S03.E09: Stealing Fire

[Tara Ariano]

Clarke makes a discovery; and Octavia is forced to make a decision that could have disastrous consequences. Meanwhile, Kane and Abby share a moment.

[mustbekarma]

I can't believe I used to like this thrice damned show. Killing Lexa and Lincoln is fucking lame. That dude's who's in charge, because I refuse to remember his name, just needs to be killed already. I'll even settle for a quick, clean death instead of a glorious comeuppance and a gruesome death.

 

This show just sucks now.

[ottoDbusdriver]

What a shitty way for Lincoln to be killed off.

 

Were we supposed to know who this Ice Nation woman was that killed all the kids ?  I got nothing.  And how did she know Clarke such that she wanted to kill her on sight ?

 

This show just sucks now.

 

Pretty much.

Edited April 1, 2016 by ottoDbusdriver

[yellowfred]

Were we supposed to know who this Ice Nation woman was that killed all the kids ?  I got nothing.  And how did she know Clarke such that she wanted to kill her on sight ?

 

In "Watch the Thrones," she was the one who stopped Clarke from assassinating the Ice Queen and then bled all over her face.  I was surprised they didn't include her in the previouslies, since that was a while ago and I think she only had one line.

 

If this was supposed to be the beginning of Bellamy's redemption arc, it really didn't work for me.  He still so obviously doesn't get what he did wrong that I want to smack him.  Also, why was his reaction to finding out there's a new commander to say "damn grounders always responding to horns"?  Like, what the hell?  If he were acting with the sense god gave a fruit fly, he'd at least be wondering what that might mean for his people and the huge army surrounding them that he knows could wipe them out if the new commander tells them to.  

 

I'm really gonna miss Lincoln.  I guess I'm happy that he got to do the whole "heroic sacrifice" thing (I mean, I can only take so many accidental murders in the same month).  I don't know who directed this episode, but I wish someone had explained to them that you can let the audience know that someone's been executed without actually showing it.  Plus, for me, it just looked kind of fake and it took me out of the moment.

 

So, basically, agreed about the show pretty much sucking right now.  

[dom16]

Yeah, I'm out. Did they really just execute a black man while he was chained up and on his knees in the mud? Really? Really? 

[Artsda]

Octavia is going to kill Pike.

 

I expected Lincoln to go soon, but not executed by Pike. Lincoln deserved better.

[AudienceofOne]

So... that happened.

 

 

If this was supposed to be the beginning of Bellamy's redemption arc, it really didn't work for me. 

 

I'm starting to think it wasn't. His reaction to this was all about his sister not liking him anymore, not that he had fundamentally backed the wrong horse. Also, where was his concern when he betrayed Lincoln by locking him up in the first place? I'm starting to think they may kill him off.

 

I had hoped

the scene where Octavia beats the living shit out of him

happened in this episode and we can move on. But this OOC thing is being dragged out, I guess.

 

But the thing I really didn't like about this episode was that Clarke has just been given a quest. Like this is a cheesy fantasy show. And I suppose some could argue this is a cheesy fantasy show. But I found the idea of Clarke being out of the action a little on the nose.

[placate]

Err..it's been awhile.  Can someone remind me what Bellamy did in the first place to piss off his sister?

 

Yeah, I'm out. Did they really just execute a black man while he was chained up and on his knees in the mud? Really? Really? 

He was cast as the main character for American Gods.  I love that book and it's going to be on Starz, so at least he's gone to a better place :)  I can't say the same for Lexa, not a big FTWD fan.

[CooperTV]

Err..it's been awhile.  Can someone remind me what Bellamy did in the first place to piss off his sister?

 

Backed up the uniformly elected leader of the Ark who is against Grounders, race of people who repeatedly slaughters the Arkers in the cold blood since season 1, betrayed them (repeatedly), didn't let them to make a living on the ground and then brought their army to the Arkers' doorstep to "protect" them. Basically, Bellamy is the worst.

[AudienceofOne]

I'm struggling to think of something Bellamy hasn't done to piss of his sister

[placate]

Backed up the uniformly elected leader of the Ark who is against Grounders, race of people who repeatedly slaughters the Arkers in the cold blood since season 1, betrayed them (repeatedly), didn't let them to make a living on the ground and then brought their army to the Arkers' doorstep to "protect" them. Basically, Bellamy is the worst.

 

 

I'm struggling to think of something Bellamy hasn't done to piss of his sister

Thanks, I was kinda wondering if I had a drinking problem or if the plot of this show was going to hell.

[dom16]

He was cast as the main character for American Gods.  I love that book and it's going to be on Starz, so at least he's gone to a better place :)  I can't say the same for Lexa, not a big FTWD fan.

This episode was written and filmed last year, so he actually wasn't cast in American Gods until after he'd been killed off. Allegedly, Lincoln was set for a big storyline in S3, but Ricky and Jason had an argument and Jason ended up writing out most of Lincoln's scenes and he was shoved in jail for the entire season. Judging by Ricky's twitter and comments he made at a convention in London, I wouldn't be surprised if that rumor had some truth to it. 

[AudienceofOne]

Thanks, I was kinda wondering if I had a drinking problem or if the plot of this show was going to hell.

 

Well, I can't speak to the drinking problem *gulps down wine*. What was I saying?

 

Oh yeah, what I meant is that everything Bellamy has done this season has pissed off his sister.

