The 100 – Thirteen

By starrymag | March 4, 2016

By: Allison Schonter

 

 

Gather into the van, kids, we’re going to group therapy because surely none of us are okay after that episode. In fact, if you have any boxes of tissues, feel free to send them my way; I think that I am flooding the world with my tears.

 

 

The past mixed with the present and history revealed itself in last night’s newest episode of “The 100,” Thirteen. From the origins of the Ark to the origins of Polis and the Grounders, everything came full circle. And a “darker chapter” of human history was revealed.

 

 

World History Lesson

 

The basis of this episode centered on the past and how the present world of “The 100” came to be, particularly the thirteenth station’s involvement. We were first introduced to Becca (Erica Cerra) in season one, when Murphy became trapped in the safe house. She was the woman who had destroyed the world, so to speak, and Thirteen gave us a more thorough understanding of the events that took place. Interwoven throughout the episode are brief scenes of Becca, offering viewers the first real glimpse of how the world came to be.

 

Becca was stationed on Polaris. She had created A.L.I.E., an A.I. (artificial intelligence) program, but A.L.I.E. wasn’t created with an understanding of humans. To put it simply, A.L.I.E. had no care for humans and she believed that there were too many people in the world. It is A.L.I.E. who launched the bombs that destroyed the earth, something that Becca had to watch from space. In an attempt to destroy A.L.I.E.; however, Becca had begun creating a second A.I.. This new A.I. though would know what it was like to be human. This second version is the only thing that could stop the first version of A.L.I.E.

 

Becca’s sister and the commander on the station refuse to let Becca continue with her work. Polaris is supposed to be joining up with the rest of the Ark as it is their only chance at survival. Becca has other plans though – she is determined to put an end to A.L.I.E. She gathers her things and boards a launch pod and just before Polaris is blown out of space, she drops to Earth. More on this later…

 

 

Murphy

 

Murphy (Richard Harmon) is still locked up in that tiny room full of infinity symbols. He is also still being tortured by Titus (Neil Sandilands) for answers. Murphy has told him everything that he knows about the sacred symbol: Jaha (Isaiah Washington) gave the disc to him, it’s the key to the City of Light and if you take it the lady in the red dress will take you to the City of Light.

 

While Titus is away, Murphy manages to get free of his bonds and takes a moment to explore the room, unable to escape due to the doors being locked. He noticed the launch pod and quickly realizes that it’s Polaris when he sees the writing on the side. He also notices the various paintings on the wall. When Titus returns, and after a brief scuffle, Murphy begins to explain to Titus what he has learned. He tells him about Polaris before drawing his attention to the walls. Murphy points out that the mushroom cloud painting is depicting the bombs that destroyed Earth. There is a woman in the painting. She is in other paintings as well, surrounded by people. Murphy believes that the woman dealt with the bombings and somehow managed to stay around on Earth.

 

 

Ascension Day

           

The episode is set on Ascension Day, a day to honor all of the past Commanders. The Nightbloods are gathered in the throne room, listening to the current Commander, Lexa (Alycia Debnam-Carey) speak. Her speech is quickly interrupted, though, when Semet kom Trikru, the man who has captured Octavia (Marie Avgeropoulos), enters. Having been invited by Titus, he calls for vengeance. His people were attacked by Skaikru just after Skaikru had massacred 300 warriors. Blood is what Titus wants, too. Jus drein jus duan (“Blood must have blood”). But Lexa is still seeking peace.

 

After a tense conversation with Titus and Clarke’s (Eliza Taylor) statement that her people will turn against Pike (Michael Beach), the Commander calls for the armies of the 12 clans not to attack Arkadia. She would rather them contain the situation and there is a kill order on any Sky Person that crosses a certain line. This doesn’t sit well with Semet (Zak Santiago), who calls for the Commander’s death before lunging at her in an attempt to kill her. Titus uses his super cool ninja moves and kills the man, looking directly at Lexa as he reiterates the way of their people: Jus drein jus daun.

 

 

Octavia

 

Octavia is now in Polis and she isn’t happy. She doesn’t like that Clarke is siding with Lexa. A kill order has just been placed on their people and while Octavia isn’t very fond of Skaikru at the moment, she also doesn’t want to see them killed. So, while Clarke goes off to talk with Lexa, Octavia seeks out Indra (Adina Porter). Unfortunately, Indra isn’t the same warrior that had trained Octavia as her Second. Indra has been broken, struggling in the aftermath of the massacre. The once proud, strong and fierce warrior now feels as if she has no honor. Out of all of the lives that were lost on that field, she was the only to survive; she is experiencing guilt.

