If you like flashbacks, you're in for a treat from The Originals this week. Not only does "Dance Back From the Grave" give us a creepy new villain (then eliminates him by the end of the episode), there is tons of flashback action as we see Klaus and Elijah protecting post-WWI New Orleans. With severed heads in boxes and crazy voodoo, the show is becoming more and more like American Horror Story every week, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Before I get into it, let's allow the gang from The Vampire Diaries to critique this episode!
In a flashback, we learn Klaus is having some trouble keeping control over New Orleans. He has a new competitor by the name of Papa Tunde (Owiso Odera), a voodoo king who the witches have accepted as their leader. Just to get things started off on a friendly foot, Papa Tunde brings a gift to the city leaders' meeting: the mayor's head in a box. Totally normal, right?
I hate to agree with Klaus here, but I'm over Marcel mourning too. I know Davina just died on last week's episode, but if I was a betting gal, I'd say she'll be back.
Do what you want with the random vamps but leave Rebekah alone! I'm shocked Papa Tunde is even able to take Rebekah down; she's pretty agile. Despite her romantic waffling, I love Rebekah and the last thing I want is for her to spend eternity in some creepy chalk circle. I also just think she looks gross all gray and dead-like.
Aww, yeah! Marcel loves Rebekah like Joanie loves Chachi. I know he's pining for her in a flashback and maybe those days are gone, but come on, a love like Marcel's never dies, much like Marcel himself. (Get it? Because he's a vampire.)
Finally, these two get some action! OK, it's not exactly a moonlight cruise and a french kiss on the deck, but there is palpable sexual tension as Elijah draws blood from Hayley to break Papa Tunde's spell. What base is that in the vampire world? Like halfway to second?
Oh, this is cold. Returning to the flashback, Klaus wants to teach Papa Tunde a lesson, so he murders the guy's twin sons and shows off their decapitated heads. Part of me is thinking, "Hey, Papa Tunde was using them for power anyway," but the bigger part of me just thinks what Klaus does is incredibly messed up.
This surprised even me. After hearing all about Klaus's past with Papa Tunde, we learn Marcel is actually the one who brought the voodoo king to town. Sure, it's for noble purposes — he wants to distract Klaus so he and Rebekah would be free to flee together — but that's a pretty convoluted plan. Surprisingly, Rebekah is kind of on board, but she thinks Marcel will need to bring out the big guns to scare Klaus: their father.
It's about to go down, people. In the present day, Papa Tunde takes the lives of all the imprisoned vampires buried in The Garden. (Who else is glad Thierry gets out of there in time?) Having harnessed all their power, he lets Celeste take his life so she can become one of the most powerful supernatural beings New Orleans has ever seen. I don't see an easy way out of this one . . .