 

He backed Pike, he massacred Indra's army, he attacked a Grounder village full of innocent civilians, he betrayed and imprisoned Lincoln, and when she smuggled in Clarke to talk sense into him, he arrested her. And now he's implicated in having the man she loved - a man who was practically his brother - killed.

 

So I am struggling to think of something Bellamy hasn't done to piss off his ster.

[CooperTV]

This episode was written and filmed last year, so he actually wasn't cast in American Gods until after he'd been killed off. Allegedly, Lincoln was set for a big storyline in S3, but Ricky and Jason had an argument and Jason ended up writing out most of Lincoln's scenes and he was shoved in jail for the entire season. Judging by Ricky's twitter and comments he made at a convention in London, I wouldn't be surprised if that rumor had some truth to it. 

 

Did Lincoln's "big storyline" was trumped by Clarke/Lexa/Polis things because Rothernberg got incurable case of hubris? I was wondering...

 

I'm struggling to think of something Bellamy hasn't done to piss of his sister

 

She has nice deal with Grounders now. She'll get over it.

[ottoDbusdriver]

Is there a washcloth shortage in Polis ?  This Ice Nation woman who killed all the kids -- kids who had all sworn to Lexa that they would support Clarkie (awe, wasn' that nice) -- had crap on her face for what seemed like hours after slaughtering all those kids.  Really ?

[Chris24601]

I'm beginning to think that Bellamy WON'T be redeemed and they'll just hook Clarke up with the other Blake for a little post-apocalyptic Xena and Gabrielle action (Octavia is totally the young Xena in this scenario).

[CooperTV]

I'm beginning to think that Bellamy WON'T be redeemed and they'll just hook Clarke up with the other Blake for a little post-apocalyptic Xena and Gabrielle action (Octavia is totally the young Xena in this scenario).

Oh, no! I want Octavia to live past her 18th birthday. Clarke should be friends with Ontari instead. They could discuss all the kids they massacred between themselves.

[Gabe Torres]

Did this episode fail the Bechdel test well? I am trying to recall a scene that actually passed it.

 

I wanted to like this episode but wow what a mess. I guess since Titus has killed Lexa and passed the plot device for defeating ALIE 1.0 to Clarke, the reason for his character to exists has been fulfilled so bye bye Titus. Ontari actress doesn't have much of a presence either and really, why does she wants to be the Commander so badly? What exactly is her motivation besides the plot wanting her to be in charge and send an army towards Camp Jaha?

 

The whole Luna thing is already a mess. How does a nightblood that ran away get to be the leader of a Clan?

 

Why is there so many unguarded easy to exit tunnels in Polis?

 

The Conclave made little sense and is just such a lackluster idea. How does whoever is left standing really decide whom embodies the values of the Commander the best? I seen people come with many suggestions that would help test various things like intelligence, cunning, knowledge of things such as the land/medicine/resources/survival, military strategy/tactics and so on. No one thought it would be something as dumb as a free for all... because then what happens if the Commander dies before new night bloods are trained? I guess some intermediate council but considering there was no Coalition before that and there is only one Flamekeeper... just what would such a thing consist of?

 

 

Backed up the uniformly elected leader of the Ark who is against Grounders, race of people who repeatedly slaughters the Arkers in the cold blood since season 1, betrayed them (repeatedly), didn't let them to make a living on the ground and then brought their army to the Arkers' doorstep to "protect" them. Basically, Bellamy is the worst.

You say Grounders been slaughtering "his people" since they hit the ground, yet the kill count is probably around 86 dead Arkers vs. 650ish Grounders in the conflict Bellamy been part of. Also the only time a straight out slaughter has taken place was Bellamy & co going out and massacring 299 people in their sleep. Now you can try to inflate those casualties of the Arkers by adding farm stations losses, but that neglects just how many Farm Station have killed as well, and won't even put them at even if you continue that one sided narrative and pretend like only Arkers have died.

 

But sure, one can paint Bellamy and the Arkers as the total white hats that been victim to the evul Grounders by ignoring parts of canon such as shit the Arkers did that also caused hostilities. E.g. the first to kidnap and torture someone from the opposing side, send up flares burning down a village, or open fire on a peace negotiation and killing multiple Grounders. I guess to some they are total innocents that were never asked and given the chance to leave the lands they invaded on. Some might even call them poor refuges, however I fail to see how their actions are those of refugees because typically refugees don't try to set up their own nation/state in the middle of a land that isn't theirs. Also they don't go to near by villages to murder everyone. That is the actions of what is classified as an invading force. Europe would be quite an interesting place if refugees acted like Arkers.

 

 

It is also canon that the Grounders did not attack the Arkers the minute they hit the Ground because if they did then all the Delinquents would be dead. But I guess yay hyperbole? The Grounders observed before they then attacked when Jasper crossed over to Mount Weather later on. But I understand it doesn't fit the Arker = total innocent victims narrative to add facts to this.

 

I am curious how one can twist going into a village populated by elders, disabled and children with the sole intent of putting bullets in all of them while they sleep in order to take over their homes/lands as a good thing? That is without using the same justification of racists and xenophobes.

 

 

By the way, Grounders aren't a race...

 

Yeah, I'm out. Did they really just execute a black man while he was chained up and on his knees in the mud? Really? Really? 

