Fans of #TheOriginals: please welcome the great @JeffLieber, who joins the team to co-run with creator @julieplec. You are in great hands.
— Michael Narducci (@MichaelNarducci) June 24, 2017
I’m so interested in the decision to have Elijah basically erase who he is. How did that come about?
I think it was episode 316 last year where Finn wants the White Oak to not be destroyed because he someday may want to use it to end his miserable existence. And the look on Elijah’s face [in that moment] says to me that he, too, has contemplated a quiet, peaceful end. We’re talking about suicide right now, and I think that’s a very touchy subject, but when you imagine 1,000 years of a tortured, tormented existence where you’re not fulfilled, I think that that’s on the table for these characters. And I think Elijah commits a form of suicide in the finale of season 4. He amputates the most important thing in his life, the thing that had given him at least a modicum of solace — his commitment to these brothers and sisters. Will that be a good decision for him or a bad decision? Will he find himself enlightened, or will he spiral into madness without his siblings? That remains to be seen, but I like the glimpse of him playing the piano.
Did a part of you write this thinking it might be the series finale?
Realistically, we were aware that we had not been picked up for a season 5, and I knew as I wrote this that it was going to be my last episode with the show and with these characters. I’ve been writing Klaus’ character since the first time he appeared in Vampire Diaries episode 218 when he was inside Alaric’s body and threatening Elena and Bonnie at the 70’s decade dance. It was the end of a long run for me, and I quite love these characters, and I love our cast, and so there was a poignancy there. But to be honest, I never thought that this was the end of the entire book on the Mikaelsons. They have a thousand years of story. There’s so much to explore, and I’m very happy that Julie [Plec] and the team get to continue. I think season 5 will be the best season yet. I’m excited to be a fan and to watch it.
I think it was episode 316 last year where Finn wants the White Oak to not be destroyed because he someday may want to use it to end his miserable existence. And the look on Elijah’s face [in that moment] says to me that he, too, has contemplated a quiet, peaceful end. We’re talking about suicide right now, and I think that’s a very touchy subject, but when you imagine 1,000 years of a tortured, tormented existence where you’re not fulfilled, I think that that’s on the table for these characters. And I think Elijah commits a form of suicide in the finale of season 4. He amputates the most important thing in his life, the thing that had given him at least a modicum of solace — his commitment to these brothers and sisters. Will that be a good decision for him or a bad decision? Will he find himself enlightened, or will he spiral into madness without his siblings? That remains to be seen, but I like the glimpse of him playing the piano.
Did a part of you write this thinking it might be the series finale?
Realistically, we were aware that we had not been picked up for a season 5, and I knew as I wrote this that it was going to be my last episode with the show and with these characters. I’ve been writing Klaus’ character since the first time he appeared in Vampire Diaries episode 218 when he was inside Alaric’s body and threatening Elena and Bonnie at the 70’s decade dance. It was the end of a long run for me, and I quite love these characters, and I love our cast, and so there was a poignancy there. But to be honest, I never thought that this was the end of the entire book on the Mikaelsons. They have a thousand years of story. There’s so much to explore, and I’m very happy that Julie [Plec] and the team get to continue. I think season 5 will be the best season yet. I’m excited to be a fan and to watch it.
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Was the idea always to send Hope to the Salvatore School?
In terms of The Originals, New Orleans is a very important place and it always will be a very important place for their family. But Julie [Plec] and the writers of The Vampire Diaries had this brainstorm to create the school for supernatural children, and she really loved that idea. We have Hope and she is a very, very powerful witch. We've talked a lot about how she needs guidance, she needs mentorship. We even chose our villain of this season to be a witch who was so powerful and perhaps did not have guidance. She was a threat who became this grand evil, and the idea was there but for the grace of god go Hope. And so how do you take a child with all this power and provide for her the mentorship she needs? ...That felt like a great place for Hayley having to choose to send her to school. It felt like a nice bit of closure.
The episode provided a lot of closure — does that mean the end of some characters?
I think there's always more story to tell. This is a family that's been around for a thousand years, and they've had all kinds of turns along the way. We knew we wanted to provide a satisfying season finale. It was not our intention for it to be the series finale, but we also knew that if the worst case scenario did happen, there were some things we wanted to be able to address. So as we approached the writing of the finale and talking about it in the room —and actually, the entire season — we talked about ending a chapter but definitely having there be room for more to come. And I think it's pretty obvious that there is a lot more story to tell, and I am very excited to see what they're going to do in season five.
In terms of The Originals, New Orleans is a very important place and it always will be a very important place for their family. But Julie [Plec] and the writers of The Vampire Diaries had this brainstorm to create the school for supernatural children, and she really loved that idea. We have Hope and she is a very, very powerful witch. We've talked a lot about how she needs guidance, she needs mentorship. We even chose our villain of this season to be a witch who was so powerful and perhaps did not have guidance. She was a threat who became this grand evil, and the idea was there but for the grace of god go Hope. And so how do you take a child with all this power and provide for her the mentorship she needs? ...That felt like a great place for Hayley having to choose to send her to school. It felt like a nice bit of closure.
The episode provided a lot of closure — does that mean the end of some characters?
I think there's always more story to tell. This is a family that's been around for a thousand years, and they've had all kinds of turns along the way. We knew we wanted to provide a satisfying season finale. It was not our intention for it to be the series finale, but we also knew that if the worst case scenario did happen, there were some things we wanted to be able to address. So as we approached the writing of the finale and talking about it in the room —and actually, the entire season — we talked about ending a chapter but definitely having there be room for more to come. And I think it's pretty obvious that there is a lot more story to tell, and I am very excited to see what they're going to do in season five.
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What can you say about how this separation will affect Season 5 and what can you tease about where the show goes from here?
Narducci: I know for a fact that Julie and the writers are hard at work. I had dinner with Julie a few nights ago. We talked a lot and caught up. It was great. I didn't ask and she didn't tell me anything about the new season. The one thing I will say is that I know who is writing the premiere and I know who is directing the premiere and I love them both very much. I am very, very excited to see what they do and what direction the writers take the show. I'm really eager to be able to watch as a fan because I think the story and the characters are so rich. There is so much to explore and these characters are worthy of more story to come. I just can't wait to enjoy it like all the other fans.
Narducci: I know for a fact that Julie and the writers are hard at work. I had dinner with Julie a few nights ago. We talked a lot and caught up. It was great. I didn't ask and she didn't tell me anything about the new season. The one thing I will say is that I know who is writing the premiere and I know who is directing the premiere and I love them both very much. I am very, very excited to see what they do and what direction the writers take the show. I'm really eager to be able to watch as a fan because I think the story and the characters are so rich. There is so much to explore and these characters are worthy of more story to come. I just can't wait to enjoy it like all the other fans.
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TVLINE | This next one isn’t really a question, but I loved seeing Alaric again.
We were very lucky to write a scene with Matt Davis and have him come film it. I was there the day we shot that, and it felt just like old times. He delivered an incredible performance. And I think it’s interesting that, on a show about the Mikaelson family, he had the last words of the season. It’s Alaric who says, “These kids are going to be better.” After everything this family’s done, it’s possible that Hope might not follow in their footsteps, which was a nice way to end.
We were very lucky to write a scene with Matt Davis and have him come film it. I was there the day we shot that, and it felt just like old times. He delivered an incredible performance. And I think it’s interesting that, on a show about the Mikaelson family, he had the last words of the season. It’s Alaric who says, “These kids are going to be better.” After everything this family’s done, it’s possible that Hope might not follow in their footsteps, which was a nice way to end.
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