 

Octavia wants Indra to come with her. She wants Indra to help her fight against Skaikru. She needs Indra. Indra refuses. Octavia is strong-willed, though, and refuses to give up. By the end of the episode, Octavia and Indra are seen walking side by side down the street. Indra has regained her strength, her confidence and she is ready to help.

 

 

Lexa and Clarke

 

There was more Lexa and Clarke this episode…a lot of Lexa and Clarke this episode. With the kill order placed on Skaikru, Octavia and Clarke have to leave Polis; at least that’s what they think. Lexa offers Clarke another option, though, inviting the woman to stay with her in Polis. This just goes to show how close the two have grown. Clarke is hesitant and doesn’t answer right away. This option, of course, only frustrates Titus even more (pay close attention to Titus this episode). He once again has a talk with Lexa, begging her to remember what he has taught her: love is weakness. He warns the Commander not to make the same mistake again. He even dares to bring up Costia, Lexa’s previous love interest who was brutally tortured and murdered by the Ice Nation, her head being delivered to Lexa’s bed. Lexa responds by stating that she is capable of separating her feeling from her duty, reminding Titus that she allowed Ice Nation into her coalition even after what they had done to Costia.

 

Later in the episode, Clarke returns to Lexa’s room. She is there to say goodbye and Lexa knows this. “Maybe someday, you and I will owe nothing more to our people,” she states softly, giving the Commander hope that there is a someday for them – that maybe today isn’t that day and that maybe today they will have to say goodbye. Maybe someday, somewhere down the road, they will be able to just be. They will no longer have to put the needs of their people first, but will instead be able to put their own needs and their own wants first. Clarke offers Lexa hope, something that the Commander so desperately needs.

 

This moment only intensifies as the two women kiss, this time their kiss is more passionate and needy than the kiss that they shared in season two. This is a kiss full of longing, a promise to one another that their “maybe someday” has the potential to become a reality and that maybe today, in the little time left that they have with each other, they can take a moment to embrace their “maybe someday.” And finally, after a season of waiting – after many episodes of tension and heartache, sorrow and forgiveness – Clarke and Lexa allow themselves to be intimate with one another.

 

The peaceful moment lasts a little while longer, too, as the two women lie in bed together. Clarke lazily traces Lexa’s tattoos, her attention trained on Lexa. She admires the tattoos, letting Lexa know that they are beautiful and Lexa tells Clarke about her back tattoo. She received it on her Ascension Day, the day that she became Commander. Each of the seven circles on her back marks each of Nightbloods that she had killed in her conclave. Clarke asks about the eighth Nightblood, but Lexa asks if they can talk about something else. Perhaps there is a story about this eighth Nightblood that has yet to be told…

 

 

The Commander’s Sacred Symbol

 

Peace can’t last long on “The 100,” and Clarke and Lexa’s peaceful moment certainly ended too quickly. Fair warning; grab a box of tissues now before reading any further.

 

Clarke returns to her room to find Murphy bound to a chair. He is badly beaten. Titus enters the room with a gun. (Remember that Grounders aren’t supposed to use guns). Clearly his disdain for Wanheda and the affect that she is having on Lexa has reached a new level and the Commander has yet to heed any of his warnings. Titus explains that they will find Clarke’s body, but the blame for her murder will be placed on Murphy. Titus is well aware of the affection that Lexa has towards Clarke and knows that Clarke’s murder would very well push the Commander to reenact the law of Jus drein jus daun.

 

Clarke is able to dodge the bullets, but just as Lexa enters the room Titus fires the gun, hitting the Commander directly in the abdomen. It’s a fatal shot, they know that, but Clarke is determined to save the woman that she loves. Titus carries the Commander to the bed. As Clarke says, Lexa is losing too much blood and she can’t stop the bleeding.

 

In one of the most powerful and heartbreaking moments on the show, the two women are forced to say a teary goodbye. Lexa’s last order to Titus is that he promises that he’ll never attempt to harm Clarke again. In her last moments, Lexa is protecting Clarke. And as usual, Lexa attempts to reassure Clarke, reminding her that her spirit will choose the next Commander. “I don’t want the next commander. I want you,” Clarke states.

 

The bitter realization that their “maybe someday” is vanishing before it has even begun is beginning to sink in and Clarke isn’t willing to accept it. She wants Lexa. She has always wanted Lexa. She wanted Lexa in season two, but she wasn’t yet able to give herself to the woman. She wanted Lexa at Mount Weather, but then the Commander had chosen her head over her heart. She hated Lexa. She loathed Lexa. But she’s always loved Lexa, because no matter what Lexa has done, she was the only person who could possibly understand Clarke. She is the only person who will never turn against her and she is the only person who has never once questioned the decisions that Clarke has made, understanding why Clarke does what she does.