 

And a black man that wanted to free/save his people on top of it. Now we have the angry black man Pike, The crazy drug dealing Jaha and Miller the reformed criminal and former muscle for Bellamy Blake left. Yay go diversity? I guess to Rothenberg quantity makes up for lack of quality of story telling for your diversity box checking characters. it is like him and the writers believe that by saying racism, homophobia and sexism doesn't exist in the world of the 100, it gives them  get out of jail free cards for having tropes and stereotypes and invoking damaging images. A black man on his knees, chained, graphically executed with a bullet to the head? There is a traumatizing history to these kind of images, and still enormous issues. Pike is the authority figure here as others have pointed out, and he executed Lincoln whom despite being able to kick ass, was a man with a peaceful nature and definitely did not deserve to die.

 

At this point it would have to be on purpose that they reproduce such harmful visuals. They want the audience to link with those real life connotations and imagery, so we feel more pain. But what they fail to understand is that this? Not fucking acceptable. You can't use these harmful images to impact (in their view) maximum shock and emotional distress.

I wonder if the show will allow Octavia to be mad at Bellamy in a realistic way and time period, or if it will be like S1 where a few people were mad at him for his betrayal/manipulation, using of the delinquents and trashing of the radio for like 2-3 episodes. Then it was like it never happened with Clarke forgiving him around 3 days later and Octavia pretty soon as well. The last part of this season will be stretched out over something around 10 days, but it wouldn't surprise me if the show got Bellamy just make some sad eyes and the man cry a bit + some action heroics and boom redemption!

 

Maybe another round of mansplaining first but this time to Octavia. Luckily she won't be turned into the meek little woman like Clarke was in order for him to rain his main pain all over the place.

I do wonder where Octavia will go from there. Camp Jaha is definitely not her home any more, and it wasn't really even before this episode. But there was Lincoln and Bellamy there as major holding factors but now...

 

I guess Luna will come into the picture as the 3rd side and claim legitimacy to the title of the Commander. Maybe even show up in the middle of the newest round of Arkers vs. Grounders and cause it to end.

 

The show really needs to lie out the proper end game of ALIE soon. It seems really anti-climatic if she just wants more people to join CoL so she becomes stronger. Like for what purpose? Or is that just it? ALIE thinks in order to save/help the human race they all must join CoL? I wonder with ALIE 2.0, if the desire from peace comes partly from the chip. It was made to learn, and so it has through being in multiple Commanders. The last Commander made big moves towards peace among remaining population on the Ground in that area, so it could be the objective of ALIE 2.0, i.e. create peace between what is left of humanity and try to prosper.

Edited April 1, 2016 by Gabe Torres

[CooperTV]

It is also canon that the Grounders did not attack the Arkers the minute they hit the Ground because if they did then all the Delinquents would be dead. But I guess yay hyperbole? The Grounders observed before they then attacked when Jasper crossed over to Mount Weather later on. But I understand it doesn't fit the Arker = total innocent victims narrative to add facts to this.

 

I remember season 1 well. I just recently watched it. Poor innocent Grounders attack some kid and speared him, and then slaughters another bunch of kinds in the woods (while Lincoln was only trying Octavia and noone else), and then wanted to kill another bunch of kids on the bridge, and then send Murphy with deadly virus in him to the camp as the first line of the attack and then again, attacked camp in the end. Grounders are so innocent, it's a wonder they don't have some saintly wings right now.

 

Bad thing that those 40+ murderous kids that remained alive was so cunning they blew up so many poor innocent Grounders in the last episode of season 1.

Edited April 1, 2016 by CooperTV

[blixie]

 

Backed up the uniformly elected leader of the Ark who is against Grounders

 

This right here is the problem it couldn't be LESS Bellamy Blake to back a uniformly elected leader of the Ark, much less one that told him to commit Genocide, and really I hope that's a line none of us would cross, much less cross TWICE as Bellamy has for first Clark, and now Pike (not to mention his partial responsibility for the culling on The Ark itself when threw the radio in the lake). I love Bellamy, and think he's been character assassinated by this story which is apparently going to go on all season since we're 9 episodes into a 16 episode seasons and there is not the slightest hint from him verbally that he's in the wrong (though God Love Bob Morely's pained tortured guilt faces).

 

 

Did they really just execute a black man while he was chained up and on his knees in the mud? Really? Really?

 

1. Beheading of multiple children

2. Pornographic filming of the throat slitting

3.Pornographic and racist filming of Black Man's murder by authority

Not to mention that I feel like the ENTIRE main cast has been marginalized this season to serve the stories of Pike, Lexa, Titus, Ice Nation, ALIE. Clarke and Murphy literally just stood around while all these other characters carried the plot/action. The single and ONLY one of them I actually like and care about is Roan, g-d he is hot as hell, SMOKIN'. And he's also completely entertaining, I loved when he promised Clarke the next time they meet it wouldn't be as friends, and ten seconds later he realized Ontari was exactly the same PITA his mom was. 

 

Can someone take this show away from this douchemister Rothenberg?

 

 

 

I'm starting to think it wasn't. His reaction to this was all about his sister not liking him anymore, not that he had fundamentally backed the wrong horse. Also, where was his concern when he betrayed Lincoln by locking him up in the first place? I'm starting to think they may kill him off.

 

I definitely thought this before the season started and Mo Ryan had sounded the warning horn about a terrible storyline, which i KNEW had to be about Bellamy, and Rothenberg's desire to spit on anyone who dare ship anything ever. Except I guess Kane and Abby? Sure. Anyway I would not put it past him to kill Bellamy, but the dude is BURIED in hubris, so I legit think he thinks this is redemption for Bellamy (I think he mentioned there was something Bellamy would do in Episode 8, that would make him a hero) and plotting against Pike and going about it in the most arrogant unapologetic way possible is NOT Heroic dude. What's really unfortunate is that the whole season is in the can, and they can't course correct any of this hot mess.

