THE ORIGINALS: Hello, Dahlia!

**Spoilers Ahead**

The Originals got a breath of vile air last night. The highly anticipated arrival of Dahlia certainly didn't disappoint and for long-time fans of actress Claudia Black, it made the payoff that much greater.

Claudia Black as Dahlia - The Originals 2x18

We've seen clues about the mysterious ancient aunt and her tremendous powers, and we've seen her played by two different actresses. In flashbacks, the young Dahlia was played by Kristin Erickson, but the more mature and more vicious counterpart was introduced by Claudia Black. If you're looking for an actress who can embody that sense of sheer power and darkness, Claudia is definitely the ticket. She makes a wonderful evolution of the character and certainly shouldn't be missed as the latest "big bad" on The Originals.

Dahlia from flashbacks, Kristin Erickson (left) and Claudia Black (Right)

The earlier flashbacks hinted at the young Dahlia's ruthless search for power, but it wasn't until Claudia Black came onto the scene that we truly saw that side of her blossom. Freya was, in many ways, her masterpiece and she has been reluctant to let her get away. It was through Freya's rebellion that we were given a grim taste of the lengths she is willing to go. I have to say, we want to trust Freya, but her connection to Dahlia - particularly her tie to Dahlia's power - has made it rather difficult. As is confirmed in "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes," Freya is the source of Dahlia's power.

Freya casts a spell to trace Dahlia's power source - "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" 2x18

We don't doubt that Freya has suffered at Dahlia's hands. In the clip below, we see Freya's attempt to escape her oppressor only to be brought back and forced to live an eternal life under Dahlia's control. I've often wondered, though, why she hasn't bothered to take an interest in her family until new blood arrived on the scene, in the form of Klaus's daughter Hope. She tried to kill herself and her child to escape Dahlia in the past and now she is on the scene to protect Klaus's child. Is it possible that Freya is looking for someone to take her place? I honestly believe that her true motives remain to be seen at this point.

"There is no escape from me"

It's always been clear that Freya fears Dahlia and she's given us a few sob stories to drive that point home. In the beginning we may have thought that Freya was exaggerating or simply whining about her lot in life, but now that Dahlia has made herself known, we may find a greater sympathy for the Original family's lost sibling. We've had our first taste of her power - from possessing town folk and spying on her enemies to draining the supernatural life from Klaus and daddy dearest with a wave of her hand - we are seeing a whole new side to the potential powers of witchcraft in the show. And I, for one, am thrilled to see where they take it next.

Dahlia wants to acquire the first born child of each generation, but what did she plan to do with all of them? She only wound up with one and she's been denied subsequent generations for centuries. Even with only the one, her powers are worthy of note. She takes on the power players of New Orleans as if they are nothing but pawns - draining the undead life out Mikael and Klaus with what appears to be little effort at all.

Dahlia revels in causing her brother-in-law a bit of pain - The Originals 2x18

After making her own powers clear, she quickly strips her rivals of the very weapon they created to prey upon her weaknesses. Klaus, in his typical fashion, charges at her and finds himself attacking nothing - as she and the weapon disappear in thin air. When she resurfaces, she destroys the blade empowered with her weakness and reminds them that all she wants is the child. In order to live, they merely need to turn Hope over to her.

Oh, look a weapon to kill me...isn't that cute?

And...now it's gone.

We all know that Klaus would never give up her daughter, but Dahlia's overwhelming victory certainly leaves them with some things to think about.

A very defeated Original family

Before the episode wraps up, Dahlia makes one final statement. We see the Tremé coven matriarch, Josephine LaRue walking down the darkened streets of New Orleans, when she comes across a woman playing a beautiful and haunting violin tune. Of course, the woman is Dahlia, and the elder witch has just walked into her carefully planned trap. Josephine LaRue's death at Dahlia's hands is one of the more poetic and quite simply tragic that we have seen in the series.

Dahlia healing Josephine's hands - "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" 2x18

The meeting of the two powerful witches is oddly cordial and Dahlia, in an almost humane act, reveals that she plans to use Josephine to send a message to her enemies. There is no pleading or begging, simply an exchange of options and an acceptance of one's fate.

Josephine accepting her fate - "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" 2x18

When Josephine realizes that she has nothing to offer Dahlia to save her own life, she relents and asks only to play music one last time, which Dahlia acquiesces to allow - and may have even planned all along - since she gave the old woman back the use of her hands earlier in the scene. It is a beautiful moment in a very dark episode.

Dahlia sending her message - "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" 2x18

In a moment that is both fitting and tragic, Dahlia slices her witch rival's throat with the very bowstring she just held. The episode closes on Josephine's body lying in a pool of her own blood. For those of us who were paying attention earlier in the episode, we know that Josephine had just come from completing a spell to create a sanctuary for Hope. With the matriarch out of the way, we have to wonder how her magic will hold up. We can be fairly certain that it was this act which caused Dahlia to retaliate against her specifically. It is a message after all and Josephine is standing in the way of what Dahlia wants.

The next episode will certainly be something, as I'm sure we have only scratched the surface of this particular witch's powers. I know I can't wait. Can you?

Until next week, happy watching!