by Hayley Charlesworth
Blood Must Have Blood in the first half of The 100’s season two finale. With the battle between the Grounder/Ark alliance and Mount Weather in full swing, alliances are tested both inside and outside of the mountain, with lots of shock and tragedy to come.
Blood Must Have Blood in the first half of The 100’s season two finale. With the battle between the Grounder/Ark alliance and Mount Weather in full swing, alliances are tested both inside and outside of the mountain, with lots of shock and tragedy to come.
This episode is packed full of special, brilliantly realised moments. Clarke and Lexa laying out their plan of attack displays both their skills as tacticians and leaders, with Lexa’s ruthlessness and Clarke’s compassion highlighted. This becomes significant later on, with perhaps the biggest shock of the show yet. Offered a deal to rescue her own people while sacrificing the 44 and Bellamy, Lexa coldly calls off the alliance. This has devastating consequences for everyone involved: Octavia is abandoned by Indra just as she finds a true home with the Grounders, Lincoln is forced to choose between his people and his morals, Maya’s father is killed in the release, and Bellamy, Jasper, Maya and Monty are left helpless with the rest of the 44 captured. But the biggest consequence is for Clarke herself. Not only are her people at risk, not only is she without hope, but the strong connection between her and Lexa, resulting in last week’s kiss, is lost. Eliza Taylor and Alycia Debnam-Carey put in stunning performances, portraying betrayal and heartbreak with just the smallest of looks.
And the orchestrator of this deal? Not Cage Wallace, but his father Dante, who had previously opposed the sacrificing of the 44. Again, Raymond J Barry conveys so much regret with just his face, but his decision ties in with this show’s theme of just what would you do to survive? The 100 is such a morally grey show, nobody will emerge from this season without blood on their hands, and yet everyone’s motivation, even Cage’s, is understandable. Making even the villain’s actions sympathetic is the mark of truly great writing, and The 100 has excelled this season.
And the orchestrator of this deal? Not Cage Wallace, but his father Dante, who had previously opposed the sacrificing of the 44. Again, Raymond J Barry conveys so much regret with just his face, but his decision ties in with this show’s theme of just what would you do to survive? The 100 is such a morally grey show, nobody will emerge from this season without blood on their hands, and yet everyone’s motivation, even Cage’s, is understandable. Making even the villain’s actions sympathetic is the mark of truly great writing, and The 100 has excelled this season.
Even with the failed attack, there’s still plenty of action in this episode to make for a visually stunning instalment, from Raven and Wick’s against-the-clock bomb detonation, to Miller’s sacrifice in attempting to get inside the mountain, and Octavia and Bellamy’s fights against their respective threats. But the most significant moment, Lexa’s betrayal, takes place off screen, which only makes the moment of the revelation to Clarke all the more shocking.
With only one more episode to go, it seems time to point out the excellent costuming and styling in this show across the two seasons. The Grounder clothing is both practical and badass, while looking authentically tribal, while the Skypeople’s more plain, militant styling is gradually developing Grounder elements, most specifically seen with the evolution of Octavia’s costuming and hairstyle. For this show, it’s not about making its pretty cast look even prettier, given that most characters spend every episode covered in mud and blood. The style choices reflect the development of each character, and each character has a distinctive look which is fast becoming iconic.
With only one more episode to go, it seems time to point out the excellent costuming and styling in this show across the two seasons. The Grounder clothing is both practical and badass, while looking authentically tribal, while the Skypeople’s more plain, militant styling is gradually developing Grounder elements, most specifically seen with the evolution of Octavia’s costuming and hairstyle. For this show, it’s not about making its pretty cast look even prettier, given that most characters spend every episode covered in mud and blood. The style choices reflect the development of each character, and each character has a distinctive look which is fast becoming iconic.
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