artistic abilities, despite the climatic depiction she's drawn–Mystic Falls in complete destruction. This is the future she's seen. Kaleb is adamant that they won't let this happen, let alone today. A waitress behind them drops a mug, however, that's another portion of her vision that she's drawn on a separate page.
MG brings Hope a blood bag, despite them supposed to be starving her out, but he empathizes with the hunger. With her back to him, she turns to him and apologizes for the things she's done, and for what she's done to Lizzie. MG accepts her apology, explaining that all that matters is that she's here. He also tells her that Lizzie's returned to the school as well and has also done things. Hope inquires about that, but MG doesn't have anything to tell her. Lizzie's been avoiding everyone since her return, but he's gathered that she's helped Ben raise his father. MG wants to go get the keys to release her but she refuses. If he lets her out, he'll be letting out her dark side, too. She explains that though she's in control of her body, but not her mind, she believes she's still here. She doesn't want to be let out until she's sure that she's gone. MG questions how they're supposed to do that, but that's still something she has to figure out for herself. MG relents and accepts her wishes. He leaves, obliging her request for new clothes. With MG gone, her dark side reappears to her, asking if she really thought she believed her gone.
Alaric brings Lizzie her breakfast, though she's hiding from the world and her problems. He's brought her Belgian waffles, explaining that she's going to have to face the world at some point. Lizzie doesn't want to face anyone, but Alaric tells her that the lack of communication is half the reason they're in this mess and that's no longer an option. He explains that he's been doing some thinking in Limbo, something that Lizzie's not aware of due to the lack of communication. He wants to do better, starting now. Though she feels they'll regret this personal growth, she shows him her arm. Her brand is gone, which means either Aurora found a way to undo the spell, or the purpose of their covenant has been completed and someone raised a god. She tells her father that it's all bad and talking about it isn't going to help because no one will understand how everything just snowballed. Alaric assures her that they'll work on the god stuff but encourages her to talk to someone, even if it's not him.
Landon and the Necromancer are tied up in a warehouse. Landon manages to get out of his bindings, but the Necromancer believes his plan is working perfectly. He wanted an audience with their kidnapper, and now they'll get that. Landon reminds him about their deal, particularly if their kidnapper is worse than the jinni. The Necromancer believes it impossible, however, Limbo is full of monsters. He's not forcing Landon to stay and tells him to leave if he wants to. He doesn't want to stay under servitude. Before Landon can drag him out, their kidnapper enters the warehouse and introduces herself as Seylah. The Necromancer attempts to gain her good graces and introduces Landon; however, he explains that she is his mother.
Alaric requests for Jen to see him with Cleo, Kaleb, Ethan, and Jed in attendance. He hands her Cleo's drawing, inquiring if this looks like her father's handiwork. Lightning, fire, death, and destruction. She confirms that it is, though questions where they got the drawing. Cleo explains that she got a vision and Jen assumes that her half-brother, Ben, had awoken her father. Jed defends Ben, as they don't truly know if he's involved. Alaric points out that they do know this is the second piece of evidence pointing to Ken's arrival. They have to assume the worst and come up with a plan to save the school. Jen is sure they can't. Cleo is obviously an oracle and they see things that will happen. Even though she can see the future, she questions if she can't change it. Jen denies that she can. Regardless of what's to come, they have to try. Alaric instructs Jed to take Finch and clear out the school. Jed questions about saving Ben, but Alaric defers him, citing they need to focus on one crisis at a time. He wants Ethan to find MG and evacuate the town and Kaleb offers his assistance too. Cleo doesn't want him to go, but he reassures her that they'll make their own future.
As Hope consumes the blood bag, her dark side appears to her. She questions if she's going to talk, but her dark side knows what she's trying to do. If she can get her talking, then she'll figure out why she's still here. If she needs a sounding board to figure out her problem, she's going to have to look elsewhere as she doubts anyone will be as forgiving as MG. Lizzie however appears at the cells, asking if they can talk.