[quarks]

I know that with so many characters, it can be difficult to do justice to all of them/get them on screen, but did anyone else find it extremely improbable that Jaha and Raven were nowhere around for this execution? I realize that they're focused on the ALIE plot, but in a way, that just makes this all the more improbable - surely Jaha and ALIE would want to keep track of things like this given that they're basically trying to take over Arkadia?

 

Also, I don't get this "Let's send Clarke out after the one remaining Nightblood person in the wild." First, why on earth would anyone think that this Nightblood person would listen to Clarke? Why not at least send another Grounder along - someone this Nightblood person would have a little more reason to trust?  Second, why is anyone thinking that this Nightblood person has any interest in coming back? She's been out in the wilderness for a bit and doing fine, and frankly that seems to be a safer, happier place than Polis. Third, even assuming that this works, how are the Grounders supposed to know that the chip/Flame thing is really in this Nightblood person and not in Ontari?  Isn't it easier to just, I dunno, kill Ontari?  They even have a built in excuse - she just killed a group of kids.

 

And speaking of inexplicable character decisions, look, I like Murphy too, but "He won't talk because he wants to stay alive" is not really a great reason for Roan not to kill him, especially since one of the people making that decision had just slaughtered a group of kids. Why not just go ahead and make the meta-statement, "Hey, we need to keep someone around who is capable of cracking jokes."

 

Liked Kane and Abby, but if I'm going to keep watching, I need more Raven on my screen.

[RCharter]

^^I've always thought it season finale was going to be a showdown between Jaha/Pike.  government/military/functional dictator vs. religion.  classic showdown from the pages of history.  If thats the case I think they will have to return to the COL plot pretty soon, right?  They have to get back to Titus' chamber to get to the 13 colony, right?  So everyone is gonna have to meet up at some point so they can find out where it is, so ALIE can go all ALIE on their asses.

[piequinn35]

So the role of the flamekeeper can be passed huh, imo, if Clarke can't find that Luna or Luna gets killed, I won't be surprised if there is no other choice but to put ALIE in her and she magically don't die (bec. she is not nightblood)

 

And I would think that Octavia will be the one to kill Pike.

[dippydee]

I knew it was coming but that still freaking hurt. Goodbye Lincoln, you were far too good for the crap you had this season. See you on American Gods Calvin Valentine.

I'm so sad at how quickly and just how much this show got ruined. S1 and S2 had their issues but it was still a great show. its gone completely off the rails this year. I can't even quit it because I simply adore Raven so I'm stuck until they kill her too (but that's probably unlikely because then they'd have to find someone else to blow up and torture).

[Primetimer]

Still dealing with the repercussions of Lexa's murder (in the show and the fandom), The 100 adds yet another name to its roster of controversial deaths.

Read the story

[GinnyMars]

Just read this about Lincoln's death on Tumblr:
 

His sacrifice was poetic. But I didn’t see the execution as unnecessary or horrific. Maybe I’m used to shows like The Walking Dead. I found that restrained. it was less graphic than when, say, Dr Tsing had her face melt off in the elevator. We all knew it was coming. It wasn’t a surprise, we just didn’t like it, and that is absolutely fair, because we didn’t want him to die.  But it’s the story.

    What we had was a world in muted tones, Arkadia was silent, restrained. In mourning already. He died with dignity and strength. He was respected, to the last, even by Pike, the man who killed him. In fact, he was killed specifically by the chancellor. It was not handed off to someone else. He was given respect. He was spoken to as a man and a leader. He was promised that his people would be protected.

    He denied words to Pike but spoke only to Octavia who he knew would be watching. She gave him the honor of watching him.

    It happened at a distance and then we close in. The music playing was beautiful. The shots were arranged artistically. He lay in the puddle, but it also framed him.

    Death has meaning on this show. Lincoln himself is the one who tells us. If death has no cost, life has no meaning. People die on this show and it is going to hurt. Earth kills. This is part of the show and the genre.

    Lincoln’s death had a great deal of meaning and it will continue to have meaning for everyone.

 

 

I don't understand why Lincoln would choose to go to his knees though. That seems out of character... or... problematic, for sure.

 

Also after hearing the allegations of bullying, I couldn't help but think the showrunner had chosen to have not so much Lincoln, but Ricky himself die in that mud. How much time did he spend in it, how many times was he sent back to his trailer to change into a new set of dry clothes for yet another take? I can't help but imagine JRoth plotting to torture Ricky as some sort of petty revenge as he exited the show...

 

I'm kinda surprising no one had tried to replace Titus before, since apparently the Flamekeeper role requires no training whatsoever...

 

I thought Ontari sounded very Gossip Girl-y, took me out of the scene every time. I had found her much more convincing in her first episode.

 

Also I still think Luna = Lexa's sister!

 

Finally, unpopular opinion time: I hate that Lexa and Lincoln have died - and the way they've died -, but I've never been more interested in the show, between the CoL storyline, the chip and everything! All that stuff is a more-than-welcome relief from Pike and Bellamy's fuckery...

[absnow54]

I know that with so many characters, it can be difficult to do justice to all of them/get them on screen, but did anyone else find it extremely improbable that Jaha and Raven were nowhere around for this execution?

It's really jarring how isolated these two story lines are. It's almost like they're happening on two different shows. It also didn't help that the sky crew members a part of the heist to free Kane and Lincoln were Miller, Harper, and Whatever-Miller's-Boyfriend's-Name-Is. I mean they've developed Miller from a background player to an almost supporting character, but not enough for him to lead the breakout. I'd rather have had Raven and Jasper at the helm.

