The second season of The Originals is a whirlwind of secrets in the family, supernatural betrayals, high-stakes alliances, that had me fully entertained throughout. The season is a masterpiece of intertwining complicated characters into a chain of revenge and redemption, as the Mikaelson family has to encounter their strongest enemies so far their cruel parents, Esther and Mikael, and the power of a witch, Dahlia. The appearance of Esther who owns the body of Cassie brought in a certain chill of the unpredictable, and her manipulating schemes to bring her piecemeal family back together made me nervous as I wondered how the family could work around their distorted loyalties.
The most striking thing was the family relationships and betrayal that were explored in the season. The motivations in the characters, be it the fierce protectiveness of Klaus, or the moral quandary that Elijah is going through or the redemption that Rebekah is seeking were raw and authentic and their struggles were therefore emotionally involving. The mood of the season was alternating between a dirty action and very personal scenes, accompanied by a haunting score that enhanced every twist and turn. The aura of darkness and gothic style was in perfect harmony with the supernatural mystery visually, with a powerful play of shadow and light to represent secrets and shifting allegiances.
Finally, Season 2 made me have a feeling of deep appreciation of the moral background of the show and the richness of its characters. All the betrayals, sacrifices, and alliances made in the course of the story led to the tense and satisfying final that made me think of the destructive force of family bonds both strengthening and weakening. It is a show that balances supernatural drama with emotional character growth, which makes me anxious to find out what is in store of the Mikaelsons and their allies.
