There weren't really any twists, turns or stunning deaths on The Originals Season 2 Episode 22.
This was the season finale of one of TV's most suspenseful, consistently-shocking shows... and yet it didn't even end on a cliffhanger.
And yet we loved it!
"Ashes to Ashes" was a strong, confident outing, one with a solid plot and strong character development that concluded one chapter of The Mikaelson family saga and left the door open for the next one.
In short, Klaus' plan worked, as he and his brothers and sisters brought Esther back to life because she was the witch who truly broke Dahlia's heart.
It was her blood they needed to take their aunt down once and for all.
After a confrontation in which Dahlia broke up the white oak stake into actual ashes and nearly killed Elijah, Rebekah and Klaus, Esther stepped in, distracted her sister and took one for the team:
Klaus ended up stabbing both his mother and his aunt through the chest with a special dagger. Threat ended.
So, where does this leave us heading into The Originals Season 3?
As you'll note when you watch The Originals online, Klaus is now on permanent daddy duty. He says he's giving up control of New Orleans to Marcel in order to focus on raising Hope.
DAVINA, meanwhile, is regent of the nine covens and she is understandably angry at the Mikaelsons for tricking her into resurrecting Esther instead of Kol.
ELIJAH swore to never fight alongside Klaus again due to his actions against Gia and Hayley, but then Hayley (on a full moon, in human form) told Elijah he has to be there for her daughter.
REBEKAH was given the choice by Freya of selecting her witch body or her vampire body. We last saw her saying goodbye to Marcel in witch form, carrying her vampire self in a coffin in case she changes her mind.
So Klaus is pretty much by himself, with enemies new and old lined up against him.
He was rocking Hope to sleep when the finale faded to black. But will Season 3 prove to be his nightmare?