 

And, I'm sorry, but Clarke's long, lonesome journey is so boring. I was excited that they got Murphy involved, because that at least brought some comic relief, but then she immediately left him behind in Polis (which, I get, because they need someone there to play low budget Game of Thrones.) I really hope they start paving her road back to Arkadia, because I'm not really feeling the direction her story has taken.

 

I agree with everyone else, this season has been really hard to watch. Free these poor characters from these awful story lines!

[NeenerNeener]

Yeah, piequinn35, I won't be a bit surprised when Clarke ends up with ALIE 2.0 in the back of her neck.

[patchwork]

The chip going into Clarke's neck feels inevitable and the first Commander will tell Clarke how to make herself into a Nightblood so it doesn't kill her. Then next season Ice Nation Ontari is Heda but rumour has it that Wanheda carries the Commander's spirit.

 

Bellamy's storyline continues to be lame and as much as I like Harper and Miller Raven or more Monty was needed to give those scenes some weight.

 

And again how people are killed is more of an issue than the fact they die. I can almost hear the writer/showrunner claim that their writing is so good that it rises above such problematic things as a black man being executed while chained and on his knees. 

[Jack Shaftoe]

This show has become so bad so fast that I am now mostly watching just for the "did they really do that incredibly stupid thing?" factor and for the eye candy that Octavia provides.

 

Titus admitted to killing Lexa because...? He still hated Clarke and Murphy and had the perfect opportunity to get rid of them and saving his own skin. Roan seems the only one with any clue in Polis.

 

Everyone in Polis knew that Ontari was an ambitious, ruthless killer but apparently they left the other Nightbloods without any serious protection. This coming right after no guard apparently heard Titus shooting Lexa. I know I wouldn't want to be a Commander with such lousy guards around me. Congratulations, grounders, you now have a leader who is just as two-dimensional as Pike. So excited about those two bloodthirsty idiots trying to outwit each other. Not.

 

So, what would the grounders do if the commander kicks the bucket soon after slaughtering all other contenders for the throne? I mean, before any new Nightbloods are found?

 

Murphy's presence and survival is about as plausible as Spike's survival in season 4 of Buffy. Apparently cracking jokes means you get plot armour. Too bad Lincoln's sense of humour wasn't up to the task. But seriously, why would Ontari consider Murphy some sort of an assistant of Titus? Why wouldn't Roan kill him to silence him?

 

 

I wonder if the show will allow Octavia to be mad at Bellamy in a realistic way and time period

 

That depends if you think ten minutes would be a realistically long period to get over such a minor matter. I guess Bellamy won't even remain a prisoner because the grounders are really forgiving people, especially to war criminals and envoy murderers, am I right?

 

The endless number of "secret" tunnels that no one bothers to guard is such an obvious case of lazy plotting that it is almost embarrassing to watch.

 

And last but not least, this is now a show where one side is cool with their leader killing a bunch of children and the other is cool with their leader killing 300 people in their sleep. In other words, both sides are too cruel and stupid to live. Why should I care who wins in the end?

Edited April 1, 2016 by Jack Shaftoe

[stealinghome]

Maybe another round of mansplaining first but this time to Octavia. Luckily she won't be turned into the meek little woman like Clarke was in order for him to rain his main pain all over the place.

Don't ever underestimate the power of the manpain and mansplaining! It trumps all other things! Edited April 1, 2016 by stealinghome

[AudienceofOne]

I remember season 1 well. I just recently watched it. Poor innocent Grounders attack some kid and speared him, and then slaughters another bunch of kinds in the woods (while Lincoln was only trying Octavia and noone else), and then wanted to kill another bunch of kids on the bridge, and then send Murphy with deadly virus in him to the camp as the first line of the attack and then again, attacked camp in the end. Grounders are so innocent, it's a wonder they don't have some saintly wings right now.

 

I also remember Season 1 well. The Grounders did nothing but watch them when they hit the ground until they invaded their territory. In fact, I remember watching Season 1 yelling repeatedly "because you're on their territory, morons, didn't they teach you anything in history?" Like, repeatedly. "Oh, I wonder why the Grounders didn't attack us until we got to Mount Weather?" "Oh, why didn't the Grounders attack us until we crossed this boundary covered in dead bodies with a giant 'Go Away, Private Property Sign' on it". It's a mystery!

 

The Grounders sent Lincoln to gather intelligence but specifically did not attack them unless they trespassed onto their territory. And then they only attacked one or two of them as a warning. The war started with the flares and, I'm sorry, but if someone repeatedly invades your territory and then launches something at your village that burns it to the ground then you believe you're under attack.

 

As for the bridge - Jasper started that. He opened fire because he panicked when he saw Grounders in the trees. So from the Grounder's perspective, they go to a peace summit and the other side starts shooting.

 

But since this is about this episode - Bellamy is fundamentally in the wrong here. So is Pike but Pike is so one-dimensional I don't count him at all. In my opinion, the treatment of Bellamy's character this season has been nothing short of assassination. And it's been destroyed to the point that there is no redemption.

 

Personally, I'm upset because my secret fan-fiction Bellarke dreams are dead. But that's actually no big deal, narratively speaking, compared to.

 

this is now a show where one side is cool with their leader killing a bunch of children and the other is cool with their leader killing 300 people in their sleep. In other words, both sides are too cruel and stupid to live. Why should I care who wins in the end?

