'The 100' Review: "Watch the Thrones"
Annie Lindenberg ’19 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer
The episode opens with Queen Nia of the Ice Nation (Brenda Strong) speaking before the council, questioning Lexa’s (Alycia Debnam-Carey) ability to lead. After calling for a vote to remove her from the throne and being denied through Clarke’s (Eliza Taylor) refusal as the ambassador of the recently added 13 clan, Lexa is quickly pulled into a fight to the death for the right to the throne in which she has to oppose Nia’s son, Roan (Zach McGowan).
Back at camp, the rest of the Sky People are forced to deal with the fallout from the recent massacre at Mount Weather. After the death of nearly half of the remaining Farm Station survivors who had been in the mountain at the time, Bellamy (Bob Morley) is suffering through his guilt regarding his part in the deaths. In typical Bellamy fashion, he puts all of the blame on himself, deciding to give up his role of leadership. Kane (Henry Ian Cusick) continues building his relationship with Bellamy by trying to encourage him to move past this pain. Their budding dynamic is one the show benefits from. Bellamy and Kane’s near father/son dynamic has come far from the relationship of tension they held earlier in the show, and the way the two play off of each other is always a nice spark on the screen.
Their relationship is clearly filled with friction, and after his mother places this enormous pressure on his back, Clarke comes in to suggest a different option besides fighting Lexa. Showcasing Clarke’s true ferocity, she approaches Roan to kill his mother and take her place on the throne. Roan turns the deal on its head, telling Clarke she should simply do it herself if she wants it so badly, and if she succeeds, he will be on her side.
While this question hangs over Clarke’s head, we’re sent back to camp – specifically the Mount Weather Memorial service. Bellamy gives a speech in honor of his recently deceased girlfriend, Gina, which leaves us wondering whether her death was all that necessary. Though in some ways a brave end, her death feels much more functional for Bellamy’s storyline than organic.
After a quick appearance from Lincoln (Ricky Whittle) and a reminder of just how tough he is, we’re pushed back to Monty and Jasper’s journey, which has lead them to the Dropship. It feels oddly comforting to be back to the Dropship, even if Jasper is obviously falling apart in front of it. Though Jasper’s character has started to feel more bothersome to the plot than a real necessity, it is nice to see the relationship between him and Monty back in the show. Though clearly uneasy, their friendship has consistently provided an interesting facet for the show.
Octavia (Marie Avgeropoulos) and Lincoln have a moment after Lincoln gets bandaged up from his injury at the Mount Weather Memorial service, and it isn’t necessarily a good one. The two of them have been falling apart, and as sad as it is watching something that has been sturdy for practically the entirety of the show crumble, it might be time to say goodbye to the pair and see them flourish in their separate realms. Octavia and Lincoln just might not be that suited for each other anymore.
As Clarke and Lexa talk, Clarke gets increasingly worried on Lexa’s behalf. Wasn’t it just a week or so ago that Clarke wanted Lexa dead? The girl who hated her best friend for over a year because she believed he was the cause of her father’s death; who hated her mother as soon as she realized it was really her fault for her dad’s death and never really forgave her but simply learned to live with her; and who resented Finn practically until the day of his death for making her the other woman, is clearly a woman who knows how to hold a grudge. The fact that she showed such extreme concern for Lexa in this episode felt entirely out of place.
In another move that simply feels out of character, Bellamy is suddenly on the Grounders’ tails after a quick conversation with Pike. After being convinced to hate the Grounders for the explosion at Mount Weather despite the fact that an army of 300 is protecting them outside the gates, Bellamy agrees to help Pike.
Switching again back to Polis, the battle to the death is finally on between Lexa and Roan. Though a rather cool fight scene, the overt concern Clarke shows for Lexa continues to feel fake to Clarke’s character as it flashes in and out throughout the entire fight. Instead of killing Roan, Lexa throws the sword and murders Nia, a move that brings a real, classic The 100 feel. Though initially skeptical about Roan’s role in this show, ultimately going forward it seems he may provide an interesting new character for this season.
Monty and Jasper’s grief is explored at the end, both Larkin and Bostick giving heartfelt performances as their storyline reaches a climax. Jasper has stolen Finn’s ashes, something that puts Monty at a rage, and the two of them finally confront their residual grief and pain from the Mountain extermination from the finale of Season Two. Monty truly stands up for himself against Jasper, and the scene ends with the end of them altogether. Friends since the beginning of the show, the bromance has finally reached a tearful end, but honestly? This may just give Larkin and Bostick an opportunity to show their chops in some needed new scenarios.
Lexa and Clarke have one final moment in Clarke’s bed chambers, the two of them continuing the bond they’ve clearly been building up again throughout the entire episode. After a heart to heart, the scene shifts back to lock up at camp to show Pike and Bellamy. Kane walks in to give Pike the Chancellor pin, and his first action? Freeing himself, his supporters, and Bellamy before attacking the Grounder army. Can’t wait to see how that turns out for everyone.
Overall, this episode seemed to be searching for what it was. Instead of feeling organic, a lot of the plot points seemed to be decided by the writers and then forced to work. In a similar strident fashion, Clarke and Bellamy seemed to be struggling to find proper characterization. All of these things mixed together to feel stressful and so far from the tightly packed punch the show is known to have. Hopefully the show can find its stride again next week, but in the meantime the viewers are simply left feeling dissatisfied.