Lizzie talks to Hope. She's between a rock and a hard place and believes that everyone is going to think the "sire bond" is just an excuse because they have no idea how intense it can be since none of them have ever had one. She basically willed herself free from it, which is rare, but also assumes she'll get no credit for that either. Hope snaps at her, telling her it's a bad time for them to talk. However, Lizzie points out that she's locked in a cell and her schedule is wide open. She tells her that she's the only one she can talk to about it since she's regained her humanity. Hope knows they need to talk and that she owes her an apology, but it needs to wait. The dark, humanityless version of her is still hanging around, and she needs to get rid of her before she gets stronger. Lizzie gets pushy with her, asking how long it will take because her whole life is on pause until she can find a way to explain what happened to everyone. Hope chimes in, telling her that they both made some really stupid and self-destructive choices and, instead of apologizing, she wants people to understand and excuse her. They bicker over the things they've done, such as Lizzie working with Aurora to raise the gods, which she points out as an effort to fix her mistakes. Hope points out that she wanted to kill her, only for Lizzie to remind her that she actually did kill her and put her father into a coma. Hope explains that it wasn't her choice because her humanity was off, but she has to live with the consequences and while the worst version of her is still here. Tipping the argument, she tells Lizzie that the worst version of her is just her. Lizzie scoffs at her remark and leaves. With Lizzie gone, her dark side notes how impressive that was as if it was almost her talking for a second and that maybe she's getting stronger.
Walking through the woods, Seylah explains that she felt like she was in the darkness forever. However, she saw a bright light that enveloped everything and ran for it. The next thing she knew, she was in Limbo, like so many of the monsters in Malivore. At first she thought she was back in the real world, but she figured it out when the sun never came up. Landon's not judging her choices, but wonders if that's when she decided to become a professional thief. He wants to understand her. Seylah goes on to explain that the first thing she did when she got into Limbo was go looking for a drink. That's when she saw what Zied was doing. She knew she had to disrupt his supply chain because he doesn't deserve peace. Every coin she could take from him is one minute longer he has to stay here. With her story finished, Landon explains that the white light she saw was Malivore dying while he was possessing his body after his girlfriend, Hope, had to stab him with a sword made from her own blood. Instead of explaining that more, he questions how long she knew he was in Limbo. Truthfully, she's known for a while and when the opportunity presented itself, she took it. She thought, even if he didn't remember her, she could get to know him if they could work together. She didn't realize that his memories had been returned to him. He explains that his friend, Josie, found a spell and brought them all back. Seylah believed it to be the perfect goodbye and that he wouldn't have to remember to feel sad that his mother left him. In the end, she believes that she couldn't even protect him from that. Landon interrupts her, telling her that she's a good person, deserving of peace. Seylah believes that if he's stuck in Limbo it has something to do with her. Landon doesn't feel stuck though and asks if she wants to see where he works.
Jed works on clearing out the school but finds Cleo drawing more sketches. She's trying, and failing, to figure out what comes next. She thought she could force her new powers to happen, but doesn't believe them to work that way. Jed thinks he can help. In myths, oracle powers were always used in response to a question or a problem that someone had. He thinks that if he asks her about someone in particular, that'll trigger her powers. Cleo is intuitive and knows he's worried about Ben. Jed doesn't believe the idea of Ben betraying them. It doesn't make sense because since the moment he got here, all he's done is protect them. She explains that it's natural to be concerned about the people they care about and believes that might be a part of her block because she's worrying about Kaleb. However, this triggers another vision and she quickly draws a new sketch. This time, it's Ben standing over a decapitated Kaleb.
Hope sits on the cell floor, drawing a sigil. Her dark side tells her that it's not going to work and that if there were a spell to get rid of a magical alter ego, she would have done it when she was in control. She quips back, thinking she wasn't going to talk to her, but she clarifies. She doesn't have to do anything to win. The world's in crisis, and she managed to push away the only person willing to talk to her. Deep down, she knows what's coming. She knows of the battle simulations, and, even if she beats the gods, she can't save her friends and some of them will die. Just like Landon and just like every other person that she's lost. She proposes that she doesn't have to feel any of that. If she lets her out, she'll make it all go away. Hope takes a moment and considers her offer, but Lizzie comes back and admits that she was right. She was worrying about herself when she has a bigger problem, though she believes she can help.