Ai gonplei ste odon (“My fight is over). Lexa’s last words, an indication that she can’t hold on much longer. Her parting words to the world that she is leaving behind:

 

            In peace, may you leave this shore.

            In love, may you find the next.

            Safe passage on your travels, until our final journey to the ground.

            May we meet again.

 

Clarke’s final words to Lexa. This is only form of comfort that she can offer the woman whom she loves. The same words that her own people use when losing one of their own, because to Clarke, Lexa is her people. She is the person that she loves, the person that she has confided in, the person who has offered her peace.

 

But through Lexa’s death, more questions are answered and the story loops back around to the origin of A.L.I.E., Becca and the second version of the A.I. The Commander’s spirit must move on and to do that Titus must perform the most important part of his job. He turns Lexa’s lifeless body onto her side so that he can see her neck; her infinity symbol tattoo exposed. Carefully, the man uses a scalpel to make an incision, retrieving a disc that (as the Grounders believe) is the Commander’s spirit.

 

The episode ends with another flashback to 97 years ago. Becca has just landed on Earth. The land is radiated, so much so that it is what keeps the Ark in the sky for nearly a century. There are survivors; however, and Becca calls out to them. It is in the final moments that a scar on the back of Becca’s neck is revealed. Becca is the first Commander. She has the chip implanted in her. She has A.L.I.E. 2.0 within her.

 

 

Final Thoughts….

 

I can’t end this review until I talk more about Lexa and the brilliancy that is Alycia Debnam-Carey. Commander Lexa was captivating from her very first appearance in Fog of War and she quickly won the hearts of viewers and became a fan favorite. This seemingly harmless girl who is thrown into a room with two Sky People turns out to be this ruthless Commander. Only, as we learn, Lexa is anything, but ruthless. She has a heart and feelings, but she has been forced to push those things to the side in order to protect her people. She has been put through events that nobody should have to go through and yet she has only come out stronger. And with the help of Clarke, Lexa begins to realize that there is more to life than just surviving and that even she, the Commander of the twelve clans, is allowed to experience love and human connection.

 

Debnam-Carey portrayed Lexa perfectly. Every single action was taken into consideration and helped develop a character as complex and layered as Lexa. She acted with her eyes; so much emotion was portrayed in Lexa’s eyes even when the rest of Lexa’s demeanor was stoic or harsh. The smile that forms on Lexa’s lips as Clarke promises a “maybe someday” is a rarity and the way in which Alycia Debnam-Carey perfects that smile is astounding. It doesn’t quite reach her eyes. It’s sad, almost somber. It’s bittersweet. So much is conveyed in the little things in the way that Debnam-Carey portrayed Lexa and it only aided to prove how great of an actor she truly is.

 

Thirteen was a lot to process and is perhaps the biggest episode to date of “The 100.” Backstory was given, character relations were developed and a character death was included. These elements went to serve us up a brilliant episode that will be talked about for weeks, months, for the entirety of “The 100.”

 

It is now clear that the Commander is directly linked to Becca, A.L.I.E. and the City of Light. Furthermore, it is evident that the Commander holds the key to destroying A.L.I.E. If the Sky People want to defeat A.L.I.E. and the affects that she is having on their people, they will have to make peace with Grounders, for they hold their only hope. But is peace possible now? Lexa is dead. The Commander whose legacy, as Clarke had stated before, was peace is now gone. Will the order of “blood must not have blood” vanish with her? Who will become the next Commander? The two top contenders are Ontari (Rhiannon Fish), the woman who was by Queen Nia’s side, and Aden (Cory Gruter-Andrew), whom Lexa had seemed confident in. One offers hope that Lexa’s legacy will remain, the other offers a promise that peace will disappear.

 

And maybe the biggest question left after tonight’s episode is how will Lexa’s death affect Clarke? After losing Finn, Clarke struggled. But Clarke’s relationship with Lexa was different, more intimate. There was a deeper connection and understanding between the two women. They were just allowing themselves to open up to each other and accept the love that they could offer; they were just beginning to imagine the possibility that what they shared was real and could be a part of their future. That was stripped from them. But perhaps Clarke and Lexa will get their “maybe someday.” Perhaps in another world, perhaps on the shore that Clarke bids Lexa a safe journey to. Maybe, in another world, they will find each other and maybe they will no longer owe anything more to their people.

 

 

Don’t forget to tune in to The CW Network next Thursday at 9 pm EST for “Terms and Conditions.”