GayTV Recap: Legacies (Episode 4x13)

The blog's 100th GayTV Recap goes to Episode 13 of the fourth season of the CW fantasy series Legacies, which saw the return of Hope to the gifted Salvatore School, as she sought assistance from her former friends to stop the unleashing of the Gods. This, of course, quickly connected her to the cursed half-god Ben (played by Zane Phillips) and put some focus on his relationship with fellow student Jed since Episode 11. The episode began with the students preparing for the homecoming of their hospitalized headmaster Alaric. Ben found his close friend Jed (played by Ben Levin) having trouble working on an odd-looking cannon. Ben wondered what it was and Jed explained that it had been used in the past for training but he was attempting to rig it to become a confetti cannon for Alaric's surprise party. Seeing Jed having trouble, Ben offered to fix it for him.  

Jed struggled to admit he could use assistance, but he ultimately relented, handing over the wrench to Ben, who removed his shirt and got to work. Hiding his romantic interest in Ben, Jed quickly found himself admiring Ben's muscles as he worked. That led him to come up with a reason to make a quick exit, claiming he was going to work on something else for the party. Ben watched him walk away, as he smirked. 

Later, Ben & Jed joined the other Salvatore School students. Believing Alaric had arrived, they prepared to spring their surprise, only for Hope to appear, insulting them for their efforts, claiming they would give the man a heart attack. Jed & Ben were side-by-side. Alaric arrived, shocked to see her, just as the others were. Jed then accidentally set off the confetti cannon, increasing the awkwardness in the room. Hope then revealed to Alaric that she returned to build an army in her plan to fight the gods.  

A group of the students gathered as Hope explained to them that they would likely die in the fight to stop the gods, but they were needed to help her succeed in her mission. Ben & Jed sat together listening. The students were reluctant to help, given Hope's attitude and her feelings on their potential fates. When her attention turned to new boy Ben, she was intrigued when Jed mentioned that they had already tangled with Aurora, the woman seeking to unleash the gods. Ben explained his familial connection to the gods and that he could give her important information, if nothing else. That wasn't enough for Hope and she broke Ben's bracelet which shielded him from being tracked by monsters. Hope assured Alaric that they would all want to help her once she defeated the monster that would come looking for Ben, putting them all in danger.

Ben took off from the school, with Jed not far behind. He wondered why he was abandoning them now. Ben reminded him that dangerous monsters were going to be after him and it was safer if they came after him away from the school and the innocents inside. Jed said that part of being on their squad was protecting people, not running away. Ben then told him that was his plan. He showed Jed a chain, telling him to chain him up out there in the woods so the monster would find him. Jed didn't like that idea, knowing Ben would be torn apart and helpless. Ben told him that was the curse of his life. 

Ben told him that this plan was the most logical option and he would live again after being ravaged by the monster. He didn't understand Jed's hesitation in helping him do it. A nervous Jed then told him that he's been waiting for the right time to tell him something important. He joked that it would have been better had he done it earlier with the confetti cannon but he chickened out. Ben told him that now was as good a time as any. Ben then assured him that no matter what Jed had to say, he would hear it with his soul. Jed joked that his words made him feel even more pressure. Before he could tell Ben about his feelings, Jed was attacked from behind by a monster. Ben was forced to watch as Jed fell from a vicious bite, before the monster turned his attention to Ben.

A flashback showed Young Jed (played by Zane Shieh) playing a game of hide-and-seek with his young friend Trey (played by Ellis Hobbs IV) during their time living in a commune of werewolves. Trey commended Jed on his ability to find him. Jed's father yelled for Jed to come home, leading him to hide with Trey, out of the older man's sight. Trey told him that his father was scary. Ben assured him that they would be werewolves soon and nothing could scare them. The boys shared a secret handshake and a hug before running away, as the present-day Jed was shown watching them, looking upset. 

In the present, Jed was shown suffering from his wound, calling out for his father. A worried Ben watched over him, as he explained what happened to Hope & Alaric. After describing the monster, the group figured out that it was an ancient clown. Ben wondered how to kill it. Hope laughed him off, saying she would take care of it. Ben told Alaric that he would leave to face the monster to keep it away from the school, but Hope revealed that a barrier spell meant no one could leave. Ben blamed her for what was happening and told her that as a half-god, her barrier spell couldn't stop him from drawing the monster away from the school. Hope then used her vampire speed to quickly snap his neck, knowing that would stop him.

It was soon revealed that the clown's bite would cause the injured person to confront the memories of the worst things they'd ever done so they could be redeemed. Jed's memories continued to haunt him. Young Jed sat with Trey when his father (played by Joe Daru) called the werewolf pack together, solidifying their allegiance to him as their alpha. He then said there was no room for weakness or use of resources from those not willing to prove themselves. He called on Young Jed & Trey to stand before the pack. He then said that one of them would become a werewolf tonight. Young Jed wondered what would happen to the other one.

Jed's father revealed a bat and tossed it between the two boys on the ground. With the pack surrounding them, he said that this was the moment for his son to prove himself. Young Jed grew more upset, realizing that his father was implying that he needed to beat his friend in order to become a man in his father's eyes. Young Jed locked eyes with the scared Trey. The present-day Jed could be seen watching this memory play out from afar with tears in his eyes. 

In reality, Alaric (played by Matthew Davis) remained at the injured and feverish Jed's side, tending to him, while keeping an eye on Ben laying on a nearby couch. Knowing the monster wasn't far, Alaric muttered that this would be a really good time for Ben to come alive. 

Jed's memory continued to play out, as Young Jed found himself unable to pick up the bat, despite his father's constant prodding. When his father's werewolf eyes glowed, he threatened Young Jed, telling him to pick up the bat or his father would pick it up, implying punishment coming his way. Trey told Jed that it was okay. He told Jed that they knew he was going to be the better werewolf. The sad and overwhelmed Young Jed finally picked up the bat.

After the monster's defeat, the revived Ben found Jed standing outside. The teary-eyed Jed was staring off, as Ben wondered what he was doing out there. He said he had expected Jed to be at his side when he woke up so they could finish their talk. Jed confided in him about his memory of his bullying father, explaining to Ben how haunted he had been. He told Ben that he took that bat and instead of attacking his friend, he attacked and killed his own father. Jed told Ben that he became a werewolf that night but he ran away from the pack and never saw any of them again, including Trey. 

Ben wondered why Jed would be so haunted by doing the right thing. He stood up for someone who needed him. Ben wondered if Trey was straight. Hearing that, Jed wasn't sure. He told Ben he could have been more than that, his first crush. Jed said that he had let his father's looming control haunt him and it led him to be a bully when he first came to The Salvatore School. He said it wasn't until this very day that he was finally able to let it all go, to leave behind who his father wanted him to be, and to be who he really is. Ben told him that sometimes the biggest curse is family. 

Jed stepped closer to Ben, telling him that ever since they met, and Ben told him his story, Jed wanted to tell him that he knew how Ben felt. Jed said he had wanted to tell Ben how he felt about him. Ben smiled, telling him it was all right. He said he understood if Jed wasn't ready. Before he could say another word, Jed moved in and kissed him. Ben reciprocated. This led to a more lengthy kiss between the two.