Legacies highlights the importance of friendship in the season 4 premiere

Legacies began its fourth season with the Super Squad coming together to find a way to save Cleo and Landon from Malivore. But, while there is a mission in place, the season 4 premiere, “You Have to Pick One This Time,” is also a story that highlights the significance of friendship among the show’s main characters.

Proving how far they have come since season 1, Lizzie and Hope get a solid heart-to-heart discussing Lizzie’s hopes for a significant future romance and ending on asking Hope to stay with Lizzie until she falls asleep.

However, the heart of the season 4 premiere comes from MG and Hope’s storyline, and part of the reason is that Hope learns a discomforting truth from her friends.

Hope has always been willing to go the extra mile to save Landon and has proved that repeatedly. So, when the Super Squad gathered to discuss their next move, Hope was confused about why she was being left out. Their reasoning stemmed from finding Cleo to be the point of the mission, which they were uncertain Hope would be able to stick to if given a chance to see Landon instead.

While Hope is aware of how her actions to save Landon have affected her friends, this may be the first time that Hope sees how her previous choices have changed the group’s view of her.

To the Super Squad, Hope may be a liability if Landon is not the primary purpose, and it seems to have struck a chord with Hope as this not being a good thing.  Hope asks MG what she has to do to regain everyone’s trust, and although she does stick to the plan of finding Cleo, who she is happy to find and help, the question of Hope’s loyalty comes later.

When Malivore traps Hope and MG, having MG injured with Hope having the chance to heal him, Malivore gives Hope an alternative option. Instead of healing MG, Malivore offers Hope the opportunity to follow the lights to see the real Landon again.

Given Hope’s history, Malivore is confident Hope will choose Landon, even after he explains Hope can only pick one of the boys. Hope even acknowledges this, understanding that her past actions have given everyone the impression that she would pick Landon above all.

Rather than do what everyone expects, Hope saves MG, giving up the chance to reunite with Landon.

At this moment, Legacies gives Hope well-deserved character growth. Hope still cares immensely for Landon, but she will not sacrifice MG for him. By doing this, Legacies has taken an essential step forward.

“You Have to Pick One This Time” sets the stage for a possibly darker tone for Legacies’ fourth season, but with the bonds of friendship stronger than they have been in a long time, perhaps the Super Squad has a fighting chance against whatever may come next.