Meanwhile, MG compels a bus driver to take a load of people away from Mystic Falls. Kaleb approaches him, telling him that the cops are blocking off every road, so that no one can get in. The town is empty and everybody should be safe. Kaleb, however, has a weird feeling. He's never heard the town so quiet before. He muses that the apocalypse would be a little noisier. Regardless, they need to buy Hope time so she can get her mind right to face the gods. They split up to make one final round of the town. Kaleb runs into someone, learning that it's Ben. He asks what he's doing here which is also his question. Kaleb explains that Cleo had a vision, the town in flames. With that new information, Ben knows why he's ahead of schedule. This alerts Kaleb that Ben intends to set the town on fire. Ben explains that he's trying to save as many of them as he can because his father is heading to the school. He knew that they would try to stop him, and they would lose. He needed a way to keep them occupied until his father got what he wanted. Kaleb tells him that he could have just come to them and warn them, but Ben is skeptical that they would have believed him. Regardless, the town is empty and tells him he can go ahead and burn it down. He's returning to the school since there's no one in town that needs saving. Ben doesn't see another way and rips off a parking meter and swings it against Kaleb, knocking him to the ground.
Lizzie has an ornate box and passes it to Hope through the cell. Hope muses if they're going to use a jewelry box to get rid of her dark side. Lizzie explains that the box isn't important, but the spell is. Emma taught it to her when she was young. The spell is to help her to release things, specifically, what she's afraid of. Though Hope appreciates the box and spell, her problem is her dark side. Lizzie gives her a bit more insight and believes that her dark side isn't the one holding on to; she is. It's a defense mechanism, and believes that her dark side is just that. Hope finds that explanation to be ridiculous but Lizzie continues. She was so angry and mad at Hope and not because she hated her. She idolized Hope. A part of her thought that she would never want to be friends with her, so she pushed her away. She points out that she did the same when she had to kill Landon and her humanity switched off. Her dark side scoffs at the thought, believing that won't get rid of her. Hope now thanks otherwise and asks Lizzie to show her the spell.
Ethan meets up with MG in the Town Square asking about Kaleb. Ben tosses Kaleb to their feet, declaring that he's not going to stop and they'll need all of their friends to face him. MG instructs Ethan to get Kaleb out of there and he'll handle Ben. MG rushes Ben, but is easily thrown away. Jed approaches Ben and Ethan and has Ethan get both MG and Kaleb to safety; he'll handle Ben. Ethan grabs Kaleb and runs him over to MG and teleports them away.
Landon helps a woman and she's granted a coin to Peace. Seylah is impressed, and quips that Zied will turn green when he finds out his top earner has gone into business for himself. Though he's technically in breach of Zied's contract, helping people is more important. Most people want to get to Peace, they just need help figuring out how and he'd rather the coins go to a more worthy cause. He passes along a jar to his mother, but she declines him. It's not enough because she's tried to cross over several times, but no matter how many coins she offers the Ferryman, somehow it's never enough. She assumes it's because of the life she's lived, but Landon thinks it's because she just hasn't gotten an actual coin of her own yet. He offers to sit and talk with her as one more client.
Hope questions how the spell works. Lizzie instructs her to concentrate on what she's afraid of and to imagine filling the box with it. Her dark side attempts to taunt her, telling her that the gods are coming and when they're dead, she'll be coming back to her. Lizzie attempts to get Hope to separate her fear and anger while her darkness pushes her further, that her friends will die remembering the worst version of her. Hope realizes why she's holding on to her. The lights flicker and the box shakes as her darkness dissipates into it. Speeding around to the next part, she wants her to picture her fear transforming into something beautiful and they repeat the spell together. The box opens and a butterfly flutters out. All they have to do now is watch it slowly fade away. Hope speeds up the process by casting incendia, just in case.
Outside, a crack of thunder and a crash of lightning rings out over the grounds. Ken has arrived at the school. With a booming voice, he demands for them to hand over his traitorous daughter. If they refuse to hand her over, they'll all die. Alaric, Ethan, and MG discuss their options. Alaric refuses to hand her over and sends Jen away to the werewolf bunker until they come up with a plan. Ethan tells him that they're not in fighting shape–Jed is holding off Ben, Kaleb's still healing, and the last jump he did really took a lot out of him. They need Hope. Their timing is perfect with the arrival of Hope and Lizzie. Hope knows what she must do.