 

This is my real problem. I read a review last night that said that we, as the audience, needed somebody in the midst of these atrocities to root for.  Clarke and Bellamy were the heart of the show because, even if they were mass murderers, we still wanted them to win and find peace and because that's what they were striving for. I get the point of the show is that peace is impossible because no matter how far you strive towards it, there will always be somebody who benefits from war. And I get that narratively it has worked by building something up and then having a third-party come from left field and smash it.

 

But this season we've had to watch Bellamy tear down his own achievements. And while his reasons for that make sense, his behaviour based on those reasons doesn't. Bellamy has never blindly followed authority. Yes he's emotional and has never seen the bigger picture - he needed Clarke for that and then Kane. But there's a difference between destroying a radio or shooting Jaha and actively murdering 300 people while they slept. And he's more than capable of distinguishing between Lexa and Indra and Lincoln. And for that matter between Trikru and Ice Nation.

 

So watching that has been hard. But more importantly: with Lexa and Lincoln dead, Bellamy a shell of him former self and Clarke on some hokey quest, I don't know why I'm watching. Why do I even care what happens with the AI subplot at this point in time? So they get subsumed into the City of Light. Couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of assholes.

 

The AI destroyed humanity to save it because she thought we were kind of horrible. There has to be somebody on screen to make us believe that humanity is worth saving so we can see the AI as a threat. But now? Yeah, take 'em down ALIE. You were right the first time.

Edited April 2, 2016 by AudienceofOne

[janeta]

Octavia is going to kill Pike.

 .

That would be ok.....

So, has anyone read the books this is based on? Did all this happen in the books or has the show gone beyond them?

[piequinn35]

^The show has gone beyond the books

[janeta]

So we can blame the writers? Good! Damn writers!

[Tvtimebomb]

Is it wrong that I would love Ontari to fulfill her promise to kill all of Skaikru?  Well, everyone but a select few; Raven, Clarke,  Sinclair and maybe Monty.  I’m bored with Kane and Abby, and Bellamy is a terrible character.  I may not mind seeing Abby live so there’s a real doctor left on earth.

 

I think I may be the only one who likes Ontari.

 

When did Lexa become Clarke’s girlfriend and how many others besides Murphy knew?  Neither said she loved the other and I'm not sure anyone knows they had sex.

 

Quite honestly, none of those other Nightbloods looked like they could win against Ontari so I was ok not seeing them fight it out.  

 

Clarke asked Titus what I have been thinking for a few episodes.  If the Nightbloods are so rare, why are you choosing a commander by a fight-it-out-to-the-death with the only one remaining?  No matter, the writers can always write more in the story if needed....

 

I think the whole Luna thing has been in many’s head canon.  Not surprised.  I am curious to see this woman to know why Lexa spared her. 

 

Why would Murphy know about the purification process?  Plus, he didn’t seem to do much but stand in the room while Ontari took a bath.  I wonder if Ontari knows Murphy is with Imori.  If I was Imori, I’d stay far away from Polis because Ontari probably doesn't share.

 

Where did Titus get those nice boots?  They look brand new. 

 

Lincoln!!!!  We all knew it was coming but I’m going to miss his abs.

 

Did Raven, Jasper and Jaha sleep through everything that happened on the Ark?  Odd.

 

Roan seems like a dick now.  Guess he isn’t a fan of the coalition afterall.

 

Clark and the white horse, I hope they don't get lost or killed.

 

I still miss Lexa and her strong leadership.

 

This was such a great show before the shit that happened in episode 3.07.  Maybe it will get better.

Edited April 2, 2016 by Tvtimebomb

[AnnaMayWong]

How surprised do you think JRoth was upon Ricky getting that role on American Gods (?).

[Jack Shaftoe]

 

Why do I even care what happens with the AI subplot at this point in time? So they get subsumed into the City of Light. Couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of assholes.

 

Exactly. That's the problem with going too far with "darker and edgier" stuff. At some point, viewers tend to decide that enough is enough and if they want to watch unrelentingly depressing stories they might as well watch the news. If your story is going to be so depressing, you'd better excel at social commentary - as, for instance, The Wire did. The only social commentary I see in this season of The 100 is that people are by and large too stupid to live. What an original and deep message this is. #JRoth for all the Emmys 2017!

 

 

I didn't even get why Lincoln sacrificed himself. There was no guarantee that the other imprisoned Grounders wouldn't be executed with him.

 

I didn't get that either. Exactly what has Pike done to convince anybody that he is a man of his word? He attacked his allies, allowed Bellamy to kill envoys and threatened to kill prisoners he had promised not to kill mere hours before he changed his mind. Why not tell Pike "You kill my people, we kill Bellamy?" I liked Lincoln a lot but his death left me completely unmoved because you could see the contrivance a mile away.

 

Speaking of threatening to kill Bellamy, why wasn't he more scared of what the grounders might do to him? He knows they use torture, he knows they hate his guts but he amusingly expected them to let him go like it's no big deal.

 

I have to say that Clarke annoyed me when she tried to manipulate Aden into giving the Arkadians another chance. This was the policy that led directly to Lexa's death, after all, and a leader should decide for himself what course of action to take, rather than stick blindly to what his predecessors intended to do. Plus, Lexa was barely able to prevent the coalition from breaking apart despite being an adult with many impressive achievements and tons of charisma. Aden would not have managed to carry out unpopular policies like peace with the Arkadians, at least not until he was strong enough to fight off the likes of Roan or experienced enough to play clan leaders against one another.

