S03.E11: Nevermore

[AudienceofOne]

It's to Clarke's credit that she's struggling with being forced to commit mass murder. A normal functioning human being should have that response. She's not a sociopath. It was her only play but that doesn't change the fact that she ordered the murder of children.

 

As for Bellamy, we only want to see Bellamy suffer for his crimes because he's a main character and we feel just as betrayed as Octavia does. To the Grounders he's just another Skaikru who was following Pike's orders. Of course they're going to punish Pike instead of him. And, as an audience, we may want to ask why Monty and Miller's boyfriend keep getting a pass for their actions. They supported Pike too and Miller's boyfriend even bugged him. (The fact I can't remember Millers' boyfriend's name right now might be a clue).

 

As for 'Blood Must Not Have Blood" every nation has ignored or failed to retaliate for direct attacks. It happens all the time. Unless you want war, then you choose to not respond to provocation.

 

Edited: Because I hate 'kids these days' comments

Edited April 18, 2016 by AudienceofOne

[Solace247]

I disagree. Even the best equipped teenager should not be in a leadership position of an entire society. Clarke has been doing a good job of winging it so far but her current defeated state is IMO because it is crushing her. Most adults couldn`t emotionally handle what she does - see Pike for example - and she can`t either and she shouldn`t have to.

When they show me an adult in this world they've created who can be an effectual leader, I'll agree. Maybe it will be Luna, who knows?! As it stands right now, the way they've written the adults in this season alone is indication enough that no such leader presently exists. The whole election 'process' showed that. They decide to get all democratic the day after a massive attack on their people? Fail to notify their allies of an impending attack due to a soon-to-be change of leadership? And taking any subsequent action argued against because an imprisoned traitor, somehow eligible for election, became the "duly-appointed" leader? Ridiculously written characterization and motivation or lack thereof.

[Nay]

I think the time compression really works against the show sometimes.  3+ years for us has been just over 5 months for them.  Given the events they have suffered in just 5 short months every one of those kids would be a drooling basketcase if it wasn't TV land.  

 

Clarke still hating herself for what she has had to do and feeling the need to say sorry for the damaged caused is perfectly fine with me, she was/is broken and 3 months wandering in isolation and a week in polis isn't going to magically fix her.  

[Jack Shaftoe]

 

As for Bellamy, we only want to see Bellamy suffer for his crimes because he's a main character and we feel just as betrayed as Octavia does. To the Grounders he's just another Skaikru who was following Pike's orders. Of course they're going to punish Pike instead of him.

 

They can always punish both of them. Indra knows Bellamy isn't just another Skaikru, she is quite influential and had him at her mercy. Also, (as far we know) he is the only only Skaikru who has murdered envoys - without being ordered by anybody. Admittedly, it's quite possible that the grounders don't know about that but it's usually not a good sign when your plot hinges on too many "but they don't know about that" and "it just so happens that...".

 

 

As for 'Blood Must Not Have Blood" every nation has ignored or failed to retaliate for direct attacks. It happens all the time.

 

I can't think of any nation that has done absolutely nothing after an entire army is wiped out in an unprovoked attack. By a supposed ally, no less. Any leader who tries that is going to face a rebellion or a coup very quickly. The reaction might well be nothing but posturing and empty threats, etc. but it can't be nothing whatsoever, that's just asking to be deposed.

 

 

Finally, she needs to ascend to Commander status as a result of being the only effing one of them that can envision and put into action a plan to save the EFFING world this season and go on from this season taking no shit from anyone for her decisions, a)because they usually work, and b) because she's mother effing heda.

 

I sure hope not, that would be riddles with unfortunate implications. Plus, leading this bunch of idiots (both the grounders and the Arkers fall into this category) is pure masochism. Clarke has had enough bad things happen to her in the last year to last her a few lifetimes. And I am kind of tired of SuperClarke who is better than everyone in just about everything. One of the most cringeworthy scenes was back in season two when she sneaked to one of Lexa's flunkies who was trying to assassinate Octavia and made him change his mind with the help of a gun. The scene would have been fine if she had threatened him from some distance but no, she had to sneak and push the gun into his face, never mind she hadn't even set food in a forest until a month or two ago and ge was supposedly some grounder badass who presumably had spent much of his life lurking in the forests.

 

Last but not least, if Clarke were to become the official leader, commander or whatever you just know she is going to start taking big doses of the stupid pills because the leaders making a stupid decision after a stupid decision is the writers' favourite plot device.

 

 

I think the time compression really works against the show sometimes.  3+ years for us has been just over 5 months for them.  Given the events they have suffered in just 5 short months every one of those kids would be a drooling basketcase if it wasn't TV land.

 

Clarke still hating herself for what she has had to do and feeling the need to say sorry for the damaged caused is perfectly fine with me, she was/is broken and 3 months wandering in isolation and a week in polis isn't going to magically fix her.

 

That's yet another problem with "let's heap as much misery to the characters as fast as possible" approach to storytelling. They only exhibit signs of PTSD, depression, etc. whenever it's convenient for the plot, not in a consistent or realistic fashion.

Edited April 18, 2016 by Jack Shaftoe

[xaxat]

I can't think of any nation that has done absolutely nothing after an entire army is wiped out in an unprovoked attack. By a supposed ally, no less. Any leader who tries that is going to face a rebellion or a coup very quickly. The reaction might well be nothing but posturing and empty threats, etc. but it can't be nothing whatsoever, that's just asking to be deposed.