Jen has snuck out of the school and runs away in the woods, however, Cleo finds her. Jen questions how she found her, and she explains that she's had more visions. The visions didn't stop with Kaleb dying. She saw her running away and when she did, they all died. Jen believes she's here to convince her to come back so they can hand her over to her father. There's nothing people won't do to save their own skin. Cleo knows otherwise. When she first came to this school, Malivore was sending monsters after her. They could have sent her away to save themselves, but they didn't, even after she betrayed their trust. They rescued her from darkness and welcomed her into their family. Jen still refuses. If you saw her leaving, that's what's going to happen. Cleo's already changed the future once today. Jen doesn't understand and Cleo elaborates that Jed saved Kaleb's life and the vision didn't come true. Jen tells her that she never told her she couldn't change the future, but that she shouldn't. Cleo doesn't understand. When she changes the future, she might not be an oracle anymore; she'd become something else. Before she can ask further, Cleo collapses to the ground.
Hope knocks out everyone in the school with a sleep spell, much to Lizzie's confusion. Lizzie was right about her and what she said about her dark side. She was holding on to her because she was scared of losing them all. From the moment that she became immortal, a part of her knew that she was going to outlive everyone she loved and figures that triggered stuff about her parents. She didn't want to feel that pain again. She knows she'll have to eventually but that doesn't have to be today. Lizzie wonders if this means she's reverting to her martyr-complex because she can't face a god alone. Extending a pinky finger, she asks Lizzie to stick with her until the bitter end. They'll face Ken together.
Seylah sits with Landon, though she believes it's a waste of time. He hates the idea of her being here and assumes that her unresolved stuff is going to be about him. She has no illusions on whether or not she was a good person or a good mother. Landon understands that she was doing the best she could in the worst situation. Seylah stops him and explains that she ran. She told herself that she was protecting him, but she was also protecting herself just as much. She was never a good fit for motherhood, but she was a mother all the same. She's not going to Peace because she doesn't believe she deserves it. So it doesn't matter what she says, she's not getting a coin. Instead she wants to create new memories with him, like they can get ice cream or something. Before they do, Landon has something to say. All she has to do is listen. He's not going to tell her that he forgives her because he's not the person she needs it from. The other reason he's not going to say it is because he's not mad. Like her, he's had to make unthinkable sacrifices and he gets it now. She was loving him in the only way she could and she was protecting him. If she's not ready to go to Peace, he can respect that and he'll enjoy spending time with her. He wants her to know that he's good and happy. He's known incredible love and friendship and adventure his whole life, and she's not damaged him. Hearing Landon's affirmation, she gains her coin to Peace.
Hope approaches Ken, surprised to not see his daughter. Hope declares her Klaus Mikaelson's daughter, though that name means nothing to him. Hope elaborates. Her father stood for family above everything. This school is her family. If Ken wants to hurt them, then he'll have to go through her. He's almost insulted. A little girl to challenge a god. Hope creates fire in the palm of her hand and blasts it at Ken, however it's unaffected. Magic doesn't work on a god. Hope knows this, but it can be very distracting. Lizzie appears behind him and siphons from him, but she's overwhelmed and blown back by a gust of wind. Turning from her, he strikes Hope down with a bolt of lightning, sending her flying through the air. With Hope down, he turns his attention to Lizzie. Picking her up by the throat, he throws her into the school gates, impaling her in the stomach.
Jed faces off against Ben, though he keeps avoiding him. Ben can't fight him and Jed wants to talk. He wants the truth because he's spent the day defending him, only for him to betray them. Ben has nothing to say, but Jed already knows the truth. Jed wants to fight, pushing him to do so, but Ben refuses. He didn't want anyone to get hurt, but he had to wake his father. He knew that whoever woke him up would get his boon and it was the only way that he could get him to break his curse. No more monsters, no more suffering. If Jed comes with him, his father can break his curse too; he'll show him how. Jed takes him by the neck, and snaps his neck, killing him.
With his great power, Ken kicks Hope around like a ragdoll, but doesn't understand why she won't die. Hope quips that it's kind of her thing, but Ken reassures her that nothing is unkillable and even she will prove a disappointing adversary. Before he can strike her down with her own sword, Jen approaches her father, telling him to stop. If he leaves them alone, she'll go with him. Ken accepts and approaches her. Grabbing her by the shoulders, they're transported away in a bolt of lightning.
Lizzie recovers in her dorm room with Alaric by her side. She's scared him, but notes that the school is still standing, so that's something. She asks about Hope and he tells her that she's resting. She can't rest because all of this is her fault. She spent all day hiding from that instead of owning it and apologizes to him. She needs to find a way to make it up to him and everyone else. Alaric offers her some advice. As somebody who's made their fair share of mistakes, he believes that the trick to atonement is to ask the people that you've wronged how to earn it, instead of deciding for them.
