“We All Knew This Day Was Coming” questions the greater good

When lives are on the line, do you save the few or the many? Legacies allow its main characters to struggle with that question during “We All Knew This Day Was Coming.”

The concept of the greater good is an underlying question and thought-provoking discussion during the episode’s events, especially for Hope, MG, Kaleb, and Alaric.

Malivore proves his abilities have grown when he turns an innocent boy into a monster. A detail Hope is not aware of until after she has killed the beast. With that boy’s death at Hope’s hand, and the understanding of what Malivore has grown capable of, Hope refuses to wait any longer for another solution to defeat Malivore, choosing to go with the answer she believes is a guarantee.

Hope’s decision has been a conscious thought in Legacies for a while, but she does it knowing that completing the transition could save everyone.

But, Hope does not do it without discussing the reality of the transformation with Rafael and Freya first.

Hope’s visit to Rafael gives Hope a sense of comfort she can not receive from Landon, with the duo discussing that Landon is likely to find peace if he is unable to be saved.

Freya’s return opened the door to a much-needed Mikaelson reunion, and given the gravity of what Hope was going to do, it makes Freya’s visit even more important.

However, “We All Knew This Day Was Coming” also highlights Hope’s fears toward what it means to become a vampire officially.

Remembering how Klaus would say the best parts of Hope came from her mother, Hope is scared of losing what she has left of Hayley. But, her fear also stems from inheriting the worst parts of Klaus.

Although Freya and Hope acknowledge Klaus had good and bad parts, this scene also mentions one of the most significant differences between Klaus and Hope.

The Originals had been a series portraying how far the Mikaelsons would go for family. Klaus was willing to do anything to protect his family, even if it meant letting everything burn around him. Hope, however, is ready to let Landon go if it means saving everybody.

While Alaric struggles with letting go and supporting Hope’s decision, it is a no-brainer for the twins. Even though Josie and Lizzie had agreed to help Hope find a way to prevent having to become a full Tribrid, when they understood that Hope had made her decision, the twins were nothing but supportive.

Alaric, however, refuses to give in to the idea, even when everyone else has gotten on board. It takes Dorian showing Alaric what he had prepared for the Merge for Alaric to back down and accept that he can not save Hope from this.

As for MG and Kaleb, the Trolley Problem comes to them full force throughout “We All Knew This Day Was Coming.”

Although the two vampires are usually on the same side, the conflict over how to handle Hope’s decision puts them on opposing sides, especially considering it could end negatively for Cleo and Ethan.

Kaleb wants to save Cleo, which means coming up with the idea that will beat Hope to the punch.

On the other hand, MG knows they likely won’t beat Hope in a race against the clock. However, he also uses the Trolley Problem to explain his choice to side against Kaleb. If MG and Kaleb stop Hope, they may save Cleo and Ethan. But, if they trust Hope, many more will live.

“We All Knew This Day Was Coming” acts as a solid picture of what it means for many of these characters to accept what is out of their control and instead learn to handle life as it comes. Such a change in perspective allowed the Merge to be discussed as a possible event rather than an unspoken horrifying thought for the future.

Legacies exhibited some of its most significant character work, highlighting Hope’s friendships with Josie and Lizzie, as well as being an episode that proves the show very much remembers its roots.