 

During the Six Day War, Israeli forces attacked the USS Liberty, killing dozens. Israel issued an apology, claiming that it had been a case of mistaken identity, and paid damages to those who where injured. But I knew someone who served on the ship and he never accepted those gestures and always believed they had been deliberately targeted by an ally.

[Solace247]

As for Bellamy, we only want to see Bellamy suffer for his crimes because he's a main character and we feel just as betrayed as Octavia does. To the Grounders he's just another Skaikru who was following Pike's orders. Of course they're going to punish Pike instead of him. And, as an audience, we may want to ask why Monty and Miller's boyfriend keep getting a pass for their actions. They supported Pike too and Miller's boyfriend even bugged him. (The fact I can't remember Millers' boyfriend's name right now might be a clue.

Let's face it, the Grounders only want Pike, because that's what they were ordered to wait for--Arkadia to take down their leaders from within. Since Arkadia apparently doesn't have a council anymore (I don't know why they've become less democratic on the ground--must be that shitty Exodus Charter), there's only one 'leader' to hand over. If not for the blockade and the Commander's orders, the Grounders would've been less discerning.

Monty went along with his mom because of family and all that--it was disappointing but believable I suppose. The scene that was supposed to explain his feelings about it was cut, but I don't think it would have illustrated anything other than him being torn, but you know, it's his mom, so loyalty. Monty was painted a little better because he outed himself by radioing the false reports. Bellamy was chained in the cave unable to risk anything or prove anything--and let's be real, he was still acting douchey at the time so I don't blame anyone for reacting as they did towards him. Also, Monty didn't kill anyone--soldiers or envoys, and he went in to save Monroe when no one else would, and he didn't act douchey after the fact. They're little things, but they make a difference. Bryan kind of gets an out because he lived Pike's reality and still came around to side with those he loved, and again, didn't act douchey.

And I am kind of tired of SuperClarke who is better than everyone in just about everything...

 

Last but not least, if Clarke were to become the official leader, commander or whatever you just know she is going to start taking big doses of the stupid pills because the leaders making a stupid decision after a stupid decision is the writers' favourite plot device.

Aw man, I thought you were a guy after my own heart. So if not SuperClarke, and no stupid pills, what else?! That's what the binary world of the 100. There is no in between. ;)

[Tara Ariano]

In case you missed it, here's the Previously.TV post on the episode!

 

Hell Is Other People On The 100
A painful family reunion turns into an even more painful exorcism as everyone comes together to save Raven from a demon A.I.

[Jack Shaftoe]

During the Six Day War, Israeli forces attacked the USS Liberty, killing dozens. Israel issued an apology, claiming that it had been a case of mistaken identity, and paid damages to those who where injured. But I knew someone who served on the ship and he never accepted those gestures and always believed they had been deliberately targeted by an ally.

 

Okay, there are some similarities but still there are some crucial differences. If Israel had pulled a Pike and not only said loud and clear "yes, we attacked the ship on purpose" but also made sure there was only one survivor and announced it would try to destroy any US military forces in the region the reaction would have been very different, I imagine.

[Tara Ariano]

In case you missed it, here's the Previously.TV post on the episode!

 

Hell Is Other People On The 100
A painful family reunion turns into an even more painful exorcism as everyone comes together to save Raven from a demon A.I.

[Meushell]

So with Monty and his mother, we basically got...

Monty: Mom?
Monty's Mom: I love you. I missed you so much. I would never hurt you, Monty.
Monty: Who are you?

That is both messed up and hilarious. I know I'm exaggerating, but sadly, not by much. 

[Lady Calypso]

This is definitely a good episode for the sole reason that the original gang is back together...well, the remaining ones. I think that's what I needed after have almost two full seasons of all of The 100 main characters separated. And it also focused on Raven, so that was nice. A lot of the issues were at least acknowledged, but they all are working together so they'll have to deal with it eventually. 

Lindsey definitely got to showcase her acting chops this episode, and it was absolutely amazing. ALIE!Raven was just fantastic in every sense of the word. She was calling everyone out on their shit, and it was pretty damn awesome. From her whole "You endanger everyone around you" to Clarke to Jasper's uselessness to Bellamy's share of the blame in his own actions, I just wonder what she would have said to Octavia if she had gotten the chance to. I am glad that they saved Raven, though. They need normal Raven to help stop ALIE for good; plus, I like normal Raven. 

Clarke really got the brunt force of the blame this episode. I guess it makes sense for someone like Jasper, who hasn't actually seen her in nearly four months, but it was hard to watch Jasper and Octavia get their shots in. They just really don't get that Clarke was trying to help them when she stayed in Polis; quite frankly, they don't even have the full story. I get her need to apologize (which is better than seeing Bellamy not understand his wronged actions) but hopefully, she doesn't need to keep apologizing all season long. She did what she thought was for the greater good, and now Bellamy's done way worse than Clarke...and he's getting off rather light at the moment. Besides Octavia's glares, of course. I'm glad ALIE!Raven pointed out that Jasper was blaming Clarke the most, even though Bellamy also pulled the lever. Jasper's been snippy at Monty and Clarke, but he was so chill toward Bellamy this episode. It was really getting on my nerves. 

Speaking of Monty, the poor guy had to kill his mother. Seriously, show. You can stop with the torture porn and angst with each character. Not everything has to be depressing. We also got so little with Monty and his mom, so there was so little resolution there. 

I guess we're getting back to the adults next episode? Though I'd rather have another full episode with just this group. I feel deprived of seeing the group work together, and now with their cracked fractures and anger with each other.