This week’s episode of The Originals titled “You Hung the Moon,” is the series premiere that this show deserved.

So let’s just look at that first hour as a distant dream. This is the episode to focus on. We’ve got mama Hayley returning at full strength, fierce and on a warpath to get back to her daughter. We’ve got Klaus, who finally gets someone to tell him the truth about the consequences of his actions. And we’ve got Jackson being the most perfect husband there ever was.

Let’s talk about it.

Hayley’s Back, Back Again.

Hayley’s return is key to making this episode brilliant. She was stuck in her human form thanks to the regent witch Davina. In exchange for the ability to stay in her human form, she has to kill an opponent of the witch. So that’s what Hayley does. She tears through the problem Davina has, killing several other witches when they come to defend their fallen friend.

Nothing can stop Hayley from returning to her daughter.

When everything is said and done, Hayley goes on the hunt for Klaus and her daughter. It doesn’t matter to her that she’s streaked with blood from head toe. Her arrival to the compound is brilliant. She goes after Klaus with such a ferocity that you can’t help but jump out of your seat in support. She doesn’t hold back against the father of her child. Every single word that has been building up inside of her gets thrown in his face along with her fists.

In a way, she’s the audience, rebuking Klaus for separating a daughter from a mother, for taking away her family and pack, and finally for not giving Hope the chance to grow up surrounding by a family’s love.

It’s the swift punch of reality that Klaus needs.

Klaus Gets Put Into His Place.

The first episode was all about Klaus walking around like he was the king of his own castle. This episode has everyone tearing that notion down and putting some things into perspective for the Original.

Klaus realizes that what he has done to Hayley was…a bit much. Just a tad. If he continues on the path that he has written for himself and his family, he will lose them all. The moment that he stops fighting Hayley is when he realizes it. He might be livid. He might be contradictory as hell. He might have all the power there is in the world. But if he doesn’t stop all the pain that he’s causing his family he will lose them.

He will lose his daughter.

Not because she’s been taken from him by Hayley in a crazy custody battle. Hope is going to leave him out of her own volition because she has seen the true face of her father. This sets a fire under Klaus. Not a big one, but a small flame that allows him to let Hope live across the compound with her mother and her stepfather (because that’s what Jackson is.) He’s losing his grip on Hope and the possibility of being completely in control of their lives.

Let’s hope Klaus has finally fallen into a place where family is first. Not just Hope. His entire family, including Hayley and her husband Jackson.

Jackson You Sweet Werewolf Man, Marry Me.

If there ever was a person who deserves the best in the world it’d be Jackson. This sweet man is the most down to earth person in the entire show. He understands what needs to be done, and he’s willing to work with the right people to save his family without compromising who he is. He’s smart, he’s sassy, and he’s a loving husband and father to a child that isn’t even his.

Jackson is the perfect man.

When he returns to human form his only thoughts are of his wife. So he does the unthinkable: Jackson ends up working with the man that he knows his wife still loves and who returns her affections. They have bigger problems and work to solve them as a team!

This, right here is what we need in the show. Rational people who put aside their differences and do the right thing to save their family. New Orleans is a big and scary place where they are the only people to be trusted to protect baby Hope and each other. (You hearing this Klaus? It’s all about family.)

We love Jackson and pray to the fandom gods that this beautiful werewolf man stays alive.

Other Observations:

Hayley’s reunion with her daughter is the tear-jerker moment of this episode. Anyone still need tissues after that scene?

Is no one going to talk about the fact that Lucien never came to get Klaus’s blood? He’s got some fancy technology that we’ve never seen before, the cure in the case and the spell to stop other sire lines from entering his home.

Are we also not going to talk about how Detective Cutie Pie steals Cammie’s laptop? Police, hello, I’d like to report a crazy stalker who likes to rob cute blondes.

Creepy fortune predicted by Freya is sure to bring Rebekah back. Let’s hope!

Elijah’s progeny is on his way! Maybe it will help move this lame progeny storyline.

Who wasn’t creeped out by Klaus watching Hayley and Jackson making out?

There has been a severe lack of Marcel. Give us more of this…shirtless vampire.

Family is key. It’s the driving force of the show and should be taken seriously by all the characters on our screens. Let’s keep that in focus and we’ll have a strong Season 3.

Agree that we should see more shirtless Marcel? Disagree that Jackson isn’t the most beautiful man ever (how could you)? Please leave us your comments and thoughts in the section below!

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The Originals airs Thursdays at 9/8c on The CW.