Ben wakes in the cell with Jed, questioning about his father. Jed tells him that he got what he wanted, like all bullies but is sure he'll be back as soon as he wants something else. Ben is glad that he survived and relieved that at least part of his plan worked. Jed isn't so relieved because his friends also didn't and he's not going to be grateful. Ben can live with him hating him because he's at least still alive to do so, which means he saved the life of someone that he loves. Jed laughs off the comment, surprised this is the way he's going to tell him that he loves him. Jed doesn't believe he means it because love means fighting beside the people you care about, not against them. He would have fought with him no matter what came for them. Ben asks him what about now, but Jed doesn't answer, shutting the gate between them.
Landon walks with Seylah as they make their way to the Ferryman and talk about Hope. She comments that it sounds like they really loved each other. Landon confirms this, even if it was only meant to be for a time, because destiny keeps pulling them in different directions. It was everything. Seylah offers that sometimes good things aren't with them as long as they want. Landon questions if she's sure about Peace, but, as he pointed out, they only get the coins when they're ready. She thought what she was missing was absolution, but turns out what she needed was to know that it was safe to let go. To know that he'd be okay. She couldn't leave without that. She pulls him into a hug and he tells her that she's a good mom. She comments better late than never and tells him that she's never not been proud that he was her son. Seylah approaches the Ferryman and presents him with her coin. The Ferryman accepts and points towards his boat.
MG checks in on Ethan while he's showering. He wanted to let him know that he did a good job today. They were all counting on Hope to save the day, but he wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him. As MG turns to leave, Ethan collapses out of the shower with the curtain around him. He's bleeding from the mouth and begins flashing in and out of a phased form. He doesn't understand what's happening to him as MG tries to cradle his head.
Cleo watches over Hope with Kaleb. She believes she's not done enough and questions if she's only delayed the inevitable. They're all still here; him, Hope, everyone. He says that she's changed a lot. He confesses to her that he was scared, too, today but he's just better at hiding it than she is. Oracles can't see everything. Cleo explains that she's not an oracle anymore, that Jen said changing the future she saw in her visions meant that she's becoming something else. But what, she doesn't know. However, the only answer they really need at the moment is why Hope hasn't woken up yet.
In Limbo, Landon watches as Seylah boards the Ferryman's boat as he ferries her across the lake, making her way towards Peace. They wave goodbye as she fades away in the distance. When he turns to leave, Hope appears before him. Surprised to see her, he rushes towards her and they embrace in a tight hug.
Cast[]
Starring[] |
Guest Starring[] |
Trivia[]
Body Count[]
Continuity[]
- Landon, Ethan, Jed, and the Necromancer were last seen in The Only Way Out is Through.
- Ken was last seen in a flashback in The Only Way Out is Through.
- Seylah was last seen in Maybe I Should Start From The End.
- The Ferryman was last seen in Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost.
- Zied was mentioned. He was last seen in Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost.
- Aurora was mentioned. She was last seen in Everything That Can Be Lost May Also Be Found.
- Josie was mentioned. She was last seen I Can't Be the One to Stop You.
- Malivore was mentioned. He was last seen in a flashback in The Only Way Out is Through.
- Niklaus was mentioned. He was last seen in When The Saints Go Marching In on The Originals.
- Emma was mentioned. She was last seen in a flashback in I Thought You'd Be Happier To See Me.
- Finch was mentioned. She was last seen in Follow the Sound of My Voice.
Locations[]
- Mystic Falls, Virginia
- Mystic Grill
- Town Square
- Salvatore Boarding School for the Young & Gifted
- Werewolf Transition Space / Cells
- Lizzie's Dorm Room
- Ethan's Dorm Room
- Library
- School Grounds
- Woods
- Limbo
- Mystic Falls, Virginia
- Warehouse
- Woods
- Landon's Business
- Dock and Lake
- Mystic Falls, Virginia
Behind the Scenes[]
- This is the third episode of Legacies where the title is not a direct line from the episode, but it refers to MG's line "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."
Cultural References[]
Multimedia[]
Soundtrack[]
"Minefield" – Chelsea Effect
Videos[]