Edited April 2, 2016 by Jack Shaftoe

[Save Yourself]

I've been processing how I felt about Lincoln's death scene as I didn't want to comment on here rashly. When Kane and Lincoln were escaping and then Lincoln says he can't leave his people I felt so sad because of course he can't, I wouldn't have been interested in seeing a Lincoln who had fled and left them to their fates, that would not be true to his character but that unfortunately also meant his certain death.

When he was led outside to be executed he knew there would be no last minute save and I felt that is why he got down on his knees - he surrendered to his fate, he showed Pike no fear and he demonstrated that he was not going to use his imposing physique in a last ditch effort to attack Pike. I felt he went out as a hero, it was his best shot at getting his people cared for rather than killed. He was also noble and dignified in his death by accepting that they were the terms that were agreed upon and he wasn't going to plead for mercy.

I understand why some found the imagery of his death insensitive but I thought it was hauntingly beautiful, the way it was shot, the fall into the water, it was tragic and it was meaningful, I think this death is going to have a massive ripple effect. The visual of putting a black man in chains and executing him on his knees *should* be deliberately provocative, we should look at that and be outraged but not at the showmakers but at a society that allowed such atrocities in the past (and in some countries still happen). Because if we watercolour our past we are in danger of repeating our same mistakes and hasn't this been largely what The 100 has been about? Humans managed to all but wipe out humankind and the planet and they *still* can't come together in a peaceful fashion. By showing images that evoke history makes sure we don't forget - 'Lest We Forget' - in the hope that people in the real world make better decisions to keep moving away from our shameful pasts. There was a scene in The Walking Dead that was reminiscent of Auschwitz which was heartbreaking and again I was glad it was included because we cannot forget the evil that man can do to each other in order that we don't repeat that history.

Edited April 3, 2016 by Save Yourself

[Jack Shaftoe]

I just realised that almost all the major characters from the original hundred have had significant others who were killed off. In fact, we have seen no less than four such cases in the last 10 episodes alone. That has to be some kind of record, even Joss Whedon who is famous for sinking ships in the most (contrived) heartbreaking fashion, has never done anything of the sort. It's great that The 100 is not bogged down in the endless love triangles that the CW is infamous for, but killing a love interest every few episodes is just too much, IMO.

Edited April 3, 2016 by Jack Shaftoe

[wevel]

I felt he went out as a hero, it was his best shot at getting his people cared for rather than killed. He was also noble and dignified in his death by accepting that they were the terms that were agreed upon and he wasn't going to plead for mercy.

 

Yeah, I mean, I definitely saw the disturbing elements of that imagery like you and others have commented on, but I also felt that Lincoln did get a heroic death, because he offered himself up to Pike in order to protect his people (whether or not Pike will actually keep his word is a different matter).  Although Lincoln was on his knees, he was not in his mind humiliated; although his lifeless body fell into the mud, to me it also came across as more tragic than degrading.  Unfortunately, the heroicness of his death doesn't erase the larger implications of losing another minority character.  Also, I was never a huge fan of the Lincoln/Octavia relationship, but I did appreciate it as a symbol of hope for Arker/Grounder coexistence.  To lose that right on the heels of the destruction of the even more politically significant Skaikru/Grounder connection between Clarke and Lexa is just gobs of salt in that wound.

 

I just realised that almost all the major characters from the original hundred have had significant others who were killed off. In fact, we have seen no less than four such cases in the last 10 episodes alone. That has to be some kind of record, even Joss Whedon who is famous for sinking ships in the most (contrived) heartbreaking fashion, has never done anything of the sort. It's great that The 100 is not bogged down in the endless love triangles that the CW is infamous for, but killing a love interest every few episodes is just too much, IMO.

 

Ah, I forgot about Jasper and Maya from last season, so yes - Jasper (2X16), Bellamy (3X03), Clarke (3X07), Octavia (3X09).  Only the Clexa relationship was associated with unexcusable baiting and at least everyone else got to be with their love interests for a while before they died, but collectively, that's a pretty significant trail of tears.  I saw this tumblr post on why the unrelenting darkness of The 100 this season isn't working, and agree with the main thrust of it.  It compares the S1 culling versus the massacre of the Grounder army in 3X05, the death of Finn versus those of Lexa and Lincoln, and Dante versus Pike as villains.  A quote: "Killing hundreds of people just because you want to be edgy, and then hyping on social media how dark you are makes it feel cheap, and makes those deaths feel empty. Killing off characters and then using ‘but this is a dark show anyone can die anytime’ as an argument to people telling you that those deaths do not make sense and are very much problematic is not ground-breaking, especially if you use minority characters for these shock value deaths that pisses off a huge chunk of your fanbase. Nobody wants to see just people suffer, and die, we can watch the news for that."

Edited April 3, 2016 by wevel

[Duke Silver]

--Glad there was no Jasper; I'm beyond over him.  Sack-up or just go die please.

--Bellamy sucks so hard, thanks writers, you fucking dipshits.

--Murphy is gonna become what's-her-name's plaything, I'm thinking.  Dude is a survivor and always brings the snark.

--I'm not gonna be all "I'm done with this show!!!"  However, I will pay particular attention to make sure I will never again waste time on a project of any kind run by Rothenberg &/or his gang.  Fuck those guys.

