The Originals 4×04 Review: “Keepers of the House”

The Hollow is coming on this week’s new episode of The Originals “Keepers of the House” with little Hope in grave danger as the malevolent force makes its presence known in New Orleans.

With the original family back on their own stomping grounds, Vincent’s tossed in a predicament where he must work with the family to stop the Hollow and save Hope from child sacrifice, a now common problem in New Orleans. Marcel’s willing to work with the witches during an alleyway meeting that Hayley crashes. The name Laura comes up with being involved in this cult, a wolf just like Hayley.

Laura, one of the most unpleasant characters in the season so far, nonchalantly tells Hayley that the children are good as dead. We totally can’t hate her that much though because she had no idea that children would be involved in pledging allegiance to the Hollow’s plans.

Right before Lara knifes herself in the neck she asserts that the beast will rise taking all of New Orleans under it’s power. Why did they do this? Because of Marcel and his power-hungry need to rule New Orleans. Marcel, you become more unlikable every week for me! Even when you don’t mean to cause trouble, you just have a habit of creating it whenever you go!

Back with Klaus, poor Hope didn’t get any better from Vincent’s healing spell which leads to some swoon-worthy daddy Klaus moments that Joseph Morgan plays so well. So far the highlight of the season is Morgan’s portrayal of the now caring, fatherly super vampire. Even though Hope has a Mikaelson warrior heart, she’s still no match for the nightmares plaguing her sleep about the other children and mysterious blue orbs that seem to be taking the children.

Meanwhile, Vincent and Elijah find Will and attempt to destroy the Hollow’s influence on him through some witchy voodoo. Will escapes though, but not before Vincent is able to put a tracking spell on him leading the gang of Klaus, Marcel, Hayley, Vincent and Elijah to the sacrificial alter. They manage to save the kids, but Marcel and Klaus get trapped in a circle of fire.

It was the Hollow’s plan all along; the kids power the ritual while Klaus and Marcel serve as an anchor to allow the Hollow into the living world. Vincent comes up with a plan to temporarily stake Elijah turning him into the “sacrifice” they need to free Klaus and Marcel. The plan works, and Hope wakes up saying they, meaning her and the children, don’t feel cold anymore.

On a side note, the Freya and the werewolf girl’s story lines just keeps getting stranger (I can’t find her name anywhere on the Internet). We all know how dangerous it is to keep secrets from your family, especially if they are the oldest and most powerful vamps around, yet Freya is still working her her captivate (who is either crazy or experiencing Stockholm Syndrome) and gifts her a ring that allows her to control her werewolf powers.

The episode ends with Hayley bluntly telling Elijah what everyone who watches the show is thinking, the original family has got to stop putting themselves before others. We agree Hayley.

Hope is still in danger though; you knew the Hollow wasn’t going to go away that easily. She wakes up with a plate of – they had a fancier name, but they look a lot like donuts – beignets and sees her father with glowing blue eyes.

She wakes up from the nightmare, and the Hollow is here ready to create all kinds of chaos on New Orleans.