[thuganomics85]

And so Lincoln now leaves the picture.  Even I didn't hear about all the behind the scenes drama, him being used so little this season just gave off the feeling that the character was being sidelined, and was probably not going to be around for much longer.  I guess it was nice he died saving the rest of the prisoners and I got see Octavia for one last time, but yeah, him dying on his knees by fucking Pike is still a bitter pill to swallow. At least Ricky Whittle landed that lead role on American Gods, so that will probably raise his profile.

 

And, of course, I'm sure all of this will make Octavia go even darker.  I honestly don't see how she could ever forgive Bellamy for any of this.  In the end, Lincoln's death was all on Pike, but Bellamy sure did help with getting him set-up so it would happen.  But I guess I'm still suppose to by this "redemption" they are trying to do, but I don't see how Octavia or Clarke will ever trust him again.  And his non-answers over massacring 300 sleeping Grounders isn't filling me with confidence here.

 

Kane and Abbie finally kiss, after they have to be separated again.  Of course, knowing this show and romance, I will be surprised if both are still around come finale time.

 

Clarke's mission now is to be the new "Keeper of the Flame", and find this Luna person.  Because whoever she is can't be worst then this Ontari person, who is all for slaughtering children just to become the new Commander.  Murphy though was obviously checking her out when she got out of the tub, so those two are so hooking up.  Funny since Murphy was so unnerved when Finn massacred those Grounders in front of him, but I guess when you are a hot Grounder who doesn't mind you starring at her naked body, what's a few dead kids to stop you from getting some?

[Jack Shaftoe]

 

I saw this tumblr post on why the unrelenting darkness of The 100 this season isn't working, and agree with the main thrust of it.

 

I agree too. Imagine how different things would have been had we seen the massacre of the 300 warriors from Indra's point of view, instead of seeing only the results of it. Or if we had gotten to know some of the victims, even just for a scene or two. Or, on the flip side, if we had seen some flashbacks from Pike and Hanna's point of view - like the death of Monty's dad. Or the election that put Pike in power. Personal connection to the stories that unfold is paramount. We are told most Arkadians support Pike, we have a general idea as to why that is but I think a scene along the lines of some Joe Average seeing Kane's brand and saying "Hell no, we won't be slaves to the savages" was sorely necessary. None of this would have made anyone's actions any less or more morally justified but it would have made them more understandable, IMO.

[Samb0w]

Can someone please address why Roan is taking orders from Ontari?! Wtf like why don't we just think for a second on why Luna is just now A nightblood? What the hell happened she doesn't ever look like she could be skilled enough in combat to even be commander. Did I miss something...

[Lion]

Can someone please address why Roan is taking orders from Ontari?! Wtf like why don't we just think for a second on why Luna is just now A nightblood? What the hell happened she doesn't ever look like she could be skilled enough in combat to even be commander. Did I miss something...

It's politics, obviously.  Ontari is Ice Nation.  She's also just publicly declared herself Commander.  There's a tightrope Roan has to walk as king of his people while the new Commander is also from his people.  

 

You definitely missed something about Luna.  As far as we know, we've never seen or met Luna.  We just know that Lincoln has mentioned her as a possible sanctuary for the 100 and now that she was a survivor in Lexa's group of Nighbloods.  

[RCharter]

It's politics, obviously.  Ontari is Ice Nation.  She's also just publicly declared herself Commander.  There's a tightrope Roan has to walk as king of his people while the new Commander is also from his people.  

 

You definitely missed something about Luna.  As far as we know, we've never seen or met Luna.  We just know that Lincoln has mentioned her as a possible sanctuary for the 100 and now that she was a survivor in Lexa's group of Nighbloods.  

I thought Luna was that woman that sold them out and betrayed them?

 

I think Roan has to take orders from Ontari if she is the new commander over the 12/13 tribes.  

[that one guy]

Somebody awesome had better be cast for Luna or I  will lose all remaining interest in this show.

And last but not least, this is now a show where one side is cool with their leader killing a bunch of children and the other is cool with their leader killing 300 people in their sleep. In other words, both sides are too cruel and stupid to live. Why should I care who wins in the end?

 

This is my biggest problem with killing off Lexa. For me she was obviously the hero of the piece, if a flawed one. She was the only person who seemed dedicated to doing the right thing for everyone as much as possible, which is fitting since she was the legitimate ruler of the area in which the Arkers find themselves. As someone pointed out above, they don't have the right to set up their own government on the surface - the Exodus Charter or whatever doesn't really have legal authority on the ground. Offering Skikru status as the 13th Tribe (wow, just caught the BSG reference right now!) was a generous and fair offer. Even before this season I was viewing the Arkers more and more as the badguys. Now they're just horrible. So if they don't come up with a new Commander who's worthy of wearing Lexa's crown, I don't think I care that much what happens. 

 

I understand the show had no choice but to kill Lexa due to Fear the Walking Dead's filming schedule and ADC's status as a recurring guest star on 100 but a series regular on Fear. But Fear was such a disappointment. Lexa was a much stronger role than Alicia, but probably didn't pay nearly as much. If Luna is cool the show can make a recovery, but if not, it's losing me. With the deaths of Lincoln and Titus as well, we just don't know many Grounder characters anymore. Am I supposed to care about Roan?

[Lion]

I thought Luna was that woman that sold them out and betrayed them?

 

I think Roan has to take orders from Ontari if she is the new commander over the 12/13 tribes.  

No, we've never met Luna, at least that we know of.  I don't know who you are talking about.

 

Yes, that's what I mean about Roan.  

[Taryn74]

I thought Luna was that woman that sold them out and betrayed them?

 

 

Are you thinking about Echo?  The one that Bellamy helped out of the Mountain last season?